Is the 2013 Dodge Charger a bad year?
360 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Charger years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2013 Dodge Charger are in line with other Charger years. Electrical system and air bags stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 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 59,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 167 (46%) | 37k–75k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 41 (11%) | 30k–60k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 50 (14%) | 41k–119k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 48 (13%) | 28k–100k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 30 (8%) | 58k–107k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed control | 24 (7%) | 24k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 18 (5%) | 43k–91k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 16 (4%) | 39k–80k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 10 (3%) | 35k–93k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (3%) | 44k–104k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 9 (3%) | 33k–80k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Seat belts | 14 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (1%) | 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 59,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 360 complaints: 25 mention a crash · 20 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 24 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Vehicle had a multi-system failure while driving away from a parking lot. Engine did not stall at first.
When accelerating, the car lunges forward instead of speeding up smoothly like other vehicles. Seems to always occur at between the 1000 and 2000 RPM range.
The number 6 piston is misfiring and causing the car to jerk. The part in other 2013 chargers has been recalled , mine is having the same issue , but not on recall list.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 59,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Dodge Charger: 8
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.
The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear. Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.
When an affected vehicle is lifted using the supplied tire jack without chocking the wheels, the vehicle's body-side sill may give causing the tire jack to fail and the car to fall. A car that falls unexpectedly increases the risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, the side impact sensor calibrations may be overly sensitive, and as a result, the side air bag inflatable curtains and seat air bags may unexpectedly deploy and the seat belt pre-tensioners may activate. Air bags that unexpectedly deploy increase the risk of a crash or injury.
In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the transmission output shaft may fracture. The transmission output shaft fracture could result in a loss of power, 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: 117
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Dodge Charger. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Ts may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power, misfire
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Vehicle rollaway, engine on
Neighbouring years
2012 Charger: 648 complaints, keep it · 2014 Charger: 342 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 2013 Dodge Charger a bad year?
360 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Charger years. At 59,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Dodge Charger?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (167), air bags (41), engine (50), transmission and drivetrain (48), steering (30).
How many recalls does the 2013 Dodge Charger have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-018), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-021), Electrical system (NHTSA 17V-435), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 16V-240) 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.