Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Challenger vs FORD F 150
How the Dodge Challenger and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Dodge Challenger vs FORD F 150: The Challenger has 268 complaints over 10 years (27/yr) and 17 recalls, while the F-150 has 27,552 complaints (2,755/yr) and 141 recalls. The Challenger's top issue is the Uconnect screen; the F-150's is powertrain failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Challenger or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger is a performance coupe that, in ownership terms, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 27 per year. Owners frequently report issues with the Uconnect infotainment system, including screen delamination and freezing, which can affect hands-free calling and climate controls. Engine problems like blown head gaskets and overheating also appear, though less often. Overall, the Challenger's reliability is mixed, with electrical gremlins being the most common headache.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume—over 2,700 per year—reflecting its popularity and widespread issues. The dominant problem area is the powertrain, with reports of the shifter getting stuck in drive and transmission-related failures. Electrical system failures can cause sudden loss of power, disabling safety systems. Engine and structure complaints are also frequent, making the F-150 a vehicle with significant reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Challenger | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 268 Better | 27,552 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 141 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 762 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 26.8 Better | 2755.2 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 21 Better | 714 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 10 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Dodge Challenger
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM76
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER74
- 03ENGINE29
- 04POWER TRAIN27
- 05STEERING23
The Uconnect 8.4-inch screen frequently delaminates, flashes, or freezes, and Bluetooth pairing drops randomly. This affects radio, climate control, and hands-free calling, and dealers often dismiss the issue.
Many complaints are vague but include the Uconnect delamination defect, which can make the screen unusable. Some owners also report dealer fraud or predatory lending, though these are not mechanical.
Head gasket failures occur around 72,000 miles, causing coolant leaks and overheating. Owners report a water odor inside the cabin when the engine overheats.
Driveshaft issues have been reported, with the shaft coming out of alignment shortly after purchase, nearly causing accidents. This suggests potential manufacturing defects.
“The cars light notifications on instrument cluster panel turned on all of them at the same time while accelerating jerking the car on freeway I have video of that happening and can provide it upon request it did caused a minor accident but I settled the accid…”
“While operating my vehicle at road speed the electric steering rack failed. This rendered the steering inoperative. It was impossible to steer the vehicle. Not only is this situation extremely dangerous and deadly, there was no advanced warning. I received no…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN9,967
- 02ENGINE4,861
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,479
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,210
- 05STRUCTURE1,485
The shifter can get stuck in drive when parking, failing to shift into park automatically. This can cause the truck to roll away. Turbo wastegate and transmission valve body issues are also common.
Engine problems include the integrated park module failing to engage park, leading to roll-away risks. Oil lubrication issues and emissions control label updates are also noted in recalls.
Sudden total power loss while driving can disable brakes, steering, airbags, and hazard lights. ABS system noise after brake booster recall service is another reported issue.
Some trucks experience sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds, even without pressing the accelerator. Persistent vibration after repairs is also reported.
“When I am parking the truck, I press and hold the brake pedal, While the truck shifter in in "Drive", I press the start/stop button to shut truck down, the shifter gets stuck in "drive" and doesn't automatically shift in to park. The truck locks down and will…”
“My truck is a 2025 Ford F150 STX with 5,900 miles on it. This truck was purchased new at River City Ford in Lavalette, WV The component in questions seems to be involved with the turbos and more specifically the wastegate that attached to the turbos. Also, ye…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Dodge Challenger — 17 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor battery may fail prematurely and cause the sensor to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fede…
The risk: Inoperative TPMS sensors will not alert the driver to low tire pressure. In addition, a TPMS warning light that is already illuminated from a failed battery sensor will mask an actual tire pressure failure issue. Either of these scenarios…
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the TPMS sensors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z68.
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor battery may fail prematurely and cause the sensor to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fede…
The risk: Inoperative TPMS sensors will not alert the driver to low tire pressure. In addition, a TPMS warning light that is already illuminated from a failed battery sensor will mask an actual tire pressure failure issue. Either of these scenarios…
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the TPMS sensors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 10, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZB5. This…
The defect: 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…
The risk: A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: 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 thi…
The defect: 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 Veh…
The risk: Without visible safety system indicators, a driver may not receive information regarding vehicle safety, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: 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…
FORD F 150 — 141 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may los…
The risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
Buyer analysis
Dodge Challenger or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Dodge Challenger has far fewer complaints per year (27 vs. 2,755) and fewer recalls (17 vs. 141), indicating a lower likelihood of encountering a problem. However, the Challenger's issues are more focused on infotainment and engine, while the F-150's problems can be safety-critical, such as power loss or transmission failure.
Key differences
- The Challenger's main issue is the Uconnect screen delamination and freezing, while the F-150 suffers from powertrain problems like shifter sticking and transmission failures.
- The F-150 has a much higher rate of crash-related complaints (762 vs. 27) and injuries (714 vs. 21), suggesting more severe safety consequences.
- The Challenger's engine complaints include head gasket failures, whereas the F-150's engine issues involve park module failures and oil lubrication problems.
- The F-150 has 141 recalls compared to the Challenger's 17, indicating more widespread manufacturing defects.
- Check the Uconnect screen for delamination (bubbling or peeling) and test Bluetooth pairing stability.
- Inspect for coolant leaks and signs of head gasket failure, especially on models with over 70,000 miles.
- Test the shifter by parking on a slope to ensure it engages park properly and doesn't stick in drive.
- Check for any history of sudden power loss or ABS noise after brake booster recall work.
Before you buy
- Test the Uconnect screen on the Challenger for delamination, freezing, and Bluetooth dropouts.
- On the F-150, perform a parking test: shift to park on an incline and verify the truck stays put.
- Review the vehicle's recall history and confirm all open recalls have been completed.
- For the Challenger, check engine coolant level and look for white smoke (head gasket).
- For the F-150, test all electrical systems including brakes, steering, and hazard lights during a test drive.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Dodge Challenger | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 9 |
| 2025 | 0 | 320 |
| 2024 | 0 | 597 |
| 2023 | 40 | 1448 |
| 2022 | 9 | 3285 |
| 2021 | 19 | 4942 |
| 2020 | 20 | 2530 |
| 2019 | 57 | 5718 |
| 2018 | 74 | 5505 |
| 2017 | 49 | 3198 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Dodge Challenger or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Challenger vs FORD F 150
- Dodge Challenger total complaints
- 268
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 27,552
- Dodge Challenger total recalls
- 17
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 141
- Dodge Challenger avg complaints/year
- 26.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 2755.2
- More reliable overall
- Dodge Challenger
- Dodge Challenger top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN