2020 Dodge Charger Safety Report

The 2020 Dodge Charger presents a mixed safety picture, with strong crash test ratings but significant concerns regarding its airbag system. NHTSA awarded the vehicle an excellent 5-star overall safety rating, including 5 stars for side impact and rollover, and 4 stars for frontal impact. However, this positive crash test performance is overshadowed by a high volume of airbag-related complaints and a critical recall. Out of 53 total complaints, a substantial 29 (55%) are related to AIR BAGS, with several reports detailing spontaneous deployment, non-deployment during crashes, and concerns about metal fragments from inflator ruptures. This aligns directly with NHTSA Campaign Number 24V198000, which addresses a manufacturing defect in side curtain airbag inflators that could cause them to rupture and strike occupants with sharp metal fragments, potentially leading to injury or death. Many complaints also highlight the unavailability of parts for this crucial recall, leaving owners in a state of uncertainty and potential risk. Beyond the dominant airbag issue, the vehicle has two other recalls: one for improperly bonded windshields (NHTSA Campaign Number 20V693000), which could increase injury risk in a crash, and another for a backup camera display issue in Pursuit models (NHTSA Campaign Number 20V512000), increasing crash risk. While these are important, the sheer volume and severity of the airbag complaints, including 1 death and 7 injuries reported across all complaints, make the airbag system the primary safety concern. The 10 reported crashes further underscore the real-world impact of these issues. In summary, while the 2020 Dodge Charger performs well in controlled crash tests, the widespread and severe issues with its airbag system, as evidenced by 29 complaints and a critical recall with unavailable parts, pose a significant safety risk. Potential buyers should be aware of these unresolved airbag concerns, which contradict the otherwise strong safety ratings. The vehicle's safety is compromised by a critical manufacturing defect that has not yet been fully remedied for many owners.

Our recommendation: Prospective buyers of a 2020 Dodge Charger should prioritize verifying that all three recalls, especially the critical airbag inflator recall (24V198000), have been fully remedied, and be prepared for potential delays in recall part availability.