2015 Dodge Charger Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on the 8-speed automatic, which owners describe as jerking or slipping through the lower gears, especially when cold, and on engine valvetrain noise that dealers traced to worn camshafts and rockers. Electrical and brake complaints are also common, typically appearing between roughly 30,000 and 120,000 miles, with many issues showing up gradually rather than suddenly.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rough, jerky shifts from the automatic transmission

   • 22 complaints (16%)
   • median 40,100 mi at 3.1 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2024

   Owners describe hard, jerky shifts and slipping through the lower gears, most noticeable when the car is cold; the transmission often behaves normally once warmed up. Some complaints describe the car hanging in a low gear or refusing to move after being shifted back into drive, with a message on the dash asking the driver to cycle the shifter through park. Others report the shifter failing to engage drive at all, and dealers in several cases attempted repairs without resolving the symptom. Reported from very low mileage (under 10,000 miles) up to roughly 120,000 miles, commonly on cold starts and during the first few shifts.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the car from a cold start and pay attention to the first few 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. Ask whether any transmission software updates or diagnostic codes were addressed under a service bulletin.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started a uconnect system update while I was still parked. The disclaimer said nothing about to not update while driving. I started the update and started driving (my commute is about 25 minutes). It took about 10-15 minutes to download the update. Once it downloaded, the system reset. At this time I was in cruise control on a freeway that was ending, so I turned off my cruise control and then my car jolted forwarded as if it were in a very low gear and almost caused me to crash. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11084548, filed 2018-04, 56,922 miles

   “While driving the car it automatically switched into parked while the gear shift was still positioned in park. The car will start and the air and everything else works fine, the gear shift will even move into drive. But when I push the gas it say 'place car in p then shift to desired gear' again the car isn't running hot or has any other problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #11360604, filed 2020-09, 129,547 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering assist cutting out; ABS/ESC warnings

   • 12 complaints (9%)
   • median 68,500 mi at 3.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2024

   Owners describe the power steering assist dropping out briefly or entirely, sometimes alongside ABS and stability-control warning lights and messages to service those systems. Some report the wheel jerking or the car pulling to one side, and dealers in several cases recommended replacing the entire steering rack. A related group of complaints describes wheel speed sensor failures that disabled ABS, traction control, and cruise control. Spread from roughly 25,000 to 130,000 miles, with several reports on cars around 3 to 6 years old.

   What to check: During the test drive, check that the wheel turns consistently at low speed and that no ABS, ESC, or power steering warnings appear. Ask whether any wheel speed sensors or steering rack work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Wheel speed sensor failure: disables traction control, ABS, and speed control. I just had a second speed sensor fail in 25,000 miles. As there are four of them it is probably just a matter of time all will fail.... A co worker of mine also has a 2015 Charger se and she has had a wheel speed sensor fail as well.. In my case both instances occurred within five minutes of starting the car cold and driving..”

   NHTSA complaint #11033535, filed 2017-10, 24,800 miles

   “Bought the car in. December 2018. On january 21, 2019 the dashboard lit up saying servive electronic stability control along with the ABS warning light took Charger to get fixed it was fixed havent had an issue till today march 21, 2020 when it's happening again 1 year later ???? Not right and yes the car was on a street at the time it starting not to brake I am really upset I dont feel safe in this car but love it...someone help a recall should be put into place..thanks”

   NHTSA complaint #11318808, filed 2020-03, 67,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Ticking noise and worn camshafts/rockers (V8)

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 105,535 mi at 4.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report a ticking or tapping sound from the engine, sometimes with rough idling, hesitation on acceleration, and no warning light. Dealers and independent shops in these complaints diagnosed worn rockers and damaged camshafts needing replacement, and at least one owner said the same repair was needed again about a year later. Some complaints also describe overheating from a failed water pump or radiator during highway driving. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 130,000 miles, with a few earlier coolant-related failures around 30,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for a steady tick at idle with the hood open and ask for service records showing oil changes and any prior camshaft or rocker work. Check coolant level and look for dried coolant residue around the water pump.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2 weeks ago my car was tapping when I started it and last week it got louder. I took it to the dealership yesterday and today they said it was the camshaft: right side camshafts damage by worn out rockers and tappers. I get maintenance on my car when I am supposed to. I bought my car new. When I said how I was very disappointed about the car and that I get maintenance done when I supposed to so I don't see how this is happening and I was told it's normal in those cars.”

   NHTSA complaint #11360486, filed 2020-09, 57,000 miles

   “Catastrophic engine failure due to faulty lifter design and poor quality cam shaft material. Can cause loss of engine power and ability to control the vehicle. Engines typically fail between 80,000 and 160,000 mies with high certainty.”

   NHTSA complaint #11163637, filed 2018-12, 111,711 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Front driveshaft noise or vibration (AWD)

   • 11 complaints (8%)
   • median 58,500 mi at 7.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2025

   Owners of all-wheel-drive cars describe a knocking, thumping, or vibration felt while driving, which shops traced to the front driveshaft or its bearing and universal joint. In some cases the whole driveshaft was replaced and the part was reported to be on backorder. Other complaints describe a loss of power and stalling with no warning, one of which was diagnosed as a failed transmission control module. Reported mostly between about 30,000 and 95,000 miles, and again on higher-mileage cars above 115,000 miles.

   Recall 18V281000Recall 17V0970001 related service bulletin

   What to check: On an AWD car, listen for knocking or rumbling from the front floor area at low speed and ask whether the front driveshaft recall work and U-joint inspection were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have taken my car to a repair shop because of a sound the car made when driving, he said it is the driveline bearing. These are non-repairable so you need to have the entire drive shaft replaced. When calling for the part it is backordered everywhere because it seems to be a consistent problem and they are a lot of people having the same problem. If this is a design problem and they must know because it is backordered everywhere why is there not a recall to fix it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327434, filed 2020-06, 58,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was vibrating. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission driveline needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11526837, filed 2023-06, 34,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake noise, vibration, and rear brake line leaks

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report grinding or abnormal noises from the rear when braking from a stop, and vibration or steering shimmy when braking downhill, which shops attributed to warped front rotors. A few complaints describe the brake pedal going to the floor and a brake warning light, traced to a rear brake line rubbing against the frame and leaking fluid. Dealers in some cases declined to cover rotor work under warranty. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 120,000 miles, often noticed first on grades or during the first stops after sitting.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Brake firmly from speed on a downhill stretch and feel for vibration, then check brake fluid level and look along the rear brake lines for rubbing or wet spots. Ask when the pads and rotors were last replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought my 2015 Dodge Charger as a certified used car. I did not have much need for hill driving until moving to northern california. While driving down a grade and braking, I noticed a vibration in the brake and shimmy in the steering. The issue has continued, when driving downhill and braking. Unfortunately, I waited until an unrelated recall to have the dealer check the brakes. At 31,098 miles, the front rotors are warped and should be replaced. Dodge is indicating this is not covered by warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11184618, filed 2019-03, 30,000 miles

   “Rear brake line is rubbing on frame and cause it to leak out brake fluid...the manufacturer has a small rubber piece installed on the brake line to prevent the brake line from touching the frame..but on this vehicle its located in the wrong area.. That cause this vehicle brake line to touch the frame and defect the brake line...we notice this issue while driving and brake light indication..”

   NHTSA complaint #11363107, filed 2020-10, 120,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with these cars is worthwhile, focusing on cold-start transmission behavior, engine ticking, AWD driveshaft condition, and brake lines. Ask for records of completed recall work and any transmission or steering software updates before deciding.

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.