Dodge Charger problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 431 owner complaints and 18 safety recalls for the Dodge Charger. That averages 10.5 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.25 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Sports & muscle cars segment it ranks #1 of 2 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 12.7.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, NHTSA has logged 431 owner complaints and 18 safety recalls for the Dodge Charger, averaging 10.5 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.25 against all tracked vehicles. While the 2025 model year shows the highest rate with 20.9 complaints per year and runs at least 50% above the model's own average, years 2021 and 2022 sit well below that average. The most common problem area is Airbags & seat belts accounting for 24.6% of complaints, followed by Electrical at 23.0% and Engine at 10.4%, with 38 complaints describing a crash or fire resulting in 27 injuries and 1 death. Owners should research the 2025 model year most carefully as it generated the most recent reports totaling 32, while half of all reported incidents occur within 37 months of the model year's start.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 60% below the 2018 and 2019 models (9 early complaints per model year versus 26).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (20.9 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (3.0). The 2025 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. Model years 2021 and 2022 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Airbags & seat belts (24.6% of complaints), followed by Electrical (23.0%) and Engine (10.4%). Airbags & seat belts complaints are 6.4 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “bags recall”, “notification air”, “air bags”, “tool” and “confirms available”. 38 complaints (8.8%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 27 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 97 complaints versus 91 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (32). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 37 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 18 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2018 (4). 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture” (opened 2021-09-17, still open).
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Sports & muscle cars, including Ford Mustang.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 122 | 14.1 | 0.34 | 27 | 0.3 | 5 | 6 | Electrical | View › |
| 2019 | 120 | 15.6 | 0.37 | 26 | 0.32 | 13 | 5 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2020 | 57 | 8.5 | 0.2 | 7 | 0.12 | 7 | 3 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2021 | 33 | 5.8 | 0.14 | 5 | 0.08 | 5 | 2 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 14 | 3.0 | 0.07 | 2 | 0.03 | 7 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 26 | 7.1 | 0.17 | 6 | 0.07 | 13 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2024 | 24 | 9.0 | 0.21 | 13 | 0.18 | 15 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 Years to research carefully | 35 | 20.9 | 0.5 | — | — | 32 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 97 · Previous 12 months: 91 Steady
Problem areas
Airbags & seat belts ›
106 · 24.6% · 6.44 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- bags recall48
- notification air48
- air bags59
- confirms available44
Engine ›
45 · 10.4% · 0.47 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- shut11
- engine20
- lifters3
- attempts4
Interior & equipment ›
41 · 9.5% · 1.06 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- screen11
- radio8
- door panels3
- warping3
Body & structure
33 · 7.7% · 0.83 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- door panel13
- door frame6
- panels7
- side door9
Transmission / powertrain
32 · 7.4% · 0.64 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- electrical8
- transmission10
- gear7
- delay4
Brakes
21 · 4.9% · 0.8 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brake16
- rotor5
- pads6
- brembo3
Wheels, tires & suspension
18 · 4.2% · 1.68 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tire12
- tpms3
- wear4
- suspension4
Steering
10 · 2.3% · 0.36 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering8
- wheel5
- right4
- power5
Fuel system
10 · 2.3% · 0.54 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- filler3
- fuel6
- leak4
- garage4
Lighting
8 · 1.9% · 1.19 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- bulbs3
- illumination3
- night4
- headlights3
Other
5 · 1.2% · 0.64 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
3 · 0.7% · 0.12 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- bags recall49
- notification air49
- air bags61
- tool47
- confirms available45
- door panel17
- uconnect21
- amount recall50
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 37 months
What owners report
The contact owns a 2025 Dodge Charger EV. While reversing, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to restart. Additionally, the instrument cluster indicated that the transmission was switching gears, but the vehicle had completely stopped.
Car caught fire while parked in a parking garage. Car was off.
his vehicle is a two-door, five-passenger Dodge Charger equipped with the power Rear Seat Easy Entry feature. Because the vehicle only has two doors, the driver’s seat must automatically move forward toward the steering wheel to provide access for passengers…
My climate control system and airbags malfunction. This seems to be related to the UConnect system. My vehicle is available for inspection as needed. It has not been to a dealer for inspection yet, but an appointment is scheduled.
[XXX] Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, located in [XXX] performed an airbag recall on my vehicle. The vehicle was put back together incorrectly, and the headliner, rearview mirror, and sunglass holder are all hanging loose.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Sports & muscle cars
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Charger | 431 | 10.5 | 0.25 | Improving | Steady | 18 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 2 | Ford Mustang | 658 | 14.8 | 0.35 | Worsening | Steady | 37 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 18
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (6) · 2019 (5) · 2020 (3) · 2021 (2) · 2022 (3) · 2023 (2) · 2024 (3) · 2025 (3)
Investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture Open
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupt…
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Charger model year has the most complaints?
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (20.9 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (3.0).
Is the Dodge Charger getting better or worse?
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 60% below the 2018 and 2019 models (9 early complaints per model year versus 26). In the last 12 months owners filed 97 complaints versus 91 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Dodge Charger problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Airbags & seat belts (24.6% of complaints), followed by Electrical (23.0%) and Engine (10.4%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “bags recall”, “notification air”, “air bags”, “tool” and “confirms available”.
How does the Dodge Charger compare with other Sports & muscle cars?
Within the Sports & muscle cars segment it ranks #1 of 2 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 12.7. It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Sports & muscle cars, including Ford Mustang.
Does the Dodge Charger have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 18 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2018 (4). 1 NHTSA defect investigation has covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture” (opened 2021-09-17, still open).