Dodge Charger Pursuit: The Police Charger Explained

By I Go Cars · Updated October 29, 2026

What the Charger Pursuit is, and why it is out of production

The Dodge Charger Pursuit is the police-package version of the Dodge Charger, a full-size four-door sedan built for patrol and pursuit work and sold to law enforcement agencies from 2006 to 2023. It was called the Charger "Police Package" through 2010 and renamed Charger Pursuit with the 2011 redesign. Over its run it offered a V6 or a 5.7L HEMI V8, with rear-wheel drive (RWD, power sent to the rear wheels only) or, in later years, all-wheel drive (AWD, power sent to all four wheels).

The verdict on this page is Out of production. WardsAuto reported that production of the rear-drive LD Charger and Challenger at Brampton Assembly in Ontario ended in December 2023, and the police Charger ended with it. Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis called it "the end of an era." Michigan State Police tested 13 patrol vehicles for model year 2026 and none was a Charger; its preliminary model-year 2027 results include no Charger either.

There is no confirmed successor. A "2027 Dodge Charger PPV" prototype was displayed at Police Fleet Expo 2026 at Daytona International Speedway, as reported on August 16, 2026, but Dodge has not published formal police specifications for it. Until a production vehicle, an order guide or a test entry exists, the police Charger remains a retired model.

How the police Charger changed over eighteen years

The Charger Police Package was introduced at the 2005 New York International Auto Show and released in early 2006. Its drivetrain changed more over the run than its name did, and those changes determine what a given police Charger actually is.

Engines. The 5.7L HEMI V8 was available throughout. The base police engine was a 3.5L V6 in the early years (Wikipedia cites it for 2009), replaced by the 3.6L Pentastar V6 from 2011.
All-wheel drive. V8 AWD became optional in mid-2014. NHTSA recall 18V-281 dates the AWD V8 police package (model code LDEE48) to the start of 2015 model-year production, with builds from August 5, 2014. In 2020 only the RWD V6 and the AWD V8 were offered.
The 2021 update. FCA's September 11, 2020 release announced the 2021 Charger Pursuit for production at Brampton in the fourth quarter of 2020. The TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic replaced the five-speed on both powertrains: an "all-new V-6 all-wheel-drive model" and the HEMI V8 with RWD. New standard features included a configurable 140 mph top-speed setting, electric power steering and a 5,500 lb gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR, the maximum permitted loaded weight).

The result is that the AWD police Charger means different things in different years. A 2015 to 2020 AWD car is a V8. A 2021 to 2023 AWD car is a V6, and the V8 is rear-drive.

The model-year 2017 Michigan State Police book records the mid-cycle specification. The 3.6L V6 RWD made 292 hp and 260 lb-ft with a five-speed automatic; the 5.7L V8 made 370 hp at 5150 rpm and 397 lb-ft at 4250 rpm. All three versions shared a 120.2-inch wheelbase, 104.7 cubic feet of interior volume, a 16.5-cubic-foot trunk and an 18.5-gallon tank. Curb weight ran from 4,098 lb (V6 RWD) to 4,325 lb (V8 RWD) and 4,520 lb (V8 AWD).

Performance: what Michigan State Police testing shows

Michigan State Police (MSP) publishes an annual evaluation of new police vehicles, and its test books are the primary record of Charger performance. Every MSP figure here is a clean-roof result, recorded without a lightbar, spotlights or antennas, so an equipped patrol car will usually run slower. MSP's purchasing criteria require 0 to 60 mph in 9.0 seconds and 0 to 100 mph in 24.6 seconds, and MSP states that no sanctioning body defines "pursuit rated."

MY2011: 3.6L, 8.65 s to 60 mph, 23.85 s to 100 mph, 130 mph; 5.7L, 6.24 s, 14.99 s, 146 mph.
MY2014 (2014.5 models): 5.7L AWD, 6.04 s, 14.70 s, 148 mph; 5.7L RWD, 6.12 s, 150 mph; 3.6L, 8.32 s, 139 mph.
MY2017: 3.6L RWD, 8.06 s, 20.23 s, 141 mph; 5.7L RWD, 6.17 s, 15.22 s, 149 mph; 5.7L AWD, 6.05 s, 15.26 s, 149 mph.
MY2019: 3.6L RWD, 7.92 s, 141 mph; 5.7L RWD, 6.15 s, 149 mph; 5.7L AWD, 5.87 s, 149 mph.

The 2011 book shows why the Charger mattered. The final Crown Victoria-based Ford Police Interceptor ran 9.01 seconds to 60 mph and 129 mph in the same test; the Charger 5.7L ran 6.24 seconds and 146 mph, and the Chevrolet Impala 9C1 ran 8.78 seconds and 138 mph.

The V8 premium is measurable. In model year 2017 the 5.7L RWD reached 60 mph about 1.9 seconds sooner than the 3.6L (6.17 against 8.06 seconds), at an EPA combined penalty of 2 mpg (18 against 20). AWD bought almost nothing in straight-line results: 6.05 against 6.17 seconds, with both at 149 mph. The AWD car was 195 lb heavier and carried 200 lb less payload (1,000 against 1,200 lb). In service, fuel use runs higher than in EPA ratings: the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's model-year 2023 booklet reported 16.1 mpg for the Charger 5.7L on its test loop, against 18 mpg for the Ford Police Interceptor Utility 3.3L and 20 mpg for its hybrid, figures LASD carried over from 2021 testing.

The end of production, and what is known about a 2027 Charger PPV

Stellantis described the Charger Pursuit in May 2018 as "the top-selling police sedan in the U.S. market," a manufacturer claim rather than an independent figure. MoparInsiders, an enthusiast site, puts total Pursuit sales from 2006 to 2023 at about 170,000; no Stellantis document confirming that number was found. According to MoparInsiders, the final 2023 Charger Pursuit off the Brampton line, built in December, was a 5.7L HEMI RWD car with the eight-speed automatic, and it went to Jay Leno's Garage. Brampton was to be retooled from 2024 under a $2.8 billion investment, WardsAuto reported.

One source conflict should be noted. Wikipedia's Dodge Charger (2006) article gives December 2023 as the end of production in its overview, but its police section says the Pursuit was "in production until 2024." WardsAuto and MoparInsiders both support December 2023.

The 2027 Charger PPV prototype

A "2027 Dodge Charger PPV" prototype was displayed by Dodge Law at Police Fleet Expo 2026, as Carscoops and MoparInsiders reported on August 16, 2026. That is all that can be stated as fact. Trade and enthusiast reports say it uses the 3.0L twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six, with AWD "expected" to be standard, and that orders are "reportedly" targeted for summer 2027. Dodge has not published formal police specifications, there is no Stellantis fleet order guide, and there is no MSP test entry. Dodge CEO Matt McAlear said, "It's absolutely part of the plan," and that Dodge is working with GSA, the California Highway Patrol and Michigan State Police on pursuit standards. Those statements describe intent, not a product.

Recalls specific to police Chargers

Three National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls apply specifically to police-equipped Chargers. Each is tied to particular model years, so a VIN check matters more than a general reputation.

18V-281 (May 1, 2018): 13,928 2015 to 2018 Charger AWD Pursuit V8 cars built from August 5, 2014 to March 8, 2018. The front propeller-shaft U-joint may seize or fracture, and the front prop shaft may "completely disengage from the vehicle."
20V-512 (August 27, 2020): 26,361 2018 to 2020 Charger Pursuit cars. A police "stealth mode" disabled the rear camera image and did not restore it when the car was put in reverse, failing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111. The remedy was a body control module (BCM) software update; a later notice asked owners to return because some BCM inspections may not have been performed properly.
22V-866 (November 23, 2022): 5,834 2022 Charger and Durango vehicles with the Police Group. Improperly heat-treated shifter pawls could let the shifter slip out of DRIVE, causing a sudden loss of drive power. The remedy is a new shifter assembly (FCA recall ZB3).

No NHTSA recall document reviewed for this page supports a fire or rear-impact defect specific to the Charger Pursuit. A full search of NHTSA complaints and investigations was not run, so that statement covers recalls only.

Buying a retired police Charger: what to check

Police Chargers were built in large numbers (MoparInsiders estimates about 170,000), so retired units are a familiar sight at public surplus sales. Familiarity does not make one a safe purchase. A police Charger is a high-duty fleet car, and the odometer understates its use. Fleet sources describe why: the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut fleet policy states that an hour of idling equates to approximately 33 miles of driving, a rule of thumb rather than a measurement, and a Hawthorne, California police memo noted that idle hours on unmarked units were "even higher due to surveillance duties." Replacement thresholds vary; Newport Beach, California schedules patrol vehicles for replacement at 75,000 miles or four years. No Charger-specific retirement mileage figure exists.

Recall completion. Check the VIN for 18V-281 on 2015 to 2018 AWD V8 cars, 20V-512 on 2018 to 2020 cars and 22V-866 on 2022 cars. An AWD V8 without the 18V-281 remedy is a poor choice until it has been done.
Drivetrain identity. Confirm the engine and the driven wheels. A 2021 to 2023 AWD car is a V6.
Equipment removal. Texas House Bill 473 (2015) bars state agencies from selling a marked patrol car until lights, sirens, spotlights, emblems and the "outline of an emblem" are removed. Check the current law in your own state.
Title documents. Federal surplus vehicles sold through GSA Auctions and similar channels are routinely accompanied by Standard Form 97, the U.S. Government Certificate to Obtain Title.

No current price is stated here. As one data point, Vermont's Fleet Management Services found that state surplus vehicles sold for an average of 76% of book value across 2019 and 2020, a general-fleet figure rather than a police one.

Common misconceptions about the Charger Pursuit

"Every police Charger is a HEMI." A V6 was the base engine throughout the run.
"The Charger always had AWD." V8 AWD arrived with 2015 production; V6 AWD arrived only with the 2021 update.
"It is a 160 mph car." That figure is MoparInsiders' specification claim for the last car. MSP measured 146 to 150 mph for 5.7L Chargers between MY2011 and MY2019, and the 2021 update added a configurable 140 mph top-speed setting.

Primary documents for this page include the Michigan State Police model-year 2017 evaluation, NHTSA's recall report 18V-281 and FCA's 2021 Pursuit announcement.

Frequently asked questions

Did Dodge stop making the Charger police car?

Yes. Brampton Assembly in Ontario ended production of the LD Charger, including the Charger Pursuit, in December 2023. A 2027 Dodge Charger PPV prototype was shown at Police Fleet Expo 2026 in August 2026, but Dodge has published no formal specifications or production details for it, so no successor police Charger is confirmed.

Is there a new Dodge Charger Pursuit for 2025 or 2026?

No. There is no production Charger Pursuit for 2025 or 2026. Michigan State Police tested 13 patrol vehicles for model year 2026 and none was a Charger, and its preliminary model-year 2027 results include no Charger either. The only newer police Charger is a 2027 Charger PPV prototype shown in August 2026 without published specifications.

What engines did the Charger Pursuit have?

The Charger Pursuit used a 3.5L V6 in its early years, the 3.6L Pentastar V6 from 2011, and the 5.7L HEMI V8 throughout. In the model-year 2017 Michigan State Police book, the 3.6L made 292 hp and 260 lb-ft, and the 5.7L made 370 hp and 397 lb-ft. From 2021 both engines used an eight-speed automatic.

How fast is a police Charger?

Michigan State Police measured 149 mph and 0 to 60 mph in 6.05 to 6.17 seconds for model-year 2017 Chargers with the 5.7L V8. The 3.6L V6 reached 141 mph and ran 0 to 60 mph in 8.06 seconds. These are clean-roof results without a lightbar or equipment; the 2021 update also added a configurable 140 mph top-speed setting.

Is the Charger Pursuit AWD?

Some are. All-wheel drive became available on the V8 Charger Pursuit with 2015 model-year production, and in 2020 the V8 was offered only with AWD. From 2021 the arrangement reversed: the AWD Charger Pursuit was the V6, and the HEMI V8 was rear-wheel drive. Check the specific car rather than assuming from the badge.

Are there recalls on police Chargers?

Yes, there are police-specific NHTSA recalls. Recall 18V-281 covers the front prop-shaft U-joint on 2015 to 2018 AWD V8 cars, 20V-512 covers stealth mode disabling the rear camera on 2018 to 2020 cars, and 22V-866 covers a shifter that may slip out of DRIVE on 2022 cars. Check any VIN at NHTSA before buying.

Should I buy a retired police Charger?

Treat a retired police Charger as a high-idle, high-duty fleet car and judge the individual vehicle, not the model. Confirm that applicable recalls were completed, that police equipment was removed as state law requires, and compare idle hours with the odometer. One fleet policy equates an hour of idling to roughly 33 miles of driving.

Dodge Charger Pursuit