2021 Dodge Charger
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 35 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 20 Charger model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 2 involved a crash.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, side/window, curtain, inflatorMar 14, 2024
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.
An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury or death.
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.
Campaign 24V198000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, windshieldJul 8, 2021
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."
A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 21V516000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
35 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Jun 23, 2023
My passenger air bag is falling it says passenger frontal squib 2 control circuit open it also says check air bag system on the dashboard of the car the car was in an accident it has a branded title but when they fix the cars don't they have to make sure the airbags are safe and the vehicle is safe to operate the car is financed and I am paying for it and my 3rd party warranty does not cover air bag system and this does put my wife at risk when I'm driving and she's on the passenger seat and this is an expensive fix and right now I am not financially stable to fix an air bag but I want to get it fix because safety is very important.
Power train, Air bags, Wheels, Mar 22, 2023, crash
Driving home from work when my vehicle lost control, when trying to steer my steering wheel straight the rear end of my vehicle locked up and ended up in a guard rail , there was nothing in the road or any pedestrian or other cars I have no idea what caused my car to lock up but I don’t know what caused my car to lock up I know when my sales guys first go over my car he didn’t fully mention everything to me I saw my tires pressure at 50 psi in all days didn’t know if that was normal because my car was shipped so I know the dealership is suppose to inspect vehicle to make sure everything is correct to manufacturer specs when vehicle was towed to certificate shop for body and mechanic repairs car sat there 8 months plus when I got the car it was not driving the same and reading a message on the screen service sifter unavailable ever since then my vehicle is unsafe to drive my car now locks up when I do a turn like it get stuck in a gear and when cruising vehicle chocks/hesitated to drive like it was to get stuck in a lock mode . I took it to 2 dodge dealers more then 3 times and can’t duplicate concern and throwing random parts at my car and I’m telling them it’s not the problem also they gave me poor customer service and wish I never bought a car from them .
Other or unspecified, Mar 10, 2023
I had a flat tire on the left rear. I pulled the car onto a flat paved surface, placed it in park, and applied the parking brake. I broke the lug nuts loose and proceeded to jack the car up. When I had the car partially jacked up the scissor jack kicked out from under the car into the area I had parked in. Since I no longer felt safe using the jack I called AAA. Oddly enough, the AAA service man told me that he had just returned from a call on a Chrysler 300 that had done the same thing. I no longer feel safe using that jack.
Suspension, Power train, Jan 29, 2023
Heard popping under car while driving noticed there appeared to be an issue with rear control arm removed rear tires and found both rear control arms to be broken and rubbing frame one free hanging and the other in a bind
Wheels, Jan 16, 2023
My rim on the inside lip has a hairline crack. I’m coming up on 1 year and for the entire time I have had to add air once a month. The tire pressure would be 38 psi when I put air and would drop to 30 over a months time. I’ve had the tire looked at several times and they found nothing. Then around 3 weeks ago it went from loosing 8 psi a month, to around 5 psi a week. So I jack the car up and start looking, spraying with a soapy water and I find the crack.So I called the dealership, and they say well you hit a pothole or something in the road. No I did not, I’ve never hit anything. If I did the rim would be bent or have scuff marks, which theirs not. So I do research and find out I’m not alone. As of now January 16, 2023 I’m loosing 15-20 psi a day. Thank you
Power train, Aug 19, 2022
The issue with the vehicle is inconsistent and delayed power delivery. On numerous occasions, when trying to accelerate quickly in low gears (1 through 3), the vehicle exhibits an obvious restriction and/or lack of thrust. The vehicle does accelerate (sometimes poorly with hesitation) and the RPM's climb, but the power is severely reduced until 4500 RPM, then the power comes on strong without any change in throttle position or gear. The issue can best be described as feeling like you are towing something heavy with a rope, and at 4500 rpm, the rope breaks and the resistance is lifted. I have had it to multiple dealers, I have reproduced it, but both ran full analysis and it is "performing as designed". Both me and the dealer contacted the manufacturer and was told if there are no diagnostic errors, it is fine. There is no code or message. I have found at least 10 other owners of various vehicle models from Chrysler with the same engine and transmission combo that have the same issue. The 5.7 Litre HEMI V8 and the ZF8HP70 8 speed automatic transmission. There is no way to know it is going to happen. One minute it accelerates normally, the next it doesn't. It does not pose imminent danger, but it has put me in a precarious position more than once when entering a highway or pulling out into traffic and not knowing how much acceleration power I am going to have. It reduces confidence in the vehicle because of the inconsistency. The issue did not start occurring until the vehicle reached approx. 2100 miles. I also owned a 2020 version of the car that did the same thing after approx. 4000 miles. I traded it in on the 2021 because I thought there was no way they all ran this way, but apparently they do.
Visibility, Mar 30, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, a tiny rock hit the windshield and the windshield cracked. The vehicle was repaired by Safelite at the contact's residence. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, a truck spun out and gravel fell from the truck causing a tiny rock to hit the driver’s side windshield and caused a crack. The windshield was repaired by Safelite at the contact's residence; however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The contact stated that the failure occurred three times within three months. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V516000 (Visibility) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
Other or unspecified, Dec 30, 2021, crash
So this vehicle turned out to be one of the easiest cars to be stolen. I’ve heard many stories and cases about other Dodge Charger owners that have gotten there Chargers stolen as well and I received a recall notice from dodge this week that it’s something about the radio frequency and something about a simple diagnostic tool and it programs a new key instantly and Dodge finally after so many complaints did there research and now put out a recall. My dream car was stolen, crashed and even my insurance company won’t compensate anything and now my vehicle has on its carfax that it was stolen and involved in an accident and the value is now destroyed. I tried getting a selling price thru Carvana and Vroom, well Carvana declined it due to that and Vroom gave me a price value of $30,000 and I bought it for $60,000. Half the value is gone due to a manufacturing issue that made these vehicles so easy to steal and be in the hands of anybody and everybody that doesn’t own it. It was used and abused on my dime and now I have to eat the loss.
Lane departure, Back over prevention, Nov 15, 2021
The rear camera is defective. It is too dark in most conditions and not clear resulting in a poor view of what is behind me. At night, it is impossible to use, and relying on it will result in a collision. Stellantis and the local dealer have been provided with photos of the display and the dealer spent a few seconds looking at it and they say it is how it should be. Other owners of the same type car online have the same complaint and had the camera changed. Stellantis refuses to do so. Photos have been uploaded showing the problem.
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 24, 2021
AT ONLY 256 MILES, THE VEHICLE EITHER SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING OR WILL NOT START AFTER IT'S PARKED. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THE ENGINE TURNING OFF WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO STALL. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THERE HAS SINCE BEEN 3 NO START CONDITIONS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DAVIS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM IN YULEE, FL AWAITING DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR OF THIS INTERMITTENT FAULT.