Wrench.Pro

2019 Dodge Charger Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2019 Dodge Charger carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering camera and instrument cluster/panel. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Rear brake pad incomplete rotor coverage.” 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.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Campaign #20V512000 · Aug 27, 2020

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Dodge Charger Pursuit vehicles equipped with a "stealth mode." When stealth mode is selected, the backup camera rearview image will not display when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Risk: The lack of a back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update body control module software to disable stealth mode when the vehicle is shifted into "Reverse", free of charge. The recall began October 22, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W62.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Campaign #19V203000 · Mar 14, 2019

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Challenger and Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The instrument cluster may not properly illuminate driver warnings. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."

Risk: Failure of the instrument cluster to properly illuminate may prevent the driver from receiving warnings about the vehicle's systems, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began April 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V32.

SERVICE BRAKES

Campaign #19V758000 · Oct 24, 2019

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles. An incompatible front wheel and brake package was installed and may allow the front tire to contact the steering knuckle, causing tire damage.

Risk: A damaged tire can suddenly lose air pressure and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front wheels and inspect and replace the front tires, as necessary. In addition, dealers will inspect the wheel alignment, adjusting it if necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is VB0.

AIR BAGS

Campaign #19V246000 · Mar 28, 2019

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Charger vehicles. The driver and passenger sun visors may lack the required air bag warning information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: Failure to provide the air bag warning information increases the risk of injury.

Fix: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger sun visors, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V35.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

Campaign #24V198000 · Mar 14, 2024

Issue: 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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2019 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

Rear brake pad incomplete rotor coverage

SERVICE BRAKES

4 NHTSA complaints · 2020-01 → 2020-05

“2019 DODGE CHARGER SCATPACK WITH BREMBO BRAKES. REAR BRAKE PADS ONLY COVERING 80% OF ROTOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11324731
“THE REAR BRAKE PADS DO NOT SWEEP THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE REAR ROTORS. NEARLY 25% OF THE REAR ROTOR IS NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE REAR BRAKE PADS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11306986
“I HAVE THE 2019 DODGE SCAT PACK, BASE MODEL, NO OPTIONS. IT COMES WITH THE 4-PISTON BREMBO CALIPERS ON THE REAR WHEELS. THE FACTORY BRAKE PAD ONLY CONTACTS A LITTLE OVER HALF OF THE ROTOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11302276

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Interior door panel warping and separation

STRUCTURE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2022-04 → 2026-01

“The interior door panel on my 2019 Dodge Charger began to separate/warp from the door frame on the Front drivers and Front Passengers door panels. The vehicle had approximately 32000 miles when the issue started”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11701038
“The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that all 4 door panels of the vehicle seemed as though they were peeling on the inside of the door, as well as, bubbling towards the top of the door”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11460042
“The interior doors on my car are wrapping and the drivers door arm rest is broken on the inside”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11533982

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Side-curtain airbag recall remedy unavailable

AIR BAGS

39 NHTSA complaints · 2024-04 → 2025-04

“I received a notice March 14th of 2024 indicating that the side curtain airbag on my charger may fail and cause shrapnel to go into the passenger and driver's area and possibly causing injury”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11650039
“I own a 2019 Dodge Charger, and it has an open recall for the airbag inflator, which poses a serious safety risk. Despite the recall being issued over six months ago, replacement parts are still unavailable”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11622179
“NHTSA Recall Number 24V-198 has been active since March 14, 2024, and in nearly a year the manufacturer still has yet to make a repair available”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11644498

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbags fail to deploy in crash

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2020-10 → 2024-09

“The airbags failed to deploy upon impact and after impact. The vehicle is located in insurance agencies' salvage yard”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11614203
“I was in an accident. The other car hit me at least going 60 mph into my drivers door. NONE of my airbags deployed in the accident”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11503303
“I was in a car accident where i hydroplaned through 3 lanes of traffic on the highway and spun out of control and smashed into a median wall which effectively cause my car to be totaled”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11462881

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Vehicle damage following airbag recall repair

AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 NHTSA complaints · 2025-06 → 2026-03

“After the dealer performed the SABIC inflator recall on my Dodge Charger GT, the vehicle immediately developed new electrical failures that were not present before the repair”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11722901
“I brought my vehicle in for a recall to replace the airbags and headliner”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11670680
“Had an airbag recall and dealer tried to fix it and now airbag light is on. This is a safety issue to drive car like this”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11665193

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Headlight failure and wiring harness melting

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

11 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2025-12

“The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the driver's side headlight persistently failed to operate as needed, and the headlight bulb was replaced several times”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11688981
“Melted headlight connector.Have replace headlight connector and headlight bulb several times”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11513161
“I smelled a burning scent through my vent while driving..Driver side headlight had burned out”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11510196

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power steering assist loss while driving

STEERING

5 NHTSA complaints · 2019-04 → 2026-07

“I was traveling 58 mph on hwy 270 in Malvern Arkansas. The power steering turned off, the emergency brake engaged and flashed, and the ABS shut off”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11751658
“TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. WE WERE TRAVELING ON A MAIN ROAD DOING 30 MPH WITH AUTOS IN FRONT AND BEHIND US”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11360134
“WE'VE PURCHASED 15 PURSUIT RATED CHARGERS THIS YEAR. OUT OF THE 15 WE HAVE FOUND 2 SO FAR WITH STEERING FAILURES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11196680

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)

87 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.

7

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 2019 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.

Check another vehicle →