Last updated: 2026-10-10
2021 Dodge Charger Reliability Report
The 2021 Dodge Charger rates good and above average for sedans, but owners report air bag recall repairs stalled by missing parts.
Recalls
2
Complaints
29
Complaint Rate
3.7per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$652
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,600–$4,600
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Rates good with a 5-star crash rating, but owners say air bag recall repairs have been stuck waiting on parts for months.
Top Issues to Watch
- AIR BAGS (11)
- POWER TRAIN (4)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2021 is 1 year after the 2020 facelift refresh.
- Year 11 in the Seventh generation (2011-2023) (2011–2023).
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- 7th generation Charger (US).
What this means for buyers
Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.
2011: Seventh generation (2011-2023) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2015: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2020: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2021: This Model Year
2021 is 1 year after the 2020 facelift refresh.
Should You Buy the 2021 Dodge Charger?
Good is the verdict. Among 2021 sedans it rates above average, and it ranks among the stronger of nine scored Charger years. The 2020 and 2022 models rate about the same, so this year is no clear step up. It earned 5 of 5 federal crash-test stars, though model-wide repair costs run $652 a year against $590 for the class.
Air bags draw the most complaints. Most describe an open recall repair with no parts available, and waits of months. Some owners worry about curtain inflators, but none report a failure. Transmission complaints are fewer but more serious: sudden downshifts with a Service Transmission message, a unit that smoked at highway speed, and sixth gear failing at about 66,000 miles. One report ends in a crash.
Run the VIN for open recalls and ask the seller for proof of the air bag repair. Ask for transmission service records too.
Compared to the 2022 Dodge Charger, which scored 2 points lower. See also the 2020 Dodge Charger for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (15%)
- +Low recall count
Cons
- −Above-average repair costs for its class
- −AIR BAGS: Most of these complaints are about an open air bag recall notice where the... (11 complaints)
- −POWER TRAIN: Most of these complaints involve transmission faults and loss of drive, and one... (4 complaints)
Compare 2021 Dodge Charger With
2021 Chrysler 300
Reliability: 73/100
2021 Toyota Camry
Reliability: 82/100
2021 Nissan Maxima
Reliability: 77/100
2021 Honda Accord
Reliability: 78/100
2021 Nissan Altima
Reliability: 79/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 2 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- AIR BAGS (11)
- POWER TRAIN (4)
Recall Overview
2
recalls on record
The 2021 Dodge Charger carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
3.7
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 16.7
Safety Incidents
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2021 Dodge Charger Recall Details
2 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Dodge Charger. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
AIR BAGS
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.
Consequence
An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury or death.
Remedy
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.
VISIBILITY
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."
Consequence
A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
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.
Buying a used 2021 Dodge Charger? Check its history first
Air bags problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Dodge Charger, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2021 Dodge Charger NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 10.1%
Safety Technologies
Dodge ChargerRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$652
vs $590 avg for fullsize cars
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.2
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
15%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Dodge Charger Resale Value
The Dodge Charger is estimated to retain about 62.9% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Dodge Charger model overall and is not specific to the 2021 model year.
- Value Retained
- 62.9%
- Depreciation
- 37.1%
- Listings Analyzed
- 716
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.
Explore Dodge Charger depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
15–23 MPG
Running cost: $3,250–$5,250/yr
Fuel + repair
12–19 city / 21–30 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2021 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charger 3.6L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 19 | 30 | 23 | $2,600 |
| Charger AWD 3.6L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 18 | 27 | 21 | $2,850 |
| Charger 6.4L 8-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 15 | 24 | 18 | $3,850 |
| Charger Widebody 6.4L 8-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 15 | 24 | 18 | $3,850 |
| Charger 5.7L 8-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 16 | 25 | 19 | $3,950 |
| Charger SRT Widebody 6.2L 8-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 12 | 21 | 15 | $4,600 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Dodge Charger.
Run the VIN through the federal recall lookup and confirm any air bag recall repair has actually been completed.
Start the car and confirm the air bag warning light turns off and stays off.
Accelerate hard from a stop through the low gears and feel for hesitation followed by a sudden surge near 4500 rpm.
Cruise at highway speed and watch for a Service Transmission message, harsh sixth-gear downshifts, or a warning light.
Park the car, let it sit, then restart it several times and watch for stalling or a no-start.
Switch between low and high beams during the drive and watch for headlights cutting out.
Pull a vehicle history report and check for theft, accident, or branded-title records.
Inspect the scissor jack and its contact points on the car before relying on it for a tire change.
2021 Dodge Charger Common Problems by Component
29 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
AIR BAGS
11 complaintsMost 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.
POWER TRAIN
4 complaintsSafety-relatedMost 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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3 complaintsSafety-relatedTheft is the most serious concern in this group. One complaint describes a Charger that was stolen and crashed, leaving a theft and accident record that cut its resale value. The owner says a simple diagnostic tool can quickly program a new key. Other complaints describe a scissor jack that slipped out from under the car during a tire change, and worries about the adhesive around the windshield edge. With only 3 complaints, no repeating mechanical pattern shows up.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2 complaints)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 complaintsThe 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.
STRUCTURE (1 complaints)
STRUCTURE
1 complaintRear doors cannot be opened from the inside when the child proof locks are in the open position, or the locked position. They can only be opened for the inside when unlocked from the drivers unlock panel.
SEAT BELTS (1 complaints)
SEAT BELTS
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2021 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while installing the car seats in the rear of the vehicle, the contact became aware that the driver’s side and passenger’s side rear seat belts would loosen unintendedly while attempting to fasten the seat belts. The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 61,702.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING (1 complaints)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 complaintcondensation in headlight
SUSPENSION (1 complaints)
SUSPENSION
1 complaintHeard 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
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintDuring a recent tire change, I observed that the plastic cover beneath the engine had become dislodged, and several clips were broken. Additionally, a large round component had detached and fallen out. Following consultation with fellow Dodge Charger Scat Pack owners on social media, it appears that this issue is not an isolated incident and raises concerns about the reliability of the engine's internal components. As such, I believe it is crucial for the manufacturer to investigate and address this problem promptly.
STEERING (1 complaints)
STEERING
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2021 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH and making a left turn, the power steering failed to operate properly, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn in either direction. The contact stated that the "Electric Power Steering Failure" message was displayed after the failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 53,000.
Best & Worst Dodge Charger Years
Best Dodge Charger Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2023
2021
(Current Model)
2020
Dodge Charger Years to Avoid
Dodge Charger Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 69/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 75/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 82/100 | Excellent |
Dodge Charger Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Dodge Charger reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Dodge Charger?
Does the 2021 Dodge Charger have transmission problems?
Does the 2021 Dodge Charger have any recalls?
How much does the 2021 Dodge Charger cost to maintain?
Don’t buy a 2021 Dodge Charger without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2021 Dodge Charger
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Dodge Charger does best on how many systems draw complaints (83/100) and worst on repair costs (70/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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