There has been numerous issues that affected my safety while driving and had to make costly repairs and replacements while on going. Alternator and serpentine belt broke out and all my coolant leaked out. had to stop in the middle of the street several Times by force having the abs, check engine light turn on having to turn the car off. Transmission shifter was so faulty I couldn’t pull out of park needing to replace it. Air leaks in the engine, electrical surges effecting headlights low beams I can’t see anything at night, dashboard and radio. The windows are has so much glare from sun light to other cars at night I almost cannot see ahead of me almost blinding me. The car constantly over heated. I’ve changed the battery, exhaust pipes, put breaks on it, ignition coils upper and lower intakes manifold but still proceeds to present me with a check engine light needing to unplug my battery to recent the car which turns off my eco system. Gas consumption is little to much at times The air bags light in the dashboard usually turn on constantly when adjusting the driver and passenger seat.
Dodge Charger overheating problems
83 of the 5,741 owner complaints about the Dodge Charger describe engine overheating, most of them for the 2011 model year.
- owner complaints
- 83
- worst model year
- 2011
- typical mileage
- 70,000
By model year
Often reported together
Headlights 23Engine failure 7ABS 7Fire or smoke 6Won't start 5Stalling 5Loss of power 3Knocking 3
What owners say
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. In addition, the contact was informed that the oil cooler was made of plastic and was warped. The contact was informed that the oil cooler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall which had a similar failure description, however the contact's VIN was not associated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The A/C evaporator core in my 2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat has failed twice within a short period of ownership. The first failure occurred at approximately 20K miles in 2022, when the air conditioning suddenly stopped blowing cold air. The dealership diagnosed a leaking evaporator core and replaced it under warranty. On [XXX] at approximately 50k, the exact same failure occurred again — loss of refrigerant and no cooling. The vehicle again required replacement of the evaporator core, a repair that involves removing the entire dashboard and is extremely labor-intensive and expensive. This appears to be a recurring defect rather than normal wear. I have learned that many other Dodge Charger and Challenger owners report identical evaporator failures, often multiple times, suggesting a possible design or manufacturing flaw with the HVAC evaporator used in these vehicles. Loss of A/C may seem like a comfort issue, but in extreme heat it can create a driver-safety risk due to overheating, window defogging problems, and driver fatigue. I live in Arizona where daytime temperatures regularly climb above 80 degrees, even in the winter. A major component like an evaporator should not repeatedly fail in a late-model vehicle. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate whether 2019–2022 Dodge Charger/Challenger vehicles are experiencing an abnormal rate of evaporator core failures that may warrant a recall, extended warranty, or technical service bulletin. Repairs Performed: • Evaporator core replaced in 2022 at Bill Luke Chrysler / Dodge in Phoenix, AZ • Evaporator core replaced again on February 4th, 2026 at AAA Auto Repair in Phoenix, AZ • Refrigerant leak confirmed both times • Dash removal required for repair Supporting Documents Available: Repair orders, dealership invoices, diagnostic reports INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Headlight pigtail assembly burned out as described in the 2014 safety recall. 14V‑101 / P08 Recall Summary The wiring sub-harnesses for the headlights may overheat, and the low beam headlights may fail. Dealers will replace the headlamp jumper harnesses and bulbs or the headlight assemblies as needed free of charge to resolve the concern.
Car overheated and caused critical damage without warning or notification. Had my 2019 Dodge Charger GT vin got the V32 recall updating the instrument cluster software, there would have been warning or any dash notification(s) and I wouldn’t have damaged header. FCA failed to assign, notify, or remedy this recall which lead to engine damage.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? •The ABS and traction control systems have shown warning lights. The vehicle has experienced multiple issues including a BUS power system failure, faulty wiring under the middle console, and problems with the shifter. Additionally, there have been issues with overheating and red fluid leakage, brake system shaking, radio screen delamination, and loose interior panels. 2.How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? •The car has experienced significant wobbling, shaking while braking, and instances where it shut down completely and would not move out of park. These malfunctions could pose serious safety risks while driving. 3.Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? •Yes, the vehicle has been in the shop multiple times, including two different shops for a total of 32 days. The dealership replaced the shifter due to faulty wiring. 4.Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? No there was no need at the time just the dealership 5.Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? •Yes, warning lights for ABS and traction control appeared. As well as breaks light constantly on. The car also consistently displays a “service shifter” message every 0.5 seconds. Other symptoms include overheating with red fluid leakage and severe shaking when braking. Not breaking at all.
1. Headlight low/high beam keeps going out and comes back on. It seems like the wiring harness overheating, bulb is fine but continues to go out and on. 2. Transmission, does a very aggressive down shift at gear 6 it makes the car jump and if it happens too much, my car won't accelerate..I got it repaired once and it took dealer almost 30 days but it did not fix the problem..I could not afford to be without my car so I could not take it back to them.
The contact owns a 2021 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle downshifted with the “Service Transmission” message displayed. The contact stated that the continue to drive and do not shift message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from the vehicle and noticed that the transmission had overheated. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. An independent mechanic was contacted and informed the contact that the head gasket might have failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.
My brakes went out on me and couldn't stop. My engine has been overheating and making a weird ticking noise.the front suspension is loose and has caused me to hydroplane on the highway and slide
The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge became elevated and the engine overheated. The contact allowed the engine to cool down before adding coolant and then drove to her destination. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,208.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles equipped with Hellcat engines. The engine oil cooler (EOC) hoses may fail resulting in a rapid loss of engine oil.
- Risk
- If an EOC line fails, oil may spray onto the windshield or contact a hot surface, impairing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EOC lines, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T48.
Recall number 17V496000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT and Dodge Charger SRT vehicles manufactured September 18, 2014, to February 5, 2015, and equipped with a 6.2L supercharged engine. O-ring seal and fuel rail crossover hose damage may result in the fuel rail hose connection leaking fuel.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will replace the engine fuel rail injector crossover hose, free of charge. The recall began April 23, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R07.
Recall number 15V114000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 chrysler vehicles, including 200 and town and country models, dodge vehicles, including charger, durango, grand caravan and journey models and jeep grand cherokee vehicles manufactured from august 31, 2011, through september 13, 2011, that are equipped with 3.6l engines. These engines may experience connecting rod bearing failure due to debris inside the engine block.
- Risk
- Connecting rod failure may lead to engine seizure which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners and replace the engine free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about november 18, 2011. Owners may contact chrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 11V487000 · Recall details
Questions about the Dodge Charger overheating
Which Dodge Charger years have engine overheating problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2011 (19 complaints), 2006 (15 complaints) and 2008 (11 complaints).
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