What the Dodge Charger and Challenger Security System Does
The Dodge Charger and Challenger come with a factory passive keyless entry and alarm system that locks and unlocks the doors without turning a key, and sounds an alarm if someone tries to force entry or tamper with the ignition. The system arms automatically when you lock the car and disarms when you unlock it with the key fob or key. It does not require you to set up it manually — it works the moment you walk away.
The alarm monitors the door switches, hood latch, and trunk latch. If any of these open while the system is armed, the horn sounds and the lights flash. On newer models (2015 and later), the system also includes a tilt sensor that detects if someone tries to rock or lift the vehicle, and an interior motion sensor that triggers the alarm if movement is detected inside a locked, armed car.
This is a basic factory system, not a GPS tracker or remote monitoring service. It does not send alerts to your phone, and it does not contact police automatically. It is designed to deter theft and alert you or nearby people that something is wrong.
Key Takeaways
- The factory security system arms when you lock the car and disarms when you unlock it — you do not need to do anything extra.
- The alarm triggers if doors, hood, or trunk open while armed, and on newer models also if the car is tilted or motion is detected inside.
- The system uses your key fob battery, so a dead fob will prevent the car from locking and arming the alarm.
- A chirp or flash when you lock the car confirms the alarm is armed; silence or no lights means it did not arm.
- Aftermarket systems can add GPS tracking, phone notifications, and remote engine disable, but these are separate from the factory alarm.
How the Keyless Entry and Alarm Arm and Disarm
When you press the lock button on your key fob, two things happen at once: the doors lock and the alarm system arms. The fob sends a radio signal to a receiver module inside the car, which locks the doors and tells the alarm to monitor the entry points. You will see the lights flash once or twice, and sometimes hear a single chirp from the horn — this is the system confirming it is armed.
When you press unlock, the doors unlock and the alarm disarms. If the alarm was triggered while you were away, it will not sound again once you unlock the car. If you unlock the car with the physical key instead of the fob, the alarm still disarms, but the doors may not unlock automatically depending on your model year and settings.
The system stays armed as long as the car is locked. If you lock the car and then open a door without unlocking it first (for example, if a child pushes a door open from inside), the alarm will sound. This is intentional — it alerts you that a door has opened unexpectedly.
What Triggers the Alarm
The alarm sounds if any monitored entry point opens while the system is armed. On all Charger and Challenger models, this includes the driver and passenger doors, rear doors, hood, and trunk. The alarm will sound for as long as the door or latch remains open, or until you unlock the car with the fob or key.
On 2015 and newer models, the system also includes a tilt sensor and motion sensor. The tilt sensor detects if someone tries to lift the car on a jack or rock it side to side — common tactics to break windows or force entry. The motion sensor triggers if movement is detected inside the locked car, which catches someone trying to hide inside or move around after breaking in. Both of these sensors can be turned off through the vehicle settings if you want to disable them.
The alarm does not trigger if you unlock the car normally with the fob or key, even if a door is already open. It only triggers if an entry point opens while the car is locked and armed.
The Role of Your Key Fob Battery
The key fob battery powers the transmitter that sends the lock and unlock signal to your car. If the battery dies, you will not be able to lock or unlock the car remotely, and the alarm will not arm when you press the lock button. You can still unlock the car by turning the physical key in the door lock, but the alarm will remain disarmed.
Most Dodge key fobs use a CR2032 or CR2025 coin-cell battery, which costs a few dollars and lasts two to four years depending on how often you use the fob. You can replace it yourself by prying open the fob case with a small flathead screwdriver, removing the old battery, and inserting a new one with the positive side facing up. If you are unsure which battery your fob uses, the part number is printed on the back of the fob case.
If your fob battery is dead and you need to arm the alarm, you can lock the car with the physical key in the door lock. The alarm will arm automatically once the door is locked, even though the fob did not send a signal. You will not see the lights flash or hear a chirp, but the system is armed.
How to Tell If the Alarm Is Armed
When you lock the car with the fob, look for a single flash of the lights and listen for a single chirp from the horn. Both of these confirm the alarm is armed. On some models, you may see the lights flash without hearing a chirp, or vice versa — either one is normal.
If you lock the car and see no lights flash and hear no chirp, the alarm did not arm. This usually means the fob battery is dead, or a door or trunk is not fully closed. Check that all doors and the trunk are completely shut, then try locking again. If the lights still do not flash, replace the fob battery.
Some owners disable the chirp and light flash through the vehicle settings to avoid disturbing neighbors in quiet areas. If you have done this, the alarm is still armed even though you do not see or hear confirmation. You can re-enable the chirp and lights in the settings menu if you want the feedback back.
Aftermarket Security Upgrades and GPS Tracking
The factory alarm is a deterrent system — it makes noise and flashes lights to scare off thieves and alert people nearby. It does not track your car, send you alerts, or contact police. If you want those features, you will need an aftermarket security system, which is installed by a professional and wired into your car's electrical system.
Common aftermarket upgrades include GPS tracking (so you can see your car's location on your phone), push notifications (so you get an alert if the alarm triggers), remote engine disable (so you can shut off the engine remotely if the car is stolen), and glass-break sensors (which trigger the alarm if a window is smashed). These systems range from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand, depending on the features and the installer.
Aftermarket systems do not replace the factory alarm — they work alongside it. You will still have the factory keyless entry and basic alarm, plus the extra features the aftermarket system provides. Some owners add a dash camera or steering wheel lock as well, which are visible deterrents that make thieves less likely to target the car in the first place.
What to Do If the Alarm Keeps Going Off
If the alarm sounds every time you lock the car, or sounds randomly while the car is parked, the most common cause is a door or trunk that is not fully closed. Check all four doors and the trunk to make sure they are completely shut and latched. If one is slightly ajar, the alarm will trigger as soon as the system arms.
The second most common cause is a faulty door latch switch. This is a small sensor on each door that tells the alarm system whether the door is open or closed. If the switch fails, the alarm thinks the door is open even when it is closed, and it will not arm or will trigger when ready after arming. A dealer can test the switches and replace any that are faulty.
If the alarm is triggered by the tilt or motion sensor, and you did not intend to arm those sensors, you can turn them off in the vehicle settings. Go to the security or alarm menu in your instrument cluster, find the tilt and motion sensor options, and disable them. The doors and trunk will still trigger the alarm, but the tilt and motion sensors will not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the factory alarm call the police if it goes off?
No. The factory alarm only sounds the horn and flashes the lights. It does not send any signal to police or to a monitoring service. If you want police to be notified, you need a professional monitoring service, which is usually offered by aftermarket security companies for a monthly fee.
Can I arm the alarm without locking the car?
No. The factory system arms only when the car is locked. There is no separate "arm" button on the fob. If you want to arm the alarm while keeping the car unlocked (for example, while you are sitting in it), you will need an aftermarket system with a separate arm/disarm switch.
What happens if the battery in my car dies?
The alarm will not function because it has no power. Once the car battery is recharged or replaced, the alarm will work normally again. The alarm does not have its own backup battery — it draws power from the main car battery.
Can I disable the alarm completely?
You can disable the tilt and motion sensors through the vehicle settings, but you cannot disable the door and trunk sensors without professional reprogramming. If you want the alarm completely off, a dealer or security shop can reprogram the module, though this is not recommended because it removes your theft deterrent.
Will the alarm drain my car battery if I leave the car parked for weeks?
The alarm draws a very small amount of power when armed, but not enough to drain a healthy battery over weeks or months. If your battery is already weak or old, the alarm may contribute to it dying faster, but a modern car battery should hold a charge for at least a month with the alarm armed and the car sitting idle.