Dodge Charger Engine Problems by Year

By CarWhere Research · Updated

Some. 642 of the 3,992 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Dodge Charger (16.1%) name the engine, 0.8× the median share across the 152 models we track. Across the 2015–2022 cohorts with published sales, the Dodge Charger rate is 0.15 per 1,000 sold, below the 0.44 median. The worst years are 2008, 2012 and 2011.

Engine complaints

642

Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models

Per 1,000 sold

0.15

2015–2022 cohorts

Share of all complaints

16.1%

of 3,992 complaints for this model

Engine recalls

3

NHTSA campaigns, all years

Dodge Charger engine complaints by model year

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling, and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.

Dodge Charger engine complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year
Model yearEngine complaintsPer 1,000 soldShare of all complaintsCrash / fire / injuryEngine recallsEngine TSBs*
2008WORST110—17.6%8—12
200943—24.6%5—7
201066—27.7%3—6
2011WORST86—12.4%10—21
2012WORST101—15.3%1211V48700026
201354—14.7%2—32
201464—18.5%7—40
2015250.2618.4%015V11400052
2016280.2915.4%4—48
2017190.2215.2%217V49600037
2018110.149%1—23
2019110.119.3%2—33
202060.0810.3%0—26
202130.048.6%0—28
202230.0418.8%0—15
20235—18.5%0—10
20244—16.7%0—0
20253—7.1%0—0
  • Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
  • Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
  • Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
  • *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.

Common Dodge Charger engine problems owners describe

We searched the narratives of all 642 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.

Stalling or shutting off while driving189 · 29.4%
Misfire or check-engine light101 · 15.7%
Overheating or coolant loss79 · 12.3%
Smoke, burning smell or fire78 · 12.1%
Engine failure, seizure or replacement53 · 8.3%
Knocking, ticking or rattling43 · 6.7%
Loss of power or limp mode26 · 4%
Oil consumption or oil leaks26 · 4%
Timing chain or belt24 · 3.7%

Dodge Charger years to avoid for the engine

2008 Dodge Charger

110 engine complaints (17.6% of the year's 624). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving.

2012 Dodge Charger

101 engine complaints (15.3% of the year's 661). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving. Covered by engine recall 11V487000.

2011 Dodge Charger

86 engine complaints (12.4% of the year's 696). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving.

Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Dodge Charger years to avoid.

Dodge Charger engine recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Dodge Charger model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.

  • 17V496000 · 2017-08-08 · 2017 models

    The engine oil cooler (EOC) hoses may fail resulting in a rapid loss of engine oil.

  • 15V114000 · 2015-02-27 · 2015 models

    O-ring seal and fuel rail crossover hose damage may result in the fuel rail hose connection leaking fuel.

  • 11V487000 · 2011-09-29 · 2012 models

    CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHRYSLER VEHICLES, INCLUDING 200 AND TOWN AND COUNTRY MODELS, DODGE VEHICLES, INCLUDING CHARGER, DURANGO, GRAND CARAVAN AND JOURNEY MODELS AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 31, 2011,…

Related research

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Dodge Charger have engine problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 110 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2008 Dodge Charger, 17.6% of all 624 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (33 complaints). 8 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Does the 2012 Dodge Charger have engine problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 101 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Dodge Charger, 15.3% of all 661 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (39 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 11V487000. 12 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Does the 2011 Dodge Charger have engine problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 86 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 Dodge Charger, 12.4% of all 696 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (31 complaints). 10 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Which Dodge Charger years have the most engine complaints?

2008 (110), 2012 (101) and 2011 (86), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.

What are the most common Dodge Charger engine problems?

In the 642 engine complaints, owners most often describe stalling or shutting off while driving (29.4%), misfire or check-engine light (15.7%) and overheating or coolant loss (12.3%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.

Is this a engine failure rate?

No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.

How we count

Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Dodge Charger model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.

Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.

These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Sources

  1. NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  2. NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  3. Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration