Dodge Charger Used Engines

The Charger has run on the LX and LD platforms since 2006 with a relatively tidy engine range, and the main thing to settle is the 2011 model year. Before it, the V6 was either a 2.7L or a 3.5L of Chrysler's older design; from 2011 the Pentastar 3.6L replaced both. The HEMI side is simpler — 5.7L through the whole run, with the SRT displacement changing from 6.1L to 6.4L in 2011.

Dodge Charger Used Engines — engine options by generation

How to pick the right one

The 2011 cut is the main line — a 3.5L EGG and a 3.6L Pentastar will not interchange, and nor will the 6.1L and 6.4L SRT engines. On any HEMI, establish whether the donor car had the Multi-Displacement System, because the lifters, the camshaft and the oil control valve differ and the calibration will not tolerate a mismatch. If you are shopping all-wheel-drive, note that AWD cars use a different oil pan and front accessory layout, so the donor should match the drive configuration.

What usually fails on these engines

The 5.7L HEMI fails through its MDS hardware: the deactivating lifters collapse, the camshaft lobe goes with them, and the first symptom is a tick that becomes a misfire. It is the same story as GM's AFM and has the same outcome. The 2.7L V6 in the early cars is the other one — oil sludging from a design that was intolerant of extended service intervals, ending in timing chain and bearing failure. On the 3.6L Pentastar, the 2011–2013 left-bank cylinder head defect applies here as it does on the Jeep.

What ships with every unit

• Compression and leak-down tested before it is listed, with the test sheet in the box.
• VIN matched fitment — send us your VIN and we confirm the engine code against your vehicle before the order ships.
• Written warranty on every engine, with labour coverage available.
• Free freight anywhere in the lower 48, shipped on a pallet to a commercial address or a terminal.

Related reading: Chrysler 5.7L HEMI engine guide, Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar engine guide, all engine guides.

Dodge Charger used engines - frequently asked questions

Which engines did the Dodge Charger use?

Across 2006 to 2023 the Dodge Charger was built with 2.7L V6, 3.5L V6, 5.7L HEMI, 6.1L HEMI, 3.6L V6, 6.4L HEMI and 6.2L supercharged. The table above lists which one belongs to each generation, with the engine family and VIN character that identifies it.

How do I know which engine is in my Dodge Charger?

The eighth character of the VIN encodes the engine on almost every US vehicle, and that is the only reliable way to settle it - two cars of the same year and trim can carry different engines. Send us the VIN and we check the engine code against your vehicle before anything ships.

Will an engine from a different year fit my Dodge Charger?

The 2011 cut is the main line — a 3.5L EGG and a 3.6L Pentastar will not interchange, and nor will the 6.1L and 6.4L SRT engines. On any HEMI, establish whether the donor car had the Multi-Displacement System, because the lifters, the camshaft and the oil control valve differ and the calibration will not tolerate a mismatch.

What usually fails on these engines?

The 5.7L HEMI fails through its MDS hardware: the deactivating lifters collapse, the camshaft lobe goes with them, and the first symptom is a tick that becomes a misfire. It is the same story as GM's AFM and has the same outcome.

What comes with a used Dodge Charger engine?

Every engine is compression and leak-down tested before it is listed and the test sheet ships in the box. Fitment is VIN matched before the order goes out, every engine carries a written warranty with labour coverage available, and freight is free anywhere in the lower 48.