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2017 Dodge Charger Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2017 Dodge Charger carries 4 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering wiring and driveshaft. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Uconnect touchscreen delamination and ghost touches.” Dodge uses Stellantis' Oil Change Indicator — it watches engine load and duty cycle and messages when to change oil, capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months. Know your engine: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 goes 100,000 miles on plugs, while HEMI V8s carry sixteen plugs (two per cylinder) on a roughly 30,000-mile interval — that's a real cost difference at the service counter. HEMI models with MDS cylinder deactivation are especially sensitive to overdue oil.

4 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Campaign #18V332000 · May 17, 2018

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Campaign #18V281000 · Jan 5, 2018

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Dodge Charger pursuit police vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive and V8 engines. The front driveshaft universal joint may seize or fracture causing the shaft to detach from the vehicle.

Risk: If the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U37.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

Campaign #17V097000 · Feb 14, 2017

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD). The front driveshaft bolts may loosen and allow the front driveshaft to disconnect, potentially causing a loss of motive power.

Risk: A loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight front driveshaft bolts, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T03.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Campaign #17V496000 · Aug 8, 2017

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles equipped with Hellcat engines. The engine oil cooler (EOC) hoses may fail resulting in a rapid loss of engine oil.

Risk: If an EOC line fails, oil may spray onto the windshield or contact a hot surface, impairing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash or fire.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EOC lines, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T48.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2017 Dodge Charger.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

    Action #EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021

    From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 200…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Uconnect touchscreen delamination and ghost touches

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

28 NHTSA complaints · 2018-06 → 2025-11

“This is regarding the Uconnect radio. The screen has delaminated and is constantly pressing buttons by itself. Randomly making phone calls and startling me while driving, one time it called the police. Turning the heat and air and climate seats off and on consistently”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11464518
“The safety issue is due to the delamination between the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and touch screen digitizer of the Uconnect 8.4 Instrument Panel Module. This unit controls the infotainment system, navigation, and numerous vehicle settings”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11469421
“The radio/head unit is pressing buttons all by itself. Will call 911, change settings, delete saved information, set random naviGation to the gps, changes a/c and heat settings, turns on different accessories without ever touching the screen”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11496365

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Interior door panel separation from door frame

STRUCTURE

25 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2025-12

“That the interior door panels had separated from the door frame causing the locking mechanisms to malfunction and the doors would not remain secured. The failure was present on the drive and passenger front door at this time”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11603635
“interior door panel is separating from the door its self where the door and the panel meets at the top where the window is. This was first noticed on the front passenger door about 3 years ago and is now on all of the doors to some extent”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11432170
“THE INTERIOR DOOR PANELS ON ALL FOUR DOORS ARE LIFTING OFF AND PEELING AWAY FROM THE DOORS. THE PANELS ARE PEELING MORE AND MORE EVERY WEEK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11385967

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine oil cooler and hose failure with oil loss

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

4 NHTSA complaints · 2021-08 → 2026-07

“I was able to take the vehicle to an independent repair shop who identified the issue as the plastic oil cooler assembly on the vehicle being broken. My car's oil was completely empty and it would have been but minutes until the engine completely seized up”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11752607
“The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the warning "Engine Oil Pressure" displayed. Upon inspection, it was discovered that engine oil had leaked from the engine and while attempting to add oil to the engine the oil immediately leaked out”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11555973

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Driveshaft and rear differential noise

POWER TRAIN

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-04 → 2026-07

“The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was making a clunking sound. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the rear draft shaft center bearing was not moving freely as the front shaft”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11750917
“The drive shaft on my Charger started to make a clicking noise. At 56,694 miles I had to replace the drive shaft at an independent garage because the Dodge dealer could not see my car for 3 weeks”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11472215
“NOISE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AREA. WHEN GOING SPEEDS OF 65+ MPH THERE IS A HOWLING/WHINING NOISE THAT IS CONSTANT. WHEN I LET OFF THE GAS IT GOES AWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11088904

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel leakage from fuel tank and pump

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2017-11 → 2021-01

“SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE AND INSIDE MY CAR AND WHEN THE AIR WAS ON THE SMELL WAS COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. I BROUGHT IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SMELLED THE GAS OUTSIDE THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11046924
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE WALK AROUND THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS POURING OUT FROM THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11390700

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Uconnect weather alerts obstructing the display

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 NHTSA complaints · 2017-10 → 2018-05

“I GET REPEATED WEATHER ALERTS FROM U-CONNECT SCREEN SYSTEM. THE ALERTS COME FROM SERIUS SATELLITE TRAVEL LINK SYSTEM. THEY POP UP AND BLOCK WHATEVER IS DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN LIKE RADIO OR MAPS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11093254
“THE "SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS" THAT SHOW UP ON THE RADIO SCREEN FOR WEATHER THAT IS HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY ARE DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS. THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAR THE ALERTS IS TO TAKE YOUR HAND OFF THE WHEEL AND USE THE TOUCH SCREEN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11061186

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission hard shifting and gear engagement failure

POWER TRAIN

6 NHTSA complaints · 2017-06 → 2025-02

“The transmission in my car completely failed. I was driving home from work. The check engine light came on. Then I noticed the transmission wasn't changing gears. I also noticed a burning smell as well. I towed the vehicle to the dealership”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11559027
“2017 DODGE CHARGER. THE TRANSMISSION TAKES TOO LONG COMING OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE JERKS AND HESITATES VIOLENTLY. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HESITATES WITHOUT WARNING HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS TRAFFIC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11316417
“MY 2017 DODGE CHARGER IS EXPERIENCING "HARD SHIFTING" WHEN I GET IN THE VEHICLE AND START DRIVING IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10993882

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electrical shutdown and loss of power while driving

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

10 NHTSA complaints · 2017-03 → 2024-11

“Electrical all lights on dashboard radio all went blank, blacked out as if the vehicle was turned off while driving and fully functioning”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11492672
“While coming around a 35mph turn my car shut its self off. Normally it would say please put car in park but it shut off and had to panic and pull hard to make it around the turn. Put car in park then I was able to restart the car”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11625479
“WHILE TRAVELING 77MPH ON INTERSTATE 70 THE EVIC SCREEN INDICATED A FCW WARNING WITH THE SYSTEM TURNED OFF, LOSS OF THE ABS, ESP, SRS, THEN TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRIC STEERING WITH NO THROTTLE OR BREAKING INPUT RESPONSE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11015294

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the indicator says so — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L: 0W-20. HEMI 5.7L: 5W-20 (0W-40 for 6.4L SRT). MDS-equipped HEMIs punish stretched oil intervals with lifter and cam wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles. Charger/Challenger R/T and Scat Pack: staggered-width setups can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads and rotors at every oil change. Heavy Durangos used for towing and hard-driven Chargers both run through rear pads faster than the front-pad-first rule of thumb suggests.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 30,000 mi

HEMI 5.7L: sixteen plugs roughly every 30,000 miles — check your year's manual. Pentastar 3.6L (Charger/Challenger V6, Durango V6, Journey, Grand Caravan): 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Grand Caravan/Journey (62TE): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles in family duty. Charger/Challenger/Durango with the TorqueFlite 8-speed: no published normal interval, but specialists recommend service around 60,000-100,000 miles — sooner with towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

RWD Charger/Challenger and AWD Durango: replace rear diff fluid around 60,000 miles, sooner with towing or drag-strip duty. Limited-slip units need the friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. HEMIs pull serious airflow — a clogged filter costs measurable power before it throws a code.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles, replace on cracking or glazing. On the HEMI, a shredded belt can take the cooling drive with it mid-drive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped (behind the glovebox on most models). Some earlier Journeys and Avengers shipped without one — check before buying a filter.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant is scheduled for 10 years / 150,000 miles; shops commonly refresh by 100,000. OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing chemistries gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Big-audio Chargers and tow-package Durangos lean on the battery hard; weak batteries surface as gremlins in the electronics before they fail to crank.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

73 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

3

complaints mentioning a crash

3

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2017 Dodge Charger reflects Dodge's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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