While driving on a 2 lane highway with traffic behind me, the car shuts down and I lose power while driving. The steering wheel locked up making it very difficult to turn. I pressed the gas repeatedly and nothing happened. Cars behind me were blowing but there wasn't much I could do. The car was slowing down anyway so I pressed the brake and they worked so I struggled like crazy to turn the…
2010 Dodge Charger steering problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 10 steering complaints filed for the 2010 Dodge Charger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2010 Dodge Charger owners report widespread steering and power steering issues including premature tie rod failure (sometimes requiring replacement twice within 2-3 years), violent highway shaking, unexplained engine stalls when turning, and power steering system faults. Dealers frequently fail to diagnose or repair these problems, and one owner's power steering hose recall sat in parts backorder with no resolution timeline.
The 2010 Dodge Charger steering complaints center on premature tie rod end failure and instability. Multiple owners needed outer tie rod replacement within 2-3 years of ownership; one had rods fail again within months of replacement. Complaints describe steering wheel pull requiring constant corrective pressure, knocking noises from the right front, loose tie rod ends, and severe uneven tire wear. One owner's dealer refused to repair the issue and misaligned suspension, while another dealer dismissed the problem entirely.
Equally serious are reports of engine stalls during normal driving and sharp turns, leaving the steering wheel locked or extremely difficult to turn. One owner experienced multiple stalls on highways and local roads; a dealer replaced the alternator and battery, but stalls recurred. Diagnostic machines found no fault codes.
Owners also report violent shaking at 55-65 mph, with one describing it as "the front end is going to come out from underneath it." Replacing tie rods and all four tires didn't cure the shake. A separate complaint documents throttle body and power steering warning lights illuminating simultaneously at highway speed, triggering automatic limp-mode deceleration—a dealer couldn't diagnose it. One owner received recall notification for a power steering hose but the replacement part sat on massive backorder with no availability date given.
Same Dodge Charger steering reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Tie Rod End Wear & Failure
Outer and inner tie rod ends wear out prematurely, requiring replacement within 2-3 years of ownership. Owners report needing replacement multiple times within short intervals.
When: 2-3 years into ownership; as early as 46,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel pulls to one side, requiring constant corrective pressure; Knocking or clunking noise from right front passenger side; Difficulty steering effectively; Inability to maintain straight driving; Loose tie rod ends diagnosed during service
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of outer tie rod ends performed; owners report parts failing again shortly after replacement. One owner replaced tie rods in November 2012 and needed replacement again by 2013.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner mentions this is a 'known problem' per their personal mechanic. No recall issued for tie rod ends themselves; one owner received recall for power steering hose with parts on massive backorder.
Engine Stall While Turning & Loss of Power Steering
Engine shuts down without warning during normal driving or sharp turns, leaving driver with locked or difficult-to-turn steering. Occurs at highway speeds and low speeds. Multiple incidents reported by single owner.
When: Occurred multiple times April-May and June; also reported at 46,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning during highway driving; Engine stalls during sharp turns at 20 mph; Steering wheel locks up or becomes very difficult to turn after stall; Check engine light illuminates after stall; Battery warning light illuminates; Oil light turns on; Vehicle acts like it wants to start but makes winding noise (ruuu ruuu ruuu)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced alternator and battery; stalls recurred. No repair shop could find or duplicate the issue; diagnostic machines showed no fault codes.
Violent Shaking at Highway Speed
Front end violently shakes or vibrates at highway speeds (55-65 mph), particularly during braking. Owner reports feeling like 'the front end is going to come out from underneath it.'
When: Within weeks of purchase; ongoing throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking at 55-65 mph; Violent shake when braking at approximately 60 mph; Front end instability; Uneven tire wear (all 4 tires required replacement)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced both outer tie rods and all 4 tires due to uneven wear; shaking persisted. Dealer found 'nothing wrong with suspension' on inspection.
Power Steering Hose Failure (Recalled)
Owner received voluntary recall notification from manufacturer regarding power steering hose. No failure experienced by complaining owner, but parts availability was critical issue preventing repairs.
When: Recall notification received at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: No symptoms reported by this owner; recall preventive
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer informed owner that recalled part was on massive backorder with no approximate availability date
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Voluntary recall notification issued for power steering hose; however, replacement parts were not available to dealers for extended period
Steering Column Noise
Noise emanates from steering column, described as sounding like a windshield wiper against dry glass. Appears after other steering issues develop.
When: Approximately 2 months after initial steering issues reported
Symptoms owners cite: Noise from steering column resembling windshield wiper on dry glass
Repairs/costs cited: Personal mechanic advised steering column required replacement along with tie rod ends
Throttle Body & Power Steering Warning Lights with Limp Mode
Throttle body and electric power steering warning indicators illuminate simultaneously at highway speed. Vehicle automatically reduces speed from 60 to 40 mph in limp mode.
When: At 92,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Throttle body warning light illuminates; Electric power steering warning light illuminates; Automatic speed reduction from 60 to 40 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed vehicle but could not find failure. Owner believed electrical system was root cause.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2010 Dodge Charger?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2010 Dodge Charger?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 32,000 and 76,566 miles, with the median around 46,300. A quarter of owners report trouble before 32,000; a quarter make it past 76,566. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Dodge/Charger.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.