AIR BAG - SIDE CURTAIN
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Dodge Charger airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Dodge Charger have filed 30 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 51,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
30
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Charger | 41 |
| 2010 Charger | 59 |
| 2011 Charger | 37 |
| 2012 Charger | 82 |
| 2013 Charger (this page) | 30 |
| 2014 Charger | 24 |
| 2015 Charger | 11 |
| 2016 Charger | 8 |
| 2017 Charger | 3 |
9crashes
1fire
11injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 30 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Dodge Charger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 30 airbags 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 airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 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 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.
845RE Harsh 2-1 Downshift This bulletin involves replacing the transmission valve body. A small number of customers may experience a bump sensation during a 2-1 downshift. This condition can occur at any transmission temperature and is most noticeable during light braking or while coasting to a stop. No Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) will be set as a result of this.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Flash: Transmission Shift Enhancements This bulletin involves selectively erasing and reprogramming the Transmission Control Module (TCM) with new software. The following Transmission Control Module (TCM) calibration improvements are available for vehicles equipped with WA580 Automatic Transmission (Sales Code DGJ) and are broken down per engine application.3.6L Engine Hanging in gear during HOT ambient temperature conditions and high engine loads. Excessive pedal needed to downshift in high altitudes (i.e. passing). Poor shift quality, or high transmission temperatures during track or sport driving.5.7L Engine Hanging in gear at high engine speeds during aggressive driving. Gear shift point
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the airbag warning light illuminating anywhere from 20,000 miles onward—sometimes continuous, sometimes intermittent, sometimes triggered by road bumps. When they take vehicles to dealers per the owner's manual, they're told wiring harnesses need replacement or sensors are fractured. Some repairs fail to stick, with the light coming back on.
More seriously, multiple owners report airbags that simply did not deploy during head-on and side-impact collisions at speeds between 25 and 75 mph. A few owners sustained head, neck, back, and leg injuries because the system failed. One vehicle had delayed airbag deployment with minor burns; another deployed on its own at 30 mph with no collision, sending the car into a tree.
Owners also encountered Takata recall campaigns (15V467000 and 18V021000) but couldn't get service appointments for months. Dealers blamed parts unavailability. One owner was asked to pay $1100 for an airbag inflator that should have been covered under the recall. After previous recall repair work involving dash removal, some owners began experiencing new clicking/knocking sounds in the dash and more frequent warning light cycling. Dealers have been known to hang up on customers trying to schedule recall repairs.
Same Dodge Charger airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag warning light illumination
Warning light comes on continuously, intermittently, or after being triggered by bumps/impacts; owners referred to owner's manual stating immediate service required.
When: Ranging from 20,000 to 154,532 miles; some onset unclear
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated and stays on; Warning light comes on and off intermittently; Light triggers when hitting bumps; Continuous illumination when ignition turned to on position
Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replacement attempted on at least one vehicle but failure recurred; one case involved fractured coil related to airbag requiring replacement; one case cited airbag sensor underneath passenger seat that did not require repair after 70-mile drive
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaign 15V467000 (air bags, seat belts) and 18V021000 (air bags); some owners told factory warranty expired so not responsible for repair
Airbag failure to deploy in collision
Airbags did not deploy during head-on and side-impact collisions at speeds between 25 and 75 mph, resulting in owner injuries. Multiple incidents documented.
When: Failures ranged from 23,914 miles to 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags failed to deploy during head-on collision at 40 mph; Airbags failed to deploy during front-end impact at 40 mph; Airbags failed to deploy in rear-end collision; Airbags failed to deploy in two separate crashes (46 mph and 75 mph); Side-impact: airbags did not deploy when struck at 25 mph; No deployment during head-on accident
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles destroyed or totaled in crashes; one owner sought help from Dodge Country dealer by phone without resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 14V434000 (electrical system) and 15V467000 (air bags, seat belts) issued; manufacturer notified in some cases, not in others
Airbag delayed or spontaneous deployment
One reported case of airbags deploying independently while driving at low speed without collision; one case of delayed deployment with minor burns reported.
When: One at 600 miles; one at 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags deployed independently at 30 mph, causing crash into tree; Delayed airbag deployment with minor burns sustained
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed in independent deployment incident; second vehicle also destroyed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 15V467000 (air bags, seat belts) noted for deployment case, but remedy was unavailable to perform repairs
Wiring and sensor faults
Wiring issues causing airbags may not deploy, or fractured coils in airbag system components. Owners report being told wiring harness replacement is needed but repairs fail to resolve the issue.
When: 30,000 to 56,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Wiring issue causing airbags may not deploy; Fractured coil related to airbag; Wiring harness fault illuminating warning light; Clicking/knocking in dashboard where airbag located, following prior recall repair
Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replacement performed but failure recurred; fractured coil needed replacement but not performed; one dealer attributed clicking to side seat sensor after dash removal during prior recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners told this could be factory defect; some told warranty expired so not covered; campaign 15V467000 and 18V021000 referenced
Recall parts unavailability and delayed service
Recall campaigns issued (15V467000 and 18V021000) but replacement parts not available for extended periods, preventing owners from getting vehicles repaired.
When: Campaign notifications received; delays of months reported
Symptoms owners cite: Parts not available for recall repair; Manufacturer exceeded reasonable amount of time for recall repair; Dealer has no parts to fix defects in recall
Repairs/costs cited: Owners unable to obtain repair appointments; one owner told to drive 70 miles for computer reset rather than repair; one dealership asked owner to pay $1100 for airbag inflator during recall work
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaigns 15V467000 and 18V021000; manufacturer declined to confirm when parts would be available; some dealers blamed parts distribution
Post-recall recurring failures
After recall repair work performed (dash removal mentioned), airbag warning light continues to illuminate intermittently or clicking/knocking sounds appear in dashboard.
When: Recurring issues after repair performed; one case at least after previous year's repair
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light on and off very frequently after recall repair; Clicking/knocking in dashboard after recall repair where airbag located; Light triggers when hitting bumps after recall repair; Warning light recurs after wiring harness repair
Repairs/costs cited: Clicking/knocking did not exist before recall fix, suggesting repair introduced problem; wiring harness replacement did not permanently resolve issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 18V021000 mentioned for one case
Synthesized from 30 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I made an appointment with a dealership to get the recall repaired. I took it to the dealership the next day to drop it off so they can repair it. A few days later I get a call saying that the airbag inflator is badly damaged and wanted me to pay $1100 for it when it’s a free recall. And I declined the offer for it and picked it up the next day and left.
Dealer has no parts to fix defects in recall that had been out for months.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Dodge charger. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the vehicle head on. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt did not engage. The contact sustained head, back and neck injuries that require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed the contacts resident and then taken to an insurance lot to…
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Dodge Charger?
It's a meaningful issue. 30 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 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 32,000 and 61,700 miles, with the median around 51,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 32,000; a quarter make it past 61,700. 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?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2013/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.