2007 Dodge Charger Engine Problems

The engine in my vehicle (2007 Charger, 49,000 miles) has completely failed due to "Casting Sand Sludge". This issue has been acknowledged by FCA Stellantis; but only in much newer engines. The failure in my vehicle, from the "casting sand sludge" caused the vehicle to have engine heat issues, which could have started a fire or resulted in the complete seizure of the engine at speed, potentially leading to a catastrophic and fatal outcome. The fact that the issue is present in my vehicle strongly indicates that FCA Stellantis was aware of the Casting Sand Sludge issue far earlier than they have acknowledged. The Service center suspected a head gasket issue, so they began to address it; what they found was casting sand sludge throughout the engine block. An issue which is an inherent defect of manufacturing, which is unknowable to a unsuspecting owner - until a total failure occurs. This issue would also coincidentally constitute a breach of the "implied Warranty Of Merchantability", as the issue makes affected vehicles not fit for their intended purpose. The Service Center that found the defect is an Authorized FCA Stellantis Dealer/Service Provider. The Service Manager has had an "Conference Call" with an Area Service Manager & A Service Technical Advisor. The Service Manager has indicated that it is casting sand & has told me that if the manufacturer has him send them the engine that i what he is putting on the report. He has told me that he feels that the manufacturer likely will try to bury the issue by attempting a "Forced Buyout". Cursory, research by myself has found that Casting Sand in the presence of H.O.A.T or O.A.T. coolant & heat forms a sludge which over time {40,000 to 55,000 miles} renders an engine unusable, risking catastrophic failure or fire. LX Platform vehicles of the era 2005-2009 were considered "Durable for intended purpose for 150,000 to 300,000 miles". Casting Sand left in the engine block, during manufacture, violates that durability

NHTSA ID

11729971

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

shuts off while driving with no warning...Stalls at stop light/sign and when i try to accelerate it has barely goes.. sometimes it seems like it has no power at all and sometimes it seems like it has to much power without me accelerating. Its very dangerous this issue has almost made me get into several accidents

NHTSA ID

11678128

Incident

Jul 17, 2025

Filled fuel tank up until the pump shut off. As I drove onto the road, the engine suddenly died causing me to run off the shoulder as the power steering went out as well. I eventually got it re-started, but it ran rough and stalled out several more times on my way home. After some online research, I determined that it was probably raw gas getting pulled down the EVAP tube. I avoid the problem now by not filling the tank up all the way, but do it once in a while accidently and the problem returns. Highly dangerous situation.

NHTSA ID

11645197

Incident

Sep 28, 2024

SERVICE BULLETIN # 14-002-14: Fuel tank "roll over" valve failed immediately after fill-up saturating the purge solenoid and dryer canister for the fuel vapor vent reburning system. This service bulletin described failure caused liquid fuel rather than vapor to be dumped into the intake manifold stalling the vehicle in traffic in unsafe conditions. The car was towed to Beamon Dodge at 1705 S. Church St., 37130 awaiting repair. Dodge customer service was contacted at 1-800-423-6343 where they stated that this VIN was not covered by the service bulletin. Quoted repair for the manufacture defect is $4,680.48. Clearly the vehicles covered by this service bulletin are incomplete. Complaints of this failure can be found on the internet through 2014 when this service bulletin was issued on April 22, 2014. Clearly Dodge corrected nothing in their manufacturing and NHTSA is not protecting all consumers.

NHTSA ID

11633089

Incident

Dec 23, 2024

Every since had car ticks.Was driving after fill up and car just turned off having me almost hit 8 cars on the highway with my 5 year old son in car. Now will not start. Days later it starts and tick then turns off. Found out it’s common problem everybody has in these 5.7 hemi engines lifters/ cam.

NHTSA ID

11427307

Incident

Jul 1, 2021

MY VEHICLE BEGINS TO STALL OUT AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHILE IDLING. WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A LIGHT OR JUST WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AT GWINNETTE CHRYSLER STONE MOUNTAIN GEORGIA AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE THE FUEL TANK NEEDING REPLACEMENT AFTER PAYING 3000.00 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WAS THEN GIVEN A FINAL DIAGNOSIS THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS THE ISSUE AND IT WAS GOING TO COST 4500.00 TO REPLACE. TODAY IS APRIL 1 AND I JUST PICKED UP MY VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS SITTING IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST 1 MONTH AND STILL THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE HELP ME. MY VEHICLE IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH A CAR COVER BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT IN THIS CONDITION. [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11406398

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

Mileage

140,000 mi

WHILE ON THE FREEWAY I TURNED ON MY AIR CONDITIONER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FAN BLADE FELL APART DISINTEGRATED AND IT BROKE MY RADIATOR I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT CERTAIN BINS DON'T CAN'T BE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL I DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL BUT I CAN'T GET ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IF IT'S GOING TO GET FIXED OR NOT

NHTSA ID

11398030

Incident

Feb 23, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONTACT GETTING REAR ENDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER BLOOMINGTON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (8000 PENN AVE S, BLOOMINGTON, MN 55431 (952) 314-1248) WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 230,000.

NHTSA ID

11395833

Incident

Feb 7, 2021

Mileage

230,000 mi

VALVE SEATS DROPPED ON CYLINDER 1 AND 7 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO INTERNAL CYLINDER AND CAUSING OVER HEAT OF CAR ALSO NO LONGER TURNS ON. CAUSED SOME SPARK PLUGS TO BEND DUE TO PISTON HITTING THEM. PHOTO ATTACHED IS THE CYLINDER DAMAGED FROM PIECE OF VALVE SEAT BOUNCING AROUND INSIDE THE PISTON. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324965

Incident

Aug 12, 2019

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED TO 5 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO RAMSEY CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (1555 NJ-17, RAMSEY, NJ 07446, (201) 818-9592 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, THE SPARK PLUGS AND SERPENTINE BELT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE TEST DRIVEN HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,235.

NHTSA ID

11323380

Incident

Feb 12, 2020

Mileage

80,235 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I PULLED OVER, GOT OUT AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE, MY CAR WAS TOTALED. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A DEFECT SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD. IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE ENGINE WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE AT 66,841 MILES FOR OVER $8,000. I GOT NO WARNINGS ON THE DASH, JUST FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ID

11252441

Incident

Aug 28, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AT A DRIVE-THRU, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SOUND AND WATER EMERGED FROM THE RADIATOR AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLING FAN FOR THE RADIATOR HAD FRACTURED INTO PIECES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO RYDELL DODGE CHRYSLER (700 SAN FERNANDO RD, SAN FERNANDO, CA 91340). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LETTER SENT IN 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TT*JB

NHTSA ID

11244476

Incident

Jul 19, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi

COOLING FANS JUST BUSTED MY RADIATOR. I WENT TO THE STORE ONE MILE UP THE ROAD, CAME HOME, PARKED MY CAR AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE MY CAR WAS HIT. I GET OUT AND RADIATOR FLUID IS POURING OUT. MY COOLING FANS BUSTED MY RADIATOR.

NHTSA ID

11240971

Incident

Jul 31, 2019

Mileage

139,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CHARGER. EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING CONTACT WAS LEFT STRANDED DAMAGE DONE TO THE RADIATOR FROM FRACTURED FAN BLADES WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROADWAY. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OF THE FAN BLADES HAD FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. PIIR=Y. AH *AS THE CONSUMER STATED FIXED THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11230000

Incident

Jul 7, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH, AND NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. NORTH POINT CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM FIAT (7726 NORTH POINT BLVD, WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27106, (336) 283-2496) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 59092376. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11228655

Incident

Jun 29, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" THE RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY BROKE AND DAMAGED THE RADIATOR

NHTSA ID

11209663

Incident

May 23, 2019

Mileage

178,000 mi

AT 100,000 MILES AND MAINTENANCE AS SUPPOSE DROVE AS SUPPOSED PARKED AT MY HOUSE CAME BACK OUT TO DRIVE NEXT DAY DIDNT WONT TO START WHEN IT DID SMOKED AND MADE NOISE.WAS TOLD PISTON DROPPED FIXED ALL I THOUGHT SPENT 5000 BUT NOW IT NEEDS HEADS

NHTSA ID

11204293

Incident

Mar 10, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WITH THIS 3.5 LITER V6 ENGINE. ONE QUART OF 10W30 MOBIL 1 IS LOST EVERY 400 TO 500 MILES. NO LEAKS, NO BLUE SMOKE, NO DROPS IN DRIVEWAY OR STREET. COOLANT COLOR IS FINE, NO CONTAMINATION AND REMAINS AT SAME LEVEL.

NHTSA ID

11174571

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

Mileage

44,000 mi

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WITH THIS 3.5 LITER V6 ENGINE. ONE QUART OF 10W30 MOBIL 1 IS LOST EVERY 400 TO 500 MILES. NO LEAKS, NO BLUE SMOKE, NO DROPS IN DRIVEWAY OR STREET. COOLANT COLOR IS FINE, NO CONTAMINATION AND REMAINS AT SAME LEVEL.

NHTSA ID

11174569

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

Mileage

44,000 mi

WHILE PARKED AT IDLE, RADIATOR FAN, WITHOUT WARNING, SUDDENLY AND CATASTROPHICALLY FAILS SENDING FAN BLADES INTO THE RADIATOR CAUSING RUPTURE OF RADIATOR AND UNCONTROLLED PRESSURIZED RELEASE OF COOLANT. SETTING: PARKED VEHICLE IN PARKING SPOT OF A DEPARTMENT STORE WITH INTENT TO SHOP. PLACES VEHICLE IN PARK, WITHIN A FEW SWCIDNS A LOUD EXPLOSION RESONATES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BEGINS SMOKING. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. OPENED THE HOOD AND IDENTIFIED THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11162978

Incident

Dec 19, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

I WAS IN A DRIVE THRU WAITING ON THE CASHIER, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND POP FROM UNDER MY ENGINE. I COULD ALSO FEEL IT THROUGH MY BRAKE PEDAL. SCARED AND WONDERING WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED? I IMMEDIATELY PULLED FORWARD AND PARKED MY CAR AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLUID LEAKING. I POPPED THE HOOD AND FOUND SOME SHATTERED PLASTIC PIECES. UPON MY 1ST INSPECTIONS MY FAN WAS WHAT SHATTERED. I MADE A FEW CALLS AND WHEN A MECHANIC CAME TO INSPECT 20 MINUTES LATER, HE SAID THE FAN EXPLODED CAUSING PIECES TO THEN HIT THE RADIATOR. NOW BOTH PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. NOW INVESTIGATION, I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR CHARGERS AND I'M WONDERING WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. I CANT EVEN IMAGINE WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING. I ALSO HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR. SCARY ENOUGH WHILE THE CAR WASN'T MOVING. TIS HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS.

NHTSA ID

11144104

Incident

Oct 29, 2018

Mileage

288,000 mi

DRIVING ON CITY STREET SPEED LIMIT 40MPH CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING. IN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE OVERHEATING ISSUE A NEW WATER PUMP AND 2 NEW RADIATORS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. THE INITIAL RADIATOR LITERALLY HAD THE ENTIRE BOTTOM FALL OUT. THE COOLING FANS WILL NOT COME ON AND ARE DAMAGED. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE COOLING FANS IS WHAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR 3 YEARS NOW DRIVING ANOTHER CAR IF TRAVELING MORE THAN 1 MILE FROM MY HOME. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURERL

NHTSA ID

11130845

Incident

May 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE MERGING INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED UNDER THE HOOD AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN DETACHED, WHICH DAMAGED THE RADIATOR AND ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE COOLANT AND OIL WERE LEAKING AND SEVERAL WIRES WERE CUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY REPAIR FOR THE ENGINE COOLING FAN REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11110740

Incident

Jul 8, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

AFTER BUYING CAR IT HAS GONE TO THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS THREE DIFFERENT TOWS STILL OVER HEATING AND CUTTING OFF AFTER REPLACING WATER PUMP WATER PUMP HOUSING TENSIONER PULLEY ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR COIL PACK THERMOSTAT

NHTSA ID

11094142

Incident

Mar 21, 2018

Mileage

202,000 mi

I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND HEARD A POP. THE COOLING FAN BLADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR HAD BROKEN AND MADE A HOLE IN MY RADIATOR. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE FAN BLADE AND THE RADIATOR. THREE WEEKS LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FAN BLADE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR, ONCE AGAIN MAKING A HOLE IN MY NEW RADIATOR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE DESIGN FLAW AND, APPARENTLY, A HUGE PROBLEM WITH 2006-2008 CHARGERS. I'M SO GLAD I WAS IN TOWN ON SMALL LOCAL STREETS BOTH TIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF RECALL FOR THIS PART AND THERE ISN'T. I HAVE THE 5.7L V6 HEMI CHARGER AND IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11030052

Incident

Sep 26, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi