Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Charger vs Toyota Camry: Reliability Compared

The Toyota Camry has a slight reliability edge over the Dodge Charger, mainly because its repairs cost less and are less often major. Both cars hold a good standing. The Charger visits the shop less often, but its touchscreen and door panel failures can get expensive.

How Do the Dodge Charger and Toyota Camry Generations Compare?

Most Charger shoppers in the 2018 to 2026 range will see the seventh generation, which ran from the 2011 model year through 2023 and received facelifts for 2015 and 2020. The eighth generation began with the 2024 model year, so those cars are newer and have fewer complaints on record. The Camry's 2018 to 2023 model years all belong to the eighth generation, known as the XV70. That means a 2018 and a 2023 Camry share the same basic design, so the year you choose matters less than the individual car's history.

Verdict

The Toyota Camry is more reliable than the Dodge Charger, scoring 78/100 vs 74/100.

Slight edge goes to the Camry. Both cars hold a good reliability standing, and owner complaints per car sold are nearly the same. What separates them is the cost and weight of a repair. Independent repair-cost data shows the Camry with a lower yearly bill and a lower chance that a repair is major. The Charger does reach the shop a little less often, but its failures, such as a dead touchscreen quoted at over $2,000, hit harder when they come. The gap is small, so condition and history matter more than the badge.

Key Differences

  1. 1Toyota Camry costs $264 less per year to repair
  2. 2Dodge Charger has 10 fewer total recalls
  3. 3Toyota Camry scores 4 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Dodge Charger
—
4Toyota Camry
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair Risk

Dodge Charger vs Toyota Camry: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Charger vs Toyota Camry at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricDodge ChargerToyota Camry
Reliability Score74/10078/100
Years Tracked99
Total Recalls2535
Complaints per 10k Sold2.22.1
Annual Repair Cost$652/yr$388/yr
Repair Frequency0.2/yr0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk15%11%
Year Wins2 (1 tied)6 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Charger and Toyota Camry?

The two cars fail in different places. Charger complaints center on a touchscreen that delaminates and registers phantom touches, door panels that peel away from the frame, and electric steering assist that cuts out at low speed. Camry complaints lean toward drivetrain and safety systems: an engine that shuts off with the shifter still in Drive, hesitation under throttle, a spongy brake pedal, and a coolant bypass valve that fails around 30,000 to 34,000 miles. Crash-linked reports are heavier on the Camry, which has them in brakes, air bags, power train, electrical and engine. The Charger's crash-linked reports sit in air bags and power train only.

Dodge Charger vs Toyota Camry common problem areas comparison
ComponentDodge ChargerToyota Camry
AIR BAGS0.6Very Low0.2Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM0.5Very Low0.2Very Low
POWER TRAIN0.1Very Low0.4Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER0.2Very Low0.2Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES0.1Very Low0.2Very Low
STEERING0.1Very Low0.1Very Low
ENGINE0.1Very Low0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE0.1Very Low—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM—None0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL—None0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM—None0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING—None—None
WHEELS—None—None
SUSPENSION—None—None
VISIBILITY—None—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE—None—None
TIRES—None—None
SEAT BELTS—None—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER—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 Toyota Camry?

Repair costs favor the Toyota. Independent repair-cost data puts the Camry's annual repair bill at $388, against $652 for the Charger. Over five years, that gap grows to about $1,320. The Charger does make fewer unscheduled shop visits, at 0.2 a year against 0.3 for the Camry. When a repair does happen, though, 15% of Charger repairs are major, compared with 11% for the Camry.

How Does Dodge Charger vs Toyota Camry Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Charger vs Toyota Camry year-by-year reliability scores
YearDodge ChargerToyota CamryEdge
202682/1000R / 0C88/1000R / 0CToyota Camry
202571/1002R / 10C76/1004R / 6CToyota Camry
202473/1002R / 4C83/1002R / 35CToyota Camry
202376/1002R / 22C79/1004R / 47CToyota Camry
202274/1003R / 11C84/1002R / 47CToyota Camry
202176/1002R / 29C82/1002R / 144CToyota Camry
202075/1003R / 54C75/1005R / 253CTie
201971/1005R / 118C70/1008R / 364CDodge Charger
201869/1006R / 121C65/1008R / 708CDodge Charger

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Dodge Charger scored 76/100 and the 2022 Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry?

Pick the Camry if you want the lower running cost and the smaller chance of a big repair bill. It suits a commuter who keeps a car for years. Target 2022, which ranks among its strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest. Before buying, ask whether the coolant bypass valve has been replaced, and check that the brake pedal feels firm. Pick the Charger if you want a full-size sedan and can accept a higher annual repair cost in exchange for fewer unscheduled shop visits. Target 2021, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2019. Test every touchscreen function, since failures often show up soon after the 3-year warranty ends. Look at each door panel near the window. Also confirm the steering assist works through slow, tight turns. A 2026 model has had little time to collect complaints, so do not read its clean record as proof of quality.

Dodge Charger vs Toyota Camry: Common Questions

Is the Dodge Charger more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
No, the Camry has a slight edge. Both hold a good standing and draw similar complaint rates per car sold. The Camry wins on cost, with a lower annual repair bill and a lower chance that a repair is major. The Charger needs fewer unscheduled shop visits.
Which has more recalls, the Charger or the Camry?
The Camry has more. Federal recall records show 35 recalls across nine model years for the Camry and 25 for the Charger. Recall counts reflect how many fixes were issued, not how often cars fail, so check any specific car's VIN for open recalls.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Charger or the Camry?
The Camry is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data estimates $388 a year for the Camry and $652 for the Charger. Over five years that is about $1,320 more for the Charger. A Charger touchscreen replacement was quoted at over $2,000 in owner reports.
What is the most common Charger problem?
Air bags draw the most Charger complaints, at 98, but electrical trouble is the most visible one. The Uconnect 8.4 touchscreen delaminates and registers phantom touches, changing stations and climate settings. Some screens failed at 5,000 to 6,900 miles, often just after the warranty ended.
What goes wrong most often on the Camry?
Power train complaints lead for the Camry, at 291. One report describes the engine shutting off and the key coming out with the shifter in Drive, with no warning. Another describes hesitation when pressing the gas. Engine owners also report a failing coolant bypass valve, usually around 30,000 to 34,000 miles.

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

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Dodge Charger and Toyota Camry

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.

See incorrect data? Report an issue