Should I buy a 2011 Dodge Charger with documented airbags problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented airbags issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2011 Dodge Charger airbags problems

severe Owners of the 2011 Dodge Charger have filed 37 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 58,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →

Failure mileage

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,100

airbags complaints on the Dodge Charger, by model year
Model year	airbags complaints
2007 Charger	75
2008 Charger	57
2009 Charger	41
2010 Charger	59
2011 Charger (this page)	37
2012 Charger	82
2013 Charger	30
2014 Charger	24
2015 Charger	11

14crashes

10injuries

What stands out

All 5 active airbags recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.

Related recalls

critical NHTSA 19V018000 January 15, 2019

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.

critical NHTSA 18V021000 January 9, 2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.

severe NHTSA 15V467000 July 27, 2015

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured May 6, 2010, to June 5, 2014

Air bags that unexpectedly deploy increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the Occupant Restraint Control module calibration, free of charge. The recall began on August 25, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R35.

critical NHTSA 16V352000 May 24, 2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St

These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.

severe NHTSA 13V118000 April 3, 2013

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured April 11, 2011, through December 14, 2011

In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment the airbags may not operate as designed, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace both driver and passenger seat airbag wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N07.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.

Service Bulletin N07040413 Apr 2013

The above vehicles may have been built with front seat airbag wire harnesses with improper sized terminal crimp(s) that may cause an intermittent airbag warning light.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin N07040413 Apr 2013

The above vehicles may have been built with front seat airbag wire harnesses with improper sized terminal crimp(s) that may cause an intermittent airbag warning light.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

The 2011 Charger's airbag system shows two major fault categories. First, electrical failures cause the airbag warning light to come on intermittently or stay lit constantly—owners report the light flickering on and off unpredictably, even while parked. Dealers traced these to wiring harness problems at 50,000–68,000 miles, and some owners received quotes of $600 to fix them out of pocket when recall parts weren't available.

Second, documented crash cases show airbags outright failing to deploy during frontal impacts at speeds from 25 to 60 MPH, and at least one side-impact crash where side airbags didn't fire. Victims sustained serious injuries—neck, back, and chest trauma—that airbags should have mitigated.

More alarming: two owners report knee and foot airbags deploying with extreme force during minor to moderate crashes, causing severe lacerations and crush injuries to the lower legs. One owner spent five days in a trauma hospital and underwent five surgeries for exposed bone and tissue damage from knee airbag deployment alone.

Three NHTSA recall campaigns address airbag issues (13V118000, 15V467000, 16V352000), but parts—particularly Takata units—have been unavailable for over a year in many cases. Owners waited months to years for dealers to schedule recalls with no remedy in sight, leaving them stranded with safety-critical systems unrepaired.

Same Dodge Charger airbags reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013

Failure modes owners describe

Airbag warning light illumination (intermittent or persistent)

Dashboard airbag warning indicator comes on intermittently, flashing on and off, or stays permanently illuminated. Occurs at various speeds and when vehicle is stationary. Often traced to wiring harness faults or electrical issues.

When: 50,000–68,000 miles; some reports early in ownership (~1 month after purchase)

Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently or stays on; Light may go off then return; Occurs randomly while driving or at rest

Codes mentioned: 13V118000, 15V467000, 16V352000

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommended replacement of front driver and passenger airbag wiring harnesses. Some owners cite $600 repair cost quoted by dealers when recall parts unavailable. Thermostat replacement did not resolve airbag warning in one case.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recall campaigns 13V118000 (air bags), 15V467000 (air bags, seat belts), 16V352000 (air bags, Takata). Recall parts have been unavailable; dealers unable to complete recalls for extended periods (months to over a year).

Airbag non-deployment in frontal crashes

Front airbags fail to deploy during frontal impacts at various collision speeds, from 25 MPH to 60 MPH. Occurs in both direct front-end collisions and vehicles striking fixed objects (poles, trees, walls). Affects occupant safety significantly.

When: Crashes reported at mileages 23,000–119,000; failure mileage ranges wide

Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on frontal impact; Vehicle sustains major front-end damage; Occupants suffer neck, back, chest, head injuries without airbag protection

Codes mentioned: 15V467000, 16V352000

Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives; vehicles totaled or towed. One crash at 30 MPH resulted in vehicle striking wall with no deployment.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaigns 15V467000 and 16V352000 address airbags and seat belts; some VINs included in recalls, others not.

Airbag non-deployment in side-impact crashes

Side airbags fail to deploy during T-bone collisions and side impacts. One documented case involved 4-vehicle multi-vehicle crash at ~15 MPH with T-bone impact; side airbags did not deploy.

When: At 29,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: No side airbag deployment during T-bone collision; Occupant sustains neck, shoulder, chest, and back injuries

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; no repair attempted.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not specified in narrative.

Airbag over-deployment or excessive force

Knee and foot airbags deploy with excessive force in frontal crashes, causing severe laceration and crushing injuries to occupant shins and legs. In one case, knee airbag caused approximately 2 inches of exposed bone on both shins.

When: 35 MPH frontal crash; another case at highway speed fender-bender

Symptoms owners cite: Knee airbag deploys with extreme force; Foot airbag deploys with extreme force; Severe laceration and crushing injuries to lower legs and shins; Occupant reports airbag deployment felt like 'grenades' hitting legs

Repairs/costs cited: Patient required 5 surgeries on both legs, multiple blood transfusions, artificial skin grafts, and skin grafts from two sites on right thigh. Extensive trauma center treatment; total recovery time extended (unable to work or drive independently for weeks/months).

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Police and medical documentation taken; no manufacturer recall or TSB mentioned.

Airbag clock spring failure

Airbag clock spring component fails, requiring replacement. Related to broader electrical faults affecting airbag system.

When: As part of broader airbag system issues

Symptoms owners cite: Clock spring failure detected

Repairs/costs cited: Clock spring replacement required; one owner also had ABS module failure and fuel pump issues.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall involved; extended warranty available on fuel pump.

Airbag seam splitting in steering wheel

Driver side airbag bag itself splits along the seam in the steering wheel cover, indicating structural failure of the airbag module.

When: 85,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Driver side airbag splits from the seam in steering wheel

Repairs/costs cited: Airbags required replacement; vehicle not repaired.

Recall parts unavailability and repair delays

Owners receive recall notifications for airbag campaigns but dealers report parts are unavailable. Delays extend from months to over one year. Owners unable to safely drive vehicle or carry passengers while waiting for repair. Dealers cite Takata parts shortage and provide no timeline for remedy.

When: Recalls issued; availability delays from 2013–2016 timeframe

Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received; Parts not available at dealership; Dealer provides no remedy date; Owners instructed to wait indefinitely; Owner must wait months to over 1 year for parts

Codes mentioned: 13V118000, 15V467000, 16V352000

Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to complete recall repairs due to parts shortage. Some owners cite emotional stress and hardship from driving unsafe vehicle for extended period; some unable to safely transport passengers. One owner states passenger seat cannot be safely used pending recall completion.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recalls 13V118000, 15V467000, 16V352000 issued; Takata parts shortage affected supply. Dealers instructed owners parts would be available 'at some point' with no firm dates provided.

Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had airbags trouble with your 2011 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 airbags problem on the 2011 Dodge Charger?

It's a meaningful issue. 37 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.

At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?

Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 42,269 and 85,000 miles, with the median around 58,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 42,269; a quarter make it past 85,000. 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?

Yes — 5 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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/2011/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.