Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the airbags, transmission, and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2021 Dodge Charger: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2021's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2021 Dodge Charger. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, RWD | 21–23 mpg |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | RWD | 19 mpg |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | RWD | 15 mpg |
| 6.4L 8-cyl | RWD | 18 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Dodge Charger, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Most of these complaints are about an open air bag recall notice where the repair parts aren't available. Owners say dealers and the manufacturer confirmed the shortage. Many say the wait has gone on for months while they keep driving the car. Some worry that the curtain air bag inflators along the roof could rupture, but none of these owners report a failure. A few complaints describe an air bag warning light traced to the passenger seat harness or an open passenger frontal circuit. A pending recall can also stall a trade-in.
Most of these complaints involve transmission faults and loss of drive, and one ends in a crash. Owners describe sudden downshifts with a Service Transmission message, a transmission that overheated and smoked at highway speed, and sixth gear failing at about 66,000 miles. Others report weak, hesitant acceleration in the low gears until about 4500 rpm, then a sudden surge of power. Dealers often can't reproduce or diagnose the fault, and parts can be on backorder. One crash report describes the rear end locking up and the car hitting a guard rail.
The engine can stall while driving or fail to start after the car has been parked. One car had this problem at only 256 miles, and it was intermittent. Another complaint describes low and high beams cutting out and coming back on even though the bulbs are fine, which the owner suspects is an overheating wiring harness. The same report describes harsh downshifts from sixth gear that jolt the car and can stop it from accelerating. A dealer repair that took almost 30 days didn't fix the shifting. Stalling at speed carries a loss-of-control risk.
Excerpts from complaints Charger owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Notification or recall came out in March. Notified by mail end of April. It is now mid June and still there is no remedy available for this open recall. For drivers where this is their sole car, it is concerning and unfair that we continue to drive with this recall and possibly risk injury. I understand the process might take a while but having no communication on when parts are to be available from the manufacturer is upsetting.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2024
There is an open recall for curtain side airbag with no remedy available. In April 2024, vehicle displayed service airbag system. vehicle was taken to dealership and the issue was the passenger seat harness airbag. Dealership states it is a warranty issue and I had to pay a deductible. With the no remedy on the recall and the other issue I had, Dodge Chargers are having issues with the airbags.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2024
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.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 ranks fourth for owner complaints among 8 Charger years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2021 is the 11th model year of the Charger's seventh generation (2011–2023).
It includes the 2020 update.
What changed for 2020
Recall repairs are free at any Dodge dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury or death.
Fix: 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.
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.".
Risk: A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Dodge Charger, with their own 2021 checklists.
2021 owner complaints, side by side
