2010 Dodge Charger: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2010 Dodge Charger
On the 2010 Dodge Charger, the failure owners report most often is other electrical problem, and the reports cluster around 97,500 miles. The earliest to appear is steering rack, gear or tie rod failure, reported by a median of 50,000 miles. Overall it scores 72 out of 100, high risk for a 2010.
High risk for a 2010 — 120th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. 303 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2010 Dodge Charger
Owners have reported 38 named failure modes on the 2010 Dodge Charger, and the three most-reported carry 38% of everything filed.
Other electrical problem leads with 44 reports, about 0.7 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 59k to 130,000 miles.
Other engine problem follows with 37 reports, usually reported between 5k to 92,500 miles. 2 of those reports mention a fire.
Airbag inflator rupture follows with 33 reports, median 100,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into electrical (81), engine (68) and airbag (35).
When these failures get reported
204 of the reports on the 2010 Dodge Charger came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 87,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 32% by 50,000 miles, 61% by 100,000 miles and 90% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 5 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 12% of the dated reports.
20% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: steering rack, gear or tie rod failure around 48k, other engine problem around 51k, other powertrain problem around 55k and other electrical problem around 98k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 38. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 5 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 10 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 2 an injury and 1 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.56, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, airbag inflator rupture at $0–$0 and alternator or charging system failure at $450–$1,600. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
27% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 44 | 33 | 59k | 98k | 130k | 0.7 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 37 | 29 | 5k | 51k | 92k | 0.6 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 33 | 6 | — | 102k | — | 0.5 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 22 | 22 | 97k | 137k | 158k | 0.3 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 11 | 10 | 40k | 55k | 125k | 0.2 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 11 | 7 | — | 59k | — | 0.2 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 10 | 8 | 100k | 100k | 112k | 0.2 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 8 | 8 | 34k | 48k | 55k | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 7 | 6 | — | 126k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 7 | 3 | — | 91k | — | 0.1 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 7 | 5 | — | 137k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 7 | 5 | — | 50k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 6 | 5 | — | 32k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 6 | 6 | — | 99k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 5 | 2 | — | 65k | — | 0.1 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 4 | 4 | — | 36k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 4 | 4 | — | 83k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 4 | 3 | — | 12k | — | 0.1 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 43k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 3 | 3 | — | 41k | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 120k | — | 0.0 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 2 | 1 | — | 127k | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 72k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 2 | 2 | — | 115k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 2 | 2 | — | 27k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 2 | 2 | — | 18k | — | 0.0 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 2 | 2 | — | 87k | — | 0.0 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Cooling fan failure | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 77k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 1k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 155k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 116k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 36k | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 53k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Wheel, stud or lug nut failure | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 59k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,500 | Critical |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 1 | — | 69k | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 38 | 11 | 59k | 70k | 136k | 0.6 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2010 Dodge Charger draws about 4.7 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 88th percentile of complaint rates among 2010 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 64,559 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2010 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other electrical problem
Had my first problem with my 2010 dodge charger r/t ~ 6k miles on the clock. Driving down the road in ~ 5 degree f temps - the car was fully warmed up and it was around 9am in the morning, the car suddenly died, with all the error indicators coming on. Luckily I was able to get off to the side of the road as power steering and braking went out. I stopped the car, checked under the hood for some sort of visible damage. Seeing none & checking the oil level - I went to restart and found that the car wouldn't turn over. Double checked I was in park, everything was squared away - took the key out - put it back in, turned - and heard a single ignition - like one coil went off - then stopped. Tried it again, wouldn't turn over. So I call dodge roadside for a tow and sit there for 10 minutes. While waiting I decided to then try it again, then magically the starter actually goes and it turns over. I was maybe 5 miles away from the dealership - so I took it straight there where they took a look at it. For whatever reason, they were unable to duplicate the problem nor tell me why it occurred or how I can prevent this from happening in the…
Car sitting parked on 70f day for 4 hours. It had been driven for about 25 minutes before that at 60-65mph. I went to open the car door and noticed that the trunk was unlocking repeatedly. Opened the car door and watched smoke pour out. Entire left-hand side of the front passenger seat had burned and the right-hand side of the center armrest had melted. The headliner had been burned on the right-hand side of the car as well. The doors and trunk continued to lock and unlock until we had gotten the fire out and finally gotten the battery disconnected. Burnt debris scattered throughout car where lit material floated around and finally fell back to the seats/floorboard. Windows were nearly blacked out by the smoke. *tr
Other engine problem
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 dodge charger. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed and approaching a stop. When the engine was idling, there was an extremely strong odor of fumes emitting inside of the vehicle. The failure occurred only when the engine would be idling. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for the identical failure on two different times. The technician was unable to duplicate the problem and advised that there was not a remedy for the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact had concern of the potential safety hazard. The failure mileage was under 9,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 dodge charger police package. While the vehicle was parked with the ignition on he stated that you could smell exhaust fumes inside the vehicle. He stated that the odor was like smelling the exhaust pipe. The contact turned the vehicle off and was able to remove the passenger from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the problem was not explained well to the dealer and who was unable to find the failure. The contact planned to take the vehicle back to the dealer and explain the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100 and the current mileage was 5,000.
Airbag inflator rupture
Tl* takata recall. The contact owned a 2010 dodge charger. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained head injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a yard. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance company, but the air bag failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Takata recall, driving at highway speed the vehicle will supply shut off and after stopping vehicle will start up like normal. Has happen at stoplights and when turning, happens randomly. Not safe at all. *tr
Recalls on the 2010 model year
NHTSA has issued 6 recall campaigns covering the 2010 Dodge Charger, affecting an estimated 189,300 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module and air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
1,413,222 vehicles 2019-01-15- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
328,177 vehicles 2018-01-09- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota…
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
4,648,270 vehicles 2016-05-24- Defect
- 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. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider…
- Consequence
- 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. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
4,077,169 vehicles 2015-05-26- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
37,335 vehicles 2010-05-11- Defect
- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 chrysler 300, dodge challenger, charger, jeep commander, grand cherokee and dodge ram vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with a wireless ignition node (win) module exhibiting a binding condition of the solenoid latch.
- Consequence
- 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. This could result in the potential for unintended vehicle movement and could increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the win module free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before august 23, 2010. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
12,656 vehicles 2009-10-29- Defect
- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009 through 2010 passenger vehicles equipped with rear wheel drive. These vehicles may have been built without a front wheel spindle nut.
- Consequence
- While driving, a tire and wheel separation could occur increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the tire and wheel assembly and if found without a spindle nut it will be repaired free of charge. The recall began on november 2, 2009. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-835-1403.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2010 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2010 — 120th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 18 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2021 comes out best at 61 and 2023 worst at 77, with 2010 itself at 72.
If the model year is negotiable, 2021, 2017, 2018, 2008 and 2022 score lower than 2010 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2006–2010 generation specifically, 2008 is the strongest year at 68 and 2007 the weakest at 72.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2006-2010 generation, 2008 Dodge Charger scores best at 68 and 2007 Dodge Charger worst at 72.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other engine problem from about 5k, steering rack, gear or tie rod failure from about 34k, other powertrain problem from about 40k and other electrical problem from about 59k.
On a 2010 Dodge Charger with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other engine problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
What this page cannot tell you
303 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 303 reports, 204 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 67% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Dodge Charger?
The most-reported failures are other electrical problem (44 reports, median 97,500 miles), other engine problem (37 reports, median 50,000 miles) and airbag inflator rupture (33 reports, median 100,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2010 Dodge Charger problems start?
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 50,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 35,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 87,000 miles.
Is the 2010 Dodge Charger reliable?
It scores 72 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 120th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2010 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Dodge Charger is best?
Within the 2006–2010 generation, 2008 scores best at 68 out of 100 and 2007 worst at 72. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed