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2017 DODGE CHARGER

3.6L V6 Pentastar•RWD•AUTOMATIC•gas
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5-Year Cost of Ownership
$32,241 maintenance + known platform issues
~$6,448/yr · 540¢/mile equivalent · $5,857 maintenance + $5,934 expected platform issues
Compare this engine
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3.6L V6 Pentastar
vs
6.2L V8 Hellcat Redeye (797hp)
vs
6.4L V8 Hemi 392
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2017 Charger is a solid platform with bulletproof V6 reliability, but the 5.7L and 6.4L Hemi engines have critical valvetrain weaknesses that can grenade motors, and ZF 8-speed transmission cooler failures are common across all trims.

Hemi Lifter/Camshaft Failure (5.7L & 6.4L)

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Cold-start tick that doesn't go away after warmup, MDS (cylinder deactivation) system fault codes, Metal shavings in oil, Catastrophic engine noise leading to complete failure
Fix: Requires camshaft replacement, all 16 lifters, and often rockers. If caught late, debris destroys bearings requiring full engine rebuild or short block. 18-25 hours labor for cam/lifter job, 35-50 hours for short block.
Estimated cost: $4,500-8,000 for cam/lifters; $8,000-15,000 for short block replacement

ZF 8-Speed Transmission Oil Cooler Leak

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking from cooler lines at radiator, Pink fluid puddles under vehicle, Burnt transmission smell if run low, Harsh shifting when fluid level drops
Fix: Cooler assembly replacement at radiator, flush contaminated coolant from mixing. 3-4 hours labor. Critical to catch before fluid cross-contaminates or runs dry.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200

Rear Driveshaft Center Support Bearing Failure

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking from underneath on acceleration/deceleration, Vibration at highway speeds, Squeaking or groaning during takeoff, Visible rubber deterioration at center carrier bearing
Fix: Driveshaft removal and center support bearing replacement. Sometimes the entire driveshaft needs replacement if splines are worn. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $400-900

Transmission Mount Collapse

Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Excessive drivetrain movement visible under hood during acceleration, Vibration at idle in gear, Transmission sitting lower than normal on visual inspection
Fix: Transmission mount replacement, sometimes includes rear crossmember mount. 1.5-2 hours labor. Common on higher-mileage V8 cars due to torque.
Estimated cost: $250-500

Water Pump Failure (All Engines)

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant leak from front of engine, Squealing or grinding noise from accessory belt area, Overheating, White steam from under hood
Fix: Water pump replacement with timing cover removal on Hemis. 3-5 hours labor depending on engine. Do thermostat and hoses while you're in there.
Estimated cost: $600-1,400

Fuel Pump Module Failure

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start or extended crank time, Loss of power under acceleration, Stalling at idle or low speeds, Fuel pump whine audible from rear seat area
Fix: Fuel pump module replacement requires dropping the tank. 2.5-3 hours labor. Common enough that Mopar released an updated module design.
Estimated cost: $700-1,200

Alternator Failure (High-Output Models)

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Battery warning light, Dimming headlights, Electrical accessories cutting out, Voltage reading below 13.5V at idle, Whining noise from alternator pulley
Fix: Alternator replacement. V8 models use 220-amp units that fail more often than V6 160-amp versions. 1.5-2 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $500-900
Owner tips
  • Use quality 0W-40 synthetic in Hemis and change every 5,000 miles maximum — lifter failures correlate strongly with extended oil change intervals
  • Inspect transmission cooler lines at every oil change; catching a leak early prevents catastrophic trans damage from fluid loss
  • Avoid MDS (cylinder deactivation) delete tunes unless you're also upgrading lifters — disabling it in software doesn't prevent mechanical failure
  • Check engine recall 18V-355 (connecting rod bearing) was issued for some 2017 5.7L engines — verify it was completed
Buy the 3.6L V6 without hesitation; avoid 5.7L/6.4L Hemis unless you have documentation of camshaft/lifter replacement or budget $5K-8K for the inevitable repair.
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.
524 jobs across 17 categories
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.
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