Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Charger vs FORD F 150
How the Dodge Charger and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Dodge Charger vs FORD F 150: The Charger has 541 complaints and 31 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls. The F-150's power train issues are a major concern, but its higher volume explains some of the difference. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Charger or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is a large sedan with a performance reputation, but owner complaints over 10 years show a pattern of electrical and air bag issues that can be costly and concerning. With 541 complaints (about 54 per year) and 31 recalls, it's less complaint-heavy than some trucks, but the nature of the problems—like A/C failures and unexpected air bag deployments—matters for daily ownership. The Charger also has 36 crash-related complaints and 31 injuries reported, so buyers should pay attention to safety systems. Overall, it's a car that demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially of electronics and air bags.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is America's best-selling truck, but NHTSA data shows a staggering 11,311 complaints over 10 years—over 1,100 per year—and 145 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the power train (especially transmission) and electrical system, with owners reporting hard shifts, sudden power loss, and camera malfunctions. There are also 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, which is a lot, though the huge number of trucks on the road partly explains the volume. For a used buyer, this means the F-150 can be a workhorse but needs careful checking of transmission and electronics.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Charger | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 541 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 31 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 36 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 54.1 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 31 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Dodge Charger
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM164
- 02AIR BAGS117
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER107
- 04ENGINE60
- 05POWER TRAIN56
Owners report A/C evaporator core failures (blowing warm air) and other electrical gremlins, sometimes multiple times. These can be expensive to fix and may indicate broader wiring or component issues.
Complaints include air bags deploying unexpectedly while parked or driving, which is a serious safety concern. This suggests possible sensor or module faults that could lead to costly repairs and injury risk.
Some owners experienced sudden loss of power and steering assist while driving, with the engine shutting down. This can be terrifying and dangerous, pointing to potential fuel or electrical faults.
While fewer complaints than electrical, power train issues like transmission jerking or loss of power are reported. These can affect drivability and lead to major repairs.
“The A/C evaporator core in my 2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat has failed twice within a short period of ownership. The first failure occurred at approximately 20K miles in 2022, when the air conditioning suddenly stopped blowing cold air. The dealership diagnosed…”
“Through conversations with a Dodge Certified Tech, this is ongoing and known issue with Dodge (RAM) trucks, dodge chargers etc. Curious as to why a safety recall has not been issued, with reports and complaints found online spanning back 2-3 years now. My car…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a frequent complaint: hard shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden power loss. This is the F-150's biggest reliability headache and can be expensive to fix.
Owners report front camera malfunctions, pre-collision assist errors, and other electrical glitches. These can disable safety features and require dealer visits.
With 1,164 complaints, lighting issues like headlight failures are common. This affects visibility and safety, especially at night.
Some engine complaints involve loss of power or stalling, though less frequent than transmission issues. Still, it's a critical system to check.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Dodge Charger — 31 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger electric vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel display to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Refl…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as gear selection and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 14, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 39D. Vehicle Identification…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Dodge Charger vehicles. The amplifier may be missing software, which can prevent the amplifier from emitting exterior sound, including pedestrian warnings. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Saf…
The risk: A vehicle that does not emit sound may fail to alert pedestrians of a moving vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and update the amplifier software, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 26, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 4…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Dodge Charger and Jeep Wagoneer S electric vehicles. An incorrectly installed spring may cause the loss of the park function when the vehicle’s gear selector is placed in the park (P) position, which can result in a vehicle rollaway. As such, th…
The risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the electric drive module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 63C. Vehicle Iden…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Dodge Charger Pursuit vehicles equipped with a "stealth mode." When stealth mode is selected, the backup camera rearview image will not display when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federa…
The risk: The lack of a back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update body control module software to disable stealth mode when the vehicle is shifted into "Reverse", free of charge. The recall began October 22, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer s…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Dodge Charger or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Dodge Charger has far fewer complaints per year (54 vs. 1,131) and fewer recalls (31 vs. 145), but the F-150's volume is partly due to its massive sales. In practice, the Charger may have fewer overall problems, but the F-150's issues are more concentrated in the transmission, which is a major repair. Buyers should weigh the frequency against the severity.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: F-150 has 11,311 complaints vs. Charger's 541, but F-150 sells in much higher numbers.
- Top issue: F-150's power train (transmission) complaints dominate, while Charger's top issue is electrical (A/C, wiring).
- Safety: Both have crash-related complaints, but F-150 has more injuries (287 vs. 31), likely due to volume.
- Recalls: F-150 has 145 recalls vs. Charger's 31, covering more systems like lighting and engine.
- Check air bag system for any warning lights or history of unexpected deployment; test all electronics including A/C.
- Listen for engine stalling or power loss during test drive; scan for stored codes related to fuel or ignition.
- Test drive the transmission extensively: look for hard shifts, jerks, or delayed engagement, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears.
- Check all cameras and driver-assist features for malfunction warnings; ensure they work properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission (F-150) or electrical system and air bags (Charger).
- Test drive at various speeds and conditions, paying attention to shifting and any warning lights.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes (F-150) or A/C repairs (Charger).
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed by a dealer.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Dodge Charger | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 24 |
| 2025 | 35 | 329 |
| 2024 | 1 | 617 |
| 2023 | 26 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 14 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 33 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 57 | 33 |
| 2019 | 120 | 36 |
| 2018 | 122 | 56 |
| 2017 | 128 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Dodge Charger or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Charger vs FORD F 150
- Dodge Charger total complaints
- 541
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Dodge Charger total recalls
- 31
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Dodge Charger avg complaints/year
- 54.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Dodge Charger
- Dodge Charger top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN