2021 Dodge Charger: Problems & Reliability
BEST2021 Dodge Charger: BEST — 35 owner complaints (0.45 per 1,000 sold), 0.7× the Charger median year; top issue: air bags (16 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2021 is 0.65, where 1.00 is a typical Charger year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; 0.75 or lower rates best. Most complaints are about non-critical systems; only 28% are severe (crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, published U.S. sales, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
35
NHTSA complaints
0.45
Complaints per 1,000 sold
301
Service bulletins
2
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2021 Dodge Charger problems
Air bags is the clear leader, named in 46% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2021 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 16 | 46% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 14% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 5 | 14% |
| Engine | 3 | 9% |
| Visibility | 2 | 6% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2021 Dodge Charger recalls
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021, reported between Jul 8, 2021 and Mar 14, 2024.
2021 Dodge Charger service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 301 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2021 — close to the 244 of the median Charger year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (103), powertrain / transmission (49), engine & cooling (28). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2021 vs. the year before and after
From the 2020 to the 2021, owner complaints fell 40% (58 → 35) — an improvement. The 2022 that followed fell by more than half (35 → 16), so the 2022 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Charger | SOLID | 58 | 337 | 3 | — |
| 2021 (this page) | BEST | 35 | 301 | 2 | — |
| 2022 Charger | TOO FEW REPORTS | 16 | 206 | 3 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Dodge Charger years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2021 Dodge Charger
Air bags (16 complaints on the 2021): confirm the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that every air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
Powertrain / transmission (5 complaints on the 2021): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Engine (3 complaints on the 2021): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Visibility (2 complaints on the 2021): test the wipers at every speed, the washers, defrosters and the climate system.
Exterior lighting (2 complaints on the 2021): check low and high beams, brake lights and turn signals, and look for condensation inside the housings.
Recalls: confirm all 2 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2021 Dodge Charger — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
- DealDrive AI negotiator reads any dealer quote and writes your counteroffer
- Comparable real deals near you, from verified transactions
Found a 2021 Dodge Charger for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
The CarWhere Used Car Report checks salvage records, salvage-auction listings, stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail, and full market history for one VIN — $16.99, one time.
FAQ
Is the 2021 Dodge Charger reliable?
2021 Dodge Charger: BEST — 35 owner complaints (0.45 per 1,000 sold), 0.7× the Charger median year; top issue: air bags (16 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2021 is 0.65, where 1.00 is a typical Charger year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; 0.75 or lower rates best.
What are the most common 2021 Dodge Charger problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2021 Dodge Charger are air bags (16, 46%), unknown or other (5, 14%), powertrain / transmission (5, 14%). The manufacturer has 301 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2021 Dodge Charger have?
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021 Dodge Charger, most recently 24V198000 (Mar 14, 2024, air bags); 21V516000 (Jul 8, 2021, visibility). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2021 Dodge Charger before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2021 Dodge Charger come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the per-1,000 rate divides complaints by published U.S. 2021 calendar-year sales; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.