Steering Column If vehicle comes in for steering column replacement, verify column installed. Go to Info Column in Star Parts and open the flow chart to determine which column is installed. If column is Daimler, verify that a replacement Daimler column is in stock and use for replacement. If no Daimler column is in stock, replacement must use Presta column (which require a number of other componenets to be replaced). For more information and details on PN's, see L-Series Flowchart in Star Parts. Contact parts specifying for assistance regarding correct part numbers, for technical assistance contact Star.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Dodge Charger steering problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Dodge Charger have filed 39 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 62,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
39
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Charger | 23 |
| 2008 Charger | 31 |
| 2009 Charger | 18 |
| 2010 Charger | 10 |
| 2011 Charger (this page) | 39 |
| 2012 Charger | 53 |
| 2013 Charger | 30 |
| 2014 Charger | 62 |
| 2015 Charger | 13 |
1crash
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 39 steering complaints filed for the 2011 Dodge Charger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Owners have filed 39 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
Steering Column.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Steering Gears, Pumps and Hoses This tech tip applies to vehicles built before 12-23-2010, these vehicles can exhibit a squeak or rubbing noise when turning the steering wheel. Do not replace the steering gear, steering pump, power steering pressure hose or power steering return hose before investigating the dash seal ring. The source of the noise may be the sealing ring under the dash seal. To correct the issue apply MOPAR product part number 04318070AD (Silicone Spray Lube) to the inner dash seal interface and also the outer engine compartment interface. Do not use any alternate lubricants. If MOPAR product part number 04318070AD (Silicone Spray Lube) is not available then replace the asse
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DODGE: WHILE CONDUCTING CLOSED TRAINING COURSE EXERCISES, POWER STEERING, IN POLICE VEHICLES, WOULD OVER HEAT, IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, CAUSING HANDLING MANEUVERS DIFFICULT. MODELS 2011-2012 CHARGER.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Police Vehicle Power Steering Overheat During Closed Course Training Exercises This bulletin involves installing an external power steering cooler on the involved police fleet vehicles. The police fleet may experience increased steering efforts or power steering overheat during extended periods of extreme closed course handling maneuvers while conducting training exercises in ambient temperatures above 100° F (38° C). Diagnostic Trouble Code C2210-00 - ECU over temp may be present.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a pattern of electrical system catastrophe that kills steering, brakes, and engine control without warning. The most common sequence: Battery Saver Mode message appears on the dashboard, the radio cuts out, then ABS and electronic stability lights flash on, AC cycles wildly, and within seconds power steering fails entirely. The engine stalls. The vehicle coasts to a stop with no brakes, no steering, nothing.
Alternator failure is the root cause in the majority of cases. Owners report whining noises from the engine bay just before shutdown, burning plastic smells, and in at least one case visible blue smoke pouring from the alternator itself. Many report that the alternator needs replacement again within months of the first swap—shops tell them there's a backorder due to high demand for the part, suggesting a known defect pattern.
The steering problems extend beyond electrical collapse. Some owners experience stiffness, grinding sounds, and difficulty turning the wheel even during normal operation. Lane drift at highway speeds persists despite tire balancing and alignment work. A few report power steering lockup mid-turn with a "Power Steering" warning light, particularly with the electro-hydraulic unit.
Dealers blame batteries, aftermarket headlights, or claim "nothing is wrong" when the car rolls into the service bay cold. One owner documented that his dealer blamed his aftermarket headlights, but independent shops explained that a loose headlight connection would not cause the cascade of electrical failures he experienced. Some dealership repairs have been covered under recall campaign T-36 or 14V634000, but the fix appears inconsistent and some owners report FCA stopped returning calls or delayed the fix indefinitely.
Same Dodge Charger steering reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Alternator Failure with Complete Electrical Shutdown
Alternator fails while driving, causing immediate loss of all electrical power including radio, lights, engine, steering, and brakes. Vehicle enters Battery Saver Mode before complete shutdown. Multiple owners report whining noise from engine compartment and burning smell before failure. Some report visible blue smoke from alternator. High incidence of repeat failures even after replacement.
When: Typically 30,000–77,000 miles; some failures occur within months of previous alternator replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Battery Saver Mode message on EVIC; Radio shuts off; All dashboard lights illuminate or flicker; ABS and electronic stability control lights activate; Power steering fails mid-turn or becomes impossible to manipulate; Brakes become unresponsive or brake pedal stiffens; Engine stalls or quits entirely while driving; Whining noise from engine compartment; Burning plastic smell; Blue smoke from engine compartment; Speedometer stops working or drops to zero; AC cycles unexpectedly or blows hot air; Engine throttle response severely restricted
Codes mentioned: Battery Saver Mode (EVIC message)
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replacement; some owners report 2–3 week backorder on alternators due to high demand. Replacement cost estimated over $1,000 at dealership; some repairs required when warranty expired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall T-36 (electrical system related); Campaign 14V634000 (electrical system). FCA advised one owner fix would not be available until Feb 2018. Dealers have replaced batteries and alternators; one dealer blamed aftermarket headlights, but independent shops ruled that out.
Power Steering Loss with Complete System Failure
Power steering fails or becomes locked during normal driving, often coinciding with electrical system collapse. Loss of steering control occurs at highway and residential speeds. Some failures are temporary (power returns after restart); others persist. Electro-hydraulic power steering failure documented; grinding sound reported in at least one case.
When: 34,000–77,000 miles; events can repeat multiple times over vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes difficult or impossible to turn; Steering wheel seizes entirely; Power Steering warning light illuminates; Loud grinding sound from steering; Steering returns to normal after vehicle restart (temporary failures); Loss of steering coincides with battery saver mode or electrical failure
Codes mentioned: Power Steering warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Electro-hydraulic power steering unit replacement; wiring replacement attempted in at least one case. One owner reported dealer claimed failure was not covered under warranty at 70,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall campaign 14V634000 mentioned for electrical system repair. One dealer refused warranty coverage citing mileage, stating electro-hydraulic system not covered.
Electrical System Cascade Failure
Multiple electrical subsystems fail simultaneously or in rapid sequence: dashboard warning lights all illuminate, radio cuts out, interior lighting fails, headlights flicker on/off, windshield wipers activate unexpectedly, trunk opens by itself, door locks fail, and airbag light cycles on/off. Often accompanied by stalling engine and complete loss of vehicle control. Owners report this as distinct from alternator-only failure.
When: Varies; often triggered by dealer recall service or appears spontaneously at 30,000–77,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Radio stops working; Interior dome lights shut off or flicker; Headlights shut off, flicker, or dim; Windshield wipers activate by themselves or move slowly; Airbag light comes on and cycles off after restart; Trunk opens by itself with audible relay click; Door locks inoperable or door handles fail to unlock; Window controls inoperable (windows stuck); UConnect (infotainment) screen goes black or non-functional; Engine stalls; Battery dies completely
Codes mentioned: Multiple warning codes (one owner reported 20 CEL codes), Airbag warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse replacement resolved dashboard lights in one case, but power steering failure remained. Owners report alternator and battery testing fine. Some cases required wiring harness inspection or replacement. One owner reports alternator smoking when battery reconnected after service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall T-36 mentioned. One dealer blamed aftermarket headlights and recommended relay installation; independent shops confirmed headlight installation would not cause the observed failures. FCA contacted in multiple complaints but communication limited.
Steering Wheel Alignment and Pulling
Steering wheel not centered; vehicle pulls consistently to one side at highway and city speeds. Some owners report lane drift at 70+ mph even with hands-on steering correction. Repeated visits to dealership result in tire balancing and alignment, but problem persists. Handling feels unstable and causes motion sickness in passengers.
When: Early in ownership; one case documented at 30,000 miles post-transmission service
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle drifts in lane at highway speeds (70+ mph); Continuous pulling to one direction; Steering wheel not centered despite service visits; Passenger motion sickness from lane drift; Dealership unable to identify root cause
Repairs/costs cited: Tire balancing and wheel alignment performed; camber problem identified in one case where 5/32 inch of tread wore on front tires in 7,600 miles. No permanent fix documented.
Steering Difficulty and Stiffness
Steering becomes abnormally hard to turn or feels stiff, making maneuvers requiring force difficult. Steering wheel column exhibits abnormal vibration at high speeds. In one case, front-end wobbling accompanies steering problems.
When: Intermittent; one owner reports onset within months of purchase and persisting since 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel is stiff and difficult to turn; Extra strength required to pull wheel up or down; Power steering becomes intermittent on left turns only; Steering wheel column vibrates abnormally at high speed; Front-end wobbling
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealership reports unable to find anything wrong. Vibration issue investigated after spoiler failure discovered.
Brake System Failure During Electrical Events
Brakes become unresponsive or pedal becomes extremely stiff during electrical system collapse. Brakes lock or fail entirely when vehicle experiences battery saver mode or alternator failure.
When: Coincides with alternator and electrical failures; 30,000–77,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes very stiff or unresponsive; Brakes fail entirely when steering fails; Inability to brake during complete electrical shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Brakes resume function after vehicle restarts; no brake component replacement documented.
Synthesized from 39 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I currently own a 2011 Dodge charger and I got into my car and noticed that all of the lights were on in the dash board from the wind shield wipers, power steering service light was flashing, brake lights I mean every light was on. I took the car to the dealer because I purchased the car december 2012 and I remember the dealer saying that I had the previous owners warranty but to find out I only…
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2011 Dodge Charger?
It's a meaningful issue. 39 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 33 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 37,000 and 70,049 miles, with the median around 62,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 37,000; a quarter make it past 70,049. 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/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.