MODEL
Dodge Charger Pursuit
NHTSA safety across every Dodge Charger Pursuit model year we cover.
Across the 5 model years of the Dodge Charger Pursuit we cover (2019 to 2023), no year has an NHTSA crash-test score on record. 3 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Dodge Charger Pursuit is a purpose-built, rear-wheel-drive law enforcement sedan derived from the civilian Charger platform. Aimed squarely at police and fleet agencies rather than private buyers, it occupies the full-size pursuit-rated vehicle segment alongside the Ford Police Interceptor and Chevrolet Tahoe PPV. Its V8 muscle and familiar sedan layout have made it a common presence in American patrol fleets from 2019 through 2023.
Because the Dodge Charger Pursuit is a fleet-only law enforcement vehicle, NHTSA has not subjected it to the standard consumer crash-test battery during the 2019 to 2023 model years we cover. That means no star ratings, no Safety Index score, and no independent frontal or side-impact data to anchor a traditional safety comparison. Shoppers or agencies evaluating this vehicle are working without that crucial benchmark. What we do have is the complaint and recall record. Across five model years, NHTSA logged 230 owner or operator complaints, a notable volume for a vehicle that never reaches the open retail market. Within those complaints are 25 alleged crashes, 19 reported injuries, 5 fire-related allegations, and 1 reported death. These are unverified allegations, not confirmed findings, but the fire-related complaints in particular deserve attention given the high-stress operational demands placed on pursuit vehicles. Three recalls were issued across the covered span, a relatively modest number, though any recall affecting active patrol units carries real-world urgency given the environments in which these vehicles operate. The bottom line for fleet administrators: the absence of crash-test data is not a clean bill of health. It is a data gap, and the complaint numbers suggest this platform warrants diligent monitoring of NHTSA's complaint portal and prompt recall compliance.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally acknowledge the Charger Pursuit as a capable, performance-oriented patrol platform with strong straight-line thrust and a familiar, spacious cabin that officers can work in across long shifts. Most professional assessments note that its car-based layout offers advantages in high-speed handling, though some point to the sedan body style as a packaging trade-off compared to SUV-based competitors in terms of cargo flexibility and equipment storage.
- No NHTSA crash-test ratings exist for the 2019 to 2023 Charger Pursuit, so fleet agencies cannot rely on star scores when making procurement safety decisions and should consult any available independent law enforcement evaluation data.
- 230 complaints were filed with NHTSA across the covered model years, including 5 fire-related allegations. Fleet managers should review the specific complaint narratives on NHTSA's website, particularly those involving electrical or thermal issues given the heavy auxiliary electrical loads pursuit vehicles carry.
- Three recalls were issued across the 2019 to 2023 model years. Because recalled pursuit vehicles may be in active service around the clock, agencies should verify recall completion status for every unit in their fleet and prioritize remedy scheduling accordingly.
- The 25 alleged crashes and 19 reported injuries within the complaint record are unverified but warrant attention. Agencies should cross-reference these complaint categories with their own incident logs and report any patterns directly to NHTSA to help build a more complete safety picture for this vehicle.
Most-recalled year on record: 2020 Dodge Charger Pursuit with 3 recalls.