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.
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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
Checked against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 9 owner complaints for the 2022 Dodge Challenger, and 2 recall campaigns.
That is too small a record to read a pattern from, so we are not going to pretend otherwise — with numbers this low one owner moves the percentage by a lot. What has been filed is grouped under seat belts (2), the fuel system (1), wheels and bearings (1). Treat those as things to look at, not as the vehicle's known weaknesses. A thin file usually means few of these were sold or few owners filed. It is not evidence the vehicle is trouble-free, and the issues below are our own research rather than a reading of this record.
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.
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. How we decide that.
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
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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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