Dodge Charger Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2006 draws 9.99 complaints per run and the 2016 2.37, a 4.2-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 80.2% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 1,741 complaints, typically at 4.9 years.

Dodge Charger years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Dodge Charger — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2025	1.46	19	13	too new
2024	1.33	8	6	too new
2023	1.5	24	16	too new
2022	1.15	15	13	too new
2021	1.46	35	24	too new
2020	1.9	57	30	yes
2019	2.21	117	53	yes
2018	2.15	118	55	yes
2017	2.38	126	53	yes
2016	2.37	173	73	yes
2015	2.35	127	54	yes
2014	4.42	318	72	yes
2013	4.3	331	77	yes
2012	7.08	588	83	yes
2011	10.69	620	58	yes
2010	2.63	208	79	yes
2009	2.39	158	66	yes
2008	4.74	550	116	yes
2007	4.66	489	105	yes
2006	9.99	1129	113	yes

ROWS 20·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2006 Charger asks a median $3,500, against $3,200 for a 2007, the next model year: 9% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 8 Dodge Charger years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2006, 2012, 2008; the three worth hunting are 2016, 2010, 2013.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Dodge Charger — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	236	4.6%	covered
1 year	327	10.9%	covered
2 years	455	19.8%	covered
3 years	601	31.4%	you pay
4 years	573	42.6%	you pay
5 years	587	54%	you pay
6 years	547	64.6%	you pay
7 years	601	76.3%	you pay
8 years	408	84.2%	you pay
9 years	262	89.3%	you pay
10 years	191	93%	you pay
11 years	122	95.4%	you pay
12 years	105	97.4%	you pay
13 years	50	98.4%	you pay
14 years	59	99.5%	you pay
15 years	24	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 19.8% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 80.2% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 32% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Dodge Charger, the early trouble is Service Brakes — reported at around 3.8 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Electrical System at 4.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Dodge Charger — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Electrical System	1741	4.9 yrs	33	136
Engine	941	6.9 yrs	12	40
Air Bags	731	6 yrs	132	5
Power Train	718	5.5 yrs	26	4
Fuel/propulsion System	468	7.6 yrs	1	3
Unknown Or Other	384	5.4 yrs	12	15
Steering	373	5 yrs	16	5
Service Brakes	351	3.8 yrs	27	10

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Charger's vehicle class. Per production run, the Chrysler 300 draws 4.11, the Kia K5 3.08 and the Hyundai Sonata 9.75, against 4.56 for the Charger.

FIG.05·Dodge Charger — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Charger	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Chrysler 300	6,171	86	1999–2026
Kia K5	486	21	2021–2026
Hyundai Sonata	16,220	152	1989–2026
Chevrolet Impala	10,373	98	1981–2026
Lincoln Continental	2,687	80	1981–2026
Porsche Panamera	111	93	2010–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Dodge Charger

Recalls133 campaigns Fuel economy98 mpg best Common problems5,784 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space25 cu ft Used prices3,545 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1983–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Dodge Charger reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 4.56 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Charger years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2006, 2012, 2008. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2016, 2010, 2013. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Charger problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 4.9 years, followed by Engine.

Will the warranty cover Charger problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 19.8% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 32% of the complaints here.

Is the Charger more reliable than the Chrysler 300?

No: 4.56 complaints per production run for the Charger against 4.11 for the Chrysler 300.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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