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CriticalCommonEngine

Dodge Charger: 3.6 Pentastar rocker needle-bearing failure — the "Pentastar tick"

3.6 Pentastar rocker needle-bearing failure — the "Pentastar tick" is a common engine fault on the Dodge Charger on the 2011–2018 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $2,500 to $8,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 5 documented faults on the Dodge Charger.

Vehicle
Dodge Charger
Engine
3.6L
Years
2011–2018
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Dodge Charger as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Dodge Charger faults5 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The 3.6 V6 has its own well-known tick, and it is a different fault from the Hemi's. The roller rocker arms that follow the camshaft run on needle bearings, and those bearings break up. The rocker then hammers the cam lobe, and the debris circulates. Caught early it is rocker arms; left alone it becomes a camshaft and, if the debris has travelled, more than that. It has been reported since the engine launched in 2011. As with the Hemi, the tick is the whole warning you get, so a V6 Charger that ticks needs pricing as an engine job rather than a noise.

What you would notice

  • Sewing-machine tick from the top of the engine, worst when cold but still there hot
  • Tick that gets louder over weeks rather than staying steady
  • Misfire, rough idle or an engine warning light
  • Metallic particles in the oil or on the filter

How to check it

Where to look. Rocker arms under the cam covers on both banks of the V6

Hear the first cold start of the day if you possibly can, then listen again with the engine fully hot — a Pentastar tick that survives warm-up is the one that matters. Stand at each side of the engine with the bonnet up while someone holds a steady fast idle. Look at the oil on the dipstick under a torch for glitter. Ask how many oil changes the car has actually had, with invoices rather than a stamp. Ask whether any engine work has been done under warranty. If a workshop inspection is possible: ask for a stethoscope check on each cylinder head and for stored misfire data to be read.

What it costs to put right

$2,500 to $8,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has this engine ever had rocker arms or a camshaft replaced?”
  • “Is there a tick, and does it stay once the engine is warm?”
  • “Do you have the oil-change invoices?”

Now check the Dodge Charger you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • The Autopian — 'The Pentastar Tick Could Kill Your Chrysler, Dodge, Ram or Jeep Engine'
  • Charger Forumz — 'Charger 3.6 v6 ticking noise' thread

Dodge Charger buyer questions

Is 3.6 pentastar rocker needle-bearing failure — the "pentastar tick" serious on a Dodge Charger?

We rate it critical and common on the Dodge Charger. The 3.6 V6 has its own well-known tick, and it is a different fault from the Hemi's. The roller rocker arms that follow the camshaft run on needle bearings, and those bearings break up. The rocker then hammers the cam lobe, and the debris circulates. Caught early it is rocker arms; left alone it becomes a camshaft and, if the debris has travelled, more than that. It has been reported since the engine launched in 2011. As with the Hemi, the tick is the whole warning you get, so a V6 Charger that ticks needs pricing as an engine job rather than a noise.

How much does it cost to fix on a Dodge Charger?

$2,500 to $8,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Dodge Charger years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2018 Dodge Charger. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Hear the first cold start of the day if you possibly can, then listen again with the engine fully hot — a Pentastar tick that survives warm-up is the one that matters. Stand at each side of the engine with the bonnet up while someone holds a steady fast idle. Look at the oil on the dipstick under a torch for glitter. Ask how many oil changes the car has actually had, with invoices rather than a stamp. Ask whether any engine work has been done under warranty. If a workshop inspection is possible: ask for a stethoscope check on each cylinder head and for stored misfire data to be read. Look here: Rocker arms under the cam covers on both banks of the V6