Is the Dodge Charger more reliable than the Nissan Altima?

No. The Altima has a clear edge. Both rate good, but the Altima costs less to repair each year and fewer of its repairs are major. It also has fewer recalls. The Charger has fewer total complaints, though it sold in smaller numbers and draws more per car sold.

Which has more recalls, the Charger or the Altima?

The Charger has more. Federal recall records show 25 recalls across nine model years for the Charger and 20 for the Altima. Recall counts alone do not say how serious the problems were, so check any specific car by VIN before buying.

Which costs less to repair, the Charger or the Altima?

The Altima costs less. Independent repair-cost data estimates $483 a year for the Altima and $652 for the Charger. That is about $845 more over five years for the Charger. A Charger repair is also more likely to be major, at 15% against 12%.

What are the biggest problems with the Dodge Charger?

Air bags draw the most complaints, including two crashes where some bags did not deploy. The Uconnect touchscreen is next. It delaminates and registers phantom touches, and dealers quote over $2,000 to replace it. Interior door panels that peel away from the frame are also reported.

Are there serious safety complaints about the Nissan Altima?

Yes. Owners report electrical fires, automatic emergency braking that stops the car with nothing ahead, and tie rods that separate while turning. Brake complaints include 14 linked to crashes, and steering has 9. Check recall status by VIN and avoid 2019 and 2020 model years.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Charger vs Nissan Altima: Reliability Compared

Dodge Charger

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Altima

Good

The Nissan Altima comes out ahead of the Dodge Charger on reliability, with a clear edge. Lower repair costs and fewer major repairs decide it. Both models rate good, but the Charger also carries more recalls across the same nine model years.

How Do the Dodge Charger and Nissan Altima Generations Compare?

Most Charger shoppers in this range land in the seventh generation, which ran from 2011 through 2023 with facelifts in 2015 and 2020. Its weakest years, 2018 and 2019, came before the 2020 facelift, and 2021 came after it. The eighth generation began in 2024. On the Altima side, the fifth generation ended in 2018, the first year in this range. The sixth generation began in 2019 and carried a 2023 refresh. Its weakest years, 2019 and 2020, were the first two of that generation, and 2023 was the refresh year.

Verdict

The Nissan Altima is more reliable than the Dodge Charger, scoring 79/100 vs 74/100.

Reliability favors the Altima by a clear margin. Independent repair-cost data puts its yearly bill lower, and a smaller share of its repairs turn major. Federal recall records also show fewer recalls across the same nine model years. The Charger draws fewer complaints in total, but the Altima sold in much larger numbers, and per car sold the Charger collects more. Both still rate good. The edge comes from cost and repair severity, not from a clean safety record, because the Altima has serious complaint patterns of its own.

Key Differences

1Nissan Altima costs $169 less per year to repair
2Nissan Altima scores 5 points higher in reliability
3Nissan Altima has 5 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

1Dodge Charger

—

5Nissan Altima

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair Risk

Dodge Charger vs Nissan Altima: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Charger vs Nissan Altima at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Dodge Charger	Nissan Altima
Reliability Score	74/100	79/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	25	20
Complaints per 10k Sold	2.2	1.6
Annual Repair Cost	$652/yr	$483/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	15%	12%
Year Wins	1	8

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Charger and Nissan Altima?

Expense versus danger separates these two. Charger owners mostly describe costly annoyances: a Uconnect touchscreen that delaminates and registers phantom touches, with dealers quoting over $2,000 to replace it, and door panels that peel from the frame. The Altima's list is more alarming. Owners report electrical fires, automatic emergency braking that stops the car on the highway, and tie rods that separate during turns. Altima brakes, steering and electrical all have crash-linked complaints, while the Charger has none in brakes or steering. Both models have air bag complaints tied to crashes where bags did not deploy.

Dodge Charger vs Nissan Altima common problem areas comparison
Component	Dodge Charger	Nissan Altima
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	0.3Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.6Very Low	0.1Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
WHEELS	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Dodge Charger or Nissan Altima?

Running a Charger costs more. Independent repair-cost data estimates $652 a year for it against $483 for the Altima, a gap of $169 a year, or about $845 over five years. A Charger repair is also more likely to be major, 15% against 12%. The Charger does visit the shop unscheduled less often, 0.2 times a year against 0.3, so the Altima trips more often but costs less overall.

How Does Dodge Charger vs Nissan Altima Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Charger vs Nissan Altima year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Dodge Charger	Nissan Altima	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 0C	88/1000R / 0C	Nissan Altima
2025	71/1002R / 10C	78/1001R / 4C	Nissan Altima
2024	73/1002R / 4C	82/1001R / 31C	Nissan Altima
2023	76/1002R / 22C	84/1000R / 24C	Nissan Altima
2022	74/1003R / 11C	83/1000R / 20C	Nissan Altima
2021	76/1002R / 29C	79/1002R / 53C	Nissan Altima
2020	75/1003R / 54C	71/1006R / 162C	Dodge Charger
2019	71/1005R / 118C	72/1008R / 230C	Nissan Altima
2018	69/1006R / 121C	76/1002R / 217C	Nissan Altima

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Dodge Charger scored 76/100 and the 2023 Nissan Altima scored 84/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Dodge Charger vs the Nissan Altima?

Pick the Altima if you want the lower running bill and fewer big repairs. Target 2023, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2019 and 2020, its weakest. Before you buy, ask whether the tie rod and automatic braking issues were ever addressed, and check recall status by VIN. If a test drive shows lag from a stop or shudder under acceleration, walk away. Pick the Charger if you value the car itself and can tolerate a higher bill. Its problems lean toward cost more than danger, but the touchscreen is a real expense, and failures often show up right after the 3-year warranty ends. Target 2021 and avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. Test every screen function, the backup camera, and each door panel. Treat lifted panels or a flaky screen as a price negotiation, not a deal breaker.

Dodge Charger vs Nissan Altima: Common Questions

Is the Dodge Charger more reliable than the Nissan Altima?: No. The Altima has a clear edge. Both rate good, but the Altima costs less to repair each year and fewer of its repairs are major. It also has fewer recalls. The Charger has fewer total complaints, though it sold in smaller numbers and draws more per car sold.
Which has more recalls, the Charger or the Altima?: The Charger has more. Federal recall records show 25 recalls across nine model years for the Charger and 20 for the Altima. Recall counts alone do not say how serious the problems were, so check any specific car by VIN before buying.
Which costs less to repair, the Charger or the Altima?: The Altima costs less. Independent repair-cost data estimates $483 a year for the Altima and $652 for the Charger. That is about $845 more over five years for the Charger. A Charger repair is also more likely to be major, at 15% against 12%.
What are the biggest problems with the Dodge Charger?: Air bags draw the most complaints, including two crashes where some bags did not deploy. The Uconnect touchscreen is next. It delaminates and registers phantom touches, and dealers quote over $2,000 to replace it. Interior door panels that peel away from the frame are also reported.
Are there serious safety complaints about the Nissan Altima?: Yes. Owners report electrical fires, automatic emergency braking that stops the car with nothing ahead, and tie rods that separate while turning. Brake complaints include 14 linked to crashes, and steering has 9. Check recall status by VIN and avoid 2019 and 2020 model years.

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Decided between Dodge Charger and Nissan Altima? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Dodge Charger and Nissan Altima

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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