Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Dodge Charger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the engine seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the engine. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
There has been numerous issues that affected my safety while driving and had to make costly repairs and replacements while on going. Alternator and serpentine belt broke out and all my coolant leaked out. had to stop in the middle of the street several Times by force having the abs, check engine light turn on having to turn the car off. Transmission shifter was so faulty I couldn't pull out of park needing to replace it. Air leaks in the engine, electrical surges effecting headlights low beams I can't see anything at night, dashboard and radio. The windows are has so much glare from sun light to other cars at night I almost cannot see ahead of me almost blinding me. The car constantly over heated. …
The radiator fan blade broke off and hit the alternator creating a hole in it. The alternator lost all fluid and the car overheated. This happened on 2 different occasions before it became obvious that the radiator fan was the culprit and not the radiator itself. This is a safety issue because no dash lights were illuminated and the car could have severely overheated on the highway if it wasn't noticed. Mechanic inspected it and saw the fan blade caught in the hood.
I am wondering if I have any further actions that are available to me for a recall situation. My car had a recall for the timing chain and I had the recall performed in 2014. A few weeks ago while on the highway during rush hour in a snow storm the timing chain failed and destroyed my engine. I had seconds to negotiate my lane and get to safety which I could not. The back of my vehicle was still sticking out of the right lane. I was informed by the state patrol I caused several accidents behind me and my vehicle was also almost struck by a semi truck. I do not drive my vehicle year round so between 2014 and now the vehicle had less than 20,000 miles put on it with the new timing chain. I contacted Dodge and they informed me the new timing chain had a warranty of only 2 years so all subsequent damage was my responsibility. …
I drive a 2011 Dodge Charger rt my vehicle continues to loss power and when power is lost I have no power streering or brakes. I was advised my vehicle has a active recall t-36 in which the problems I'm have are a direct result of the recall. My vehicle has been in the shop multiple times at classic Dodge in denton tx. The only thing classic Dodge has done is replace the battery stating we had to start there and advised me FCA has not sent out a fix and wont until feb 2018. I have reported to classic Dodge in denton as well as my FCA case manager my vehicle continues to loss power and has almost resulted in several crashes and FCA has failed to resolve the problem and has stopped returning my phone calls. On 12-05-17 I was involved in a automoble crash in the Charger caused by the loss in power and I ran into a tree causing vehicle structual damage.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge Charger. While driving at an unknown speed, there was a clicking noise coming from the instrument panel and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact also detected an odor of burning oil through the vents and smoke appeared from the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the valve cover gasket was fractured, which caused oil to leak onto the pressure sensor switch. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 113,680.
Driving home from work 65mph, all lights on dash went out, radio went dark, A/C blew super hot air and blinded me and engine died and wouldn't restart. I had to carefully get off road on the hottest day of the ear to find smoke coming from 5.7l engine. Small fire from alternator! Almost hit 5 cars and almost got hit by 3. This is the same alternator from the previous p60 recall, but isn't covered because recall only affects 3.6l engines. Why would the recall cover one but not the other?
I gave the car fuel throttle and it stalled then died on the freeway. After being struck by another car from behind, the car started fine and still runs perfect. No check engine light. My research suggest the PCM on these cars are faulty.
When driving down the interstate (August 2017 with 130K miles on the dash) I suddenly lost throttle response and I could not accelerate. At this point motor began to shake as I coasted to the edge as my car shut off while still in the run position. A red lighting bolt appeared and my vehicle did not want to start. After attempting to start several times the car finally started. Took it to a dealer in garden city michigan where they could find nothing wrong. The lighting bolt light was gone and only a check engine light remained. Fast forward two months later the same thing happened but I could not get the car to start and it was towed to the same dealer with a dead battery this time. They kept it for several days but could not pin point the issue I.e. Bad throttle body, bad fuel pumps etc. However no codes were found because the battery died. …
My 2011 Dodge Charger rt 5.7l v8 Hemi started having issues running, it felt like it was idling high when sitting still while running in drive, but the RPM's were normal. Then it would periodically sound like it was not going to start, when turning it on, it would sputter and struggle to start, but t would start. The service engine light came on and the vehicle started having issues on the highway at high speeds, if you took your foot off accelerator to slow down gradually and then try to accel again it would would not acccel, and it would feel like it was pulling back, or braking. The car would then jump to accel like it was just put into gear. After a diagnosis we found there was a cylinder 3 misfire.the spark plugs were changed, all of the, and the coil, and the injector, and still it ran bad. …
Engine complaints in other Charger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2011 Dodge Charger?
NHTSA has 87 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2011 Dodge Charger, 13% of the model year's 695 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Dodge Charger engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2011 Dodge Charger, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Dodge Charger engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 7 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.