2010 Dodge Challenger: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 4, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · FL

The Gen III hemi has an inherent design flaw in which the rollers making contact with the camshaft will fail, causing damage to the camshaft and causing the engine to misfire. This is due to the camshaft being moved away from the crankshaft as it causes oil starvation. After extensive research it appears to affect cars of various miles and workload. There is no single cause that makes this happen other than a grievous design flaw. The main complaint is that you experience total power loss at higher revs, making it dangerous to drive on the interstate or attempting to merge into traffics as the engine begins to shudder and lose most power. Whether it’s 40K miles or 110K miles, the flaw does not discriminate. After numerous attempts to reach Chrysler technical service on how to prevent this, I’ve been ignored and case numbers deleted. Now this is very important. This causes a misfire which not only destroys catalytic converters, but arrives with no notice. It’s very possible someone may be attempting to pass someone on the interstate and suddenly lose power. My mechanic inspected it and confirmed that the rollers failed, causing causing lifters to not make proper clearance. This needs to be investigated as this engine is in millions of cars. And even if 1% of these failure occur on an interstate, the potential for fatalities is absolutely nothing to ignore. I kindly ask that this matter be investigated. As not everyone can afford the 5K to fix this problem like I can. And due to its high prevalence in trucks, this could cause those who use their trucks for work to be put in a tight spot. I understand normal wear and tear, but by no means should a cam and valve train fail this soon in a car. Giving the Gen III hemi by Chrysler and their infamous timing chain defect, I believe this is also a dangerous flaw and something Chrysler ignored. Hoping it would outlast warranties. Best regards.

Filed Dec 26, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 139,000 miles · KS

Car has stalled several times while driving above 60 MPH. Seems like loses power and fuel pump shuts off. Had to pull over and restarts with no issues. Kind of dangerous when you lose power to brakes and steering too.

Filed Feb 22, 2018 · Driver assistance, Engine · 10 miles · NM

My 2010 dodge challenger srt8 completely shuts down while driving for no apparent reason. The engine turns off and I lose power steering. It does this repeatedly while driving at all speeds. All electrical components work when this happens but the power steering makes it very hard to turn the vehicle which makes it very dangerous in traffic or on the highway. I have to put the vehicle in park press my ignition start button to turn the car completely to the off position and restart the vehicle. There are no check engine lights that illuminate after this happens so the dodge dealer does not know what the problem is. The last time this happened my ABS and traction control light has illuminated and my esp, traction control and anti lock brake system was disabled and hasn't been enabled. After starting the car the esp, tc and ABS light illuminate and stay on. I have taken my vehicle to the dodge dealer three times and they have said that they are not able to find the problem because there are no trouble codes or a check engine light on. I have read online that this is a very common issue that thousands of owners of dodge challengers are experiencing with the same result that the dodge service departments can not find or duplicate the problem. This random engine shut off has happened around 40 times. It's happened on the highway in motion at speeds of 75 MPH on the city street from 30-50 MPH and when leaving an intersection after the stop light turns green leaving me stopped in the middle of the intersection in danger of bieng hit by oncoming traffic. It has also happened while turning in a intersection and the vehicle stopping with oncoming traffic heading towards my vehicle. I have nearly been hit numerous times due to this problem. I have proof of my vehicle taken to the dealer to resolve this issue with no luck as to what the dangerous problem is.

Filed Jun 30, 2016 · Brakes, Electrical · 48,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 dodge challenger. While driving 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact lost power steering and the brakes became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The technician was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

Filed Feb 9, 2016 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · TX

My son was driving on a busy road in the city going strait ahead and noticed the battery light had come on, very quickly he then noticed smoke coming from the front of the car, under the hood. Fortunately he was able to quickly exit the roadway and get into a parking lot. He opened the hood and more smoke came out. He called me (his father) and explained the situation. I asked if it was on fire and cautioned him to get back and to let it cool down. He let it cool down and attempted to restart the car. The car had no electrical power at this time. Door locks and trunk latch would not function. After putting the key in the ignition and realizing the car was completely dead he attempted to remove the key from the ignition and the car would not release the key, therefore he was forced to leave the key in the car unattended and eventually towed for service. I have concerns about the safety of this situation given that if he would not have been able to exit quickly the car could have caught fire or completely lost power/control while he was stuck in the roadway. Apparently the car alternator got hot enough to destroy it and the battery. After searching the internet there are numerous reports of this same problem and subsequent recall of later year models of this exact same alternator with a slightly different engine model(the federal safety agency 14v‑634) recall number p-60 alternator. I have called dodge/chrysler and filed reports/complaints with them. I have attached repair invoice confirming the issue explained. I believe this vehicle should fall under the same recall as later year models due to unsafe and dangerous potential of mechanical failure. Thank you

Filed Oct 8, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 94,517 miles · MD

Car turned off while driving for the 9th time. Rapid automatic down shift of gears while turning left then to right. Green light, aprox 45 MPH, taking left turn. Wrong way. Hit brakes hard, turned wheel to right. Car died after wheel began turning to right/during turn. Lost power steering and power brakes. Very difficult to: turn, stop, and restart. Vehicle did not store any codes. Dodge/chrysler says this is "not serious" because there are no error codes saved in the car and they cannot duplicate the failure. They are not willing to look investigate further because there are no codes and it didn't die on their test drive while hooked to their diagnostic equipment. This is dangerous!!!

Filed Oct 8, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 88,500 miles · MD

Car turned off while driving for the 8th time. Rapid automatic down shift of gears while turning right. State highway. 50 MPH. Hit brakes hard, turned wheel to right. Car died after wheel began turning to right/during turn. Lost control. Lost power steering and power brakes. Very difficult to: turn, stop, and restart. Vehicle did not store any codes. No vehicle in other lane so no accident. Dodge/chrysler says this is "not serious" because there are no error codes saved in the car and they cannot duplicate the failure. They are not willing to look investigate further because there are no codes and it didn't die on their test drive while hooked to their diagnostic equipment. This is dangerous!!!

Filed Oct 8, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 82,000 miles · MD

Car turned off/shut down by itself while driving, resulting in loss of power steering and brakes, for the 7th time. Speed relatively slow around 30 MPH, and not turning sharply. Driving in residential area. Lost power steering and power brakes. Very difficult to: turn, stop, and restart. Vehicle did not store any codes. This is the 1st failure on the newly replaced PCM but 7th total since I bought the car new.. Dodge/chrysler says this is "not serious" because there are no error codes saved in the car and they cannot duplicate the failure. They say if it was serious, there would be a code. They are not willing to look/ investigate further because there are no codes and it didn't die on their test drive while hooked to their diagnostic equipment. Service manager gene at waldorf dodge said the srt help center/case manager recommended changing the transmission fluid & perform tune up; both performed 15k miles ago. (ridiculous. This is how women get treated at waldorf dodge. He also told me the srt challenger has a timing belt in the front of the engine-not). This is dangerous!!!

Filed Oct 8, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 5,000 miles · MD

Car shut down/powered off/turned off on it's own, while driving. Rapid automatic down shift of gears braking from about 50 to turn/while turning left onto side street. Car died after steering wheel began turning to left during turn. Lost power steering and power brakes. Very difficult to control/hard to safe vehicle: hard to turn, stop, and restart. Check engine light did not come on/no odb codes stored.

Filed Oct 8, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 17,500 miles · MD

Car shut down/powered off/turned off on it's own, while driving. Driving slowly in parking lot looking for parking space. Estimate speed at 10 MPH. Car died. Steering wheel may have started turning to left to park. Lost power steering and power brakes. Hard to turn, stop, and restart. Check engine light did not come on/no odb codes stored.

Filed Oct 8, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 26,000 miles · MD

Car shut down/powered off/turned off on it's own, while driving through parking lot at about 25 MPH. Lost power steering and power brakes. Difficult to control/hard to safe vehicle: hard to turn, stop, and restart. Check engine light did not come on/no odb codes stored.

Filed Oct 8, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 52,000 miles · MD

Car shut down/powered off/turned off on it's own, while driving at about 40 MPH in residential area. This is about the 5th specific time I remember. Lost power steering and power brakes. Very difficult to control/hard to safe vehicle: hard to turn, stop, and restart. Check engine light did not come on/no odb codes stored. Dealership couldn't find anything problem with car after july 7, 2012 event. They couldn't find problem this time either and sent me away with a phone #. They told me to file a case with chrysler. Case #23728724 filed I believe after july 7, 2012 event.