Owners of 2019 Dodge Chargers describe persistent electrical failures. The most common issue involves headlights: drivers report lights going dark without warning, burned and blackened 20-amp fuses that are warm to the touch, bent fuse prongs, and melted headlight connectors. One fleet police vehicle experienced a connector overheating event that caused an electrical fire behind the headlight assembly. Another owner noted the headlights dim unpredictably in auto mode, making the speedometer and radio screen hard to read at night.
Interior electrical problems include USB ports that short out and interrupt CarPlay connectivity, a center touchscreen display that delaminated and triggered unintended button activation, and interior dome lights that stopped working. Owners report sensors flashing on and off uncontrollably, air bag warning lights cycling repeatedly, and a start button that failed to crank the engine at 62,000 miles.
Safety concerns emerge in multiple narratives: a police vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment near the firewall; an owner describes the traction control system causing wheel lock and a complete 360-degree spin on the highway, with this reported as the third occurrence. One complaint documents electrical failures introduced immediately after a recall repair, with the dealer allegedly damaging wiring during access to the inflator. Dealers have been unable to diagnose or replicate many of these failures.
Failure modes owners describe
Headlight electrical failures and overheating
Driver and passenger side headlights fail intermittently or go dark without warning. Owners report burned-out fuses (20-amp, blackened and warm to touch), bent fuse prongs, melted headlight connectors causing electrical fires, and factory ballast/connector issues. One fleet police vehicle experienced headlight connector overheating that caused an electrical fire behind the assembly.
When: 88,200 miles (complaint #3); intermittent, timing varied (complaints #8, #9, #10)
Symptoms owners cite: Driver and/or passenger headlight goes out with no warning indicator; Lights dim or fail in auto position; Burned and blackened fuses; Melted headlight connectors; Fuse prongs bent; Burning smell from vents; Electrical fire behind headlight assembly
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #3: fuse replacement by owner mechanic; Complaint #9: headlight connector and bulb replaced multiple times (using manufacturer 9005LN); fuse box showed damage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #3: dealer stated no recall available; Complaint #10: owner references prior Charger with recalled wiring harness issue
Headlight dimming and brightness control malfunction
Headlights dim unexpectedly in auto mode, making gauges and screens difficult to read at night. Radio screen also dims. Manual switching to a higher brightness setting restores visibility, but returning to auto mode causes dimming again. Owner suspects voltage regulation issue with LED lights.
When: Timing unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Lights dim unexpectedly in auto mode; Speedometer and radio screen become difficult to read; Interior dome/map lights affected; Issue occurs when auto-headlight feature engaged
Door panel and interior delamination with phantom touch inputs
All four door panels show peeling and bubbling on the inside surfaces. Center touchscreen display delaminates, causing the digitizer to fail and triggering unintended button activation (phantom inputs) that activate various vehicle features without driver input.
When: 52,400 miles (complaint #4)
Symptoms owners cite: Door panel peeling and bubbling on inside surfaces; Center touchscreen delaminating; Phantom inputs activating vehicle features; Digitizer failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced driver side door under warranty; digitizer replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised additional door repairs (three remaining) no longer covered under warranty
Instrument panel and electrical system malfunction
Instrument panel becomes inoperable, with gauges not displaying information. Occurs alongside automatic braking system engaging inadvertently with brake warning light illuminated. Dealer unable to duplicate failures.
When: 16,000 miles (complaint #6)
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument panel inoperable; Automatic braking system engaging inadvertently; Brake warning light illuminated; Electrical system malfunctioning
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer provided no assistance
Start button failure
Pressing the start button does not start the vehicle as designed. Certified mechanic unable to determine root cause.
When: 62,000 miles (complaint #7)
Symptoms owners cite: Start button fails to engage engine start
Wheel rim/wheel well lights staying on continuously
Lights associated with wheel rims or wheel wells remain illuminated continuously and do not turn off. Issue persisted even after vehicle left at dealership for repair.
When: Vehicle purchased 2 days prior to complaint (complaint #12)
Symptoms owners cite: Wheel lights stay on continuously; Lights do not turn off
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle brought to dealer; status unresolved
USB port and CarPlay connectivity failures
USB port in armrest shorts out and malfunctions. CarPlay connection intermittent—disconnects and fails to display in navigation or maps. Navigation system also shorts on and off.
When: Timing unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: USB port shorts out; CarPlay connection disconnects; CarPlay fails to display in maps or navigation; Navigation system shorts on and off
Sensor malfunction and dashboard warning light issues
Sensors flash on and off uncontrollably. Air bag sensor warning light stays illuminated and cycles. Occurs alongside reported brake system issues from day one of ownership.
When: Present from day one (complaint #16)
Symptoms owners cite: Sensors flashing on and off uncontrollably; Air bag sensor warning light cycling; Brake-related issues
Smoke from underneath front passenger seat related to airbag inflator issue
Smoke observed coming from underneath the front passenger's side seat. Manufacturer field investigator diagnosed the failure as related to NHTSA Campaign 24V198000 (airbag inflator recall). Repair not completed due to parts unavailability and recall delays.
When: Timing unspecified; parts unavailable at time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke coming from underneath front passenger seat
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 24V198000 (airbag inflator); field investigator diagnosis related to recall; manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for repair
Electrical damage following airbag inflator recall repair
Following SABIC side airbag inflator recall repair, interior dome/map lights stopped working and right-side exterior front lighting failed. Owner alleges dealer likely damaged or disconnected wiring in A-pillar, B-pillar, or roof harness while accessing inflator during recall work.
When: Immediately after recall repair on 2/27/2026 (complaint #2)
Symptoms owners cite: Interior dome/map lights inoperable; Right-side exterior front lighting inoperable; Failures occurred immediately after recall repair
Repairs/costs cited: Failures introduced by dealer during SABIC inflator recall repair at Ourisman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Clarksville, Maryland
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: SABIC Side Airbag Inflator Replacement Recall; dealer has not acknowledged responsibility
Engine compartment fire
Police vehicle caught fire while en route to a crash scene. Fire originated in engine compartment near the firewall.
When: Timing unspecified; vehicle is police fleet car
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle caught fire; Fire originated in engine compartment near firewall
Traction control and wheel lock issue
After activating traction control button, vehicle wheels locked and entire car spun in complete circle on highway. Owner reports this as third occurrence of similar incident.
When: Timing unspecified; third occurrence reported (complaint #13)
Symptoms owners cite: Wheels lock after traction button activation; Vehicle spins in complete circle; Recurring issue (third time)
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.