2013 Dodge Challenger: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
179 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Dodge Challenger's year to avoid is 2012, an AVOID at 45 on 253 complaints, with 138 of them in the Electrical System category; the 2011, 2013 and 2014 cars are CAUTION at 59, 60 and 66. The years to buy are 2016 onward, where every year is a BUY and the 2020, 2021 and 2022 cars score 94, 90 and 92 on 20, 19 and 9 complaints. Read the full note on the model page. 2013 specifically: 179 complaints on record, score 60/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used Dodge Charger, Challenger and Chrysler 300: the years to avoid, including 2013 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 179 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 13.77
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
At only 68,000 miles, my check engine light came on with code "P0456", which indicates that my Evaporative Emission System has a leak. These leaks lead to increased emissions and fuel loss. The solution is to replace the Emission System Integrity Monitor (ESIM). The life expectancy of this part is 150,000 miles. It should not leak at less than half its life expectancy. I contacted the local dealership and they report…
The vehicle is available for inspection. The issue caused a fire under my carport and within 30 feet of a neighbor's house. The car is immobile and still at the location of the incident, it has not been reproduced or inspected. there were no warning lamps at the time of the incident. The electrical system seemed to have several issues over the past years. The passenger side tail light would burn out at least twice a…
while turning onto another street transmisson went into neutral. car would`nt accelerate, almost reared by another car. Car is at dealership now, they say it needs new transmission. only has 70,000 miles on it.
Recalls: 5 campaigns (5 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 14V634000 | Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango; and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured April 22, 2010, to January 2, 2014, and equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail. |
| 18V021000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana… |
| 17V435000 | Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator. |
| 19V018000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. |
| 13V103000 | Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Dodge Challenger vehicles manufactured from December 3, 2012, through January 24, 2013 and equipped with a V6 engine. The battery positive cable at the starter motor may experience an electrical short circuit to ground. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a sports car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 19 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,900
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System104 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine27 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Air Bags19 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Power Train16 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Steering15 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Unknown Or Other11 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
Other Dodge Challenger years
Dodge Challenger years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Dodge Challenger?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (104 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2013 Dodge Challenger a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 60/100, computed from 179 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2013 Dodge Challenger's most common problem?
104 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2013 Dodge Challenger sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2013 Dodge Challenger cost to run per year?
About $6,511 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $32,558 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2013 Dodge Challenger have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2013 Dodge Challenger, 5 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 08/10/2014. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other sportss of about the same age.
What will a 2013 Dodge Challenger really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 179 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 179 NHTSA complaints on record (13.8/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (9.4/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 5 touching safety-critical systems