Skip to content
KickTyres
Dodge2011–2018 Critical issues documented

Dodge Charger LD: common faults & what to check

The LD is the Dodge Charger built 2011–2023. Of the 5 faults documented for the Charger, 5 apply to this generation, each with its symptoms, what to inspect and a typical repair cost. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact Dodge Charger

  • Odometer history
  • Money owing
  • Reported stolen
  • Ownership history
  • Official NZ vehicle register data
  • NZ owned and operated

Type the plate for the free basics. The full record is a paid check from $13.49, one car at a time, no subscription.

No NZ plate yet, or buying in Australia? Pick the generation and engine and start a free check below. New to KickTyres? How the check works →

5

Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$2,500–$5,000

Typical repair

30

Service milestones

You're looking at the LD

Everything below is narrowed to this variant. Pick a different one to change it.

Choose a different generation

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Which engine is in it? These cover every year of this model.

3.6L V6· 3.6 litre5.7L HEMI· 5.7 litre6.4L HEMI· 6.4 litre

A 2012 Dodge Charger is the LD generation (2011 to 2023).

We cannot narrow the engine list to this year, so every engine this model was sold with is offered.

Start your free check on this Dodge Charger

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

Dodge Charger LDEngine not picked yet

Pick the engine above first: the Charger came with 3, and without it the report has to show all of their faults. Pick the engine

Free. The paid plate check is separate, and stays optional.

Can't confirm for this car

Dodge Charger · 2012

Narrowed to the year. No engine is recorded for this vehicle. Pick an engine to see which faults apply.

Tell us the engine, or check the engine code on the car, before relying on this.

  • No engine is recorded for this vehicle.

matched on year only

What to look out for

We have not documented any faults for the exact Dodge Charger you picked.

That is a gap in our research, not a clean bill of health — it does not mean this combination is trouble-free, and it is not a reason to skip the checks. Every one of the 5 faults documented across the Dodge Charger is still listed further down this page.

Show every year and engine again

Dodge Charger service schedule

The 3 engines a 2012 Dodge Charger was sold with, each with its own intervals. Pick your engine above to narrow this to one. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

Seventh Generation (LD) · 2012–2023 · 6.4L HEMI V8 (ESG) - Scat Pack / SRT 392

Petrol

Due by distance

  1. 80,000 km

    Evaluate the brake rotors and pads, especially on Brembo-equipped SRT/Scat Pack models.

  2. 100,000 km

    Full drivetrain fluid service, including transmission oil and filter, and the rear differential fluid.

  3. 120,000 km

    Check the spark plugs; the 6.4L HEMI uses 16 plugs, a significant but vital service for engine efficiency.

Seventh Generation (LD) · 2011–2023 · 3.6L Pentastar V6 (ERB) - SE / SXT / GT

Petrol

Due by distance

  1. 100,000 km

    Full transmission service and inspection of the steering rack components.

  2. 150,000 km

    Good time to replace the spark plugs and check the drive belts and pulleys.

  3. 200,000 km

    Comprehensive suspension refresh, including struts and shocks, maintains that signature smooth ride.

Seventh Generation (LD) · 2011–2023 · 5.7L HEMI V8 (EZH) - R/T

Petrol

Due by distance

  1. 100,000 km

    Full cooling system refresh and spark plug replacement - the 5.7L HEMI uses 16 plugs, due around this interval.

  2. 150,000 km

    Inspect the water pump and serpentine belt tensioner for signs of aging, for reliable road trips.

  3. 200,000 km

    Check the drivetrain mounts and transmission fluid health to keep the ride tight and responsive.

See all 5 issues for this oneDocumented for the exact year and engine you picked, including 3 rated critical.
Depends on the exact engine — 5 moreDocumented for a specific engine we could not confirm from what you picked. Check the engine code on the car.
Engine, transmission & cooling4

015.7 Hemi lifter and camshaft failure — the "Hemi tick"

The 5.7 Hemi runs cylinder deactivation, and the lifters that make that work are its weak point.petrol2011–2018EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

023.6 Pentastar rocker needle-bearing failure — the "Pentastar tick"

The 3.6 V6 has its own well-known tick, and it is a different fault from the Hemi's.petrol2011–2018EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

03Left cylinder head valve seat and guide wear, misfire (3.6 Pentastar V6, LD Charger 2011-2013)

Start the engine from cold and listen at idle for a ticking or uneven beat; a healthy Pentastar idles smoothly.petrol2011–2013Engine
OccasionalEngine $2,500–$5,000 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

Early 3.6 Pentastar V6 engines (sales code ERB) in 2011 to 2013 LD Charger models can wear the valve guides and valve seats in the left cylinder head, so cylinders 2, 4 or 6 lose compression and misfire. Chrysler admitted the problem: in the US it extended the warranty on the left head to 10 years or 150,000 miles (warranty bulletin D-14-12) and told dealers to leak test the cylinders and replace the head (service bulletin 09-002-14). These Chargers were never sold new in Australia or New Zealand, so NZ cars are US imports; the extended warranty was a US program and will not help here, but the fault itself travels with the car. Left alone it gets worse and the cure is a replacement head.

A removed six-cylinder diesel engine cylinder head on cardboard, valve-gear side facing up.Example of the part — not this vehicle

A six-cylinder diesel head off the engine, valve-gear side up. Cracks run between the valve seats on the face beneath.

Ll1324 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Symptoms to notice

  • Check engine light, sometimes flashing
  • Rough idle or shake, worse when cold
  • Ticking or tapping from one side of the engine
  • Loss of power

What to check

  1. Start the engine from cold and listen at idle for a ticking or uneven beat; a healthy Pentastar idles smoothly.
  2. Watch the dash for a check engine light during the test drive and feel for any stumble or shake when pulling away and at steady low speed.
  3. Ask whether the left cylinder head has been replaced and ask for the invoice.
  4. If a workshop inspection is possible: scan for stored misfire codes on cylinders 2, 4 or 6 and run a cylinder leakage test on those cylinders.

Where to look: Engine bay, the left bank cylinder head of the V6 (cylinders 2, 4 and 6)

Parts involved: Cylinder head.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the left cylinder head ever been replaced, and do you have the invoice?”
  • “Has the check engine light come on or has it been treated for a misfire?”
  • “Was this car new in Australia or New Zealand, or a US import, and what is its build date?”

04Broken exhaust manifold bolts, the tick that is NOT the engine (5.7 Hemi V8)

Hemi exhaust manifold bolts have a long history of stretching, loosening and snapping off.petrol2011–2018EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Electrical1

01Alternator diode failure, stalling and fire risk recall (3.6 Pentastar V6 and 5.7 Hemi V8, LD Charger 2011-2014)

Ask for proof the alternator recall has been done (a dealer invoice or recall record).petrol2011–2014Electrical
OccasionalElectrical $0–$1,500 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

On 2011 to 2014 LD Charger models with the 3.6 Pentastar V6 or 5.7 Hemi V8 and electro-hydraulic power steering, the diodes inside the alternator can crack from heat, so charging voltage drops. That can switch off ABS and stability control, stall the engine while driving, and in some cases the failing alternator can overheat and catch fire. It was recalled in the US (14V-634, then 17V-435, FCA campaign T36). Chargers were not sold new in Australia or New Zealand, so NZ cars are US imports and the recall follows the VIN. The fix is a free alternator replacement, so check that the recall work has been done.

Symptoms to notice

  • Battery or charging warning light
  • ABS or stability control warning lights
  • Heavy steering at low speed
  • Engine stalls or will not restart
  • Burning smell from the engine bay

What to check

  1. Ask for proof the alternator recall has been done (a dealer invoice or recall record).
  2. Start the car and watch for a battery, ABS or stability control light, and on the test drive check the steering stays light at parking speeds.
  3. Smell for anything hot or electrical in the engine bay after the drive.
  4. If a workshop inspection is possible: run the VIN through a dealer recall check and test the charging voltage under load.

Where to look: Front of the engine, alternator on the accessory belt

Parts involved: Alternator.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the alternator recall been done, and can I see the paperwork?”
  • “Has the car ever stalled or shown a battery or ABS warning?”
  • “Has the alternator been replaced outside the recall?”

Dodge Charger faults in detail

Narrowed to the Dodge Charger · 2012. Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

3.6 Pentastar rocker needle-bearing failure — the "Pentastar tick"Critical · Engine5.7 Hemi lifter and camshaft failure — the "Hemi tick"Critical · EngineBroken exhaust manifold bolts, the tick that is NOT the engine (5.7 Hemi V8)Major · Engine

Other Dodge models

Dodge Journey8 documented faults

Dodge Charger buyer questions

Is the Dodge Charger reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 5 documented faults for the Dodge Charger, the recurring problem areas are engine and electrical. A Dodge Charger with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used Dodge Charger?

We've catalogued 5 known faults for the Dodge Charger, covering engine and electrical. All 5 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a Dodge Charger?

Most single repairs on the Dodge Charger fall between $2,500–$5,000 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 5 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Dodge Charger?

Yes. A Dodge Charger inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.