Best Lemon Law Attorney for Dodge Charger? How to Choose

Airbags dominate the complaints California Dodge Charger owners have filed with NHTSA, making up about two of every three reports. Most complaints involve the 2019 model year. If your Charger has an airbag or other problem that the Dodge dealer has not been able to fix, you may have a California lemon law claim. Here is how to protect it and what to look for in an attorney.

Dodge Charger: Complaints from California Drivers

Since January 2021, California drivers filed 31 safety complaints with NHTSA about 2019 or newer Dodge Charger vehicles.

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint data, California complaints received January 2021 through early October 2026, model year 2019 and newer, counted once per complaint. Models with more vehicles on the road tend to get more complaints.

Charger Complaints From California Owners

California owners of 2019 or newer Dodge Charger models filed 31 complaints with NHTSA from 2021 through 2026, each counted once. That is a small number for a Charger. NHTSA complaints are reports from owners, not proof of defects, and the counts do not reflect how many Chargers were sold.

Airbag complaints account for 20 of the 31. Electrical problems have 3, engine and powertrain have 2 each, and suspension and fuel have 1 each. A complaint can mention more than one system.

The 2019 model year has the most complaints (15), followed by 2020 (6), 2021 (4), 2023 (3), 2026 (2) and 2022 (1). Fresno owners filed 4, and La Habra and Concord owners filed 2 each. With counts this low, city figures say almost nothing.

The clear takeaway is that airbags are what California Charger owners report most often. That does not mean your car has a defect. Your own repair orders tell that story.

Because most complaints come from the 2019 model year, many of the cars involved have been on the road for several years. If you own an older Charger, read the timing points below before you assume anything about your rights.

Why Airbag Faults Often Qualify for the Two-Repair Path

Under Civil Code 1793.22(b), during the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, two repairs of a defect likely to cause death or serious injury can create the presumption that the manufacturer had a reasonable number of chances. Other defects generally need four repairs of the same problem, or more than 30 days in the shop.

An airbag system that may not work in a crash is a serious safety risk, so airbag faults are often treated as safety defects. A warning light that keeps coming back, a message that the system needs service, or an airbag that deployed when it should not have are all worth reporting right away. A Charger with two documented airbag repairs may already meet the presumption, if any required notice to the manufacturer was given.

Electrical and engine problems can be safety issues too, depending on what happens. A Charger that stalls at speed or loses its lights at night is a very different problem from a slow infotainment screen, and the repair order should show which one you are dealing with.

Many Chargers in this data are older model years. Being past 18 months or 18,000 miles does not end a claim. If the defect first showed up under warranty and was not fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, you may still qualify.

What to Tell the Dodge Service Advisor

Be precise. Tell the advisor when the airbag light came on, whether it stayed on or flickered, and whether it happened after a bump or on startup. Take a photo every time with the odometer visible if possible, and show it at the counter, especially if the light is off when you arrive.

Ask the advisor to write your Charger complaint in your words. Before you sign, read the repair order and check the complaint, the mileage, the dates and any part replaced or update performed. If the technician could not find a fault, the order should still show what you reported. Those visits can count.

Keep track of how long the Charger stays at the dealer. Warranty repairs generally must be completed within 30 days unless you agree to more time (Civil Code 1793.2(b)).

• Your description of the warning, with photos
• When the light appears and how long it stays on
• Codes found, parts replaced and updates done
• Mileage and dates in and out
• A note if the dealer could not verify the concern

Making a Claim Against FCA US for a Dodge

Dodge belongs to Stellantis, and FCA US LLC is the U.S. company behind the Charger's new vehicle warranty. A lemon law claim targets FCA US, while the Dodge dealer supplies the repair history. Under Civil Code 1793.2(d)(2), when a covered defect that substantially impairs use, value or safety cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must replace the car or repurchase it, and the owner picks the remedy.

A repurchase pays back what you paid or still owe, including sales tax and registration fees, plus reasonable incidental costs like towing and rentals, less a mileage offset tied to the odometer at your first repair visit for the defect.

Our site has pages for NHTSA recalls that list the Charger, including 24V198 and 22V866. A recall repair on your Charger can count as a repair attempt. Check your VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup to see which recalls apply to your car.

For manufacturers that opted in to AB 1755 (Code of Civil Procedure 871.20 and following), a claim also involves pre-lawsuit notice and mediation steps. An attorney can explain what they mean for your timeline.

Some Charger buyers signed dealer contracts with arbitration clauses. The California Supreme Court's 2025 decision in the Ford Motor Warranty Cases held that manufacturers generally cannot use those dealer-contract clauses to force buyers into arbitration, so the clause usually does not decide where your case goes.

Made-Up Example: A Charger Airbag Light That Would Not Stay Off

This Charger example is made up. It is not based on a real Charger owner or a real result. Jordan bought a new Charger and commuted on Highway 99 near Fresno. About a year in, the airbag warning light came on and stayed on. The Dodge dealer found a stored fault and replaced a part.

Two months later the light returned. Jordan had photos of the dash from both times and the dealer performed more repairs. When it came back again, Jordan collected the sales contract, the repair orders and the photos and asked a lemon law attorney for a free review. The attorney explained that an airbag fault may be a safety defect, confirmed two completed repairs within 18 months, and checked whether the owner's manual required notice directly to the manufacturer.

Jordan kept making car payments and did not trade in the Charger while the claim was reviewed. That kept the vehicle, the loan and the records in order for the attorney. Jordan also stopped letting passengers ride in the front seat until the airbag problem was resolved, which is a sensible precaution with any airbag warning.

Questions to Ask a Charger Lemon Law Attorney

Compare attorneys by how clearly they answer. You can check any California attorney's license on the State Bar of California website before hiring someone for your Charger case. A careful attorney will also explain how a buyback is calculated, including the mileage offset, before you decide anything.

For an older Charger, the attorney should ask when you bought it, when the problem started and what warranty applied. If they skip the dates, ask why.

• Have you handled airbag claims against FCA US?
• Do my repair orders meet the two-repair path for a safety defect?
• Is my Charger claim within the filing deadline?
• If I bought the Charger used, what claims might I have?
• What do I owe if the case is lost?

Next Steps for California Charger Owners

Gather your sales or lease contract, every repair order and your photos. Keep making payments. Do not have an independent shop work on the airbag system, both because it is a safety system and because those repairs do not count as the manufacturer's attempts.

Many Chargers change hands, so tell the attorney if yours was bought used. The 2024 decision in Rodriguez v. FCA US LLC means a used car sold with only leftover factory warranty generally does not qualify under the lemon law's new vehicle section, but dealer warranties, the implied warranty or federal warranty law may still help.

A Charger warranty claim generally must be filed within four years (Commercial Code 2725). If your Charger case wins, the manufacturer pays the attorney fees and costs under Civil Code 1794(d), and you pay $0 out of pocket. Call 877-536-6620 or use the form on this page for a free review of your Charger.

Related: Choosing a Dodge lemon law attorney · Lemon law attorney for airbag problems · 2021 Dodge Charger lemon law

What to Look For in a Charger Lemon Law Attorney

1. Has handled claims against FCA US LLC for Dodge vehicles and knows how the manufacturer responds to airbag and safety-related repurchase requests.
2. Understands that airbag faults are often treated as safety defects and checks whether two repair attempts already meet the presumption.
3. Checks warranty dates, filing deadlines and whether you bought new or used, which matters for older Charger model years.
4. Costs you nothing. The manufacturer pays your fees when you win (Civil Code section 1794(d)). No retainer, no hourly bills.
5. Will go to trial if needed and tells you which attorney will handle your case.
6. Has real reviews you can read on Google.

See the full checklist, red flags and questions to ask in our guide: Best lemon law attorney near me? How to choose one in California.

How America's Lemon Lawyer Compares

America's Lemon Lawyer is the lemon law practice of Wynn Law Group, APC. Here is how we line up with the checklist, using only facts you can check.

Best Lemon Law Attorneys at America's Lemon Lawyer

Our attorneys represent drivers in California and across the state. Listed in firm order:

You can verify any California attorney's license on the State Bar website.

What Our Clients Say on Google

“As an attorney, I was very selective when choosing representation for my own lemon law case, and I'm extremely glad I chose this firm. Jacob was responsive, easy to work with, and clearly on top of every detail.”

Isaac Abginesaz, Esq. · 5 stars

“Jacob spent hours on the phone with me, patiently walking me through the entire Lemon Law process, explaining my options, and guiding me step by step. That level of generosity and professionalism is incredibly rare. If you are searching for the best Lemon Law attorney in California, look no further.”

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“Even though they weren't able to help my dad at the moment, they advised me with great information and explained everything I needed to know. They listen, unlike many other practices out there. These guys care. I would definitely recommend them.”

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See all 77 reviews on Google

Dodge Charger Lemon Law FAQ

Can a Dodge Charger with an airbag problem qualify under California lemon law?

It may. A Charger with repeat repairs for an airbag fault may qualify, and because airbag faults are often treated as safety defects, two repair attempts within 18 months or 18,000 miles may be enough for the presumption.

My Charger is a 2019. Is it too late to make a claim?

Not necessarily. If the defect first appeared under warranty and was not fixed, you may still have a claim, but filing deadlines apply, so have an attorney check your dates.

Who is the claim against for a Dodge Charger?

The claim is against FCA US LLC, the company that backs the Dodge new vehicle warranty in the United States.

How much does a Charger lemon law attorney cost?

Usually nothing. California Civil Code section 1794(d) makes the manufacturer pay your attorney fees and costs when you win. At America's Lemon Lawyer you pay $0, win or lose.

Sources and Official References

• California Civil Code section 1793.22 (California Legislature)
• California Civil Code section 1793.2 (California Legislature)
• California Commercial Code section 2725 (California Legislature)
• NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
• NHTSA, report a vehicle safety problem
• California Department of Consumer Affairs: California's Lemon Law Q&A
• California Attorney General: Buying and Maintaining a Car

Other Dodge Models

Dodge Durango · All Dodge lemon law cases

Best Lemon Law Attorney by Problem

Electrical Problems · Engine Problems · Transmission Problems · Brake Problems · Steering Problems · Driver-Assist and Collision Warning Problems · Fuel System and EV Battery Problems · Airbag Problems · Seatbelt Problems · Suspension Problems · Unintended Acceleration and Speed Control Problems · Door, Latch and Lock Problems · Lights, Camera and Visibility Problems · Infotainment and Screen Problems · Body, Paint and Structure Problems

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Attorney advertising. Wynn Law Group, APC, 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1010, Los Angeles, CA 90024. This page is general information, not legal advice. Results vary and depend on the facts of each case. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Reviews are from Google and reflect individual experiences.