2016 Dodge Charger: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Dodge Charger: 5 recalls, 182 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #16V043000 · 2016 · 441,578 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A car that falls unexpectedly increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will provide owners with wheel chocks and instructions for their use, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2016.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #17V097000 · 2017 · 69,298 vehicles
What's wrong: The front driveshaft bolts May loosen and allow the front driveshaft to disconnect, potentially causing a loss of motive power.
Why it matters: A loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace all eight front driveshaft bolts, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017.
Equipment Vehicle recall #17V824000 · 2017 · 61,791 vehicles
What's wrong: A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/rcl/2017/rmisc-17v824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers May become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle May detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the…
Why it matters: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #18V281000 · 2018 · 13,928 vehicles
What's wrong: The front driveshaft universal joint May seize or fracture causing the shaft to detach from the vehicle.
Why it matters: If the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle it May become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2018.
Electrical, Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #18V332000 · 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver May not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed…
Why it matters: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Transmission & drivetrain Equipment recall #18E053000 · 2018 · 1,930 vehicles
What's wrong: The pcms are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver May not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or…
Why it matters: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will either perform a software update or replace the PCM, free of charge. The recall began July 26 , 2018.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 15 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Body & structure (53): the most common themes are door / lock issues (47).
- Other / unknown (32): the most common themes are noise or vibration (3), warning light on (2).
- Fuel & propulsion (25): the most common themes are leaks (10), electrical failure (9), stalls / loses power (3).
- Engine (25): the most common themes are warning light on (7), fire / smoke (5), stalls / loses power (5).
The 2016 Dodge Charger has 182 owner complaints, ranking #9 of 22 Charger model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 261). Complaints peaked in 2020 (36 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 43,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (136 complaints, 7 recalls), 2017 (128 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 30 | 23 | Regular |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 30 | 23 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 25 | 19 | Midgrade |
| 6.4 L 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 25 | 18 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Dodge Charger.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2016 Dodge Charger have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Dodge Charger, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Dodge Charger problems?
Owners have filed 182 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are body & structure (53), other / unknown (32), fuel & propulsion (25).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Dodge Charger get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (3.6 L, Automatic 8-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Dodge Charger repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.