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2016 Dodge Charger problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
42% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Dodge Charger are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 18 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 38%).
Does the 2016 Dodge Charger have fuel system problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 69 of 164 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Charger concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (42%), and the largest group is filed under fuel/propulsion system (25). For comparison, the 2015 scores 52% and the 2017 scores 32%. On a test drive, check for hard starts, stalling, hesitation, a fuel smell or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Dodge Charger years
Of the 13 Dodge Charger years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 5th-worst on engine and transmission share (42%). The worst is the 2015 (52%), the best the 2018 (20%). By volume, the 2016 drew 182 complaints (69 drivetrain), against 136 for the 2015 and 128 for the 2017.
Dodge Charger years to avoid and best years →
2010 Charger problems · 2011 Charger problems · 2012 Charger problems · 2013 Charger problems · 2014 Charger problems · 2015 Charger problems · 2016 · 2017 Charger problems · 2018 Charger problems · 2019 Charger problems · 2020 Charger problems · 2021 Charger problems · 2023 Charger problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Dodge Charger
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Dodge Charger said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical fuel system repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 69 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Dodge Charger transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2016 Dodge Charger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain Mopar Stage 1 Kit Performance Packages Powertrain Control Modules (PCM) Part Numbers P5160023, P5160025, and Demon Crate PCM Part Number 68412287AA. The PCMs are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to…
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will either perform a software update or replace the PCM, free of charge. The recall began July 26 , 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Dodge Charger pursuit police vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive and V8 engines. The front driveshaft universal joint may seize or fracture causing the shaft to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: If the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD). The front driveshaft bolts may loosen and allow the front driveshaft to disconnect, potentially causing a loss of motive power.
Risk: A loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight front driveshaft bolts, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Dodge Charger? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Dodge Charger
Does the 2016 Dodge Charger have fuel system problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 69 of 164 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Dodge Charger concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (42%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the fuel system and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Dodge Charger?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Dodge Charger is structure: 53 of 182 complaints (29%) name it, followed by fuel/propulsion system (25) and power train (25). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 42% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Dodge Charger reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 42% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Dodge Charger years we score, it ranks 5th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Dodge Charger?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2016 Dodge Charger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 18E053000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)), 18V281000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft), 17V097000 (power train: axle assembly: axle shaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Dodge Charger years are better?
Among the Dodge Charger years we track, the 2018 (20%), the 2019 (28%) and the 2020 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (42%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/dodge-charger
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.