Electrical system and structure issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
As a muscle car, the 2020 Dodge Charger has amassed many enthusiasts. Maybe it’s because of the “epic size and strength” that the automaker talks about or the thought of the high-powered engine beneath the hood, but customers dream of driving this car until they actually own it. Then, they experience the faulty electrical system and defective structure, which both lead to buyer’s remorse.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2019 2021
As a newer model, the electrical system should be made to handle just about anything. After all the cabin is filled with tech goodies that need to run. Yet, this model struggles on every front.
One NHTSA complaint states, “I heard a car running outside, when I checked it was the Charger. It was on, it turned on by itself.”
This isn’t like Knight Rider where cars have a mind of their own, but the Charger acts like it. Plus, it struggles with some major defects, such as what’s outlined with NHTSA Campaign Number 20V512000. This recall says that the backup camera image can stop displaying, leaving drivers in the dark about what’s happening behind it. Considering both the “epic size and strength” of the car, it would be important to have that information. Furthermore, a class action lawsuit was filed, stating that owners are struggling with the Uconnect system as well. It turns out that the system freezes, goes black or stops the navigation from working. The faults give new meaning to the bumper-to-bumper warranty. Owners are guaranteed to have bumper-to-bumper problems.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Seats | |
| Structure:body | |
| Structure:body:door |
To create “epic strength,” one would hope that the automaker put some time into the design and construction of this vehicle, but that doesn’t seem accurate at all.
An Edmunds review says, “It can be difficult to close the trunk because there is really nothing to grab to pull it down, and the paint is pretty slick. And the front door, when open all the way, is pretty much impossible to close from inside the car without either getting partially out of the car or growing longer arms. This could be rather inconvenient if you are trying to get in the car while it is raining.”
Dodge isn’t attempting to hide its lack of care for the construction of this vehicle. Even Service Bulletin #S2023000034 talks about how the front floor of the car can get wet because of a leak in the A pillar region. Maybe the Charger felt it was so epic that it should start swimming too – just like the Amphicar, which by the way, was also a flop.
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Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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