Can't speak for others but my Challenger has been very reliable. I purchased my 2008 SRT8 new back in 2008, and have no issues with the Challenger. In fact I have to say, that it's been one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. It's been reliable, and other than a recall on the key fob for reprograming.....never a problem. I should add that I don't "hot dog" much and never race it. Just a real nice cruiser... I find it interesting that you say you keep finding a reoccurring theme that the Challenger is unreliable as most of what I have read never even mentioned it. In fact the only reoccurring theme I have found deals with the size and weight of the Challenger. Which is really funny, because if you look at the Camaro, it's only between 300 and 500 pounds lighter.......
Most writers who say the Challenger is unreliable are still living in the '70's when most Chrysler products had quaility issues......(Great Engineering, poor quaility control)