Airbag light stays on and bells. I put in for the recall but records show even on here that its repaired but it never has. I'm afraid it may explode and metal may come out and and harm me or passenger. Why does system show repair but it hasnt been and can it be repaired? It's a part of recall.
2013 Dodge Challenger airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Dodge Challenger have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Challenger | 36 |
| 2010 Challenger | 67 |
| 2011 Challenger | 30 |
| 2012 Challenger | 41 |
| 2013 Challenger (this page) | 12 |
| 2014 Challenger | 13 |
| 2015 Challenger | 10 |
| 2016 Challenger | 8 |
| 2017 Challenger | 4 |
5crashes
4injuries
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Dodge Challengers document four distinct airbag problems. First, frontal airbags have failed to deploy in actual crashes at speeds of 30 to 45 mph. One owner struck a parked car at 30 mph; another hit a tree at the same speed; a third was t-boned at 45 mph. None saw airbags deploy, and injuries ranged from bruising and neck pain to internal lung damage and concussions. One owner experienced the opposite failure—airbags deploying two minutes after a 40 mph impact, long after the collision ended.
Second, the airbag warning light and chime illuminate intermittently or constantly, signaling a system fault. One owner's light has cycled on every two weeks since September 2015, persisting through six hitch replacements and an open case with Dodge. Another owner's warning light came on at various speeds with no resolution.
Third, recall repairs for airbag inflators are incomplete. Owners received recall notices in November 2014 and February 2018 but dealers reported parts unavailable. After four months and multiple promises, replacement components never arrived. One owner's repair status shows completed in recall records despite never being performed.
The combination of non-deployment in crashes, false warning lights, and stalled recalls creates genuine occupant-safety risk.
Same Dodge Challenger airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag Non-Deployment in Crashes
Multiple owners reported that driver and/or passenger frontal airbags failed to deploy during collisions occurring at speeds ranging from 30 to 45 mph. Crashes involved impact with other vehicles, parked cars, and trees. Injuries ranged from bruising and neck/back pain to serious internal injuries and head trauma.
When: Mileage range 25,000–104,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on frontal impact; Vehicle damage and occupant injuries despite collision severity
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were towed and either destroyed or repaired by independent mechanics; no specific repair details provided. One incident resulted in a destroyed vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Numbers 19V018000 and 18V021000 (airbags) were issued. Manufacturer notified in some cases; investigation promised in at least one instance.
Delayed Airbag Deployment
One owner reported that after a collision at approximately 40 mph, driver and passenger airbags deployed approximately two minutes after the impact rather than at the moment of contact. Both occupants sustained injuries requiring hospital treatment.
When: 2,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags deployed two minutes after impact instead of on contact; Neck injury to driver, back and neck injuries to passenger in second vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Intermittent Airbag Warning Light and Chime
Multiple owners reported that the airbag warning light illuminated intermittently with an audible chime. In one case, the light came on every two weeks since purchase and persisted despite dealership service visits and hitch replacements. In another case, the warning light and chime occurred at various driving speeds. These warnings indicate a fault in the airbag system that may prevent proper deployment.
When: Occurring from 50,000 miles onward; one case began shortly after purchase in September 2015
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illumination; Audible chime accompanying warning light; Intermittent and recurring occurrence
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported the dealership replaced the hitch six times without resolving the issue. Other cases were not diagnosed or repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reported an open case with Dodge. Unclear if other cases were escalated.
Airbag Inflator Recall — Parts Unavailable
Owners who received passenger airbag inflator recall notices reported that dealerships could not supply replacement parts despite the recall being issued (one in November 2014, another in February 2018). Owners were told parts were unavailable even after waiting several months and receiving multiple assurances.
When: Recalls issued November 2014 and February 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to complete recall repair; Parts unavailable at dealerships despite recall notification
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; parts not supplied to dealerships.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall notices sent (NHTSA campaigns referenced). One owner stated recall records showed repair as completed even though the work was never performed.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 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 airbags problem on the 2013 Dodge Challenger?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 49,717 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2013/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.