The best Charger years to buy are 2020 and 2022. Avoid the 2012: electrical recalls, alternator fires and air bag faults give it the highest complaint rate of any Charger.
Best years: 20202022 Years to avoid: 2012
Every Charger year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Charger problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24 | - | 3 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 27 | - | 2 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 16 | 20 | 3 | Electrical | Good buy |
| 2021 | 35 | 45 | 2 | Air bags | Good year |
| 2020 | 58 | 75 | 3 | Air bags | Good buy |
| 2019 | 120 | 124 | 5 | Air bags | Good year |
| 2018 | 122 | 152 | 6 | Electrical | Good year |
| 2017 | 129 | 146 | 4 | Electrical | Good year |
| 2016 | 182 | 187 | 6 | Structure | Average |
| 2015 | 136 | 144 | 8 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good year |
| 2014 | 346 | 368 | 11 | Electrical | Watch out |
| 2013 | 367 | 373 | 9 | Electrical | Watch out |
| 2012 | 661 | 800 | 15 | Electrical | Skip this year |
About the Charger
The Charger is Dodge's rear-drive full-size sedan, built on the same platform from 2011 to 2023. The 2011-2014 cars have electrical problems, including alternator failures that can cause fires, and air bag recalls. After the 2015 facelift the complaint rate drops sharply.
- 2011-2014: Seventh generation, early cars. Electrical, alternator and air bag recalls.
- 2015-2023: Facelift. Much lower complaint rate.
Charger warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Dodge files with NHTSA. 1,541 Charger bulletins are on file in total.
MIL Illumination: P0300, P0302, P0304 or P0306 (X56 Warranty Extension) This bulletin involves checking for excessive cylinder leakage and replacing the cylinder head if necessary.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Charger
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Engineering analysis EA21002 · 2012–2019 · opened Sep 2021
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.
Engineering analysis EA16002 · 2012–2014 · opened Feb 2016, closed Jun 2016 · led to recall 16V240000
On April 22, 2016, Fiat Chrysler Automotive US LLC, (FCA) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding a defect that could result in unattended vehicle rollaway with the engine running in approximately 811,586 model year (MY) 2012 to 2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles and MY 2014 to 2015 ...
Recall query RQ15004 · 2015 · opened Jul 2015, closed Jan 2016 · led to recall 15V508000
On July 23, 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) launched Safety Recall 15V-461 to remedy security vulnerabilities in approximately 1.4 million model year (MY) 2013 through 2015 vehicles equipped with Uconnect head units (HU) 8.4A (RA3 radio) and 8.4AN (RA4 radio) manufactured by Harman International.On July 24, 20...
Preliminary evaluation PE14022 · 2012 · opened Jul 2014, closed Nov 2014 · led to recall 14V634000
On July 22, 2014, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-022 to investigate 14 complaints (VOQs) alleging incidents of alternator failure resulting in engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2011 through 2012 Dodge Charger vehicles.The MY 2011 through 2012 Dodge Charger vehicles were sold with t...
Charger vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Dodge Charger?
2020 and 2022. The best Charger years to buy are 2020 and 2022. Avoid the 2012: electrical recalls, alternator fires and air bag faults give it the highest complaint rate of any Charger.
Which Dodge Charger years should I avoid?
2012. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Dodge Charger average.
Is the Dodge Charger reliable?
Post-2015 Chargers have a below-average complaint rate. The 2011-2014 cars had alternator and electrical recalls, so check those are done.
Based on 2,223 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.