Dodge Charger: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Dodge Charger problems by model year, from 3,133 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2015 (52%, 59 drivetrain complaints), 2010 (49%, 87 drivetrain complaints) and 2023 (48%, 12 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 13 Dodge Charger years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2018 (20%), 2019 (28%) and 2020 (30%). 2020 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2020 (30%) to 2021 (47%), up 17 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2011 drew the most drivetrain complaints (178 of 890 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Dodge Charger year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Charger | high | 49% | 87 | 238 | 2/13 | 6 |
| 2011 Charger | elevated | 36% | 178 | 699 | 7/13 | 12 |
| 2012 Charger | no elevated signal | 33% | 167 | 661 | 8/13 | 15 |
| 2013 Charger | no elevated signal | 33% | 104 | 367 | 9/13 | 9 |
| 2014 Charger | elevated | 39% | 124 | 346 | 6/13 | 11 |
| 2015 Charger | high | 52% | 59 | 136 | 1/13 | 8 |
| 2016 Charger | high | 42% | 69 | 182 | 5/13 | 6 |
| 2017 Charger | no elevated signal | 32% | 37 | 128 | 10/13 | 4 |
| 2018 Charger | no elevated signal | 20% | 23 | 122 | 13/13 | 6 |
| 2019 Charger | no elevated signal | 28% | 16 | 120 | 12/13 | 5 |
| 2020 Charger | no elevated signal | 30% | 6 | 57 | 11/13 | 3 |
| 2021 Charger | high | 47% | 8 | 35 | 4/13 | 2 |
| 2022 Charger | too few to score | – | 5 | 16 | – | 3 |
| 2023 Charger | high | 48% | 12 | 26 | 3/13 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Dodge Charger years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Dodge Charger engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns on the Dodge Charger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 38 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2011 | 11V487000 | engine and engine cooling | 2012 |
| Dec 2013 | 13V610000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2013 |
| Feb 2015 | 15V114000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline | 2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V240000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2012–2014 |
| Feb 2017 | 17V097000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2014–2017 |
| Aug 2017 | 17V496000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2017 |
| May 2018 | 18V280000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2018 |
| May 2018 | 18V281000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2015–2018 |
| Jul 2018 | 18E053000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2014–2016 |
29 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2009 | 09V420000 | wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 2010 |
| May 2010 | 10V200000 | electrical system: ignition: module | 2010 |
| Jan 2012 | 12V004000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2012 |
| Feb 2012 | 12V042000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2011–2012 |
| May 2012 | 12V197000 | service brakes, air: antilock: control unit/module | 2011–2012 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V118000 | air bags | 2011–2012 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V101000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2011–2012 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V634000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2011–2014 |
| May 2015 | 15V313000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V461000 | equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 2015 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V467000 | air bags: side/window | 2011–2014 |
| Jan 2016 | 16V043000 | structure | 2011–2016 |
| May 2016 | 16V352000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Oct 2016 | 16V739000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2011–2014 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V435000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2011–2014 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V741000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2014 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V824000 | equipment | 2016 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V021000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| May 2018 | 18V332000 | electrical system: wiring | 2014–2018 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V524000 | electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 2018 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V018000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2015 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V203000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V246000 | air bags | 2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V758000 | service brakes | 2019 |
| Aug 2020 | 20V512000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018–2020 |
| Jul 2021 | 21V516000 | visibility: windshield | 2020–2021 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V112000 | parking brake | 2023 |
| Mar 2024 | 24V198000 | air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator | 2018–2021 |
| Aug 2024 | 24V574000 | seats: critical fasteners | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Dodge Charger
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Dodge Charger
What are the worst years for the Dodge Charger?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Dodge Charger years are the 2015 (52% of relevant complaints, high), the 2010 (49% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2023 (48% of relevant complaints, high). 7 of 13 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Dodge Charger?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Dodge Charger years are the 2018 (20%), the 2019 (28%) and the 2020 (30%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Dodge Charger have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 13 scored years, 890 of 2,454 relevant NHTSA complaints (36%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021 and 2023.
Is the Dodge Charger reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 13 Dodge Charger years we score have an elevated complaint share and 6 do not. Pooled across those years, 36% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Dodge Charger?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Dodge Charger years we track, out of 38 in total: 18V280000 (May 2018, 2018), 18V281000 (May 2018, 2015–2018), 18E053000 (Jul 2018, 2014–2016), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.