The 2021 Challenger is a body-on-frame muscle car riding on the venerable LX/LC platform. Most issues center on drivetrain stress from performance use, plus inherited weaknesses in cooling systems and electronics that plague late-model FCA products.
5.7L & 6.4L Hemi Lifter Failure / Camshaft Wear
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Cold-start tick or tapping that persists after warmup, MDS (cylinder deactivation) misfires or rough idle, Check engine light with P0300-series misfire codes, Metal shavings in oil during changes
Fix: Requires head removal to replace lifters and inspect camshaft lobes; if cam lobes are worn, full cam replacement plus valve train components. Budget 12-18 hours labor depending on rust/accessibility. Some shops recommend deleting MDS system during repair.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500
ZF 8HP Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Red ATF pooling under front of vehicle, Transmission temperature warning light, Low fluid level on dipstick (if equipped), Burnt smell or slipping when fluid runs low
Fix: Replace transmission cooler lines and related seals; sometimes the cooler itself if internal contamination occurred. 3-5 hours labor. Flush system and refill with ZF-spec ATF+4.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Hellcat/Redeye Fuel System Vapor Lock & Fuel Pump Failures
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Hard start or extended crank after sitting in hot weather, Loss of power or stumbling under WOT pulls, Fuel pressure drops below spec (58 psi at idle), P0087 low fuel pressure code
Fix: High-output fuel pumps run hot; supercharged models stress the system further. Replacement requires dropping tank, swapping pump assembly, testing pressure relief valve. 4-6 hours labor. Heat shields and ventilation mods help prevent recurrence.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
3.6L Pentastar V6 Head Gasket Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust on cold start, Coolant loss with no visible external leaks, Oil contamination in coolant reservoir (milky appearance), Overheating under load
Fix: Both head gaskets typically replaced together; machine heads if warped. 10-14 hours labor. Timing chain components usually done simultaneously since front cover is off.
Symptoms: Speedometer drops to zero intermittently while driving, Entire cluster goes dark then reboots, Erratic gauge readings (fuel, temp, tach), Warning chimes with no corresponding dash message
Fix: Recall 23V-384 addresses some clusters, but many fail outside recall scope. Replacement cluster requires programming to VIN; some techs report success resoldering circuit board connections. 1.5-2.5 hours labor for swap.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Rear Differential Pinion Bearing Noise (V8 Models, Especially Track Use)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining or howling from rear that increases with speed, Vibration during deceleration, Clunking when shifting from drive to reverse, Metallic debris in differential fluid
Fix: Replace pinion bearings, seals, and crush sleeve; check ring-and-pinion for scoring. If gears damaged, full differential rebuild needed. 6-9 hours labor for bearing job, 12+ for full rebuild.
Estimated cost: $1,500-3,800
Windshield Stress Cracks (Thermal/Structural)
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Horizontal crack originating from bottom edge near wipers, Vertical crack from top center spreading downward, Cracks appear without impact, often in hot weather
Fix: NHTSA recall 23V-826 covers some VINs; otherwise owner pays. Windshield replacement with OEM glass and recalibration of any camera-based systems. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $400-800
Owner tips
Change oil every 5,000 mi with quality synthetic (0W-40 for Hellcats) — Hemi lifters are oil-sensitive; cheap oil accelerates wear.
Service ZF 8HP transmission fluid every 60,000 mi despite 'lifetime fill' claims; it extends trans life significantly.
Supercharged models: upgrade heat exchanger coolant and fuel system components if tracking or tuning; factory margins are thin.
Inspect transmission and engine mounts every 40,000 mi — rubber tears under hard launches cause driveline vibrations.
Buy a low-mileage V6 or careful-owner 5.7L with service records; avoid high-mileage Hellcats unless you budget $5K/year for repairs.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: AGM battery required for high-performance 392 HEMI engine; located under hood
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Every control module on the 2021-2023 Dodge Challenger — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
📍 Behind left headlight assembly in engine compartment
🔧 Autel MaxiSys or wiTECH
⚠️ Controls adaptive headlight leveling and beam pattern
Rear View Camera Module (RVCM)0.5 hr R&Rrelearn only +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Integrated with rear camera assembly in trunk lid
🔧 Autel MaxiSys or wiTECH
⚠️ Standard equipment; camera calibration may be required
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Challenger vehicles. The affected vehicles do not illuminate their safety system status indicators sufficiently in both daylight and nighttime driving conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Consequence: Without visible safety system indicators, a driver may not receive information regarding vehicle safety, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will re-program instrument clusters with the correct software version, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 5, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-140. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y58.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD · 21V516000
2021-07-08
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Consequence: A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the front windshield urethane sealant, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y47.
Performance
Horsepower
485hp
Torque
475lb-ft
0–60 mph
4.3sec
Quarter mile
12.5sec
Top speed
182mph
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
15mpg
Highway
24mpg
Combined
18mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
Curb weight
4,220lb
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Wiper blades
Coupe body style, no rear wiper. Both blades same length on this generation.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2021 Dodge Challenger 6.4L V8 Hemi 392 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.