The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, he noticed that the front passenger’s side door panel had detached from the door frame. The local dealer was contacted about having the vehicle inspected. The contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty and that there would be a cost assessed for the inspection. The vehicle was not diagnosed…
2018 Dodge Charger body problems
moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
When does it fail?
Of the 18 body complaints filed for the 2018 Dodge Charger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
Among the 12 model years of Dodge Charger in our records for body problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Interior door panels separating and peeling on 2018 Chargers is common and not covered by warranty even at moderate mileage; also watch for sunroof, trunk latch, and exterior door handle issues. Separating door panels can expose electrical wiring and affect lock operation and visibility.
The biggest complaint is interior door panels peeling, separating, or lifting away from the door frames—reported across all four doors on multiple vehicles starting around 21,000 miles and continuing well past the 3-year warranty. Owners describe vinyl warping, foam and electrical wiring becoming exposed, and panels creating a visual obstruction when checking traffic. Door lock buttons misalign when panels shift, compromising function. Dealers acknowledge this is a known issue but refuse warranty coverage.
One owner reported a sunroof suddenly shattering at 65 mph on the freeway, sending tempered glass backward onto following vehicles and cutting the owner's hands during cleanup.
A trunk latch with an internal short caused the trunk lights and open-trunk warning to fail, allowing the vehicle to be driven with the trunk open undetected and enabling remote start to work regardless of trunk position—serious safety problems fixed by latch replacement for $301.
Two owners reported door handles that fail from the outside (clicking sound, won't open) while working from inside. One described the handle feeling disconnected or lifting higher than it should.
Same Dodge Charger body reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Interior door panels separating/detaching from door frames
Door panel adhesive fails, causing panels to separate, peel, or lift away from the door frame. Panels separate at various locations including the top near the window, along the side, and across the entire panel. Owners report panels becoming unglued, showing electrical wiring, and exposing the interior door cavity. The failure appears across all four doors on affected vehicles.
When: 21,000 to 75,000 miles; reports indicate failures as early as 21K and continuing well beyond the 3-year/36,000-mile warranty period
Symptoms owners cite: Interior door panel separating, peeling, or lifting from door frame; Vinyl warping and separating from frame; Electrical wiring exposed; Foam exposed inside door cavity; Visual obstruction when looking over shoulder to check traffic; Misalignment of door lock button with panel hole
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers acknowledge this as a known issue but typically do not cover repairs under warranty. Replacement panels are the stated remedy; specific costs not provided in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued; warranty does not cover this failure; Dodge acknowledged to at least one owner that this is a known issue but refused warranty coverage
Sunroof spontaneous shattering
Sunroof panel spontaneously shattered and flew upward while vehicle was traveling at highway speed, sending tempered glass fragments backward striking following vehicles. Owner sustained minor hand lacerations from cleanup. The cause of the failure is not explained in the narrative.
When: Occurred during highway driving at 65 mph; specific mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof panel suddenly shatters; Glass fragments ejected backward onto following traffic; Sharp glass requiring cleanup; Owner sustained hand cuts from glass
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided
Trunk latch internal short causing light and indicator failure
Trunk latch had an internal short circuit preventing trunk lights from illuminating and disabling the dashboard trunk-open warning indicator. This allowed the vehicle to be driven with the trunk open without alerting the driver. Remote start function also malfunctioned, allowing the car to be remotely started regardless of trunk position.
When: Specific mileage not stated in complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk lights do not illuminate when trunk is open; Dashboard does not display trunk-open warning; Vehicle can be driven with trunk open without alert; Remote start bypasses trunk-closed check
Repairs/costs cited: Trunk latch replacement; repair cost $301 (January 17, 2023)
Exterior door handle malfunction
Door handle fails to open door from outside while still functioning from inside. One handle made a clicking sound and felt as though the linkage was unhooked inside the door, with the handle lifting higher than normal. Another report indicates a screw may have come out.
When: One report at 6 days of rental use; specific mileage not stated for other reports
Symptoms owners cite: Door handle will not open door from outside; Door opens normally from inside; Clicking sound when handle is operated; Handle feels disconnected or lifts higher than normal
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2018 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 body problem on the 2018 Dodge Charger?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 21,000 and 58,843 miles, with the median around 36,300. A quarter of owners report trouble before 21,000; a quarter make it past 58,843. 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 $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2018/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.