5 Best And Worst Years For The Dodge Charger

Originally, Dodge Charger was manufactured in 1964, but it was not until 1965 that it appeared in the market and left its competitors shocked.

The car became extremely popular because of all the firsts it introduced to its target market. It was the first muscle car with four doors back in the 1960s.

Several other models took this car as their ideal and made features similar to it.

They were known for adapting to the latest technology in their interior work, which many people praised.

Even though many people praised it, Dodge Charger has experienced several ups and downs.

If you continue reading this article, you will find all the best and worst years for Dodge Charger.

Worst Years for Dodge Charger:

1. 2006
2. 2008
3. 2011
4. 2012
5. 2014

Best Years for Dodge Charger:

1. 2009
2. 2016
3. 2018
4. 2019
5. 2021

I will now discuss all these years to know exactly what went wrong that led to several complaints or praises from its customers.

What Are The Worst Years For The Dodge Charger? Which Years to Avoid

Dodge Charger has experienced many years of sky-rocketed success, but it also faced some difficult phases when certain models came out, and the customers were not satisfied.

For your ease, I have listed the most prominent models of Dodge Chargers that you must avoid to stay profitable.

1. 2006 Dodge Charger

This 2006 Dodge Charger model was reported to have experienced the greatest number of complaints.

A car known for its engine’s power, not being able to support the car after the odometer gives a reading of above 100,000 miles would obviously make the customers angry.

That is exactly what this model experienced.

Another issue in this model was with its fuel tank. Even after putting complete fuel in the car, the engine used to fail on the users or stall. They used to incur a huge cost of around $2000 as well.

The car was not fit for use because of different security concerns. There were several airbags recalls, meaning they were not meeting a given standard.

It was commonly purchased because of its ability to speed up. Airbags failing on them is something that increases the risk.

Considering these major issues, I do not think one should invest in this model.

2. 2008 Dodge Charger

The 2008 Dodge Charger model came with a lot of restructuring. The car was half sedan and half muscular.

This created new problems and overcomplicated this car’s internal elements and workings.

Apart from the engine failing from time to time, this model’s main issue is its electrical system.

The electrical system in this car is so unsatisfactory that due to this, countless minor issues originate in this model.

These include issues such as the cooling fan not working properly, the radio needing constant reprogramming, the infotainment system having a dim light which made reading off of it quite difficult, etc.

Due to this, I believe it would be best not to purchase this model of Dodge Charger.

3. 2011 Dodge Charger

The 2011 Dodge Charger model has a lot of issues with its alternator. An alternator is the backbone of all cars because it provides energy to your engine.

Dodge Charger is known for its engine. If this model’s main issue is with the alternator, then its entire unique selling point vanishes.

It is quite expensive to maintain this model. This is also because of the alternator issues. It takes anywhere around $200-$400 to fix a car’s alternator every time it gets affected.

Another issue with this car is with its tires. While driving the car, you can smell the tires’ rubber burning.

This is quite dangerous because, in worst-case scenarios, it can lead to an explosion. Your life is at risk with this car. Knowing how risky that can be, I suggest you not buy this car.

4. 2012 Dodge Charger

This 2012 Dodge Charger model does not have major issues like other models. Instead, it has several minor issues, making it unworthy to spend thousands of dollars.

The first issue is with its windshield wipers which tend to stop working from time to time because of some electrical issues in this car.

Moreover, the low beam headlights of every car are extremely important while driving at night. Its low beam headlights tend to lose power from time to time, making it difficult to drive at night.

You have to switch to high beam headlights, which affects the vision of the drivers around you. The alternator of this model is not as bad as the 2011 model.

However, many recalls for this model were made because it reduced the engine’s strength. Other electrical issues such as damaged brake lights were also reported.

So, now you know that purchasing this car is not wise and I believe you should avoid it.

5. 2014 Dodge Charger

The 2014 Dodge Charger model also faced a lot of complaints. The main issue is with its transmission system. It often experiences a fluid leak, leading to the user incurring a high cost.

The car also has reported different issues with its lights. Be it brake lights, headlights, or the internal lighting of the car. It is usually quite dim, which impacts the visuals of the user to a great extent.

Furthermore, the steering also makes a lot of noise when rotated. This annoys the users and does not provide them with a smooth driving experience.

This usually means that the quality of material used to make the steering is not of good quality.

Considering all of this, you must avoid this car at all costs. This would help you in investing the cash somewhere else.

What Are The Best Years For The Dodge Charger? Which Years To Buy

A lot has been said about the difficult phases experienced by Dodge Charger.

Now, let’s discuss the best years or models of this car that must be bought if you consider purchasing it.

1. 2009 Dodge Charger

This 2009 model is the best for Dodge Charger because of the enhancements made to its engine.

This model uses a V8 engine. The engine of this model provides an increased horsepower which means more speed for its users.

Another plus point of this model is its high fuel economy. After years of low fuel economy, Dodge Charger’s 2009 model has fixed this issue.

It gives you a good average in a very small amount of fuel.

Moreover, this car has a stylish outlook as well. It comes in different colors, but the one offered in burnt red is of utmost beauty. The interior accessories of this car are quite appealing as well.

In my opinion, if you are getting a car as reliable as this one, do not let go of this opportunity.

2. 2016 Dodge Charger

If you have purchased a sports car, that does not mean you have to let go of comfort in any way.

The 2016 Dodge Charger is there to bust these stereotypes. The most commendable thing about this model is its off-road capability.

The off-road capability provides you with a very smooth drive. If you drive the car around rough edges or risky turns, it would still offer you comfort.

You can take the car on a trip and not get tired because of the comfortable cushioned seats. It is very easy to balance this car.

All the controls are a few inches away from the driver, which makes driving this car much more feasible for them. The outlook of this car is quite stylish as well.

I recommend this car to everyone if you are not low on a budget and desire a sports car that also offers comfort.

3. 2018 Dodge Charger

Out of all the Dodge Chargers introduced before this particular model, the 2018 model is quite the one to stand out.

A lot of changes and restructuring can be seen in this particular model, which makes it a good car.

The latest technology is used in the infotainment system, making it more convenient for the drivers to use this car and not affecting their visual capabilities.

Another plus point of this car is its comfortable seats, which makes going on trips on this car quite feasible.

This car’s interior also looks very spacious because of its tall body. Moreover, the engine of this car has a lot more power than its previous models, which gives this model an edge.

So, you should consider buying this model of Dodge Charger as it would be worth every dollar spent.

4. 2019 Dodge Charger

The leather accessories and internal finishing of the car are quite commendable and worthy of praise.

The interior is quite spacious and roomy. Its 20-inch wheels are a cherry on top.

This 2019 model of Dodge Charger provides a lot of speed. If you want to drive fast, this is your go-to model.

The infotainment of the car is also praised by a lot of people because of its outlook and convenience.

Moreover, NHTSA has provided information that makes this car quite safe to drive as well. Minor detailing such as side airbags, blind spot mirrors, etc. makes it quite safe to drive.

Knowing these things, it would be a wise decision to purchase the 2009 model of Dodge Charger.

5. 2021 Dodge Charger

Without any doubt, this is the most updated model of the 2021 Dodge Charger, due to which it is the best one.

Apple and Android users will be quite happy with its connectivity power with smartphones.

The car’s transmission system is obviously automatic, but this car is quite safe to drive because of many things.

The automatic brakes are an example of how safe it really is. This comes with a forward collision warning.

The car’s exterior and interior are quite classy as well. If you want a spacious car, this should be your go-to car because of the huge trunk space that it has to offer despite its slim body.

Do not think twice before purchasing this model, as it would only add value to your lifestyle.

How Reliable Is A Dodge Charger?

For any car, no matter how successful it has been, reliability is an important factor.

In many cases, it determines how popular a car is going to be. Throughout the years, Dodge Charger has had a good reliability score.

The latest figures state that it has scored 89 points out of 100 total points, and this position is to only get better in the future because they are enhancing the safety measures offered in their models.

How Long Do Dodge Chargers Last?

Dodge Charger is known for lasting a long period of time. You might experience a shorter life span in initial models.

In the recent models, Dodge Charger tends to last you from 250,000 miles to 300,000 miles.

You can spend good 15-20 years with this car, and it will not create problems for you if you maintain it well.

What To Do To Lengthen The Life Of Your Dodge Charger

Unlike other cars, maintaining a Dodge Charger is easier.

If you want to increase the life of this car, take a look at all the measures I have listed down below:

• Do not integrate third-quality spare products with this car as it might malfunction.
• Do not miss out on its routine checkups at service stations. Maintenance is very important.
• The cooling system can create problems for you, so keep the vents clean at all costs.
• The car comes in solid colors like black, red, dark grey, etc. Do not park your car out in the sun because it would absorb the heat.
• Try to avoid humidity because that can rupture the leather interior of this car.

These few steps would help you lengthen the life of your Dodge Charger. Anything more than this would be great, but nothing less than what I have mentioned above should be done.

Things That Shorten The Lifespan Of Your Dodge Charger

Just like certain steps can lengthen the life of your car, certain steps can also shorten the lifespan of your Dodge Charger as well.

I have listed them down below, and you must avoid doing these:

• Not using fuel that supports its V8 engine can impact its performance.
• Not cleaning the vents can lead to more energy consumption and lower fuel economy in the long run.
• Buying spare products from unknown suppliers can create issues.
• Putting more load on this car than it can bear is something that you should avoid if you want to make sure it does not exert more energy than required.

All these things can cause a shorter life span for Dodge Chargers. So, due to this, you must avoid these things at all costs.

3 Most Dodge Charger Common Problems You Should Know

Knowing that not all models have been in favor of Dodge Charger, the most common problems experienced by the users have been listed down below.

1. Alternator Issues

In many cases, the alternator of the cars was faulty. This meant that the engines of those models were faulty as well. If that is the issue, then there is no point in buying this car in the first place.

It also generates a high amount of bills on the user’s end, which becomes quite difficult to avoid knowing how difficult it is to fix this issue yourself.

2. Electrical Issues

The electrical system or internal wiring of some of the models is damaged. This impacts their lighting system as well. Dim interior lights are an issue in these models.

This directly impacts the windshield wipers, radio system, brake lights, headlights, etc. The infotainment system gets affected due to it as well.

3. Safety Concerns

In many models, the reliability rating is quite low because the airbags of those models do not meet the set standards.

This means that the car is not safe to drive for you. However, they have constantly been working on this factor to make the car more reliable for you to drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is Dodge Charger A Good Car?

Yes, it is a good car. This is mainly because it provides its customers with a total offering. Not only does it come with a strong engine but also a comfy interior.

The exterior of this car is also commendable. They have constantly upgraded themselves in all the models.

Q2: Do Dodge Chargers Hold Their Value?

Dodge Charger retains its value to a great extent. Due to this, it has also been awarded for its 2018 model.

It is said to retain the highest value in five years as compared to its competitors, which is commendable.

Q3: How Many Dodge Chargers Have Been Sold?

The latest figures date up till 2021 for Dodge Chargers.

In the United States, 78,388 units of Dodge Chargers have been sold, which is a good number if we compare this figure with the competitors that stand at lower levels.

Up till now, in 2022, 38,750 units have been sold.

Q4: Which Dodge Charger Engine Is The Most Reliable?

I believe that when the V6 engine was being used by Dodge Charger, a lot of customers complained about their engines failing or stalling. It also gave a lower fuel economy.

Now that they use the V8 engine, the number of complaints has gone down. So, it seems to be the most reliable one.

Q5: Is Dodge Charger Expensive To Maintain?

Dodge Chargers are expensive to maintain as it takes around $652 on a yearly basis to keep them intact.

This is mainly due to the alternator system failure, which itself costs more than $400 to be fixed.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discovered all the nitty-gritty of all the best and worst years for Dodge Charger.

Now you must make sure that you avoid all the bad years and consider the good ones. If you already have a Dodge Charger, lengthen its lifespan through the tips and tricks given above.

If there is anything that you would like to share with us about your experience with Dodge Chargers, let us know in the comment section below.

Till then, take advantage of a comfortable ride back home with speed customized to your liking.

References:
https://www.dodge.com/charger.html
https://www.quora.com/How-reliable-is-a-Dodge-Charger
https://blog.1aauto.com/6th-gen-dodge-charger-problems/