Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (Part Number 06511385A$) are one-time usage. Vehicles built prior to 10/23/2015 requires Service Kit PN 68461214AA; includes Transmission Isolator PN 68264483AA, and Adaptation Bracket 68264479AA and Fastener Service Kit PN 68329056AA Vehicles built after on or after 10/23/2015 will require only the Fastener Service Kit PN 68329056AA. 2. All 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the vehicle you are repairing has a crack in the flex plate or failed pump bushing inspect and confirm that both (2) dowel pins
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Dodge Challenger powertrain problems
severe 33 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 33 powertrain complaints filed for the 2010 Dodge Challenger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 12 model years of Dodge Challenger we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 33.
Owners have filed 33 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
NAG1 Transmission Before installing the transmission with the engine, check for dowel pins (2) for alignment. If the pins are missing request to add the dowel pin first and then install the transmission
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NAG1 Transmission Before installing the transmission with the engine, check for dowel pins (2) for alignment. If the pins are missing request to add the dowel pin first and then install the transmission
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Manual Transmission Shifter Noise This bulletin involves greasing or replacing the manual transmission rear shifter bushing. Customers may experience a clunk, squeak, or similar noise heard from center console area while shifting.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Manual Transmission Shifter Noise This bulletin involves greasing or replacing the manual transmission rear shifter bushing. Customers may experience a clunk, squeak, or similar noise heard from center console area while shifting.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the 2010 Challenger has multiple critical powertrain failures. Timing chain breakage at 36,500 to 73,000 miles—even after a 2015 recall—causes complete engine shutdown on highways with loss of steering and brakes, requiring towing and full engine rebuild. HEMI engines suffer camshaft and roller-follower failure from oil starvation at mileages from 40,000 to 110,000 miles, causing sudden power loss and dangerous highway stalls; one owner claims Chrysler ignored repeated technical inquiries and deleted case numbers.
Manual transmissions (TR-6060) have excessive factory grease on input shaft splines that causes clutches to stick and not fully disengage—a known Dodge defect (STAR case #K38556860)—making first, second, and reverse gears impossible to engage at idle; owners report worsening difficulty over time and near-rear-end collisions from inability to downshift.
Both automatic and manual transmissions exhibit unpredictable stalling during turns, merges, and highway driving with loss of power steering and brakes, often without diagnostic codes. Dealers repeatedly report unable-to-duplicate conditions. Transmission rebuilds and computer replacements have not yielded permanent fixes in reported cases. Dealers uniformly refuse to notify Chrysler of safety hazards or acknowledge known issues, leaving owners out-of-pocket for repairs after warranty expiration.
Same Dodge Challenger powertrain reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Timing chain failure
Plastic timing chain guides disintegrate or timing chain breaks, causing engine shutdown and internal damage. Some owners report the failure persisted even after a 2015 recall. Can occur at relatively low mileage (36.5K–73K miles on regular maintenance). When the chain breaks, it can damage camshaft, valves, pistons, and cylinder heads.
When: 36,500–73,000 miles; some failures after recall performed
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts down without warning while driving at highway speed; Oil and engine warning lights illuminate; Loss of power steering and power brakes; Vehicle must be towed; will not restart
Codes mentioned: P0725 (implied by camshaft sensor testing)
Repairs/costs cited: Rebuilt engine or full engine replacement covered under powertrain warranty (100K miles) in some cases; repair took 4 weeks in one instance. Rebuilt engines used same timing chain assembly parts, raising durability concerns.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2015 recall performed for timing chain failure in some vehicles; however, owners report the issue recurred post-recall. Chrysler acknowledged the issue in online forums per some owner accounts.
Camshaft and valve train failure (Gen III HEMI)
Roller followers on camshaft fail due to oil starvation (camshaft moved away from crankshaft), causing camshaft damage and complete loss of proper valve clearance. Owners describe this as an inherent design flaw affecting vehicles across a wide mileage range (40K–110K+ miles) regardless of workload or driving conditions. Engine misfires and loses power, especially at higher RPMs, creating dangerous highway situations.
When: 40,000–110,000+ miles; no single mileage threshold; occurs on intermittent basis
Symptoms owners cite: Total power loss at higher RPMs or during acceleration; Engine shudders and loses most power, particularly on highway merges; Engine misfire; Catalytic converter destruction (secondary to misfire); No warning before failure; Danger of sudden power loss while passing on interstate
Codes mentioned: Misfire codes (not specified in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports ~$5,000 repair cost. Involves replacement of rollers, lifters, and camshaft.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler technical service ignored owner inquiry and deleted case numbers per owner account. No recall or technical service bulletins mentioned for this specific failure mode.
Stalling without warning (multiple etiologies)
Vehicle stalls unexpectedly during normal driving—while turning, merging, highway acceleration, or at intersections—with no warning codes or reproducible diagnostics. Dealer diagnostic testing often yields no codes or unable-to-duplicate findings. Some instances linked to transmission issues, others to computer/sensor failure. Occurs at low and high mileage. Stalling causes loss of power steering and power brakes, creating acute safety hazards.
When: 450 miles to 57,000+ miles; intermittent and recurring (up to a dozen times in 4,500 miles in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine stall during low-speed turns (5–20 MPH) or highway driving (65–75 MPH); Stall on acceleration from stop or traffic light; Stall after downshifting from highway speed; Loss of power steering and brakes during stall; Vehicle requires restart; sometimes multiple restarts needed; Nearly caused rear-end collisions in traffic; Sometimes accompanied by oil warning light
Codes mentioned: P0730 (improper gearing) in one case, No codes in most cases
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose or reproduce in most cases. In one case, transmission rebuilt and two computers replaced, but failure recurred 6 months later. Another case replaced radio and fuse box without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler notified in some cases; manufacturer referred owner to file NHTSA complaint in at least one instance. SRT engineers acknowledged awareness of right-turn stalling issue in online forums per owner report; working on fix status unclear.
Manual transmission hard shifting and clutch engagement issues
Manual transmission (TR-6060) difficult or impossible to shift into first, second, third, or reverse gear. Root cause identified in narratives as excessive grease on input shaft spline (manufacturing or assembly-line defect), causing clutch disc to stick and not fully disengage. Dodge issued a STAR case notice (#K38556860 and related) acknowledging the issue. Shifting difficulty worsens over time and poses safety risk when driver cannot downshift or accelerate properly.
When: 2,000–47,000 miles; progressively worsens; first reported November 2011
Symptoms owners cite: Hard to shift into and out of first gear or reverse, especially at idle or when stopped; Clutch creep (does not fully disengage); Vehicle creeps even with foot on brake or in neutral; Hard to pull out of reverse after parking; Getting harder to shift while driving; Nibble or difficulty shifting into third when cold; Wife nearly hit from rear when unable to shift into lower gear on highway merge; Dust boot obscures shift linkage view during difficult shifts
Repairs/costs cited: No permanent repair solution reported in narratives. One owner replaced shifter handle with Hurst shifter (stronger steel) but issue persisted. Dealer blamed worn clutch despite no slip present.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge issued STAR case #K38556860 and other related notices about bad grease on TR-6060 input shaft spline. Dealers claim to know nothing about the issue. Not recalled; owners forced to pay out of pocket. Issue also appears in 2009 Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang (TREMEC transmission).
Automatic transmission shift and engagement failures
Automatic transmission exhibits difficulty shifting, unexpected neutral engagement, and stalling during normal gear changes. Transmission may pop out of gear (especially second gear) under load, causing sudden acceleration. Torque converter failure reported. Transmission shifts between gears with difficulty or at inappropriate times. Stalling and failure to engage forward motion after restart occurs.
When: 7,800–54,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Difficulty shifting to/from second gear; Transmission pops out of second gear causing sudden acceleration; Transmission slips into neutral when changing gears; Vehicle stalls during turns or acceleration; After restart, vehicle will not move until multiple restarts; then engages; Transmission hesitates or jerks into fourth gear when accelerating lightly; Vehicle overheats periodically with stalling
Codes mentioned: P0730 (improper gearing)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission rebuilt; torque converter replaced in at least one case. Independent mechanic replaced transmission seals without permanent solution. One owner reported burning wire smell; dealer replaced radio and fuse box without resolving transmission issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in multiple cases; no effective remedy found in some instances. Computer replaced once but failed again; further computer replacement was questioned due to part availability.
Shift linkage/shifter handle failure
Manual shifter handle broke off during normal shifting (3rd to 4th gear at 35 MPH). Shifter handle is made from weak alloy, prone to breaking under normal use. Driver forced to relocate shift linkage by feel while driving with dust boot obscuring view—acute safety hazard. Dealer minimized issue and refused to contact manufacturer.
When: Post-purchase (exact mileage not stated); July 2013 date mentioned
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter handle broke off during normal gear shift; Handle subsequently came out of mount during driving; Driver had to find correct shift hole by feel while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced factory Dodge shifter handle with aftermarket Hurst shifter (stronger steel) using MOPAR bucks. Factory part broke from regular use; Hurst alternative supplied stronger material.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer ridiculed owner, claimed owner caused the breakage, refused to notify Dodge of safety hazard. Vehicle was out of warranty.
Powertrain control module (PCM) and electrical component failures
Powertrain control module (PCM) failures cause multiple downstream issues: battery and alternator failure, sensor faults (check engine light, tire pressure sensor illumination), and inability to restart vehicle. In one case, replacement computer failed again months later. In another, PCM failure not diagnosed correctly until third dealership visit.
When: 38,000–57,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminated; Tire pressure sensor light illuminated; Battery warning light illuminated; Vehicle stalls during driving; Battery and alternator fail secondary to PCM failure; Multiple engine sensors fault
Codes mentioned: Camshaft sensor failure (P0725 or similar, interpreted from narrative), Powertrain control module failure (no specific code given)
Repairs/costs cited: PCM replacement required; one case reported computer replacement, which failed again. Dealership required three separate diagnostic visits to correctly identify the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; referred owner to file NHTSA complaint. No recall or known service procedure mentioned.
Stuck accelerator / stuck throttle
Throttle pedal stuck in full acceleration position while driving on highway at high speed, passing another vehicle. Vehicle would not shut off and operator lost control of engine speed.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Throttle pedal stuck to floor; Throttle would not release; Engine would not shut off; Loss of speed control while passing on highway
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided in narrative.
Synthesized from 33 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2010 Dodge Challenger?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2010 Dodge Challenger?
It's a meaningful issue. 33 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 9,950 and 47,000 miles, with the median around 24,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 9,950; a quarter make it past 47,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Dodge/Challenger.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.