MileageCurve What breaks, and at what mileage

Dodge Charger 2006–2010

6th generation (first modern rear-drive sedan) · LX · 3,949 complaints, 3,049 with mileage

Owners filed 3,949 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006–2010 Dodge Charger, and 3,049 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.

Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 50,000 and 110,700 miles. The median is 82,000 miles.

The most-reported areas are the electrical system (18.0% of complaints, typically around 96,641 miles), the engine (16.2% of complaints, typically around 94,500 miles), the transmission and driveline (12.9% of complaints, typically around 78,000 miles).

6 recall campaigns cover this generation.

When failures happen

0–5k: 158 complaints (5.2%)0–5k5–10k: 60 complaints (2.0%)10–20k: 113 complaints (3.7%)10–20k20–30k: 120 complaints (3.9%)30–40k: 130 complaints (4.3%)30–40k40–50k: 173 complaints (5.7%)50–60k: 196 complaints (6.4%)50–60k60–70k: 203 complaints (6.7%)70–80k: 262 complaints (8.6%)70–80k80–90k: 302 complaints (9.9%)90–100k: 281 complaints (9.2%)90–100k100–120k: 388 complaints (12.7%)120–140k: 257 complaints (8.4%)120–140k140–160k: 172 complaints (5.6%)160–200k: 177 complaints (5.8%)160–200k200k+: 57 complaints (1.9%)3880

10% of failures occur by 17,144 miles · a quarter by 50,000 · median 82,000 · three quarters by 110,700 · 90% by 150,000. Based on 3,049 complaints that record mileage.

What fails, and when

SystemComplaintsShareTypical mileageMiddle half
Electrical System71118.0%96,64166,000–126,526
Engine63816.2%94,50072,000–125,000
Power Train50912.9%78,00050,000–101,000
Air Bags40810.3%100,00070,000–129,000
Fuel/Propulsion System3418.6%87,60063,000–110,635
Fuel System, Gasoline2356.0%75,50050,000–94,000
Steering1714.3%75,00040,126–101,761
Engine And Engine Cooling1483.7%52,43920,000–75,601
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1473.7%9,0004,629–20,000
Unknown Or Other1173.0%99,20070,000–140,049

By model year

YearComplaintsWith mileage
20061,9041,610
2007678526
2008835533
2009229176
2010303204

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 82,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The electrical system accounts for 18.0% of complaints (711 reports, 503 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 96,641 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 66,000 and 126,526 miles.

The engine accounts for 16.2% of complaints (638 reports, 565 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 94,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 72,000 and 125,000 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 12.9% of complaints (509 reports, 451 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 101,000 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 10.3% of complaints (408 reports, 108 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 70,000 and 129,000 miles.

The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 8.6% of complaints (341 reports, 282 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 87,600 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 63,000 and 110,635 miles.

The fuel system accounts for 6.0% of complaints (235 reports, 218 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 94,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2006 model year drew the most — 1,904 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 229. The median year sits at 678.

That makes 2006 an outlier: roughly 2.8 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (4), the electrical system (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 3,949 complaints filed against this generation, 116 reported a crash; 90 reported a fire; 116 reported an injury; 5 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 2.9% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 50,000 and 110,700 miles, with a median of 82,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the electrical system and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 94,500, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Electrical 2006-2010

Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) failure. The internal fuel pump relay welds or fails intermittently, causing no-start, sudden stalling in traffic, and a range of unrelated-looking electrical faults (wipers, horn, fuel pump running with the key off). Replacement modules must be programmed to the VIN. The fuel pump relay failure was subject to major FCA recall and extended-coverage action.

Engine 2006-2010 with 5.7L

5.7L Hemi MDS (Multi-Displacement System) roller lifter failure and camshaft lobe wear. Sludge and varnish restrict the small oil feed passages to the MDS lifters; the lifter roller seizes and wipes the cam lobe, producing the characteristic 'Hemi tick' and eventual misfire.

Engine 2006-2010 with 2.7L

2.7L V6 oil sludging and oil pump pickup blockage, aggravated by coolant leaking into the oil through the water crossover; often results in total engine failure.

Suspension

Front lower control arm bushing and tie rod wear producing clunk and alignment drift.

Recalls (6)

CampaignDateComponent
19V0180002019-02-04Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
18V0210002018-02-28Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
16V3520002017-03-27Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
14V5670002015-08-19Electrical System:Ignition
15V3130002015-06-08Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
10V2000002010-08-23Electrical System:Ignition:Module

What owners reported

2006 · 1 miles · Unknown Or Other
CAR KEEPS STALLING RANDOMLY AT STOPS. IT WILL EVEN STALL WHILE DRIVING GOING UP HILLS OR ON THE HIGHWAY. MOST TIMES IT WILL NOT COMPLETELY STALL (STUDDER) AND CONTINUE ON. IF IT DOES STALL COMPLETELY, SOMETIMES TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT TO TRY AND RESTART THE ENGINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL SOMETIMES COME AND RANDOMLY TURN OFF. DTC SHOWS P0700 AND U0100. LOTS OF OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. JUST GO…
2006 · 1 miles · Fuel/Propulsion System
I BEEN ONLINE LOOKING FOR THIS KINDA PROBLEM AND IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE HAS THIS PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NOT RECALL AND THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, CAN WHENEVER YOU FILL UP THE TANK AND THE LEVEL FROM THE GAS SHUTS OFF ON IT'S OWN, MEANING NOT OVERFILLING. THE CAR STALLS AT LOT IN LOW RPMS AND HESITATES ALOT, CAR SHUTS OFF AND STEERING WHEEL LOCK MAKING THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, TANK IS 19 GALLOS, O…
2006 · 15 miles · Service Brakes, Air
1. IN OCTOBER ONLY 5 MONTHS AFTER BUYING MY '06 CHARGER I NOTICED A LOT OF NOICE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. 2. IN NOVEMBER I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE THAT IT MAINLY SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN IT GETS COLDER. 3. I TOOK IT IN LAST WEEK IN MARCH AND TOLD THEM THAT IT HAS BEEN 75 DEGREES AND UP AND THAT THEY STILL MAKE NOICE AT ANY SPEED. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING…
2006 · 15 miles · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1. IN OCTOBER ONLY 5 MONTHS AFTER BUYING MY '06 CHARGER I NOTICED A LOT OF NOICE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. 2. IN NOVEMBER I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE THAT IT MAINLY SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN IT GETS COLDER. 3. I TOOK IT IN LAST WEEK IN MARCH AND TOLD THEM THAT IT HAS BEEN 75 DEGREES AND UP AND THAT THEY STILL MAKE NOICE AT ANY SPEED. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING…

Other generations