MODEL
Dodge Charger Pursuit Safety
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.
The absence of crash-test data for the Dodge Charger Pursuit across the 2019 to 2023 model years stands as its most significant safety characteristic. As a fleet-only law enforcement vehicle, NHTSA has not subjected it to the standard consumer crash-test battery. This means no star ratings, no computed Safety Index score, and no independent frontal or side-impact data to inform agencies or procurement officers. Despite this lack of formal testing, NHTSA has logged a notable volume of 230 owner or operator complaints across the five model years. These unverified allegations include 25 alleged crashes, 19 reported injuries, 5 fire-related allegations, and 1 reported death. The fire-related complaints, in particular, warrant close attention given the operational demands placed on pursuit vehicles. Three recalls were issued across the covered span, a relatively modest number. However, any recall affecting active patrol units carries real-world urgency given the environments in which these vehicles operate. The lack of standard crash-test information is not a clean bill of health; it is a data gap. The existing complaint record indicates this platform requires diligent monitoring of NHTSA's complaint portal and prompt recall compliance by fleet administrators.
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.