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The 2016 Dodge Charger has 182 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2016 Dodge Charger has 182 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is body at 46 complaints, typically surfacing around 54,168 miles (~$1,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Charger | 358 | 0 |
| 2014 Charger | 342 | 1 |
| 2015 Charger | 135 | 0 |
| 2016 Charger (this page) | 182 | 1 |
| 2017 Charger | 126 | 1 |
| 2018 Charger | 122 | 1 |
| 2019 Charger | 119 | 1 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2016 Dodge Charger 4 DR RWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: body is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 54,168 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
The harness on the car is defected and the engine light will not go off on the car.
Tl-contact owns a 2016 Dodge charger ---- door panels are coming off--- car was purchased five days ago and door panels are coming off --- dealership stated vehicle was sold as is and paperwork was signed stating vehicle was being taken off of lot as is.... 0 recalls associated…
Tl* the contact own a 2016 Dodge charger. The contact stated that while driving, the passenger's side front headlight bulb became inoperable. The contact drove to the residence with the failure. The following day the vehicle was restarted and the headlight operated as designed.…
The contact owned a 2016 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 - 15 MPH, another vehicle suddenly crashed into his vehicle from the rear driver's side at approximately 55 MPH. The contact stated that the driver’s side A-pillar and driver’s side…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A car that falls unexpectedly increases the risk of injury.
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 182 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Dodge Charger is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2016 Dodge Charger is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Body: 46 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 34,000–70,000 mi; Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the body first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 46 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 54,168 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 182 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is body. Typical failure occurs around 54,168 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is body, with 46 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 54,168 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop.
The body is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 54,168 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 182 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.