2016 Dodge Charger Problems

What owners report

Complaints about the 2016 Dodge Charger concentrate on interior door panels that warp and pull away from the door frame, often at low mileage and in warm climates. Driveshaft and drivetrain complaints, power-steering loss and occasional stalling or electrical faults make up most of the rest, spreading from under 10,000 miles to well past 100,000.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Interior door panels warping and detaching

   • 44 complaints (24%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2025

   Owners describe the interior door panel trim peeling away from the door frame, most often along the top edge where the panel meets the window glass. Some report it on one door, others on all four, and in some cases the separation interferes with the door lock button or shown wiring. Dealers reportedly told owners the panels needed replacement, that the vehicle was out of warranty, or that no recall applied; several owners say the repair was not covered and the panels were not replaced. Reported from roughly 6,000 to 130,000 miles, with many under 55,000 miles and several in warm-weather states.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Open and close every door and look along the top edge of each interior panel for bubbling, warping or a gap at the window; check that the lock buttons move freely. Ask whether any door panels have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The interior door panels are warping. I have replaced one and need to do the other. The trunk lid had no gap between the bottom of the lid and rear end, so there was a constant vibration causing the paint to flake away. If I step on the accelerator too hard, the engines RPM shoots up but the engine gets no power and the remains either at a stand still or will coast until the issue passes.”

   NHTSA complaint #11349363, filed 2020-08, 18,000 miles

   “Takata recall. The interior of my front driver and passenger doors are coming apart from the body of the door. Smart Dodge in pine bluff said they have seen it on a few other Dodge chargers as well. It is a 2016 and I have only had it for a little over a year. The local dealership stated the only way it can be fixed is to replace the inside door panels. If this is happening to other chargers, should there not be a recall on them? The picture attached is of the driver side. The passenger side is worse.”

   NHTSA complaint #11255114, filed 2019-09, 83,450 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Driveshaft vibration, noise or detachment

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 80,560 mi at 5.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe thumping, rattling or grinding noises from underneath, worse at higher speeds, and in some cases the driveshaft separating while driving. Repairs described include replacing the driveshaft or its center support bearing, and in a few cases transmission or transfer case damage. Some owners with all-wheel-drive cars were told their VIN was not covered by the driveshaft-related recalls, while others report warranty coverage. Mostly between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles, with some reports at lower mileage.

   Recall 18V281000Recall 17V097000

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the driveshaft, universal joints and center support bearing, especially on all-wheel-drive cars. Ask whether recall 17V097000 or 18V281000 applies to the VIN and was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I was conducting maintenance on my vehicle, I had seen that my vehicle's drive shaft is not stable and when I moved it, the shaft was able to move freely, and the center support bearing was worn down completely and this is the reason why my vehicle is not functioning the way it should.”

   NHTSA complaint #11407901, filed 2021-04, 10 miles

   “One day when I was driving, I heard a really loud sound coming from my car that hurt my ears so I drove back home under 5 miles per hour because whatever was hitting under the hood of my car was way too loud. As I was parking in my spot at home, my car shut off completely. Couldn't even put it in park and said to check engine. I ended up having to get my car towed to lithia of Dodge to look at it to see whats wrong because I couldnt even turn my car back on at all or do anything with it it was undriveable. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11386737, filed 2021-01, 85,233 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalling, no-start and battery/electrical faults

   • 20 complaints (11%)
   • median 47,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2025

   Complaints describe the engine cutting off while driving, the car failing to restart, and dash or instrument panel lights staying lit after the key is removed. Some owners link the shutdowns to the battery or alternator, and some report traction control or stability warnings appearing at the same time. Dealers in the complaints often replaced the battery first or were unable to reproduce the fault. Spread from roughly 42,000 to 100,000 miles, with several reports on the highway.

   Recall 18V3320003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about battery and alternator replacement history and whether any electrical software updates were applied. Check that all warning lights go out after startup and that the car restarts reliably after being parked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the highway when my trunk flew open causing my car to come to a complete stop before I could get onto the shoulder and this scenerio almost caused me to get into a wreck. I had my children in the car and they were very scared! Its ridiculous that it just shuts off before even giving a warning!”

   NHTSA complaint #11337494, filed 2020-07, 76,000 miles

   “I purchased 2016 Dodge Charger one month ago from california auto direct in montclair. While signing the paperwork, we questioned a $1,000 dealer charge which they explained was for a thorough inspection before putting their car on the lot to sell (all lies). Since I purchased the car on 3/7/20, the car has stalled on me while driving 3 times. I took the car to a Dodge dealer and they fixed a recall, oil leak and replaced a missing caliper, old battery. After completing all the repairs, the car stalled on me again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11320691, filed 2020-04, 32,175 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering assist cutting out

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 29,587 mi at 4.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners report the steering suddenly becoming very heavy or the power steering assist switching off while driving, sometimes with a warning message on the cluster. Some describe the steering going tight intermittently and returning after the car is shut off and restarted. In several complaints the loss of assist came with flashing dash lights or other electrical symptoms. Reported from about 18,000 to 55,000 miles in the sample.

   What to check: During a test drive, note whether the steering feels consistent at low speed and parking maneuvers, and check the dash for stored warnings. Ask if the steering assist or battery/charging system has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My power steering will randomly shut off. It happens intermittently. It makes it very easy to lose control. I have to pull over, turn off my car, wait 10-30 seconds, turn on my car, and hope it doesn't do it again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11278536, filed 2019-11, 47,000 miles

   “Motor mount blows out due to it being filled with hydraulic fluid causing issues with steering and braking. This happened while driving the car causing it to move around while driving any speed was on the freeway when it happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #11340700, filed 2020-07, 27,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Oil leaks from the filter adapter / oil cooler

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe oil leaking under the hood, sometimes with smoke and a strong oil smell, and in one case engine overheating after oil mixed into the coolant. Repairs described include the oil filter adapter housing and, in a later complaint, a warped plastic oil cooler. Several owners report the leak returning after an initial repair. Reported from about 70,000 to 120,000 miles in the sample.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for oil residue around the top of the engine and under the car, and check the coolant reservoir for oil contamination. Ask whether the oil filter adapter or oil cooler has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was headed to work yesterday morning and before I got to work I heard a loud noice under the hood and smoke starting rolling out of under the hood. I pulled over to the closest intersection to get off highway and discovered oil all over the car and all under the car. I contacted my dealership that I just bought the car through (haven't even made the first payment) and they towed it back to the dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11318777, filed 2020-03, 70,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while accelerating at approximately 50 MPH, she heard a clicking noise coming from the engine. The engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed but the contact was uncertain of the parts that needed to be replaced. The dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11479584, filed 2022-08, 127,000 miles

Buying note. Check the interior door panels carefully, since they are the most frequently reported problem and often not covered by warranty, and have the driveshaft and steering inspected before purchase. Ask for service records covering oil filter adapter repairs, battery and alternator work, and any completed recalls for the VIN.

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.