Dodge Charger Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β NHTSA data
Comparing used Dodge Charger options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017β2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Free VIN check
Found a Dodge Charger? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns β they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Dodge Charger has 541 owner complaints and 31 safety recalls across model years 2017β2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2024 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Dodge
- Model
- Charger
- Model years analyzed
- 2017β2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 541
- Safety recall campaigns
- 31
- Crash-related complaints
- 36
- Fire-related complaints
- 9
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (128 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2024 (1 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Dodge Charger: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe DODGE CHARGER has 541 NHTSA complaints and 31 recalls on record. 36 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 541 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 31 federal recall campaigns
- 36 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
31 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:PARK PAWL
SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SERVICE BRAKES
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
PARKING BRAKE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 541 NHTSA complaints β these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
541 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
I am filing a safety complaint regarding my vehicle due to repeated mechanical failures that have caused it to become unreliable and unsafe. My vehicle has experienced ongoing issues despite multiple repair attempts. Most recently, the vehicle broke down again and left me stranded while I was transporting my mother to a critical cancer appointment and the 1st time had me stranded on the highway late at night. This situation created a serious safety concern, as we were left stuck in the vehicle without reliable transportation for the 3rd time. This is not an isolated incident. The vehicle has previously been in the repair shop for an extended period (over 50 days), for a separate issue that has been resolved. Despite these repeated failures and loss of use, the manufacturer, Stellantis, has declined a buyback request. I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle due to its unpredictability and repeated breakdowns. This poses a risk not only to myself and my passengers but potentially to others on the road. I am requesting that this issue be investigated as a potential safety defect.
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who initially informed the contact that parts were not yet available. The contact was later informed that parts were available, but a technician was not available to perform the recall repair. The contact stated that later, while the vehicle was unoccupied, parked, and turned off in the driveway, the front passenger's side air bag unexpectedly deployed, causing damages to the upholstery. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. A second dealer, Arrigo Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Ft. Pierce (5851 US-1, Fort Pierce, FL 34982), was informed of the failure but did not return the call. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that an engineer would inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
Car caught fire while parked in a parking garage. Car was off.
My passenger interior door panel structure on my 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack is expanding and separating. The warping plastic lip is shifting into the window channel and could impede the proper deployment path of the side-impact curtain or door airbags. This is a known issue with these vehicles and something needs to be done
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the air bag deployed while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.
While driving under normal conditions with no collision or impact, the side curtain airbag in my Dodge Charger Scat Pack deployed spontaneously. The deployment caused the headliner and pillar trim to rupture and released what appeared to be metal fragments and more. Occupants sustained scratches and narrowly avoided facial injury. I discovered thereβs a recall on this airbag as this is a known issue. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Dodge dealership for diagnosis and repair. During this process, i was informed that the VIN has an active safety recall related to the airbag/SRS system. However, the dealership declined to perform recall-related inspection or repairs due to the vehicle having a rebuilt title. Iβm concerned my recall remedy is being denied.
Read 14 more owner reports
I had a accident about 5 days ago where I got in a accident and upon impact my airbags deployed a lot of smoke came out of the air bags I couldnβt c or breathe and I also got burn by the air bags there was a open recall on my dodge charger that they said they took care of how ever messege on dash kept saying service air bag and currently itβs at a body shop being checked
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 a leaking evaporator core and replaced it under warranty. On [XXX] at approximately 50k, the exact same failure occurred again β loss of refrigerant and no cooling. The vehicle again required replacement of the evaporator core, a repair that involves removing the entire dashboard and is extremely labor-intensive and expensive. This appears to be a recurring defect rather than normal wear. I have learned that many other Dodge Charger and Challenger owners report identical evaporator failures, often multiple times, suggesting a possible design or manufacturing flaw with the HVAC evaporator used in these vehicles. Loss of A/C may seem like a comfort issue, but in extreme heat it can create a driver-safety risk due to overheating, window defogging problems, and driver fatigue. I live in Arizona where daytime temperatures regularly climb above 80 degrees, even in the winter. A major component like an evaporator should not repeatedly fail in a late-model vehicle. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether 2019β2022 Dodge Charger/Challenger vehicles are experiencing an abnormal rate of evaporator core failures that may warrant a recall, extended warranty, or technical service bulletin. Repairs Performed: β’ Evaporator core replaced in 2022 at Bill Luke Chrysler / Dodge in Phoenix, AZ β’ Evaporator core replaced again on February 4th, 2026 at AAA Auto Repair in Phoenix, AZ β’ Refrigerant leak confirmed both times β’ Dash removal required for repair Supporting Documents Available: Repair orders, dealership invoices, diagnostic reports INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Airbags did not deploy at impact.
The vehicle was sold under deceptive business practices. I inspected the vehicle and seen the tire (side wall) was badly damaged and the vehicle did not even run as mentioned in the description. The safety was in jeopardy and the seller made false claims for me to believe the vehicle was safe and ready to drive.
The driver side air bag in the roof of the car deployed when the engine was not on, and no one was in the vehicle. The car was parked in the driveway of the insured's residence when the air bag deployed. No visible damage to the exterior of the vehicle indicating a collision. The vehicle has been inspected by the local Dodge dealership (Mac Haik, Georgetown, TX), with no known cause of the air bag failure identified. Damage has been estimated at $6,700 to replace interior parts including the air bag and multiple sensors. Weather was noted by the owner of the vehicle as a potential cause, although research suggests that air bags SHOULD NOT deploy if the car engine is not running, when parked, and no one is in the vehicle regardless of weather conditions. Statements found that a cause could be airbag control module failure, wiring issues, sensor misinterpretation, which should lead to an investigation into the quality and workmanship of parts installed in the vehicle, with no liability for the owner. At no point was there any warning or indication of air bag or sensor failures/malfunctions.
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Shows a recall that could cause me and kids harm but says unavailable remedy. Now Iβm feeling paranoid driving
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power and the steering wheel would seize with no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle then the check engine warning light would be illuminated, and the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed back to the mechanic where it was diagnosed that the oil temperature sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V198000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Showing 20 of 541 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Dodge Charger
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations β hereβs what each number actually tells you about a used Dodge Charger, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Dodge Charger has 541 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Dodge Charger has 31 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 36 of the Dodge Charger's 541 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Dodge Charger vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Dodge Charger vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Dodge Charger has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Compare
Buyers also compare
How does the Dodge Charger stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Dodge Charger by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Dodge Charger.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Dodge Charger reliability β frequently asked questions
Is the Dodge Charger reliable?
Poor. The Dodge Charger has 541 NHTSA owner complaints and 31 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Dodge Charger years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (128 complaints), 2018 (122 complaints), 2019 (120 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Dodge Charger problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (164 complaints); AIR BAGS (117 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (107 complaints).
Does the Dodge Charger have recalls?
Yes β 31 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Dodge Charger. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.