2020 Dodge Charger Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 57 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 3 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2020 Dodge Charger receives a 5.1/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 57 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 3 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports with a median failure point at 55,000 miles (IQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $400 – $1,200 .
7.6 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
3 Active / Free Remedies
Top Reported Problem Clusters (6)
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who initially informed the contact that parts were not yet available. The contact was later informed that parts were av...”
“My passenger interior door panel structure on my 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack is expanding and separating. The warping plastic lip is shifting into the window channel and could impede the proper deployment path of the side-impact curtain or door airbags. This is a known issue ...”
“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a rea...”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who initially informed the contact that parts were not yet available. The contact was later informed that parts were av...”
“The A/C evaporator core in my 2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat has failed twice within a short period of ownership. The first failure occurred at approximately 20K miles in 2022, when the air conditioning suddenly stopped blowing cold air. The dealership diagnosed a leaking evaporat...”
“The driver side air bag in the roof of the car deployed when the engine was not on, and no one was in the vehicle. The car was parked in the driveway of the insured's residence when the air bag deployed. No visible damage to the exterior of the vehicle indicating a collision. ...”
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“The A/C evaporator core in my 2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat has failed twice within a short period of ownership. The first failure occurred at approximately 20K miles in 2022, when the air conditioning suddenly stopped blowing cold air. The dealership diagnosed a leaking evaporat...”
“The vehicle was sold under deceptive business practices. I inspected the vehicle and seen the tire (side wall) was badly damaged and the vehicle did not even run as mentioned in the description. The safety was in jeopardy and the seller made false claims for me to believe the ...”
“The driver side air bag in the roof of the car deployed when the engine was not on, and no one was in the vehicle. The car was parked in the driveway of the insured's residence when the air bag deployed. No visible damage to the exterior of the vehicle indicating a collision. ...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power and the steering wheel would seize with no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle then the check engine warning li...”
“Through conversations with a Dodge Certified Tech, this is ongoing and known issue with Dodge (RAM) trucks, dodge chargers etc. Curious as to why a safety recall has not been issued, with reports and complaints found online spanning back 2-3 years now. My car, after just 2 yea...”
“While traveling on the highway at approx. 70mph at night the vehicle shutdown completely resulting in the loss of throttle, power steering and lights. This is an safety issue that can cause death or serious bodily harm to the driver and other drivers along a motorway as the ve...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“Dodge has acknowledged a known issue impacting paddle shift equipped Chargers and Challengers. When using paddle shifters, the engine will downshift when the driver upshifts, sometimes causing torque jerking and acceleration jumps. Dodge says the issue is that the driver is sh...”
“Daughter was in accident head on and loss control of car, couldn’t stop because KNEE AIR BAG deployed and wouldn’t allow her to step on brake. The car finally stopped from engine damage after about 200 yards but she almost went into oncoming traffic because she was unable to p...”
“I BOUGHT A 2020 DODGE CHARGER IN JANUARY. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS MANUEL AND THE LUMBAR SUPPORT IS EXTEDED TO THE FULLEST. THERE IS NO RELEASE TO BE FOUND. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE SALESMAN SAID THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT LEVEL SOMEWHERE. YOU ARE UNABLE TO SIT BACK CORRECTLY BECAU...”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“My passenger interior door panel structure on my 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack is expanding and separating. The warping plastic lip is shifting into the window channel and could impede the proper deployment path of the side-impact curtain or door airbags. This is a known issue ...”
“Dodge has acknowledged a known issue impacting paddle shift equipped Chargers and Challengers. When using paddle shifters, the engine will downshift when the driver upshifts, sometimes causing torque jerking and acceleration jumps. Dodge says the issue is that the driver is sh...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (3)
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Dodge Charger Pursuit vehicles equipped with a "stealth mode." When stealth mode is selected, the backup camera rearview image will not display when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) (Stellantis) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2020 Dodge Charger
Before purchasing a used 2020 Dodge Charger, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 3 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2020 Dodge Charger
Is the 2020 Dodge Charger a reliable used car?
The 2020 Dodge Charger earns a 5.1/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 57 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2020 Dodge Charger?
The leading complaint category is Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports, with a median failure point around 55,000 miles (IQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2020 Dodge Charger?
Yes, the NHTSA records 3 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.