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Dead Battery Trend: A Comprehensive Review of Complaints

32K views 72 replies 32 participants last post by  Hal H 
#1 · (Edited)
It seems that many, many Challenger owners have had spontaneous dead batteries on very new, low mileage, well maintained cars. In a great deal of cases, the cause is unknown (the battery is simply dead). In other cases, it is related to faulty wiring, faulty circuits, faulty door handles, faulty power drains, faulty trunk light discharge (or trunk left open), faulty subwoofer/radio leaching when car is off, and other faulty parts. This is tremendously inconvenient and has left many owners stranded. This has resulted in missed work, meeting, events, and potential hazardous safety situations.

Below are just some threads with complaints. These are by far not all the complaints.

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/dead-battery-62986/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/woke-up-stone-dead-battery-morning-65980/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f34/new-owner-early-problems-very-optimistic-68045/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/battery-replacement-who-should-pay-69969/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/remoteless-entry-doesnt-work-70941/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f171/dead-battery-72792/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f37/dead-battery-no-start-condition-73786/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/2012-challenger-srt8-passive-entry-system-issues-75186/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/wont-start-wont-shut-off-dies-while-driving-71182/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forum...tic-new-car-i-have-ever-owned-bar-none-81582/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/battery-dead-76321/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/overall-quality-challenger-76893/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f89/rt-wont-start-56929/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/2012-challenger-wont-start-82407/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/dead-battery-83569/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f108/windows-not-dropping-down-when-door-opens-31082/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/challenger-wont-start-85451/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/arrghh-dead-battery-82231/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/7000-miles-most-problematic-car-ive-ever-owned-88243/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/no-start-88974/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/dead-battery-2010-r-t-90768/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/another-challenger-dead-battery-story-88413/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/battery-woes-gone-93530/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/remote-start-does-not-work-after-batttery-drained-92918/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/dead-battery-again-saga-continues-98999/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f202/electrical-problem-nav-radio-died-100555/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/dead-battery-hyper-sensitve-fob-100849/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/2-years-old-dead-battery-101933/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/car-dead-wont-do-nothing-103154/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/help-dead-battery-48052/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/challenger-wont-start-all-49371/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/dead-battery-wtf-49696/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f170/she-wont-start-53896/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f171/dead-battery-59057/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/dead-then-jumped-now-fine-59487/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/dead-battery-60675/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f188/what-happens-windows-battery-dead-60749/

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/challenger-has-dead-battery-62324/

Please post your stories here as well. I think someone from Chrysler should seriously look at this thread and see that there are problems and after almost a 100 years of experience building cars, one would think they would have figured out how to prevent these incredibly inconvenient (and sometimes hazardous) dead battery situations.
 
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#3 ·
STill using old technology water filled batteries..
Time to use a vendor & have AGM or dry cells..
 
#4 ·
Well, since this happened to me a couple of years ago, - it hasn't happened since.

The more I reflect on it, the more I think that I may have left the dome light on.

Which STILL piszes me off, - the fact that with SO many microcontrollers, and microcontroller functions, I simply can't fathom the fact that they can't detect a dome light that was left on, and shut it off after some time (1/2 hour, - hour?), and then re-enable it when the door was re-opened (or re-closed).

Not to fear, - I'm in the process of designing such microcontroller chip that will fit into the dome light(s) that will do just that. Never again...
 
#5 ·
27k miles and a little over 2 years old, the only time I had a battery problem was due to leaving my Trinity connected to the OBD-II port overnight. Otherwise no problems.
 
#7 ·
24000 miles and 16 months, knock on wood, and no problems with battery. I have my cell charger plugged into the hot port all the time, and the nav and dvr camera on the accesory port. Those are my only additional power draws, with the exception of leaving the trunk open for 20-30 minutes.
My Challenger is a daily driver are rarely sits for a day without being driven, with the sole exception of parking her in garage on our 2 week vacation. She started right up.

The one issue I do see, atleast related to electronics, is the Dash cluster EVIC has power to it, I see it at night, Car off and no ambient lights to distort vision, but their is a faint glow of orange on that display, 1 hour after leaving car and peaking in, I have not gone and inspected 6+ hours later (like the next moring)
 
#8 ·
Battery was dead in my first challenger (2012 sxt) within 3 days of delivery. I made them tow it and fix it
 
#9 ·
I would be curious to know how many daily drivers have battery problems on the "comprehensive" listing.
 
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#10 ·
Reviewed many of the linked posts and most of the ones I saw never had follow up to
say how the issue resolved. This makes me think there really is not an issue but rather people have forgotten to turn of something (something I only do several times a year). Also many of the posts linked were 2 years old.
 
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#15 ·
I LOVE my Challenger. That being said, the thing eats batteries like my kids to candy! 9/17/12 - dead battery. 9/13/13 - dead battery. 9/21/13 - dead battery. The first time, 9/17/12, I understood because it's a 2010 which I did not purchase until July 14, 2011, so no big deal. Batteries don't last forever. The second time, 9/13/13 (less than a year after the first) the service dept. says the battery was just a bad battery and they put a brand new one in. They also said that because I don't drive it everyday (yeah, I baby my R/T) that the battery becomes discharged. Which could have some validity to it, however, after it has been completely recharged it should remain that way for awhile. I used to sell cars for a living, I know when a vehicle sits for long periods without being driven the battery can discharge. I do make a point of driving it at least once a week for at least 30 minutes just to keep tires, batteries, etc. in check. She is in a garage whether I am at home or work. The third time, 9/21/13 (8 days later, I drove it 7 out of the 8), they tell me that the new battery had a "small acid" leak. So they have put a new battery in it. I have not gone to pick her up yet, 9/26/13, I am going to tell them to go make sure it will crank before I get someone to give me a ride to the dealership. Thank goodness I have another mode of transportation.
 
#11 ·
I use my challenger as a daily driver. I don't leave any electronics on when the car is off. The trunk is closed. Nothing is plugged into the outlet. I drive my car every day...sometimes there might be a 36-48 hour gap. Recently, my battery died after the car was off overnight. This car is one year old. This should not happen.
 
#12 ·
Since 2008 I have had to replace 2 batteries (one lasted 6 months, bad cells) in a Lincoln aviator, yearly battery change in my ATV (except last year), yearly battery change in the my motor home (not the starter but the house side) and both sets of batteries in my Dodge Diesel. I suspect battery manufacture has changed (perhaps for very good environmental reasons).
 
#13 · (Edited)
There have been a lot of remote battery failures. I am now wondering if carrying your fob in your pocket could be the problem I know when I am around my car and I bend over, the doors lock. That means the fabric is activating the contact. Sitting at your desk at work could do the same thing. Just a thought. Haven't had to replace my fob batteries yet. The one time my car battery died was when I left it sit in the garage too long over winter and the radio clock drained the battery.
 
#17 ·
Yeah, I thought about the parasitic draw, I suggested that this third time, and the service guys spent all day on Monday, and most of the day on Tuesday nursing my baby. That's when they discovered the acid leak. You are right on the money about this not being normal. Thanks for the quick reply. I am glad to know that I am not all alone out here.
 
#20 ·
Oh, yes. I know. I think the batteries are just crap. (if the batteries are the issue) I have been attempting to read through all the battery posts, hoping to find possible answers to my problem. I mean, this is getting to be very upsetting to me. I Love my car, I want it to be fixed. Whatever the problem is and if the guys in the service department can't figure it out, then I will go looking for answers everywhere and anywhere I can. I come from a family of grease monkeys and car nuts. I even have my uncle and brother doing research on this issue.
 
#24 ·
I went and picked up my pretty this morning, they replaced the battery, they say they "checked for draw-none found-battery was severely discharged - while charging battery found battery leaking acid -- alternator charging at 14.36V replaced battery."

Well, all know is I had fun driving in this morning. I have missed my car.
 
#28 ·
Uconnect shouldn't be active once you open the door, it shuts the radio and Uconnect off when you do that (Unless you're in the middle of a call, in which case it waits until the call ends).

Definitely sounds like you have draw somewhere, maybe a defective trunk switch? That won't be turned off automatically if on and will stay on until the battery is dead. You may want to fold one of your back seats down and see if the light ever comes on with the trunk closed.

If not, there has to be draw from something. Anything plugged in to the 12v adapter in the center console? I think that one might be hot all the time, but not sure since I don't use it.

You've definitely ruled out it being bad batteries. You have a draw somewhere, if it's still under warranty then the dealer should do the legwork and get it fixed.
 
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#29 ·
Yeah still under warranty. My awesome hubby brought her home as a surprise July 14, 2011, and she only has 16,066 miles on her at this point in time. So all the tows (3), and batteries (I think we are on the 4th one now) have been covered. They are calling Chrysler/Dodge now.

I don't leave anything plugged in. I have set everything to 0 seconds. I have done everything except the trunk idea. I have already called the shop to tell them to check that out.
 
#30 ·
The other thing is that you say they checked the draw before, do you know if they checked at the battery itself? If they did then they would've had to have the trunk open to do it at the battery and they may have just pulled the bulb out of the trunk light to simulate the trunk being closed, not realizing it could've been the source of the draw and also why they didn't see excessive draw.

Just thinking out loud. Hope they get it figured out quickly!
 
#31 ·
Not sure. But I did just get off the phone with them, they said they will try the trunk trick, I did think to tell them to be certain that the trunk was closed and to just pull the back seat down. So I hope they have enough "think outside the box" to em' to figure it out. I know I am probably making them nuts, but that is my car. I remember when I was a little girl and my Dad took me to car shows, I remember seeing the original and wanting one then and now I have one, and I don't want to have to get rid of it.
 
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