Should I buy a 2014 Dodge Charger with documented brakes problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented brakes 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.

2014 Dodge Charger brakes problems

severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$450

2crashes

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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 108463 Nov 2025

PAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin 108464 Nov 2025

PAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

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

The failure pattern owners describe

Owners of the 2014 Dodge Charger report serious brake system failures centered on the ABS module and electronic brake controls. The most common issue is ABS module failure occurring between 70,000 and 118,000 miles, triggering multiple warning lights (ABS, traction control, parking brake indicator) and disabling cruise control. Dodge discontinued the ABS module part (#68236997aa) with no aftermarket replacement, leaving multiple owners unable to repair their vehicles; dealers reported waiting lists and unavailable parts.

Brake pedal failures are reported as intermittent and unpredictable: pedals sink to the floor with no braking effect, or require full depression to engage brakes. One owner's pedal loss triggered a collision at a traffic light; another experienced unilateral left-front brake lockup that caused the vehicle to veer sharply and collide with another car. That owner's inspection indicated electrical brake booster fault, and the vehicle's emergency braking systems failed to activate despite integrated forward collision warning being present.

One vehicle at 33,665 miles lost communication between the engine and transmission control modules ("Lost Communication with ECM and PCM"), causing transmission grinding, ABS warning, and cruise control failure—a cascade suggesting electrical bus problems. Road bumps and dips occasionally trigger brake disengagement requiring floor-pedal reset. No clear root cause was determined in any of the repair attempts documented.

Same Dodge Charger brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012

Failure modes owners describe

ABS Module Failure

ABS module malfunction causes warning lights and system shutdown; owners report manufacturer discontinued the part (Part #68236997aa) with no aftermarket replacement available. Multiple owners unable to get repairs due to parts unavailability and dealer service delays.

When: 70,000–118,585 miles; one failure at 90,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminates; Traction control warning; Parking brake indicator lights up; Cruise control inoperative; Loss of anti-lock braking function

Codes mentioned: ABS module failure

Repairs/costs cited: ABS module replacement required; Part #68236997aa discontinued by Dodge with no aftermarket options. Dealers reported parts unavailable and waiting lists in place.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge discontinued part #68236997aa; manufacturer informed of failures; one owner referred to NHTSA; dealer waiting lists reported.

Brake Pedal Loss and Spongy Feel

Brake pedal sinks to floor or requires full depression to engage brakes. Occurs intermittently, sometimes triggered by road bumps. Represents loss of hydraulic pressure or booster function.

When: 15,000 miles (early); recurring throughout vehicle life

Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal sinks to floor with no engagement; Brake pedal travels to floorboard during braking; Brakes require full floor depression to function; Reduced brake pedal feel; Failure triggered by dips or humps in road

Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives; causes not determined at dealerships despite diagnostic testing.

Brake Booster Fault and Hydraulic Control Unit Failure

Brake booster and ABS hydraulic control unit failures reduce or eliminate braking pressure. Owner diagnostic identified brake booster fault after collision; another owner's dealer diagnosed bad anti-lock brake hydraulic control unit (Part #68236997aa). Related to electronic control system malfunction.

When: Incident occurred without warning; hydraulic control unit failure around 65 mph operation

Symptoms owners cite: Brake booster fault indicated after collision; Anti-lock brake hydraulic control unit malfunction; Reduced brake pedal effectiveness; Loss of forward collision warning system responsiveness

Codes mentioned: Brake booster fault (suspected electrical)

Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster replacement implied necessary; anti-lock brake hydraulic control unit (Part #68236997aa) requires replacement but part discontinued.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No TSBs or recalls mentioned; part discontinued.

Unilateral Brake Lockup During Braking

Left front brake locks up during braking while other three wheels show no braking effect. Brake remains locked regardless of pedal input, causing severe vehicle veering and loss of directional control. Collision resulted.

When: No prior warning; occurred during normal braking operation

Symptoms owners cite: Left front brake locks up without proportional braking on other wheels; Brake remains locked despite pedal release; Vehicle veers sharply to locked-brake side; Vehicle travels at 45-degree angle before corrective action; Left front rotor deeply scored; left front tire dragged/skidded

Repairs/costs cited: Left front rotor heavily scored from lockup and dragging; tire damage from skidding. Inspection suggests electrical fault in brake control.

Electronic Control System Communication Loss

Diagnostic scan showed 'Lost Communication with ECM and PCM' messages, indicating electrical bus or module communication failure affecting multiple vehicle systems simultaneously. Cascade failure affecting transmission, ABS, and cruise control.

When: 33,665 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Lost Communication with ECM and PCM message; Service Transmission warning displayed; Transmission grinding sound; ABS warning light illuminated; Cruise control inoperative

Codes mentioned: Lost Communication with ECM and PCM

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; cause not determined.

Forward Collision Warning System and Adaptive Cruise Control Failure

Forward collision warning (FCW) light illuminates inappropriately or system fails to activate when needed. Adaptive cruise control loses function. Related to ABS module and broader brake system electronic failures.

When: 65 mph cruising; 15,000–90,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: FCW light illuminates without collision threat; FCW system fails to activate during actual collision risk; Adaptive cruise control malfunction; Loss of anti-lock and cruise control systems

Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had brakes trouble with your 2014 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 brakes problem on the 2014 Dodge Charger?

It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.

At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?

Based on the 11 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 71,379 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?

No active recalls currently cover brakes 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.

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/2014/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.