- Background and Importance of the Issue
- Details of the Recall
- Repair and Recall Process
- Importance of External Sound in Electric Vehicles
- Reactions and Impact on the Vehicle’s Image
Dodge has announced a recall of 8,390 Charger Daytona electric vehicles from the 2024 and 2025 model years due to some of these cars not producing the legally required external sound. This sound is essential to alert pedestrians and other drivers to the presence of the vehicle, especially at low speeds.
Background and Importance of the Issue
The Dodge Charger Daytona EV features an external sound system known as "Fratzonic," a digital exhaust sound system designed to simulate the sound of a traditional muscle car engine. This system aims to give the electric vehicle a familiar engine sound, but its effectiveness in meeting legal sound requirements has been questioned.
According to the recall report filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on June 12, 2025, some affected vehicles may have incomplete software drivers for the external speaker system. This results in non-compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 141, which mandates electric and hybrid vehicles to emit an external sound with specific characteristics and volume levels.
This sound is crucial for pedestrian safety, especially in urban areas, parking lots, and crosswalks, where electric vehicles are very quiet and lack the natural engine noise of combustion vehicles.
Details of the Recall
The recall covers Dodge Charger Daytona EVs manufactured between April 30, 2024, and March 18, 2025, totaling approximately 8,390 units.
The issue relates to the failure to meet the "2-band alert" and "relative volume change" requirements specified by law, making some vehicles non-compliant with these standards.
Repair and Recall Process
As part of the voluntary recall, Dodge will inspect all affected vehicles and update the external speaker system’s software via a software update installed at authorized service centers. This update will fix the issue and ensure the vehicle emits the required sound.
Dodge dealers have already been notified, and the company is expected to contact affected owners by July 10, 2025, to schedule their vehicle updates.
Importance of External Sound in Electric Vehicles
U.S. federal laws require electric and hybrid vehicles to emit external sounds at low speeds (under 19 mph) to ensure pedestrian safety. These regulations were introduced in response to safety concerns arising from the quietness of electric vehicles, which can lead to pedestrian accidents.
The "Fratzonic" system in the Dodge Charger Daytona EV is an innovative attempt to make the electric vehicle more exciting and appealing to muscle car enthusiasts, while still complying with safety standards that cannot be compromised.
Reactions and Impact on the Vehicle’s Image
Although the recall concerns a technical issue that can be easily fixed with a software update, it has attracted media and enthusiast attention because the sound is part of the car’s personality and appeal.
Some critics argue that simulating combustion engine sounds in an electric vehicle reflects a nostalgic attachment to the past, while others see it as necessary to attract a specific audience that still associates engine noise with power.
The recall of 8,390 Dodge Charger Daytona EVs due to insufficient legally required external sound highlights the challenges electric vehicle makers face in balancing innovation with safety compliance.
The quick software fix available at service centers demonstrates the industry’s ability to effectively address technical issues while maintaining user and pedestrian safety.
Owners of Dodge Charger Daytona EVs are advised to follow official notifications and contact Dodge dealers to update their vehicles as soon as possible.
