The 2009 Charger is a solid platform when maintained, but the 2.7L V6 is a ticking time bomb with catastrophic oil sludge issues, and all models share transmission cooler and shifter cable failures that can leave you stranded or stuck in park.
2.7L V6 Oil Sludge and Catastrophic Engine Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with low oil pressure codes, Knocking or ticking from engine, Oil consumption between changes, Sudden loss of power or engine seizure
Fix: The 2.7L has inadequate oil passages and runs hot, creating sludge that starves bearings and destroys the bottom end. Requires complete engine replacement or rebuild. 18-24 labor hours for used engine swap, 30+ for rebuild.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure and Cross-Contamination
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Milky pink fluid in coolant reservoir, Overheating transmission, No movement in any gear after coolant mixing
Fix: Factory transmission cooler inside radiator corrodes and ruptures, mixing coolant and ATF. Requires radiator replacement, transmission flush or rebuild if contamination occurred, and all cooler lines. If caught early: 4-6 hours. If trans is damaged: 12-16 hours.
Shifter Cable Bushing Failure and Gear Selector Issues
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Shifter moves but car won't come out of park, Gear indicator doesn't match actual gear, Cannot shift into park to remove key, Loose or sloppy shifter feel
Fix: Plastic bushing at transmission end of shifter cable disintegrates. Common failure point. Cable replacement or bushing repair kit. 2-3 hours labor, sometimes accessible from underneath without major disassembly.
Estimated cost: $250-500
Front Suspension Cradle Bushing Deterioration
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front end, Steering feels vague or wanders, Vibration during acceleration or braking, Uneven tire wear on inside edges
Fix: Front K-member bushings crack and collapse, especially on V8 models with more weight and torque. Requires subframe drop to replace bushings. 6-8 hours with alignment.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Alternator Failure and Electrical Gremlins
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Battery light intermittent or constant, Dimming lights at idle, Electrical accessories cutting out, No start or dead battery repeatedly
Fix: Factory alternators fail internally, and the diode pack often goes bad causing voltage spikes that can damage other modules. Replace alternator and test battery. 1.5-2.5 hours depending on engine (V8s tighter).
Estimated cost: $400-700
3.5L V6 Water Pump and Timing Cover Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant puddle under front of engine, Squealing or grinding from accessory belt area, Overheating at idle or low speed, Coolant smell in cabin
Fix: Water pump fails or timing cover gasket seeps on 3.5L. Not as catastrophic as 2.7L issues, but overheating can warp heads if ignored. 4-5 hours for water pump with thermostat and hoses while you're in there.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) and Lightning Bolt Warning
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Red lightning bolt on dash, Sudden loss of throttle response (limp mode), Rough idle or stalling, Intermittent no-start condition
Fix: Throttle body gets carbon buildup or throttle position sensor fails. Sometimes just cleaning helps; often needs throttle body replacement and relearn procedure. 1.5-2 hours.
Estimated cost: $350-650
Owner tips
Avoid the 2.7L V6 entirely — the 3.5L V6 or 5.7L Hemi are far more reliable long-term
Install an external transmission cooler immediately if buying one, especially in warm climates — bypasses the factory radiator cooler failure point
Check coolant and ATF religiously for any signs of cross-contamination (milky fluids)
Replace shifter cable bushing preemptively around 70k miles with upgraded metal bushing kit — it's cheap insurance
Hemi engines are solid but require religious oil changes (5k miles max) and use quality oil — they're picky about maintenance
Buy a 3.5L V6 or 5.7L Hemi model under 100k miles with service records and add an external trans cooler — skip any 2.7L no matter the price.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V021000
2018-01-09 · EA15001
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A."
Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B."
Chrysler is also recalling certain 2009 RAM 3500, RAM 2500, RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U03.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 16V352000
2016-05-24 · EA15001
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B."
Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.
Consequence: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 15V313000
2015-05-27 · EA15001
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS · 09V420000
2009-10-29
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITHOUT A FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE NUT.
Consequence: WHILE DRIVING, A TIRE AND WHEEL SEPARATION COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND IF FOUND WITHOUT A SPINDLE NUT IT WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-835-1403.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS · 08V642000
2008-12-05
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 175 MY 2009 DODGE CHARGER, CHALLENGER, AND CHRYSLER 300 VEHICLES. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR (TPM) SENSORS MAY NOT TRANSMIT THE ACTUAL TIRE PRESSURE. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE DRIVER NOT BEING AWARE OF LOW TIRE PRESSURE.
Consequence: OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITH LOW TIRE PRESSURE COULD RESULT IN TIRE DAMAGE AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TPM SENSORS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT · 08V583000
2008-11-06 · PE08052
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 20,283 MY 2006-2009 CHARGER AND MAGNUM VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE POLICE PACKAGE AND EQUIPPED WITH A COLUMN SHIFTER. THE GEARSHIFT CABLE MAY BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN MOUNTING BRACKET AND CAUSE AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION GEARSHIFT POSITION DISPLAY.
Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION STARTLING THE DRIVER, AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A REDUNDANT LOCKING MECHANISM TO THE GEARSHIFT CABLE AT THE MOUNTING BRACKET TO ENSURE PROPER RETENTION AND SHIFT LINKAGE FUNCTION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
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