Dodge Years to Avoid by Model
Dodge years to avoid: the 2009 Journey (1,594 complaints), 2016 Grand Caravan (1,118 complaints), 2011 Durango (797 complaints) and 2011 Charger (692 complaints) lead the list. All 6 Dodge models we track have at least one avoid-rated year; the cleanest records include the 2009 Durango and 2021 Charger. Based on 23,257 NHTSA owner complaints, rated model year by model year.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, recall campaigns & service bulletins · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
Dodge years to avoid, model by model
| Model | Years to avoid | Best years | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Durango | 2011201220132014201520182021 | 2008200920202023 | 4,543 (2008–2025) |
| Dodge Charger | 2008201020112012201320142016 | 2021 | 3,912 (2008–2025) |
| Dodge Challenger | 201020112012201320142015 | 20202021 | 1,680 (2008–2025) |
| Dodge Journey | 20092010201420152016 | 20192020 | 5,488 (2008–2025) |
| Dodge Caravan | 20082009 | 2013201420152016 | 716 (2008–2025) |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 20082010201120122016 | 20192020 | 6,918 (2008–2025) |
Verdicts are each model’s own, rated against that model’s history (see the methodology); counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
The worst year for each Dodge model
2009 Dodge Journey: 1,594 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016 · Full Journey breakdown →
2016 Dodge Grand Caravan: 1,118 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016 · Full Grand Caravan breakdown →
2011 Dodge Durango: 797 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2021 · Full Durango breakdown →
2011 Dodge Charger: 692 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 · Full Charger breakdown →
2008 Dodge Caravan: 302 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2008 and 2009 · Full Caravan breakdown →
2010 Dodge Challenger: 298 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 · Full Challenger breakdown →
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Frequently asked questions
What Dodge years should you avoid?
By model: Durango 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2021; Charger 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016; Challenger 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015; Journey 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016; Caravan 2008 and 2009; Grand Caravan 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016. Each verdict matches that model's own years-to-avoid page, built from NHTSA owner-complaint and recall records.
What are the best Dodge years to buy?
The cleanest federal records by model: Durango 2008, 2009, 2020 and 2023; Charger 2021; Challenger 2020 and 2021; Journey 2019 and 2020; Caravan 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016; Grand Caravan 2019 and 2020.
Which Dodge model has the most years to avoid?
The Dodge Durango, with 7 avoid-rated model years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2021) across 18 years on record (2008–2025).
How are Dodge years to avoid rated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity, converted to a rate per year on the road, compared with the rest of that model's own history and adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
Where does the Dodge data come from?
Federal records: 23,257 NHTSA owner complaints across 6 Dodge models, plus NHTSA recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.