Your vehicleHome›Dodge›Challenger› 2016

Dodge · Midsize Sedan

2016 Dodge Challenger

Gas

Midsize Cars
9 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 1

Complaints10 crash · 2 fire · 10 injured reported 78

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Dodge Challenger is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 9 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Challenger, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 78 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Dodge Challenger — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Dodge Challenger (1959 generation) · Photo: Ermell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Challenger	Gas	RWD	3.6L 6-cyl	19	30	23	$2,900
Challenger	Gas	RWD	5.7L 8-cyl	16	25	19	$4,000
Challenger	Gas	RWD	6.4L 8-cyl	15	25	18	$4,550
Challenger	Gas	RWD	5.7L 8-cyl	15	23	18	$4,550
Challenger SRT8	Gas	RWD	6.4L 8-cyl	15	25	18	$4,550
Challenger	Gas	RWD	6.4L 8-cyl	14	23	17	$4,850
Challenger SRT8	Gas	RWD	6.4L 8-cyl	14	23	17	$4,850
Challenger SRT8	Gas	RWD	6.2L 8-cyl	13	22	16	$5,150
Challenger SRT8	Gas	RWD	6.2L 8-cyl	13	21	16	$5,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36951, 36952, 36953, 36954, 36958, 36955, 36959, 36956, 36957.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Challenger	6 / 10	Bin 4	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Challenger, Challenger SRT8	5 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II LEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Gas-guzzler tax applies to Challenger, Challenger SRT8 — a federal excise the manufacturer pays and prices in.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	6
Displacement	3.6 L
Engine configuration	V-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower

292 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain

RWD/Rear-Wheel Drive

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: R/T SCAT Pack, SE, SRT HELLCAT, SXT). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	197.6 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	75.6 in
Height	57.1 in
Wheelbase	116.1 in
Track, front	63.0 in
Track, rear	63.8 in
Curb weight	3,935–4,169 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	56/44

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 2-door Coupe RWD SRT 392 / Hellcat, 2-door Coupe RWD V6, 2-door Coupe RWD V8. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Electrical System

U49,U59-U65,U68,U73

4,815,661 vehicles 77% reported repaired built Apr 7, 2014 – May 23, 2018

Problem Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depress Risk If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash. Fix Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmissi

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V332000 reported May 17, 2018 Chrysler (FCA US LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Challenger

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Dodge publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Dodge’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Dodge Challenger, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

78complaints filed

10 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 10 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 6 · 2017: 14 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Power Train 16

Electrical System 15

Engine 12

Unspecified 11

Air Bags 11

Steering 9

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Battery failure light brought up on dashboard, battery voltage healthy but dashboard readings read otherwise. Over time car stalled out, disabled ABS, electronic stability control and brakes. Speedometer went up and down and power steering shut off. Burning smell from engine near the alternator

Electrical System Dec 17, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11162096

The contact owned a 2016 Dodge Challenger. While driving 30 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the front passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the left shoulder (dislocated) and to the right knee. Medical attention was required.

Air Bags at 30,000 miles Aug 27, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11122803

Car sticks in gear when parked or driving. Snychs replaced at 41k now at 49k clutch plate now needs replacing. This vehicle has almost caused accidents as I could not get it in/ out of gear while driving

Power Train at 49,000 miles Jun 22, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11103496

About a week or two ago I remote started my vehicle with the factory remote starter. I entered the vehicle which was stationary, pushed the start button to complete the activation.

Structure at 19,000 miles May 26, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11098094

2016 Dodge Challenger 392 engine. When shifting the manual transmission from second to third gear, there is a severe hesitation that lasts a few seconds. This hesitation is so severe that I have nearly been involved in 2 accidents. Once while turning left in front of on-coming traffic and once while trying to merge onto a highway.

Engine at 16,000 miles Dec 12, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11054112

Lost power steering, lost stability control and ABS brakes driving on interstate 695. Systems cycled on and off eventually remained off. Car difficult to drive

Service Brakes at 7,500 miles Jul 12, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11004713

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Dodge itself: 48 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 51 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Challenger model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 19k

miles, typically

Half the 45 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 8,000 and 41,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 13

10k–20k 10

20k–30k 3

30k–40k 6

40k–50k 5

50k–60k 2

60k–70k 1

70k–80k 2

80k–90k 0

90k–100k 0

100k–150k 2

150k + 1

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
2 DR RWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 278

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-03-09

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 278 service bulletins

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Power Train, Engine, Structure.

S2621000003 REV. A Service bulletin
2026-03-09 · Power Train
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission models: 845RE, 8HP45, 850RE, 8HP50, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP75-PHEV, 8HP75-LCV, 8HP90, 8HP95. Transmissions may exhibit the following diagnostic codes: P07E4, P1DB2, P0716, P1B14, P0733, P1D90, P1DB7, P1B13.
S2608000010 Service bulletin
2026-03-05 · Electrical System
Active Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) B1A10-00, B1A11-00, B1A12- 00, B1A13-00-, B1A14-00, B1A15-00, B1A16-00, and B1A17-00 in The Radio Frequency Hub (RFH)
108463 Service bulletin
2025-11-18 · Service Brakes
PAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
108464 Service bulletin
2025-11-17 · Service Brakes
PAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
31-001-25 REV. B Service bulletin
2025-08-16 · Structure — Body
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.
31-001-25 REV. A Service bulletin
2025-08-14 · Structure — Body
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.
31-001-25 Service bulletin
2025-08-13 · Structure — Body
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates
S2208000138 REV. B Service bulletin
2025-07-04 · Electrical System
Decreased Remote Start And RKE Range. Tire Pressure Sensors Values Are Not Displayed

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0456 P0456 on Dodge →	A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Power Train · Gas cap →	12 bulletins
P0335 P0335 on Dodge →	A fault in the crankshaft position sensor circuit — the computer has lost track of where the crank is.	Power Train · Crankshaft position sensor →	11 bulletins
P2610	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	9 bulletins
P0122	Throttle position sensor signal too low.	Power Train · Throttle body →	5 bulletins
P0123	Throttle position sensor signal too high.	Power Train · Throttle body →	5 bulletins
U1424	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P2299 P2299 on Dodge →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Vehicle Speed Control	4 bulletins
P000B P000B on Dodge →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0339	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
P06DD P06DD on Dodge →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
P2122 P2122 on Dodge →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Vehicle Speed Control	2 bulletins
P2127 P2127 on Dodge →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Vehicle Speed Control	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 9.7%

failed emissions

1,156 initial inspections of 1,122 vehicles.

Measure	The 2016 Challenger	Every 2016 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	9.7%	4.2%	1,156
Failed the safety inspection	1.1%	2.2%	1,156
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.26%	0.27%	1,156
Miles driven a year	5,042	10,028	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	52,017	103,109	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Challenger by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2023 B 2 43 23 mpg 2022 B 2 9 23 mpg 2021 B 2 19 23 mpg 2020 A 1 20 23 mpg 2019 B 3 59 23 mpg 2018 C 3 75 23 mpg 2017 D 3 49 23 mpg 2016 this page B 1 78 23 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 Challenger

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Dodge Challenger have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2016 Dodge Challenger, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 18V332000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Dodge Challenger?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Dodge Challenger 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (85/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Dodge Challenger?

Across the 9 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Dodge Challenger, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Dodge Challenger?

Transport Canada measured it at 197.6 in long, 75.6 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.1 in tall, on a 116.1 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,935–4,169 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Dodge Challenger?

Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Challenger, most often about power train, electrical system, engine. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 10 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Dodge Challenger?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Dodge Challenger runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 4, Bin 5, LEV-II LEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Dodge Challenger?

The manufacturer has filed 278 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Dodge Challenger, most often covering electrical system, equipment, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-03-09. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Dodge Challenger do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Dodge Challenger failed the emissions check on 9.7% of first inspections — higher than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.1% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	9 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	9 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	78	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	1 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	278	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	9 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API