Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 Challenger.
The 1978 Dodge Challenger Overview sits entirely outside the model’s documented complaint record, which covers 2008 through 2023 and therefore offers no direct reliability or mechanical data for the 1978 model year itself. Within that later dataset, complaint volume peaked in 2010 with 298 reported issues and bottomed out in 2022 at just 9, revealing a wide variance in reported problem frequency across the modern generation. Because this history is confined to those later years, the 1978 edition remains absent from the model’s available reliability arc, leaving its body, platform, and engine details—as well as its dependability profile—to be established through sources beyond this record.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 183.1 in |
| Overall width | 65.7 in |
| Overall height | 52 in |
| Wheelbase | 98.8 in |
| Curb weight | 2509 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Challenger of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Coupe 2.6L I-4 | 11.70 sec | 18.20 sec | 105 hp | RWD |
| 1970 | R/T SE 440-6 Coupe 7.2L V8 | 5.80 sec | 14.00 sec | 390 hp | RWD |
| 1970 | T/A Coupe 5.6L V8 | 7.10 sec | 15.40 sec | 290 hp | RWD |
Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith) |
| Why | Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module |
| When needed | After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement |
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool |
| Also required | The vehicle's four-digit PIN code |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
THE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUEL LEAKAGE EXISTS DUE TO AN INADEQUATE STAKING OPERATION THAT MAY ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK BY THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM AND DISCHARGE FROM THE PUMP BODY THROUGH THE PUMP BREATHER HOLE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FUEL PUMPS AT NO COST TO OWNERS.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.