A practical guide to common Dodge defects, recall history, federal warranty protections and what to do if your Charger, Challenger, Durango or Hornet keeps returning to the shop.
Dodge owners have long prized the brand for performance and bold styling, but across multiple model years some vehicles have generated concentrated complaint patterns that can trigger state lemon laws. Charger and Challenger owners frequently report powertrain and transmission complaints on automatic-equipped models, while Durango — as a heavier SUV — has a history of transmission and suspension-related service work. Hornet, Dodge’s newer compact crossover, has generated owner reports typical of early-production models: electrical gremlins, infotainment bugs and inconsistent fit-and-finish.
Because Dodge is part of the Stellantis group, many software, infotainment and electrical issues show similar signatures across models (they often involve the Uconnect system or shared modules). Separately, several Dodge models have been included in safety recalls (airbags, fuel-system and software security fixes), which can and should be addressed through recalls but don’t automatically resolve repeated nonconformities under state lemon law. If repeated repairs for the same defect keep your vehicle out of service or impair its use, you may have a state lemon-law claim — documenting repairs, mileage and communications is essential before pursuing buyback, replacement or settlement.
Over the last decade Dodge (as part of FCA/Stellantis) has been involved in several high-profile recalls affecting multiple models and model years. These have included Takata airbag inflators, fuel-system and engine-related fire-risk recalls, and software/security updates for the Uconnect infotainment and telematics systems. In response to cybersecurity and reliability issues, Stellantis has also issued over-the-air (OTA) and dealer software updates for many vehicles.
Recalls are safety-driven and generally remedial, but they don’t automatically resolve every owner’s repeated nonconformity. If recall repairs are unsuccessful in fixing the defect that substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, owners may still pursue state lemon law remedies after proper documentation and repair attempts.
View all Dodge vehicle recalls and NHTSA safety alerts
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is the federal protection that governs written factory warranties and gives consumers key rights when their new vehicle’s warranty does not cover a defect. Under Magnuson-Moss, a manufacturer’s express warranty must be honored and dealers cannot void the warranty simply because a consumer used an aftermarket part unless the manufacturer can prove the aftermarket part caused the failure.
Learn about the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
There’s no single national rule — lemon law standards are set by each state. Most states treat a vehicle as a lemon after a reasonable number of repair attempts for the same substantial defect (commonly 2–4 attempts) or if it’s out of service for a cumulative period (often 30 days) within the warranty period. Check your state’s statute and document each dealer visit, the repair orders and days out of service.
Yes. Recall repairs performed by an authorized dealer typically count as repair attempts for the same underlying defect. If a recall repair does not correct the issue and the problem continues, those visits support a lemon-law claim. Keep records of recall notices and repair orders.
Coverage depends on the specific service contract. Mopar/extended warranties often have exclusions and may require certain maintenance. Read your contract carefully and get repair authorization in writing. If the defect is covered and repairs fail repeatedly, you may pursue remedies under state lemon laws and federal warranty law.
Document every dealer visit (dates, mileage, complaint descriptions and repair orders). Notify the dealer and manufacturer in writing about the ongoing problem, request escalation or a factory technician review, and keep copies of all communications. If repeated attempts fail, contact your state’s lemon law enforcement (often the Attorney General’s office) or consult a lemon-law attorney to evaluate next steps.
Yes. Software and infotainment defects that substantially impair the vehicle’s use, safety or value and that are not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts can support a lemon law claim. Because many such issues are fixed with software updates, document each update and whether the problem recurs; persistent failures may meet your state’s lemon law standard.