Is the 2010 Dodge Charger a bad year?
238 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 59, 5.4× a quiet Charger year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 5.4× the complaints of a quiet Charger year, spread over 44k–118k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 Charger owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 92,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 76 (32%) | 70k–142k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 60 (25%) | 49k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 59 (25%) | 44k–118k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 19 (8%) | 40k–110k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 18 (8%) | 50k–98k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 10 (4%) | 36k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 8 (3%) | 62k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 10 (4%) | 36k–78k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 9 (4%) | 43k–82k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 7 (3%) | 37k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 5 (2%) | 46k–89k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exhaust | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 92,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 238 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 9 mention a fire · 5 report an injury · 14 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in May 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Altenator makes a whining noise while driving and then within 2 to 3 minutes the battery indicator light comes on then there is an immediate burning smell.
At approximately 95,000 mile I had my rocker arm shaft lifter assembly replaced under warranty due to a broken rocker arm and loud knocking noises coming from my engine.
A week after purchasing my 2010 Dodge charger sxt 3.5L ... I developed vibration/shaking during idle until about 900 rpm's.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 92,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2010 Dodge Charger: 6
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles may have been built with a wireless ignition node (Win) module exhibiting a binding condition of the solenoid latch. The result of the defect could lead to a condition where the key may be removed from the ignition switch (Win module) prior to placing the shifter in park.
These vehicles may have been built without a front wheel spindle nut. While driving, a tire and wheel separation could occur increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 26
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Dodge Charger. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ts may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power, misfire
Drivers And/Or Passenger Front Power Door Locks And Windows Inoperative U0200 Lost Communication With Passengers Door Module U0199 Lost Communication…
Dodge: lost communication between drivers and passenger power door locks and windows are inoperative, and possibly need to be replace, if necessary…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2009 Charger: 175 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2011 Charger: 694 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Charger year
2001 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2026 · All Charger years side by side
Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caliber · Dodge Caravan · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Durango · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Journey · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Nitro · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2010 Dodge Charger a bad year?
238 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 59, 5.4× a quiet Charger year. At 92,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 5.4× the complaints of a quiet Charger year, spread over 44k–118k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Dodge Charger?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (76), air bags (60), engine (59), transmission and drivetrain (19), fuel system (18). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 44k–118k miles.
How many recalls does the 2010 Dodge Charger have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-018), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-021), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-352), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-313) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.