2009 Dodge Charger
The Verdict
The 2009 Dodge Charger has 175 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (79 complaints) and engine (46 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 59/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Dodge Charger, consider the 2024 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2024 has 94% fewer complaints
View the 2024 Dodge Charger dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 97 | 100 | 152 | 786 | 157 |
| 2007 | 69 | 35 | 113 | 138 | 210 |
| 2008 | 61 | 14 | 390 | 121 | 26 |
| 2009 | 40 | 6 | 79 | 46 | 4 |
| 2010 | 29 | 5 | 113 | 78 | 13 |
| 2011 | 40 | 44 | 428 | 165 | 14 |
| 2012 | 59 | 37 | 392 | 106 | 54 |
| 2013 | 74 | 11 | 175 | 60 | 38 |
| 2014 | 92 | 24 | 101 | 75 | 48 |
| 2015 | 35 | 13 | 29 | 33 | 25 |
| 2016 | 79 | 6 | 28 | 49 | 19 |
| 2017 | 47 | 4 | 38 | 25 | 11 |
| 2018 | 50 | 5 | 44 | 15 | 8 |
| 2019 | 21 | 11 | 61 | 16 | 1 |
| 2020 | 11 | 0 | 33 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 2024 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under a recall and the driver’s side air bag was replaced. The contact stated that after the recall repair, the instrument cluster failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the screen was black. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle had shut off unexpectedly. The vehicle was restarted and operated normally, but the failure persisted. The contact replaced the spark plugs, battery, and fuel pump but the failure persisted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated there was a ticking sound coming from the engine compartment. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 150,000.
ORC passenger seat deployment squib 1 reads a open circuit 1. Has been like this since the last airbag recall in 2019. Was supposed to had been fixed then and dealer was never able to fix the issue.
The contact owned a 2009 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that upon having the vehicle inspected, she became aware of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V313000 (Air Bags) and 16V352000 (Air Bags) however, the contact then stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle illegally ran the red stop light and crashed into the front of the contact’s vehicle. The contact then stated that the frontal air bags exploded. The contact then stated that she sustained injury of metal fragments to the chest, abdomen, and stomach, burning to her left leg and right wrist that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000.
I was sold this car from a dealer and told nothing was wrong with it, 2 days later codes U0002 (CAN communication BUS performance) and U0103 (Loss communication with gear shift module) came on and the car will go into what I believe is limp mode every 10-30 minutes into driving it. I believe the Column shifter assembly is to blame as there was a recall for this same part and I’m having the same exact issues stated in the recall making it unsafe to drive.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact heard a rattling sound coming from the passenger’s side air bag compartment. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V021000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH, WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED THEN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT THEN SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A WET RAG AND SOME WATER. THE CONTACT THEN CONTACTED HIS INSURANCE COMPANY WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR SEATS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND OPENED THE TRUNK WITH A CROWBAR AND SAW THAT THE BATTERY HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT AND HIS DAUGHTER, WHO WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
HEADGASKET, FEL-PRO ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, REMOVE CARBON, AND MAKE ALL NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.
I HAVE REPAIRED THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM, BRAKE SYSTEM, SWAY BAR BUSHING, WATER PUMP, ETC. NOW THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW... ARE THERE ANY RECALLS OR WAYS YOU CAN REFUND ME?
ALL OF MY STEERING COLUMN COMPONENTS QUIT WORKING, I HAVE NO TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS, BRIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL, HORN OR POWER MIRRORS. NOW THE TAILLIGHTS ILLUMINATE ONLY WHEN THEY WANT TO BUT BRAKE LIGHTS WORK. I WAS STOPPED AND INFORMED THAT I HAD NO REAR LIGHTING AT ALL AND THAT IS WAS VERY UNSAFE. I'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY REPLACING PARTS BUT NOTHING IS GETTING FIXED NOT TOO MENTION THE SAFETY ASPECT OF IT ALL WITH NO TURN SIGNALS OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE TAILLIGHTS OR RUNNING LIGHTS NOT WORKING UNLESS I UNHOOK THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH I ALSO REPLACED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON HERE AND THERE AS WELL. I BELIEVE IT'S THE TIPM BUT I NEED SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAVING EVERYTHING WORKING PROPERLY. I ALSO TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND KEEP UP ON ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.
I HAVE BEEN CHASING A ABS/EPS LIGHT ISSUE SINCE THE DEALERSHIP DID AN AIRBAG RECALL. REPLACED ALL WHEEL SENSORS, ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND FINALLY RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE ANGLE SENSOR. 5 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. RETURNED AND THEY SAID THE STEERING COLUMN MEASURED 37MM INSTEAD OF 34MM. THIS ITEM HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED OR DAMAGED AND WITHOUT REPLACING THIS ITEM THEN I'M BEING TOLD THIS SENSOR WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT MY DAILY DRIVER BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ON SAFETY ISSUES. NOW I KNOW IT WAS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO HELP ME BECAUSE THEY STATED THE DEALER HAS NOT DETERMINED THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IN 2010 AND 2012 THIS ISSUES HAS COME UP IN THE MEDIA AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS PLACED ON NOTICE BUT FAILED TO RECALL BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH CASES WERE LOCATED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BATTERY SERVICE AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FUEL GAUGE TO READING WAS INCORRECT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RICK HENDRICK JEEP CHRYSLER DODGE RAM FIAT (8333 RIVERS AVE, NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29406; (843) 639-5475) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PCM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, SPARK PLUGS, FUEL PUMP, HEATING HOSES, PCM, AND THERMOSTAT ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
I'M WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HEMI TICK THAT CHRYSLER SEEMS TO KEEP OVERLOOKING KNOWING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE LIFTERS NOT GETTING ENOUGH OIL TO THEM AND CAUSING THEM TO EAT AWAY AT THE CAMSHAFT THIS IS COSTING US A LOT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THESE AND I THINK THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO COVER THE COST OF PARTS AND REPAIRS FOR THIS ITS A SHAME WE HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THEY KNOW IS AN ISSUE AND THEY JUST COVER IT UP AS (OH THAT'S COMMON WITH THE HEMI) NO ITS NOT COMMON BECAUSE ITS A HEMI, ITS COMMON BECAUSE ITS AN ISSUE WITH THE LIFTERS THEY WON'T FIX EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS I THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY NOW SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IT HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY ON ANY STREET OR HIGHWAY ITS AN ISSUE BY FAR ITS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THEY BROUGHT THE HEMI BACK IN 2005.
AFTER TAKING CARE OF THIS CAR I'VE NOTICE THAT THE MANUFACTURE HAS FAILED ME. I BEGAN TO THINK I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED TO. AND AFTER FURTHER REVIEW IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MOST ALL CHARGERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WHICH I THINK THAT DODGE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE. IF ANYONE IS LIKE MYSELF YOU HATE TO GIVE UP SUCH A BEAUTY. BUT AT THIS TIME I'M ALMOST HEARTBROKEN TO SAY IT MUST BE DONE. I FEEL WHOEVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THIS ENGINE SHOULD CONSIDER REPLACING NOT THE SAME MODEL IN THE VEHICLE BUT GIVE A BETTER BRAND. OR IS THAT CAN NOT EXIST BE CONSIDERATE ENOUGH TO GIVE THE OWNER HAVE OF WHAT THEY HAVE INVESTED INTO THE VEHICLE. BUT YOU MUST SHOW PROOF. DODGE ITS NOT RIGHT AND SOMEONE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE TO PAY A CAR PAYMENT OR CASH IN HAND FOR THIS BEAUTY. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS LETTER TO UPHOLD YOUR END OF THE BARGAIN. IT IS ONLY FAIR. MY ENGINE IS GONE. SIGN UNSATISFIED COSTUMER
DASHBOARD LIGHTS NOT WORKING ANYMORE. SOMETIMES IT FADES IN AND OUT AND SOMETIMES NOTHING AT ALL. WITH THE ENGINE, WHEN I 1ST START IT WHILE COLD I'LL WAIT 30 SECONDS OR SO AND PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO DIE ON MY KINDA BUT DOESNT. WAS TOLD WAIT TIL CAR IS WARMED UP AND MUFFLER NOISE WILL GO AWAY ONCE IT WARMS UP. ALL OF THIS WHILE IT IS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY.
PRIOR TO MY MISHAP I HAD NO SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION I WAS DRIVING EARLY ONE MORNING IN MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND WILL NOT RESTART COME TO FIND OUT THERE'S A RECALL ON MY TIPM BUT THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME AND MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED LITERALLY FEW MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL DATES ENDED NO I HAVE A REALLY PROBLEM UNDER THE FUSE BOX AND I FEEL IT'S NOT FAIR THAT THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR A CERTAIN TIME. WHEN I HAVE ALL THE SAME PARTS AS THE RECALL CAR IS DEAD MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN DECEMBER 2008 BUT GOT THE 2010 TIPM DUDE BOX I SPENT A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TRYING TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM AND SO WE REALIZED IT WAS THE INTERNAL RELAY .IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS
I CAME OUT OF THE STORE AND TURNED THE KEY FOB TO START THE IGNITION, THE CAR STARTED AND THEN SHUT ITSELF OFF, ARMING THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AND LOCKING ME OUT OF ALL FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR.
CHANGE TIRES AND THE LOW TIRE LIGHT DOESN'T COME OFF. TRUNK WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM KEY FOB OR INSIDE CAR. KEY HOLE TO OPEN DOOR EASY TO BREAK INTO. CAR KEEP CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASION. CUT OFF WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION.
THE COMPUTER IN THE TRANSMISSION IS MAKING MY CAR JERK FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. I HAVE A LIFETIME POWER TRAN WARRANTY YET THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NO "FIX" FOR MY CAR, BASICALLY I HAVE TO EITHER DRIVE IT LIKE IT IS OR BUY ANOTHER ONE AND I DO NOT THINK THAT IS FAIR FOR A LOYAL CUSTOMER LIKE MYSELF. EVERY TIME I CALL, THEY MANAGE TO LOOSE MY LIFETIME WARRANTY, THIS LAST TIME THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME I DIDN'T GET MY TRANSMISSION SERVICED FOR THE 10 YEAR MARK, I TOLD THEM I DID IN MARCH WHEN DODGE SAID IT WAS DUE - HE NOW TELLS ME THAT I GOT IT DONE TOO EARLY TO MAKE MY WARRANTY VALID. WHAT KIND OF MESS IS THAT. I JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED YET DODGE IS TELLING ME THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE A PATCH OR EVEN CREATE ONE. WHEN I DRIVE, MAINLY EARLY MORNINGS, MY CAR WILL DO A HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. NO MATTER UPHILL, DOWNHILL, ROUNDING A CURB, STRAIGHTAWAY, HIGHWAY OR STREETS.
TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE CONTACT'S SON CRASHED INTO A FALLEN TREE IN THE ROAD. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THERE WERE TWO OTHER OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WHO DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE LIVE POWER LIGHTS ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 68224987. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER, THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
175 total