2016 Dodge Charger Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Charger years
- More complaints than other years 9th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 182 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Charger. That ranks 9th out of 23 Charger model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (53 complaints, 29%), typically at around 49,000 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 2 fires, 15 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 182owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Dodge Charger problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 53 | 29% | 49,000 | “door panels” (47%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 32 | 18% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 25 | 14% | 62,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 25 | 14% | 32,175 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 25 | 14% | 57,199 | — | — |
| Power Train | 25 | 14% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 17 | 9% | 29,588 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 9 | 5% | 42,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 4% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 4% | 32,175 | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 4% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 3% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 2% | 49,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 2% | 30,200 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 2% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 2% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 2% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Other/unknown | 1 | 1% | 51,235 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Dodge Charger recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:software; vehicle speed control:cruise control; electrical system:wiring
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Dodge Charger pursuit police vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive and V8 engines. The front driveshaft universal joint may seize or fracture causing the shaft to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: If the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U37.
Equipment
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Risk: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is T82.
Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD). The front driveshaft bolts may loosen and allow the front driveshaft to disconnect, potentially causing a loss of motive power.
Risk: A loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight front driveshaft bolts, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T03.
Structure
Problem: FCA US LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured August 23, 2010, to January 7, 2016. When an affected vehicle is lifted using the supplied tire jack without chocking the wheels, the vehicle's body-side sill may give causing the tire jack to fail and the car to fall.
Risk: A car that falls unexpectedly increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will provide owners with wheel chocks and instructions for their use, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S03.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I am starting to smell fuel inside of my car everytime I fill up my vehicle.
The contract owns a 2016 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 38 MPH, the vehicle began cranking. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road, where they called a relative. Once the relative arrived and inspected the vehicle, they noticed the drive shaft had…
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed oil cooler. The contact was informed that all the oil had spilled into the coolant reservoir…
Dodge Charger, 2016, won't turn on a list. Key is in the cup holder. On the driver's side also there are many videos showing this same issue with many dodge, twenty sixteen chargers.
I am the original owner of a 2016 Dodge Charger SXT AWD (VIN: [XXX] ). On February 3, 2026, while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure. I heard a loud metallic grinding noise from underneath, followed by an immediate loss of power and "Service…
Other Dodge Charger years
← 2015 Charger · 2017 Charger →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Charger | 0 | 1 |
| 2026 Charger | 2 | 1 |
| 2024 Charger | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 Charger | 26 | 2 |
| 2022 Charger | 16 | 3 |
| 2021 Charger | 35 | 2 |
| 2020 Charger | 57 | 3 |
| 2019 Charger | 120 | 5 |
| 2018 Charger | 122 | 6 |
| 2017 Charger | 128 | 4 |
| 2016 | 182 | 5 |
| 2015 Charger | 136 | 7 |
| 2014 Charger | 343 | 9 |
| 2013 Charger | 360 | 8 |
| 2012 Charger | 648 | 14 |
| 2011 Charger | 695 | 11 |
| 2010 Charger | 232 | 6 |
| 2009 Charger | 174 | 6 |
| 2008 Charger | 609 | 5 |
| 2007 Charger | 554 | 5 |
| 2006 Charger | 1,294 | 5 |
| 2005 Charger | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 Charger | 3 | 0 |
See all Dodge Charger problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Dodge Charger?
Owners most often report structure, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 53 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Dodge Charger?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Dodge Charger a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Charger model years, the 2016 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.