2018 Dodge Charger Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, there was an abnormal, repetitive thud sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the wheel bearings were replaced; however, after the repair, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic, where a diagnostic test was performed, and it was determined that the driveshaft needed to be replaced. The contact purchased the driveshaft and had the part replaced by the mechanic. Despite the repair, the failure returned after exiting the highway. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V281000 (Power Train) and associated the failure with the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11717796

Incident

Dec 15, 2025

Mileage

90,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an abnormal sound, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel was uncontrollable. The contact stated that the steering wheel turned independently in the unintended direction, and the contact had to pull the steering wheel back into the intended direction. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that a nearby driver pulled over and informed the contact that sparks of fire were coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while his family was inside the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a failed drive shaft and hairline cracks in the transmission. The contact was informed that the drive shaft had detached and caused a hairline crack in the transmission. In addition, the contact was informed that the transfer case was leaking. The contact was informed that the transfer case and drive shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that the repairs were not covered under a recall. The contact referenced two unknown recalls, which had similar failures; however, the contact was informed that the recall repairs had previously been performed, and the repair was not covered under warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the recall repairs had been performed in 2018. The contact was advised to have the vehicle towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11709218

Incident

Dec 29, 2025

Mileage

180,000 mi

Unknown . Nothing appeared and there was no warning. Should I have been warned? There was no warnings or anything to prevent me from crashing except to make the best decision possible and crash into a less dangerous position.

NHTSA ID

11617422

Incident

Jul 3, 2024

The transmission is completely out but the vehicle is fairly new. I saw that there is a recall on the transmission on some vehicles but I’m not sure if mine is on that list.

NHTSA ID

11599215

Incident

Jul 4, 2024

The contact's wife leased a 2018 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving at 60-62 MPH, she heard abnormal clinking sounds and the vehicle lost suspension and inadvertently turned to the right. The contact stated that as she quickly steered the steering wheel to the left, the vehicle spun out three times. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road and exited the vehicle to determine the cause of the failure. The contact noticed that the passenger’s side front tire had detached, and the passenger’s side rear tire was damaged. The contact also noticed a burning odor. The vehicle was towed the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the driveshaft bolt had fractured causing the control arm to go into the rotors. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V281000 (Power Train). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11443658

Incident

Oct 2, 2021

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING & THE CAR IS IN MOTION, I WOULD BE ATTEMPTING TO UPSHIFT USING THE PADDLES ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD INSTEAD DOWNSHIFT. IT'S BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2018. IT UNPREDICTABILITY OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, GEARS, AND TIME OF DAY. I NOTIFIED THE SERVICE TECH AT REDLANDS DODGE, WHERE PURCHASED, WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR ITS 1ST OIL CHANGE @ JUST PRIOR TO 6K MILES IN 2018 AND AGAIN IN 2019. THE RESPONSE WAS ALWAYS THE SAME, THEY MUST DRIVE & DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE VIDEP THAT WILL SHOW THE WORST ITS EVER BEEN FROM LAST MONTH NOV ' 2020 IN WHICH IT SHOWS THE TRANSMISSION, CONSTANTLY OR EVERY TIME, DOWNSHIFTING WHEN PRESSING THE UPSHIFT PADDLE. HOW DO I SEND THIS VIDEO TO YOU?

NHTSA ID

11378611

Incident

Sep 30, 2018

Mileage

2,000 mi

DURING MY TIME DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT HAS BEEN RUNNING GREAT BUT RECENTLY AFTER REACHING 23,500 MILES IT STARTED ACTING FUNNY AS IN. SLOWING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND ACCELERATING IT WOULD LOOSE RPM THEN GO UP THEN IT HARD SHIFT UP UNTIL THE 4 GEAR. PUTTING IN REVERSE IT WOULD MAKE A ROCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. TO STOP IT I WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. I BROUGHT IT UP TO MECHANICS THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327834

Incident

Jun 6, 2020

Mileage

23,537 mi

THE VEHICLE TRY TO CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY IT GOT STUCK IN DRIVE AND ONCE I GOT IT HOME WE HAD TO TAKE CABLES OFF BATTERY TO PUT CAR IN PARK THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK UP AND ALSO THE GEAR IS FLASHING WANT GO IN DRIVE

NHTSA ID

11186547

Incident

Mar 13, 2019

WE PURCHASE A CAR AND AUGUST 15TH 2018 AND HAS A WEIRD SOUND AND THE TRANSMISSION I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER LIKE FOUR TIMES AND THEY REPLACE A TRANSMISSION BUT IT STILL KEEPS DOING THE SAME NOISE, I DON'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE IT AND THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A NORMAL SOUND BUT I TOOK IT TOY SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME AND WAS NOT NORMAL THEY DON'T WANT TO DO NOTHING TO FIX IT AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE

NHTSA ID

11165302

Incident

Aug 20, 2018

Mileage

300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THEN RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WOODY FOLSOM CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1859 GOLDEN ISLES W, BAXLEY, GA 31513, (888) 283-8230), BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND DURING THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT *TR

NHTSA ID

11119920

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

10,318 mi