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2017 Dodge Charger problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
32%
37 of 116 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2017 Dodge Charger. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 32% of relevant complaints.

Better than 67% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 29%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Dodge Charger have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 37 of 116 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Dodge Charger concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (32%). For comparison, the 2016 scores 42% and the 2018 scores 20%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
37
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
128
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
3 crashes · 4 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM48 · 38%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER31 · 24%
STRUCTURE20 · 16%
ENGINE18 · 14%
POWER TRAIN17 · 13%
STEERING8 · 6%

The years either side

2010
49%
87 of 238
2011
36%
178 of 699
2012
33%
167 of 661
2013
33%
104 of 367
2014
39%
124 of 346
2015
52%
59 of 136
2016
42%
69 of 182
2017
32%
37 of 128
2018
20%
23 of 122
2019
28%
16 of 120
2020
30%
6 of 57
2021
47%
8 of 35
2022
too few complaints
2023
48%
12 of 26

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Dodge Charger

What one owner reported

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11/17/20173 INJURED
SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE AND INSIDE MY CAR AND WHEN THE AIR WAS ON THE SMELL WAS COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. I BROUGHT IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SMELLED THE GAS OUTSIDE THE CAR. THEY PULLED UP MY BACKSEATS AND THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF GAS THAT LEAKED FROM THE FU…

One of 37 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Dodge Charger?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2017 Dodge Charger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: driveline: driveshaft18V281000 · May 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Dodge Charger pursuit police vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive and V8 engines. The front driveshaft universal joint may seize or fracture causing the shaft to detach from the vehicle.

Risk: If the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this…

engine and engine cooling: engine17V496000 · Aug 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles equipped with Hellcat engines. The engine oil cooler (EOC) hoses may fail resulting in a rapid loss of engine oil.

Risk: 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.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EOC lines, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall…

power train: axle assembly: axle shaft17V097000 · Feb 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD). The front driveshaft bolts may loosen and allow the front driveshaft to disconnect, potentially causing a loss of motive power.

Risk: A loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight front driveshaft bolts, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's…

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
electrical system: wiring18V332000 · May 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2017 Dodge Charger? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2017 Dodge Charger

Does the 2017 Dodge Charger have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 37 of 116 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Dodge Charger concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (32%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Dodge Charger?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2017 Dodge Charger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 18V281000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft), 17V496000 (engine and engine cooling: engine), 17V097000 (power train: axle assembly: axle shaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Dodge Charger years are better?

Among the Dodge Charger years we track, the 2018 (20%), the 2019 (28%) and the 2020 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (32%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2017 Dodge Charger?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Dodge Charger shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.