Dodge Charger 2012

🚨 What to check before buying

Overall risk score: 10/10

Serious risks

• Rocker arm/roller follower failure (2011-2013): Early production had defective roller followers that could fail. Post-2013 is fixed.
• Oil cooler gasket leak: Oil filter housing gasket leaks oil. Common with age.
• Tick/tapping noise: Hydraulic lifter tick at startup. Usually harmless.
• Car is 14 years old — expect age-related wear: rubber seals, bushings, water pump, AC compressor
• Higher mileage (208,263 km) — check for timing system condition, turbo health, and suspension wear

Additional notes

• 2011-2013 Pentastar 3.6 V6 had defective rocker arms causing ticking and misfire. Also cylinder head cracks on some 2011 models. Check for engine ticking on cold start. VIN check for recall status.
• Any car with 200k+ km requires extra scrutiny. At this mileage: suspension components are worn (bushings, ball joints, shocks), seals and gaskets are hardened, electrical connectors corrode, and major components approach end-of-life. For luxury cars (BMW, Mercedes, Audi) the cost of 200k+ km maintenance can exceed the car's value. Always get a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) and budget 15-25% of purchase price for immediate maintenance.
• Chrysler HEMI 5.7 V8 with 80k+ km — MDS (Multi-Displacement System) lifter collapse causes tick and misfire on cylinders 1,4,6,7. Common issue. Fix costs €800-2,500. Many owners delete MDS via tuner. Check for misfire codes P0300/P0301.
• Any car with 200k+ km requires extra scrutiny. At this mileage: suspension components are worn (bushings, ball joints, shocks), seals and gaskets are hardened, electrical connectors corrode, and major components approach end-of-life. For luxury cars (BMW, Mercedes, Audi) the cost of 200k+ km maintenance can exceed the car's value. Always get a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) and budget 15-25% of purchase price for immediate maintenance.