DODGE: THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED AUDIO CONTROL SWITCHES ON ABOUT 300 OF CERTAIN CHALLENGER VEHICLES WERE NOT INSTALLED DURING VEHICLE MANUFACTURING. STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED AUDIO CONTROL SWITCHES AND A RELATED WIRING HARNESS MUST BE INSTALLED. CSC LETTER WAS REC'D.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Dodge Challenger steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2010 Dodge Challenger have filed 33 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 44,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Challenger | 8 |
| 2010 Challenger (this page) | 33 |
| 2011 Challenger | 14 |
| 2012 Challenger | 19 |
| 2013 Challenger | 15 |
| 2014 Challenger | 20 |
When does it fail?
Of the 33 steering complaints filed for the 2010 Dodge Challenger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 11 model years of Dodge Challenger we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 33.
Owners have filed 33 steering 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 steering 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint is unpredictable engine stalls at any speed—from parking lots to freeways—that wipe out power steering and power brakes simultaneously. Owners describe the steering wheel becoming rock-hard and the brake pedal either not responding or requiring extreme force. The engine dies with no warning lights, no stored trouble codes, and no pattern the owner or dealer can reliably reproduce. One owner logged the issue 40+ times; others reported 7–9 shutdowns with 3 involving multiple passengers. The car restarts easily once placed in Park, but the randomness—some happen during right turns, others straight through intersections during rush hour—makes prediction impossible.
Dealerships consistently say they find nothing wrong and cannot duplicate the failure. One PCM replacement and one key-fob swap were attempted as fixes without success; throttle-body cleaning also failed. Manufacturer representatives have inspected vehicles and claimed no defect.
Secondary issues include power steering hose leaks at the crimped connection as early as 29,000 miles (covered under recall 10V475000 for some vehicles but not others with identical build dates and failure modes), white smoke from the steering column area, and one case of timing chain breakage. A steering column reinforcement beam fracture was also reported. One owner documented zero oil pressure on the gauge during a shutdown event, though pressure returned to normal after restart.
Every complaint emphasizes the danger: stalls in traffic, at intersections, on curves, and on crowded highways where sudden loss of steering and braking invites rear-end collisions or running off the road.
Same Dodge Challenger steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent engine stall with total electrical loss
Engine shuts down completely while driving with no stored diagnostic codes. Loss of all electrical functions including power steering and power brakes. Vehicle restarts after placed in Park and restarted. Occurs randomly at any speed (5–75 mph), often during turns but also straight driving, with no reproducible pattern.
When: Mileage ranges from 6,000 to 56,000 miles; timing unpredictable—occurs hours to weeks apart
Symptoms owners cite: Engine dies without warning; Loss of power steering (steering wheel becomes hard to turn); Loss of power brakes (brake pedal becomes inoperable or extremely difficult to depress); Check engine light does not illuminate; No OBD/diagnostic codes stored; Oil pressure gauge shows zero during shutdown; Vehicle restarts immediately after placed in Park; Occasional oil or ESP/ABS warning light may appear briefly before shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to diagnose; no codes captured. One owner reported dealership replaced key fob (ineffective). One owner reported PCM replacement after 'lost communication with PCM' codes were found, but stalls resumed within months. Throttle body cleaning did not resolve issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge/Chrysler states 'not serious' because no codes are stored and cannot duplicate failure. No recalls or TSBs issued. Dealership test drives do not reproduce the issue. Manufacturer representatives inspected some vehicles and found nothing wrong.
Power steering hose failure at crimped connection
Power steering pressure hose leaks at the point where hose is crimped to hard line. Fluid loss can saturate serpentine belt and engine components.
When: As early as 3 years / 29,000–51,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid leaking from hose connection point; Oil/fluid spray visible on serpentine belt and engine; Potential fire hazard from fluid on hot engine and electrical connections
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering pressure hose replacement required. One owner reported the leak recurred after initial repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 10V475000 exists for similar issue on other Chrysler vehicles but does not cover some 2010 Challengers due to build-date exclusion. Manufacturer denied coverage on out-of-recall vehicles despite identical failure mode.
Loss of power steering at low idle
Power steering loses function when engine is at low idle speed, making the steering wheel very stiff and difficult to turn.
When: Noted on low-mileage RT Classic model
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering becomes inoperative or severely reduced at low idle; Steering wheel becomes very difficult to turn
Steering column reinforcement beam fracture
Steering column internal reinforcement beam cracks or breaks, producing audible snap or pop noise.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Loud snap or pop sound from steering column; Steering column reinforcement beam visibly cracked or broken
White smoke from steering wheel area
White smoke emits from the space between dashboard and steering wheel during highway driving with no associated warning lights.
When: At 65 mph highway speed
Symptoms owners cite: White smoke visible between dashboard and steering wheel; No warning lights illuminated; Engine and other systems operate normally
Engine stall due to timing chain failure
Timing chain breaks, causing complete loss of engine power and steering while vehicle is in motion on highway.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of engine power; Loss of power steering; Vehicle immobilized in traffic lane
Repairs/costs cited: Timing chain replacement required
Limp-mode power loss on highway
Vehicle loses power and cannot exceed 45 mph while check engine light illuminates. Issue resolves after vehicle is shut off and restarted, then recurs at random intervals.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Engine power loss (vehicle enters limp mode); Speed limited to approximately 45 mph; Vehicle must be shut off and restarted to restore normal operation; Occurs randomly while driving at highway speeds
Codes mentioned: Misfire on cylinder 1 (commonly reported code)
Repairs/costs cited: Root cause unknown; dealerships unable to diagnose.
Synthesized from 33 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
While doing an oil change on my car, I found that the power steering hose was leaking where the hose is crimped to the hard line. After some online searching I found recall 10v475000 related to this same issue with other Chrysler vehicles. According to the recall, Chrysler does not include the build date of my vehicle. I don't understand how my vehicle, which was built only a few months prior to…
I was on the highway when all of a sudden I lost power to the engine and steering. I was not able to get to side of the road. I was stuck in the middle of the highway. I had the car towed to the shop where I was told that the timing chain had broken. Wow *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Dodge challenger. The contact stated that the power steering fluid was leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering pressure hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign: 10v475000 (steering).…
While doing an oil change on my car, I found that the power steering hose was leaking where the hose is crimped to the hard line. After some online searching I found recall 10v475000 related to this same issue with other Chrysler vehicles. According to the recall, Chrysler does not include the build date of my vehicle. I don't understand how my vehicle, which was built only a few months prior to…
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2010 Dodge Challenger?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 33 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 26,000 and 56,000 miles, with the median around 44,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 26,000; a quarter make it past 56,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.