2016 Dodge Charger Problems, Recalls & Reliability

264 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Dodge Charger, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 16/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Body & structure leads the reports, typically around 49,000 miles.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2016 Dodge Charger has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

264Complaints
16/100Trouble index
6Recalls
42,000Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 2016 sits among all Charger years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Body & structure 55 complaints (21%) · typically ~49,000 miles
“The inside door panels on the front and rear passenger's side of the vehicle are peeling and detaching from the door frames”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Charger
Other 37 complaints (14%) · typically ~40,500 miles
“My charger passenger door panel is starting to warping from the window, which someties make it hard to see out my side mirror.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Charger
Electrical 33 complaints (13%) · typically ~48,750 miles
“The harness on the car is defected and the engine light will not go off on the car.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Charger
Engine 28 complaints (11%) · typically ~42,000 miles
“The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while accelerating at approximately 50 MPH, she heard a clicking noise coming from the engine. The engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed but the contact was uncertain…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Charger
Fuel system 26 complaints (10%) · typically ~63,840 miles
“One of the pins on the fuel pump & associated harness got hot enough to melt a hole in the top of the fuel pump causing it to leak gas.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Charger
Transmission & drivetrain 25 complaints (9%) · typically ~55,000 miles
“Loud noise coming from where the center console should be. I thought it could be something wrapped around the drive shaft but instead the drive shaft carrier bearing needs replaced. You can't get a shop to buy just the part they have to replace the entire piece!”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Charger

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 143 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 42,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 23,000 and 80,560 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (6)

POWER TRAIN 18E053000 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain Mopar Stage 1 Kit Performance Packages Powertrain Control Modules (PCM) Part Numbers P5160023, P5160025, and Demon Crate PCM Part Number 68412287AA. The PCMs are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent…

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will either perform a software update or replace the PCM, free of charge. The recall began July 26 , 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18V332000 2018

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,…

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…

POWER TRAIN 18V281000 2018

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.

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.…

EQUIPMENT 17V824000 2017

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:…

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…

POWER TRAIN 17V097000 2017

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.

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…

STRUCTURE 16V043000 2016

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…

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…

Federal defect investigations

Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture EA21002 opened September 17, 2021 · still open

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade,…

Model years named: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Technical service bulletins

275 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2016 Dodge Charger. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2016 Charger TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2016peak 54 in 20202026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2016 Dodge Charger reliable?

The 2016 Dodge Charger drew 264 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 16/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).

What are the most common 2016 Dodge Charger problems?

The top reported problems for the 2016 Dodge Charger are body & structure (55 complaints), other (37), and electrical (33).

At what mileage do 2016 Dodge Charger problems show up?

Owners most often report 2016 Dodge Charger problems around 42,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 23,000 and 80,560 miles.

Does the 2016 Dodge Charger have recalls?

6 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Dodge Charger. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2015 Charger All Charger years 2017 Charger →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.