2022 Dodge Challenger — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $26,000–$55,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
A muscle car that doesn't pretend to be anything else. The 5.7L and 6.4L Hemis are proven; the 6.2L Hellcat makes 717 hp and will destroy whatever you don't maintain. Previous owners of Hellcats are your biggest concern.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 9 owner complaints for the 2022 Dodge Challenger, across 2 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is seat belts at 22%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.
2 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: the fuel system (1 complaint), wheels and bearings (1 complaint). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them as something to ask about, not as absent.
Looked at and set aside: seat belts (2) — 2 seat-belt complaints on file, typically recall-driven with a free remedy; check the VIN for open campaigns.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2022 Dodge Challenger
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
A used Hellcat was almost certainly driven hard. The engine is strong but the drivetrain, tires, brakes, and suspension take punishment. Assume everything wearable was used at maximum.
Repair cost (estimate): Variable — budget $2,000-$5,000 for worn items
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the brakes (1), the transmission and drivetrain (1), the engine (1).
The 5.7L Hemi with Multi-Displacement System has the same AFM lifter issue as GM V8s. Tick at startup is the warning.
Repair cost (estimate): $2,000-$4,500
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (1).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Hellcat with any modifications — performance mods signal hard use
- ✗5.7L with engine tick at startup — MDS lifter failure
- ✗Aftermarket exhaust, tune, or pulley on a Hellcat — walk away or heavily discount
Good Signs
- ✓5.7L or 6.4L SCAT Pack with documented regular oil changes
- ✓Stock everything — unmodified Challengers are genuinely better used buys
- ✓MDS disabler installed on 5.7L
Found a specific Dodge Challenger?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2022 Dodge Challenger in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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