Reliable Auto DB

2021 Dodge Charger reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2021 Dodge Charger has 34 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 4 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Charger years here — under the median of the other years, which is 12. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Inflator and Windshield.

2012 Dodge Charger
Photo by PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

34

Per year

4

Recalls

2

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (15 of 34), then Powertrain (5) and Engine (3). Those filings include 2 that report a crash.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Charger has 57 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2022 has 16 complaints, 2 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Dodge Charger. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall air bags, side and window, curtain, inflator 2024-03-14 · NHTSA campaign 24V198000
Summary Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.
Remedy Dealers will replace both side curtain air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning February 20, 2025. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 19B.
Recall visibility, windshield 2021-07-08 · NHTSA campaign 21V516000
Summary Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Remedy Dealers will remove and replace the front windshield urethane sealant, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y47.

Complaints by component (34 total)

Air bags
15
Powertrain
5
Engine
3
Electrical system
2
Exterior lighting
2
Visibility
2
Wheels
2
Back-over prevention
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Lane departure
1
Seat belts
1
Steering
1
Structure
1
Suspension
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 7 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

320212202262023920249202552026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The Chapman Dodge service department has diagnosed the vehicle with an active, leaking fuel pump assembly and provided a repair estimate of $1,600.00. Stellantis Corporate has offered a "goodwill" gesture of only…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-05
  • "[XXX] Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, located in [XXX] performed an airbag recall on my vehicle. The vehicle was put back together incorrectly, and the headliner, rearview mirror, and sunglass holder are all hanging loose. The…"
    Air bags, Visibility and wipers · filed 2026-08-27
  • "While parked in my driveway, the passenger rear side curtain airbag inflated on its own with noone in the car. The car cranks and operates correctly with no indication of a problem with the airbag system. This airbag…"
    Air bags · filed 2026-07-07
  • "I went to have my car make/model Dodge Charger serviced and when I went to the dealership I told them the problem before they even got to look at it, because it’s a known problem with Dodge Charger SRT models.…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-05-26
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Dodge Charger. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V198000 (Air Bags) and 21V516000 (Visibility). The dealer was contacted to perform the recall repairs; however, the…"
    Visibility, Air bags · filed 2026-04-29

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Charger 5.7L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 16 25 19 MPG $3900
Charger 6.4L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 24 18 MPG $4450
Charger 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 19 30 23 MPG $2800
Charger all-wheel drive 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic 8-speed All-wheel drive 18 27 21 MPG $3100
Charger SRT Widebody 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 12 21 15 MPG $5300
Charger Widebody 6.4L, 8-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 24 18 MPG $4450

Specs and fitment

LD generation, 2012–2023
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-20 full synthetic (3.6L V6 Pentastar) , 7 qt capacity
Tire size 235/55R18 (SXT), 245/45R20 (R/T and above)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 24V-198 covers certain 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles: the right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect. Dealers replace both side curtain air bags. Recall 19V-203 covers certain 2019 Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles whose instrument cluster may not properly illuminate driver warnings; dealers update the instrument cluster software.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Dodge Charger Next year 2022 Dodge Charger See every Dodge Charger model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Dodge Charger reliable?

The 2021 Dodge Charger has 34 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 4 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Charger years here — under the median of the other years, which is 12. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Inflator and Windshield.

What are common problems with a 2021 Dodge Charger?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (15 of 34), then Powertrain (5) and Engine (3). Those filings include 2 that report a crash.

Is the 2021 Dodge Charger more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Charger has 57 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2022 has 16 complaints, 2 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Dodge Charger been recalled?

The 2021 Dodge Charger has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Dodge Charger?

Owners have filed 34 complaints about the 2021 Dodge Charger with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Dodge Charger get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Dodge Charger is 19 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Dodge Charger use?

Most recent V6 Charger models call for 5W-20 full synthetic with about 7 quarts including the filter.

What does NHTSA recall 24V-198 cover on the Dodge Charger?

Recall 24V-198 covers certain 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles: the right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.

What generation is the 2013 Dodge Charger?

LD generation (2012-2023).