Dodge Charger extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Dodge Chargers are known to have average reliability, so extended warranty options could offer extra protection against unexpected repairs as the vehicle ages.
We’ll break down what a Dodge Charger warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Dodge Chargers come with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Charger ranged from $1,102.08 to $2,212.53 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightDodge has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a Charger gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightDodge Charger extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Charger comes with. For context, Dodge Chargers come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 2-year-old car with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 16,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Dodge Charger, you have two options:
- Buy the official Dodge extended warranty, called Mopar Vehicle Protection.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your car to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Whether you get a third-party plan or a warranty from a dealer, a plan that offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum) will provide the most value. These plans cover almost all the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive plans (e.g., Gold, Silver, powertrain) may be cheaper, but they also cover fewer parts per dollar.
A ConsumerAffairs investigation found that only 41% of American drivers surveyed had enough cash to cover a $1,000 repair bill, and 13% of respondents had no way to handle a repair bill that large, even with credit.
Note that auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of parts that are specifically covered and fail from normal wear and tear. They don't cover damage from accidents or aftermarket modifications. Repairs also aren’t typically covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
| Warranty type | Typically covered | Not covered |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | ||
| Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a Dodge Charger extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $2,212.53 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Dodge Charger registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,102.08 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” Dodge extended warranty is called Mopar Vehicle Protection, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Dodge dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Charger with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Dodge Charger were more expensive by comparison.
Compare quotes from multiple providers to be sure that you're getting a good deal on an extended warranty.
Bumper-to-bumper warranties often go by names like "Platinum" or "Complete Care." Lower-tier plans are usually cheaper, but they cover fewer parts per dollar. Based on customer reviews, many people are disappointed by the coverage limits on these plans, so we suggest a bumper-to-bumper warranty for most situations.
Some third-party providers start counting the coverage at the time when you purchase the plan. For example, if you get a 36-month, 185,000-mile plan from olive, you're covered for three years after purchasing the plan, or when your vehicle hits 185,000 total miles.
Other providers may start the timer from the original purchase date of the car. In that case, you'll have to subtract the car's current age and mileage (plus any remaining factory warranty) from the length of the plan to determine how long coverage will last.
Is a Dodge Charger extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Dodge Charger extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Dodge as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Dodge 10th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability.
As for the Charger specifically, RepairPal gave it a 3.5 out of 5.
Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Dodge Chargers.
“I bought a 2017 charger and while under warranty the infotainment screen started to malfunction. There was a fluid inside the screen that kept expanding,” wrote Ahmed in Texas. He also had an issue with Dodge’s warranty: “The car was still under warranty (under 36,000 miles). Dodge refused the claim and the dealership wants to charge me 2,800 dollars for the repair.”
The car that I once loved is now the car that I dread.”
He isn’t alone in having issues with the infotainment system. Tina in Oklahoma told us: “After having it for a couple of years I noticed the delaminating happening on the touchscreen. … It changes radio stations, takes me off bluetooth, makes random phone calls, types in random places into my navigation, etc. It also disconnects phone calls and will crank up my heat or turn on the AC. … The car that I once loved is now the car that I dread.”
These stories from real customers mentioning issues with Dodge Charger maintenance suggest that an extended warranty is a good idea. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for Dodge Charger extended warranties means you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “Dodge Charger Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
