2009 Dodge Charger Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a wide spread of problems rather than one dominant failure, with the most frequent themes being electrical gremlins (stalls, key and ignition trouble, inoperative lights and modules) and air bag non-deployment in crashes. Many complaints arrive on cars well past 90,000 miles, and a notable cluster involving tire pressure sensor valve stems appears at much lower mileage.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 28 complaints (16%)
   • median 97,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2025

   Owners describe the car cutting out without warning at highway or city speeds, sometimes with the ignition key jumping from run to off or the key becoming stuck, leaving no power steering or brakes. Several point to the integrated power module or wireless ignition node as the diagnosed cause, and some say replacements did not resolve it. Spread from about 42,000 to 182,000 miles, with many reports above 90,000 miles.

   Recall 08V5830003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the power control module or ignition node has been replaced, and test that the key moves cleanly between positions without the engine dying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Prior to my mishap I had no signs of malfunction I was driving early one morning in my car just shut off and will not restart come to find out there's a recall on my tipm but the recall was only for a certain timeframe and my car was manufactured literally few months after the recall dates ended no I have a really problem under the fuse box and I feel it's not fair that the recall was only for a certain time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11320048, filed 2020-04, 124,803 miles

   “In the last four months, my 2009 Dodge Charger has stalled three times without warning. It doesn't sputter, then die. It just shuts down. The first two times, I was driving straight. This last time, 12/08/14, I was turning in a parking lot. I lost my power steering and my power breaks. I hit the concrete base of a light pole hard enough to blow out my front driver-side tire and bent the tie rod. There is quite a bit of damage to the front quarter panel, bumper and broke the headlight. Not to mention, it has given me whiplash. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10663025, filed 2014-12, 150,000 miles
2. 2
   Tires

   Tire pressure sensor valve stems corroding or breaking

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2016

   Complaints describe valve stems corroding and then fracturing or pulling loose, letting the tire go flat, sometimes at highway speed. Owners report corrosion found on the remaining stems, and dealers or shops replacing the sensors and valves; some reference the TPMS recall but were told their VIN was not included. Mostly between about 11,000 and 70,000 miles, with several reports under 55,000 miles.

   Recall 08V642000

   What to check: Inspect each valve stem for corrosion or cracks and confirm the TPMS light behaves correctly after a cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving my 2009 Dodge Charger, my right rear tire sensor let go causing my right rear tire to go flat, because of my location I was unable to get off of the roadway when first observed, after stopping I noticed that the tire sensor valve stem was gone and I had three holes in my sidewall. Since the tire sensor valve stem was gone, I checked the other three tire sensor valve stems, I noticed a lot of corrosion on the valve stem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10406062, filed 2011-06, 22,987 miles

   “The passenger side rear tire pressure sensor broke apart causing the sensor to fall into the tire and resulting in a flat tire on the highway, within seconds. I went to the location and put on the spare. When I found the cause of the flat tire, I checked the rest of the tire pressure sensors and found another sensor with the nut that holds the sensor in place cracked. I then took the car to the dealer where I bought it, and told them about what happened. At first they were not going to help me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10515116, filed 2013-06, 54,245 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bags not deploying in a crash

   • 41 complaints (24%)
   • median 97,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2024

   Complaints describe frontal, side and side-curtain air bags failing to deploy in collisions, including being struck while parked and a side impact that totaled the car. Several owners connect the concern to the inflator recalls, but say their VIN was not covered or that the repair had not been done. One complaint describes inflator rupture with metal fragments after a crash. Reported from roughly 46,000 to 235,000 miles, mostly above 90,000 miles.

   Recall 18V021000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V352000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 15V313000 · DO NOT DRIVE

   What to check: Check by VIN whether the passenger and driver inflator recalls were completed, and confirm the air bag warning light does a normal self-test at startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was taking a left hand turn at aprox 15 MPH an oncoming car changed lanes from a turn only lane and sped up through the intersection ( police estimated her speed at 35-45 MPH ) she t boned into my passenger side. My car is being totaled. I have side impact airbags and headliner airbags. None deployed. My structure is twisted and bent facing the back of my car. My frame, my suspension is mangled.”

   NHTSA complaint #10586502, filed 2014-05, 46,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Charger. While the contact's vehicle was parked, it was crashed into by another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was not injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10915251, filed 2016-10, 120,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Stalling or hesitation with throttle and check engine lights

   • 12 complaints (7%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2020

   Owners report the electronic throttle control and check engine lights coming on, with the car hesitating, losing power or stalling, sometimes at speed above 55 mph. Some complaints say a throttle control repair was recommended, others that a code pointed to the cooling system; one complaint says a software update addresses performance above 55 mph. Reported from about 60,000 to 100,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the powertrain control module has been reflashed, and scan for stored throttle or sensor codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My electronic control throttle light continues to come on. I have read forums of this being an issue in Dodge and chrysler cars from 2000 to 2011 models. I think at this point there needs to be a recall on the defect on all these cars. I am sick to my stomach on the costs to fix this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10508855, filed 2013-04, 66,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the check engine and the electronic throttle control warning lights illuminated while driving approximately 30 MPH. The rpms increased excessively and the vehicle began to lose power abnormally. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and the current mileage was 60,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10448165, filed 2012-02, 60,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Hard start or no start (ignition, key fob)

   • 28 complaints (16%)
   • median 67,406 mi at 5.8 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2020

   Complaints describe the car cranking repeatedly before starting, the alarm failing to disarm, or the key fob not cranking the engine at all. Dealers reportedly diagnosed the wireless ignition module or the ignition itself and replaced parts, though in some cases the problem returned. Reported from about 14,000 to 138,000 miles, with many under 70,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Try several cold and hot starts with both key fobs and ask whether the ignition module or battery ground cable has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The keyfob will not crank the car. It is detected in the ignition but will intermittently not crank the car. This, in turn, making me late for work. I am a nurse and a single mother and can not afford to risk my job nor can I afford the $300 it is was quoted to replace a key that may not even work.”

   NHTSA complaint #11002659, filed 2017-07, 138,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Charger. The contact attempted to start the vehicle and it failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated the ignition had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10422767, filed 2011-08, 66,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection scan for stored codes and check recall status by VIN, since air bag inflator work and ignition or power-module repairs come up repeatedly in complaints. Confirm the tire valve stems are intact and test hot and cold starting before committing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.