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2018 Dodge Charger problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Dodge Charger. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 20% of relevant complaints.
Better than 87% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2018 Dodge Charger have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 23 of 122 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Charger concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 32% and the 2019 scores 28%. 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 2018 compares with other Dodge Charger years
Of the 13 Dodge Charger years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the best on engine and transmission share (20%). The worst is the 2015 (52%). By volume, the 2018 drew 122 complaints (23 drivetrain), against 128 for the 2017 and 120 for the 2019.
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 Charger problems · 2017 Charger problems · 2018 · 2019 Charger problems · 2020 Charger problems · 2021 Charger problems · 2023 Charger problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Dodge Charger
- 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 23 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Dodge Charger transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2018 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 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
Risk: If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for…
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…
4 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 2018 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.
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Does the 2018 Dodge Charger have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 23 of 122 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Charger concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Dodge Charger?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Dodge Charger is electrical system: 45 of 122 complaints (37%) name it, followed by structure (19) and engine (11). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 20% of the relevant total.
Is the 2018 Dodge Charger reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 20% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 87% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Dodge Charger years we score, it ranks best. 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 2018 Dodge Charger?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2018 Dodge Charger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 18V280000 (power train: automatic transmission), 18V281000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Dodge Charger years are better?
The 2018 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Dodge Charger years we track (20%). The other years run higher. 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 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.