Charger Door Panels Melt and Warp Under the Heat of the Sun

Dodge Charger owners are tired of their interior door panels warping and, in some cases, falling off. The issue has been plaguing owners since the 2015 model year and has continued throughout the vehicle's 7th generation.

The issue also affects other Stellantis (formerly Fiat-Chrysler) vehicles such as the Chrysler 300.

Panels Peeling Away From the Doors ∞

The door panels are peeling away from where they meet the windows. The problem is most commonly reported on the driver's side front door, but it's not exclusive to that door.

The warping is likely a combination of lower quality panels, improper installation, and adhesion failure that is accelerated by sun exposure.

Owners report that the problem happens on whatever side of the car was exposed to the sun on a hot day.

And the warping can be so extreme that some owners have called the cops after getting back to their cars because they assumed they were broken into.

Problems caused by the warped panels ∞

The warped panels can interfere with side airbag deployment, prevent the door locks and ant-theft systems from activating, and mess with the heating and cooling systems.

Plus, they look like crap.

FCA's response is generally lackluster ∞

The problem is so widespread that owners say there's a huge backlog when waiting for replacement panels.

And even if you're lucky enough to get one, it's the same defective panel installed in the same defective way. So it's only a matter of time before it fails in the same defective way.

Owners have had success getting the replacements done under warranty but eventually those warranties run out and the panels will fail after that happens. Owners have turned to insurance companies to pickup some of the bill but despite the potential airbag interference there hasn't been much luck.

Fiat-Chrysler Door Panel Lawsuit ∞

A door panel class-action lawsuit, Johnson, et al., v. FCA US, LLC., was filed against FCA in September 2020.

The automaker has been accused of refusing to do anything about a problem that's been happening since the 2014 model year. It's a problem that can affect the side airbags from deploying or the doors from locking. It's also ugly-as-sin and drastically reduces the car's resale value.

And while FCA does offer replacements to owners under warranty, the process often takes months. This forces some owners to seek out a 3rd party solution, an act which the lead plaintiff calls "intentional":

Defendant’s [FCA's] goal in refusing to make repairs in a reasonably prompt fashion is obvious: some customers will forgo the repairs, have the repair completed elsewhere, or neglect the repair until their warranties expire, thus saving Defendant the cost of making the in-warranty repairs.

The lawsuit simply wants FCA to cover the out-of-pocket expenses related to the door panels popping off.