The Dodge Charger is a full-size car built from 1983 to 2026 over 5 generations. Most were assembled in Canada — 99.9% of those on record. Between 1971 and 2027 it grew 3 cm longer and gained 961 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6, V8, Electric. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Charger is
The Dodge Charger is a full-size car that Dodge built from 1983 to 2026 — 44 model years. Our measurements put it at 5 generations, the current one starting in 2025. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6, V8, Electric power. Its closest siblings in the Dodge range: Intrepid, Monaco.
Where the Charger is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 5,181 Chargers on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 2B3, 2C3, 283 | 2006-2026 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Dodge VIN decide which of these 5 lines your Charger belongs to. What every character in a Charger VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Dodge Charger adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Charger generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Charger's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Charger that gives 5 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-1972 | 522 cm | 292 cm | 1687 kg | - | - |
| 1973-1978 | 540 cm | 292 cm | 1609 kg | +18 cm | -78 kg |
| 1981-1987 | 442 cm | 245 cm | 1058 kg | -98 cm | -551 kg |
| 2006-2024 | 508 cm | 305 cm | 1860 kg | +66 cm | +802 kg |
| 2025-2027 | 525 cm | 307 cm | 2648 kg | +17 cm | +788 kg |
Between 1971 and 2027 the Charger gained 3 cm in length (+0.6%) and 961 kg in weight (+57.0%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Charger that is 961 kg against 3 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Dodge Charger tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Charger owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Dodge Charger have? Power & range
The Dodge Charger is offered with 4 powertrains — 3L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl, 2.2L 4-cyl, Electric. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 4 for the Dodge Charger, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.0L · 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | AWD | Regular |
| V8 | 5.7L · 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | RWD | Midgrade |
| 4-cyl | 2.2L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
| Electric | Electric motor | Single-speed | AWD | Electricity |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Charger by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Dodge Charger. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Charger | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 133 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 5,778 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $4,627/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 2,304 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Dodge Charger?
The Charger is a full-size car, built from 1983 to 2026 across 5 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6, V8, Electric.
Where is the Dodge Charger made?
Across 5,181 cars in our records the split is: Canada (99.9%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Charger have?
5 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2025. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Charger grew 3 cm longer and gained 961 kg.
What is the Dodge Charger warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Charger reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Charger?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Dodge
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Ram | 1994–2012 | 188 | 17 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Challenger | 1981–2026 | 77 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Dodge Durango | 1995–2026 | 160 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Viper | 1992–2017 | 45 | 16 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Caravan | 1984–2008 | 208 | 35 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Journey | 2009–2023 | 53 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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