Dodge Charger Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Dodge Charger model year (2006–2023) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Dodge Charger Years to Avoid
5 recalls · 918 complaints
16 reported injuries
1 reported death
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 970
6 recalls · 506 complaints
7 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Problem score: 538
9 recalls · 466 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Problem score: 505
Best Dodge Charger Years to Buy
1 recall · 11 complaints
Main area: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 14
3 recalls · 5 complaints
Main area: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 14
2 recalls · 25 complaints
Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Problem score: 31
Found the right year? Verify that specific Charger with a free VIN report.
Dodge Charger — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 25 | — | — | 31 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 3 | 5 | — | — | 14 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 1 | 11 | — | — | 14 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 2 | 34 | 8 | — | 56 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 3 | 78 | 13 | — | 113 | Good |
| 2018 | 4 | 84 | — | — | 96 | Excellent |
| 2017 | 3 | 111 | — | — | 120 | Good |
| 2016 | 5 | 127 | 2 | — | 146 | Good |
| 2015 | 6 | 97 | 1 | — | 117 | Good |
| 2014 | 7 | 278 | 22 | 2 | 353 | Caution |
| 2013 | 5 | 248 | 12 | — | 287 | Good |
| 2012 | 9 | 466 | 6 | — | 505 | Caution |
| 2011 | 6 | 506 | 7 | — | 538 | Caution |
| 2010 | 5 | 142 | 3 | 1 | 168 | Good |
| 2009 | 6 | 103 | 6 | — | 133 | Good |
| 2008 | 4 | 433 | 8 | — | 461 | Caution |
| 2007 | 5 | 331 | 10 | — | 366 | Caution |
| 2006 | 5 | 918 | 16 | 1 | 970 | Avoid |
All 18 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Dodge Charger Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2022Recent Charger models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2022 stands out with just 14 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2015Mid-decade Charger units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2015 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder Charger models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year Charger should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2006 Dodge Charger if possible. It has 5 recalls, 918 owner complaints, and 1 reported death. The overall problem score is 970 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year Charger to buy?+
The 2021 Dodge Charger is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 14. It has only 1 recall and 11 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which Charger has the fewest problems?+
The 2021, 2022, 2023 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Dodge Charger Research
Check a Specific Dodge Charger VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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