The 2020 Dodge Charger carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering camera and windshield. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Sunroof glass shattering while driving.” 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.
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.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
Campaign #21V516000 · Aug 7, 2021
Issue: 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."
Risk: A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
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.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2020 Dodge Charger.
VISIBILITY
2 NHTSA complaints · 2020-12 → 2022-01
“This was a rental car from Enterprise. It has a sunroof that suddenly exploded while we were on the interstate”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 72 MPH, THE CONTACT OPENED THE SUN ROOF VENT SHADE AND THE SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RESIDENCE AND THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KLABEN CHRYSLER”
AIR BAGS
23 NHTSA complaints · 2024-04 → 2025-03
“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall”
“This recall has been open for Almost 6 months. The 2020 Dodge charger SRT (specific trim) on NHTSA site shows zero open recalls. But then the vin shows 1 recall which has been open for 6months. I am told by the dealer the SRT trim for it does not have a recall as even NHTSA”
“Recall has no remedy since march 2024”
AIR BAGS
5 NHTSA complaints · 2023-08 → 2026-06
“While driving under normal conditions with no collision or impact, the side curtain airbag in my Dodge Charger Scat Pack deployed spontaneously. The deployment caused the headliner and pillar trim to rupture and released what appeared to be metal fragments and more. Occupants”
“The driver side air bag in the roof of the car deployed when the engine was not on, and no one was in the vehicle. The car was parked in the driveway of the insured's residence when the air bag deployed. No visible damage to the exterior of the vehicle indicating a collision”
“August 1st 2023, my vehicle was parked in my driveway, approx 1pm PST, i heard a loud bang come from outside. I went to the vehicle and found that the cylinder that would normally hold air for hte side curtain airbag had exploded inside of the vehicle. It sent metal shrapnel all”
AIR BAGS
7 NHTSA complaints · 2021-08 → 2025-09
“On July 1, 2023, I was driving on the I-20 going approximately 70 mph close to mile marker 167 in Talladega County, Alabama, when something hit my windshield causing me to swerve off the road and hitting the side railing. The the front end and the driver's side of the vehicle”
“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the contact was struck on the front driver door, causing severe injuries to the contact who was taken to the hospital by ambulance, and severe damage to the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The”
“The contact's son owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while his son was driving 40 MPH, when another vehicle was making a turn and collided with the front driver side of the vehicle. The contact stated another vehicle pushed his son's vehicle across 10 meters and”
AIR BAGS
3 NHTSA complaints · 2022-06 → 2026-02
“I had a accident about 5 days ago where I got in a accident and upon impact my airbags deployed a lot of smoke came out of the air bags I couldn’t c or breathe and I also got burn by the air bags there was a open recall on my dodge charger that they said they took care of how”
“The contact owned a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving at 12 MPH and attempting to complete a right turn, the vehicle suddenly began to jerk left to right. As a result, the contact briefly lost control of the vehicle, coming to a complete stop after”
“Daughter was in accident head on and loss control of car, couldn’t stop because KNEE AIR BAG deployed and wouldn’t allow her to step on brake. The car finally stopped from engine damage after about 200 yards but she almost went into oncoming traffic because she was unable to”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3 NHTSA complaints · 2021-04 → 2025-01
“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power and the steering wheel would seize with no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle then the check engine warning”
“While traveling on the highway at approx. 70mph at night the vehicle shutdown completely resulting in the loss of throttle, power steering and lights. This is an safety issue that can cause death or serious bodily harm to the driver and other drivers along a motorway as the”
“STARTED WITH RADIO AND DASH GAUGES RESETTING TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING. MOST RECENTLY, THE CAR RESTARTED WHILE DRIVING. DURING THE RESTART THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE HALT. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE ON A CAR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD AND JUST AT 3,500. AS THIS IS INTERMITTENT,”
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.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
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.
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.
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.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
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.
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.
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.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
75 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.
10
complaints mentioning a crash
2
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 2020 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.