Dodge Charger years to avoid (and the best years)
3,097 NHTSA owner complaints and 40 recalls across 14 model years, 2010 to 2023. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 3,097complaints
- 40recalls
- 175reported crashes
- 162reported fires
- 130reported injuries
- 5reported deaths
Which Dodge Charger years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Dodge Charger years to avoid are 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. The typical Dodge Charger year has 132 complaints on file.
- 2011: 695 complaints, 5.3 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (57% of complaints) and the exterior lighting (23% of complaints).
- 2012: 648 complaints, 4.9 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (55% of complaints) and the airbags (17% of complaints).
- 2013: 360 complaints, 2.7 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (46% of complaints) and the engine (14% of complaints).
- 2014: 343 complaints, 2.6 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (32% of complaints) and the engine (19% of complaints).
What are the best Dodge Charger years?
The Dodge Charger years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2022 (14), 2023 (26) and 2021 (34). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 26 | 0.2× | 2 | 3 | 0 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 14 | 0.1× | 3 | 3 | 1 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2021 | 34 | 0.3× | 2 | 2 | 0 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2020 | 57 | 0.4× | 3 | 10 | 7 | Some concerns to check | Airbags |
| 2019 | 120 | 0.9× | 5 | 7 | 11 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2018 | 122 | 0.9× | 6 | 5 | 6 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2017 | 128 | 1.0× | 4 | 3 | 4 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2016 | 182 | 1.4× | 6 | 7 | 15 | Few red flags | Body and structure |
| 2015 | 136 | 1.0× | 8 | 10 | 3 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2014 | 343 | 2.6× | 10 | 41 | 27 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
| 2013 | 360 | 2.7× | 8 | 25 | 18 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
| 2012 | 648 | 4.9× | 14 | 20 | 16 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
| 2011 | 695 | 5.3× | 11 | 25 | 16 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
| 2010 | 232 | 1.8× | 6 | 14 | 6 | Some concerns to check | Electrical system |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 1,071 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Electrical & infotainment554 (52%)
- Engine & powertrain225 (21%)
- Airbags & seat belts144 (13%)
- Steering, suspension & tires57 (5%)
- Other systems46 (4%)
Recalls (40)
Safety · 24V574000 · Aug 2024 · model year 2023
A seat back that is not locked into position can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Airbags · 24V198000 · Mar 2024 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury or death.
Safety · 24V112000 · Feb 2024 · model year 2023
A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Transmission · 22V866000 · Nov 2022 · model year 2022
An improperly engaged shifter assembly may slip out of the "drive" position, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tires · 22V808000 · Oct 2022 · model year 2022
Inoperative TPMS sensors will not alert the driver to low tire pressure. In addition, a TPMS warning light that is already illuminated from a failed battery sensor will mask an actual tire pressure failure issue. Either of these scenarios can result in tire failure and increase the risk of a crash.
Tires · 22V504000 · Jul 2022 · model year 2022
Inoperative TPMS sensors will not alert the driver to low tire pressure. In addition, a TPMS warning light that is already illuminated from a failed battery sensor will mask an actual tire pressure failure issue. Either of these scenarios can result in tire failure and increase the risk of a crash.
Body & glass · 21V516000 · Jul 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Safety · 20V512000 · Aug 2020 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020
The lack of a back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 19V758000 · Oct 2019 · model year 2019
A damaged tire can suddenly lose air pressure and increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 19V246000 · Mar 2019 · model year 2019
Failure to provide the air bag warning information increases the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 19V203000 · Mar 2019 · model year 2019
Failure of the instrument cluster to properly illuminate may prevent the driver from receiving warnings about the vehicle's systems, increasing the risk of crash.
Airbags · 19V018000 · Jan 2019 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Electrical system · 18V524000 · Aug 2018 · model year 2018
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 18E053000 · Jul 2018 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 18V332000 · May 2018 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Transmission · 18V281000 · May 2018 · model years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
If the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 18V280000 · May 2018 · model year 2018
If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 18V021000 · Jan 2018 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Safety · 17V824000 · Dec 2017 · model year 2016
If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Electrical system · 17V741000 · Nov 2017 · model year 2014
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Engine · 17V496000 · Aug 2017 · model year 2017
If an EOC line fails, oil may spray onto the windshield or contact a hot surface, impairing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
Electrical system · 17V435000 · Jul 2017 · model years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Transmission · 17V097000 · Feb 2017 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
A loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 16V352000 · May 2016 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Transmission · 16V240000 · Apr 2016 · model years 2012, 2013, 2014
Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.
Structure · 16V043000 · Jan 2016 · model years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
A car that falls unexpectedly increases the risk of injury.
Airbags · 15V467000 · Jul 2015 · model years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Air bags that unexpectedly deploy increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Safety · 15V461000 · Jul 2015 · model year 2015
Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 15V313000 · May 2015 · model year 2010
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Engine · 15V114000 · Feb 2015 · model year 2015
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Electrical system · 14V634000 · Oct 2014 · model years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Exterior lighting · 14V101000 · Mar 2014 · model years 2011, 2012
Loss of headlights reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 13V610000 · Dec 2013 · model year 2013
The transmission output shaft fracture could result in a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park'.
Airbags · 13V118000 · Apr 2013 · model years 2011, 2012
In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment the airbags may not operate as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
Brakes · 12V197000 · May 2012 · model years 2011, 2012
THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Brakes · 12V042000 · Feb 2012 · model years 2011, 2012
THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY AND/OR BRAKING ABILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Tires · 12V004000 · Jan 2012 · model year 2012
UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH.
Engine · 11V487000 · Sep 2011 · model year 2012
CONNECTING ROD FAILURE MAY LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Electrical system · 10V200000 · May 2010 · model year 2010
THE RESULT OF THE DEFECT COULD LEAD TO A CONDITION WHERE THE KEY MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH (WIN MODULE) PRIOR TO PLACING THE SHIFTER IN PARK. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Safety · 09V420000 · Oct 2009 · model year 2010
WHILE DRIVING, A TIRE AND WHEEL SEPARATION COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.