YearToAvoid

2017 Dodge Charger Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

29/100

#11 most-complained of 15 Charger years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2017 Dodge Charger ranks 11th worst out of 15 model years with a complaint index of 29 and a 'Good' verdict, well below the worst years like 2011 (100). NHTSA lists 128 complaints, 4 recalls, 3 crashes and 3 fires, with the Electrical System as the top problem area (39% of complaints).

Complaints
128
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
3 / 3
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 26 hwy

Top 2017 Dodge Charger problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System50 (39%)
  2. Other31 (24%)
  3. Structure & Body24 (19%)
  4. Engine21 (16%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain17 (13%)
  6. Brakes9 (7%)
  7. Steering8 (6%)
  8. Fuel System7 (5%)
  9. Airbags5 (4%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners report electrical fires with melted armrest consoles and interior wiring, sometimes discovered after the car had been parked overnight.
  • Some drivers describe the body control module failing, leaving the car unable to start and requiring extended dealer downtime waiting for replacement parts.
  • Owners report engine oil cooler hoses failing while driving, producing visible smoke and oil leaking from under the hood.
  • Several complaints describe unexpected hard braking or sudden stops with no obstacle present, sometimes at highway speeds.
  • Owners report multiple electronic modules going offline at once, triggering brake, check engine, and lane-sense warning lights together.
  • Some owners describe a fuel smell inside and outside the car traced to a leaking fuel pump beneath the rear seats.
2017 Dodge Charger complaints: complaints filed per quarter152017 Q12018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q22024 Q32026 Q3
187 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q4 (15).

2017 Dodge Charger recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V332000May 17, 2018Electrical System4,815,661 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. 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 or possibly accelerating.

    Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

  2. NHTSA 18V281000May 1, 2018Transmission & Powertrain13,928 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:driveshaft

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Dodge Charger pursuit police vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive and V8 engines. The front driveshaft universal joint may seize or fracture causing the shaft to detach from the vehicle.

    Risk: If the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U37.

  3. NHTSA 17V496000Aug 8, 2017Engine1,207 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles equipped with Hellcat engines. The engine oil cooler (EOC) hoses may fail resulting in a rapid loss of engine oil.

    Risk: If an EOC line fails, oil may spray onto the windshield or contact a hot surface, impairing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash or fire.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EOC lines, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T48.

See all 4 recalls for the 2017 Dodge Charger →

2017 Dodge Charger fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other Charger years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Good431367 !21
2016Caution64182520
2017Good29128420
2018Good36122620
2019Caution57120520

All Dodge Charger years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Dodge Charger reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 Charger has a complaint index of 29 and ranks 11th worst of 15 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Charger years.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Dodge Charger?
NHTSA complaints are led by the Electrical System (39% of complaints), followed by Structure & Body (19%), Engine (16%), and Transmission & Powertrain (13%).
Does the 2017 Dodge Charger have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Charger, covering the electrical system software, engine oil cooler hoses on Hellcat models, and front driveshaft bolt or joint issues on AWD models.
How does the 2017 Charger compare to other years?
The 2017 model's complaint index of 29 is much lower than the worst years, such as 2011 (100) and 2012 (93), which are rated 'Avoid'.
Were there any fires reported in the 2017 Dodge Charger?
NHTSA lists 3 fires among the 128 complaints for the 2017 Charger, with electrical system issues cited as the top problem area.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.