4 days ago
New Dodge Charger EV Is Dangerously Quiet
Dodge issued a voluntary safety recall for the Charger Daytona due to a safety risk. Thankfully, there's only a few on the road.
The Electric Muscle Car Is Supposed to be As Noisy As a Hellcat
When Dodge introduced the Charger Daytona as a concept, much to the chagrin of the nameplate's fans, the automaker claimed that the electric muscle car would be as loud as a V8-powered Hellcat. That's because of the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust – an artificial exhaust system designed to provide aural pleasure to the driver.
However, the loudness expected from this weirdly named feature isn't working as expected for some of the models that left the factory. As a result, the Charger Daytona is deemed a safety risk for pedestrians and other road users, prompting the automaker to issue a voluntary safety recall.
For a nameplate like the Charger, once known for roaring V8s and menacing growls, this new 'silent danger' is ironically unique to its EV era. Gasoline-powered Chargers never needed to fake a presence on the road.
Some Charger Daytonas Are Too Quiet for Their Own Good
According to a newly published recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as many as 8,390 units of the battery-electric Charger may have left the factory without fully functional exterior pedestrian alert sounds. Thankfully, not many Charger Daytona exist on the road, but it's still a safety risk.
It's worth noting that with the growing popularity of EVs, which lack engine or exhaust noises to warn off other road users, safety regulators mandate that electric and hybrid vehicles produce artificial noise to alert pedestrians at low speeds under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 141.
The problem comes from a software issue within the vehicle's amplifier, supplied by Alps Alpine Group Companies. Specifically, some units may not have received a complete software upload during production, which could prevent them from emitting exterior warning sounds.
The Remedy's Simple And Free of Charge
Not all of the 8,390 units are affected, with only 3% confirmed to have the defect. However, the recalled units, produced between April 30, 2024, and March 18, 2025, need to be checked since the cars were identified by the production dates when the suspect amplifiers were installed. Worse, there isn't a warning sign for the driver indicating an issue with the pedestrian warning system.
Dealers have already been told of the issue, while owners will receive a notification by July 10. As a remedy, the automaker will, of course, inspect the car during service and update the amplifier software if defective, free of charge. Dodge says it isn't aware of any crashes or injuries connected to this issue.
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