2016 Dodge Charger
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 182 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 20 Charger model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 7 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 15 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, automatic transmission, control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)Jul 12, 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 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.
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
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 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U82, and U83.
Campaign 18E053000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringMay 17, 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, 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.
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 18V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, driveshaftMay 1, 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.
If the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 18V281000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentDec 21, 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: 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
If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
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.
Campaign 17V824000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftFeb 14, 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.
A loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 17V097000 on NHTSA.gov
StructureJan 28, 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 may give causing the tire jack to fail and the car to fall.
A car that falls unexpectedly increases the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 16V043000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
182 reports, newest first.
Power train, Mar 3, 2024
Drive train broke
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 27, 2024
Engine problems after problems on all charger no warning sign or nothing and electric issues on whole vehicle work temporarily
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 5, 2023
Fuel pump is inoperable due to cheap make(plastic). Leaks out at the top due to the lid and gas comes out thru there right underneath of where my children sit.
Service brakes, Sep 11, 2023
Bolts the attach the emergency brake cable assembly to the frame undercarriage can become rusted and corroded and can pop out which causes the emergency brake to not function correctly which results in transmission damage, shifting while towing, shifting while vehicle jacked up, and possible parked incline vehicle roll especially if car is not able to shift into park during an emergency.
Exterior lighting, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 2, 2023
Headlights go out when replacing. Fuel smell in cab. Engine ticking Front wheels knocking on bumps Inspection done by police Could cause major wreck all of the above
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Aug 27, 2023
Headlamps are not working therefore causing a safety issue when driving at night. Initially, 2 years ago, April 2021 the driver headlamp was not working. Dodge dealership had replaced and within the year the bulb would come off and on intermittently. It cost over $400.00. On March 18, 2022 I took it back to Dodge dealership and because it was working that day they just said to bring it when it was not working? They had the car for the whole day and did not inspect anything. Now a year later both of my headlamps are not working and took it back to them again. Now my fuses are melted and have been told by them that the cars electrical system is faulty. The car will need a new PDC Power Distribution Center unit that controls the electrical power which is no longer made. He found a dealer that has the unit available but also includes the wires harness . The charge for this including labor is 5300 if he the dealer will sell it to him. He did not advise of price for part and labor separately. The dealer charged me 212.00 to tell me this. Meanwhile I have a car that is only 7 years old that I cannot drive safely at night and it will not pass motor vehicle inspection which is in 2 weeks. Therefore, now I own a car I cannot legally have on the road because of this issue with the headlamps.
Steering, Suspension, Jun 21, 2023
Vehicle was diagnosed as needing a new drive shaft i see a recall for 2016 dodger chargers how do we have this covered?
Power train, Structure, Fuel/propulsion system, May 10, 2023
Car has strong smell of gas inside. Seeing by the other reports here that there is a regular problem with the fuel pump causing this issue. Is a safety hazard for obvious reasons. Drive shaft failed last year at less than 60,000 miles, but luckily had it replaced under dealership warranty. Others have not been so lucky, as I can see in these reports. Like tons of other reports here, door panels are also warping and disconnecting from the inside of the car. A completely cheap and poor design, and am shocked to see that nearly EVERY problem I've experienced with this car is COMMONLY experienced by other owners of this car. No idea how there haven't been more recalls, it's criminal that owners of this vehicle are left to foot the bill (THOUSANDS of $$$) for all of its defects.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 10, 2023
The headlight bulbs, like a past recall on the 2011-2012 Chargers, regularly fry through fuses and stop working. This is obviously caused by a more serious issue in the vehicle and should be recalled. Many Dodge Charger and Challenger owners have been faced with this common problem, as shown in the comments on the page linked below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAmcGxeD5LY In my case, I've had several electrical issues with the headlight, and have had the entire headlight unit replaced. We have also switched the bulbs to see if that changes anything. After still having problems with the light going out, the repair shop I took it to informed me that the fuse can be switched for a quick fix, although it is not fixing the root of the problem, and this is a very common issue among these types of cars.
Other or unspecified, Mar 19, 2023
The door panels started to peel away from the door. My car was still under warranty at the time and the door panels were replaced by the dealership. after a year the door panels have started to peel back again. It looks like it will keep the side airbag from deploying correctly if it is ever needed. I feel it is unsafe and should be part of a recall since it seems to be a common problem with these cars.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 28, 2023
The power steering goes in and out completely loosing power steering while Maneuvering A curve in the road it completely stops or if it's already out it will come back on while steering so your giving a lot of force then suddenly you have power steraing again you harshly turn to almost swerve off the road or towards traffic.
Air bags, Jan 25, 2023, crash
Airbags did not deploy in a high speed frontal collision.
Steering, Jan 24, 2023, crash
as i was driving getting ready to make a turn i suddenly lost control of my car. The steering wheel became stiff and was unable to move it ultimately causing me to crash, Dodge/Chrysler needs to get there stuff together and do something about this, this is ridiculous, would not recommend buying anything involved with the brand whatsoever
Structure, Jan 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side interior door panel became unsecured and partially detached from the door frame, causing the door to be difficult to open, closed, or unlocked. Additionally, the front driver’s side interior door panel was unsecured and partially detached; however, the door was able to be opened, closed, and unlocked normally. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 4, 2022
Strong smell of raw gas when fuel tank is 1/2 full(+). The smell is inside and outside the vehicle (mostly on driver's side near back door & wheel well) whether vehicle is running or not. The smell is just as strong outside as inside. When fuel level falls below 1/2 tank, the gas smell reduces. Removed rear seat, drivers side fuel tank cover have a crack in it. A puddle of gas was sitting on top of the fuel pump & a brown burn mark near the electrical plug. Google search: many complaints of fuel pump leakage. The fuel pump still works, it pumps/primes when the key is switched to the ACC position & the car cranks when pushed to turn on. The issue is fuel is leaking from the pump upward when tank is at or above 1/2 full. Tried to order new pump from local dealership (Northpoint Chrysler Dodge) who said it calls for a different part#, is out of stock with no expected date of availability, & is not available anywhere within their network. September 8th, went online to a site that provides OEM parts (World Parts Direct). They said the part was not available until September 23rd. Since they provided an availability date, I ordered the part & waited. The delivery arrived on the 29th. What arrived have a totally different part# with an electrical connector that must replace the factory connector. In order to install, the factory harness must be cut, spliced, soldered, & heat shrink a rubber sleeve to protect the soldered wires. I questioned the different part#, was told that is what their supplier sent, it is OEM, & should work. The new connector came with a diagram showing to switch the 2nd & 3rd pin from the factory connector into the new connector. The factory (+) & (-) pins are side-by-side, the new connector separates them. Fuel pump wiring is faulty, dangerous. Raw gas encountering electrical connectors is unsafe, can be explosive or deadly. Not inspected/repaired by dealer or mfg, no CEL, avail for inspection if needed. Let's not wait for someone to die for recall.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 23, 2022
Gas smells in the back seat of my car....where the pumps are underneath the seat. Gets older when fas tank is full
Structure, Sep 20, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door panel trim had separated from the door frame. The contact then stated that he was concerned that the separation of the door panel had started to rise towards the window, which might affect the air bag deployment in the event of a crash. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Structure, Sep 12, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that all four interior door panels had begun to warp and detach from the frame of the door. The center console by the gear shifter was also warped. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and stated that the failure should not have occurred. The contact received confirmation from a third-party interior specialist. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was no longer under warranty and that the repair would be an out-of-pocket expense. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Structure, Aug 21, 2022
The rear drivers side passenger door will not open from the outside, and it wont open from the inside either. If someone needed to get out of or in to this car in a hurry (say it was on fire) this would be very bad. The car has not had anything impact it on this side.
Engine, Aug 16, 2022
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 of the parts that needed to be replaced. The dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 31, 2022
I’ve been smelling fuel inside the car after filling up and around the rear driver side tire and found fuel leaking in the front of that driver side rear tire. I removed the back seats to find fuel sitting on top of the fuel level valve. I dried up everything and unplugged the fuel pump electrical connector to find fuel leaking from the plug itself. I’ve been having issues with me passing out after filling up my car and after me finding this it makes me believe this is the issue to my health problems.
Other or unspecified, Jul 29, 2022
I have multiple Dodge Chargers ranging from 2011 to 2016 and for some reason the fans broke on all of them placing a hole in all the radiators. The fan broke on one car more than once. As a result, the cars begin to overheat. Countless of money has been spent buying these parts. I believe there is a defect in the fans on these vehicles. I have been left on the side of the road with my children a few times because of my car overheating. My 2016 may need a new engine due to fan breaking. Please look into conducting a recall on the Dodge Chargers cooling fan from the year 2011 to 2017.
Structure, Apr 26, 2022
All four of my vehicle doors panel are coming apart leaving all the wiring getting damaged by heat and cold. They have so many complaints about this matter and these Dealerships are saying they not responsible for it. Total cost $2400
Electrical system, Apr 19, 2022
Car wouldnt start made a clicking sound on April 30. Started and drove home from store. On March 31 the car died on me in traffic with no warning. Towed to mechanic and it has been there since March 31, 2020. Still in shop for repairs of the Tipm
Engine, Apr 6, 2022
OIL WAS LEAKING UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE AND OIL FILTER ADAPTER HOUSING AND GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.