When Dodge revived the HEMI V8, Mopar fans went crazy, buying up every example they could and making the Dodge Challenger a very popular American muscle car all over again. But not everybody wants, or can afford, a HEMI V8 under the hood. Between the higher MSRP, costlier insurance, and awful gas mileage, plenty of people have opted to buy the V6 Challenger with the new 3.6 liter Pentastar motor.
And that may have been a mistake. Earlier this week Chrysler announced a major recall affecting all V6-equipped 2013 Challengers made between November of 2012 and January of 2013. These cars can apparently catch on fire. Whoops.
The recall is so severe that Chrysler is urging customers not to drive their cars, or park them in or near buildings. Apparently there is a condition that could cause the wiring harness to overheat and short circuit, producing a serious electrical fire. Chrysler was made aware of seven such incidents, though no injuries have been reported.
The recall affects 4,459 vehicles, of which 1,900 are in dealer hands. That means there are still more than 2,500 vehicles at risk on the roads, and Chrysler asks any owners to contact their local dealership on how to proceed. While that may be inconvenient, it’s a helluva lot better than watching your Challenger go up in smoke.