Photo: Elise240SX / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2013 Dodge Charger: common problems and reliability
· 7th generationOne of the worst Charger years.
One of the Dodge Charger years to avoid. All Charger years
727 owner complaints, most about electrical system. 9 recalls.
Should I buy a 2013 Charger?The 2013 Dodge Charger has 727 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and engine. Owners most often flag water pump leak or failure.
Safety record for the 2013 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2013 Dodge Charger vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Charger years only. How we score it
Is 2013 a good year for the Charger?
Across the 21 Charger model years we track, complaint volume runs from 48 (2022) to 1,294 (2006). With 727 complaints, the 2013 Charger sits above the model's median of 272.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2013 Charger
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 19V018000Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Campaign 17V435000Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 18V021000Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Chrysler is also recalling certain 2009 RAM 3500, RAM 2500, RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Campaign 16V240000Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured February 15, 2011, to November 27, 2014, and 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured July 16, 2012, to December 22, 2015. The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.
Show 5 more recalls
air bags:side/window
Campaign 15V467000Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured May 6, 2010, to June 5, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the side impact sensor calibrations may be overly sensitive, and as a result, the side air bag inflatable curtains and seat air bags may unexpectedly deploy and the seat belt pre-tensioners may activate.
structure
Campaign 16V043000FCA US LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured August 23, 2010, to January 7, 2016. When an affected vehicle is lifted using the supplied tire jack without chocking the wheels, the vehicle's body-side sill may give causing the tire jack to fail and the car to fall.
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 13V610000Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chrysler 300 AWD, Dodge Charger AWD, and Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 vehicles equipped with ZF all wheel drive ("AWD") 8HP45 transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission output shaft may fracture.
electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Campaign 14V634000Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango; and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured April 22, 2010, to January 2, 2014, and equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Campaign 16V739000Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Police vehicles, 2007-2013 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2013 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2013 RAM 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may suddenly fail.
What owners report on the 7th generation Charger
Owners of the 2011-2023 Charger generally describe it as a reliable, practical large sedan whose long production run worked out most of the brand's older reliability complaints.
- RecurrentWater pump leak or failure
- RecurrentThermostat housing and thermostat failure
- RecurrentLifter failure, particularly on the 5.7 Hemi and Pentastar V6
- RecurrentHemi lubrication issue at low RPM and idle causing premature hydraulic lifter wear
- IsolatedCylinder deactivation (MDS) problems
Owner insights for the 7th generation Charger. Read the full 7th generation owner report.
Typical used price
Used Charger listings typically run $15,969–$40,489.
Other Charger model years
Compare every Charger year side by side to see how 2013 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Charger against its rivals
Looking at a specific car?
We're building a full check by VIN: the exact trim and engine, its known problems and recalls, what to inspect, a fair price, and how it compares with its rivals. Get an email when it's ready.
One email when it launches. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy