Water Quality When Mixed With Engine Coolant
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Dodge Charger engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Dodge Charger have filed 24 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 90,153 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Charger | 31 |
| 2010 Charger | 40 |
| 2011 Charger | 31 |
| 2012 Charger | 39 |
| 2013 Charger (this page) | 24 |
| 2014 Charger | 26 |
| 2015 Charger | 10 |
| 2016 Charger | 12 |
| 2017 Charger | 6 |
When does it fail?
Of the 24 engine complaints filed for the 2013 Dodge Charger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
wiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY (with mileage above 30,000) review and follow instructions from STAR Online S1809000007 REV. C available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Dodge Charger engine shows a clear pattern of failures that go beyond normal wear. Timing chain tensioners, guides, and chains break or detach without warning, sometimes catastrophically—one owner was coasting across three interstate lanes at 80 mph when the engine died. These failures have occurred at mileage levels between 80,000 and 168,000 miles. Dodge issued a recall for the same components in 2009-2012 models but did not extend it to the 2013, despite using identical parts through 2019.
Rocker arms and lifters wear prematurely, producing ticking noises and leading to engine misfire, hesitation, and loss of power. At least one owner needed a complete engine replacement at 125,000 miles. Alternator diode failures cause sudden total electrical shutdown while driving, losing power steering, ABS, and stability control. One owner experienced this at 50 mph in city traffic.
Other documented issues include oil filter housing cracks, fuel tank leaks, coolant temperature sensor malfunctions that dealers can't diagnose, and stalling at low mileage without clear cause. Owners report difficulty getting dealer support—one waited three weeks for parts with only five days of loaner coverage and faced cancellation of vacations. The breadth of failures suggests systemic engine design or quality control issues in this generation.
Same Dodge Charger engine reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Timing chain and tensioner failure
Timing chain tensioners, guides, and chains break or detach, causing catastrophic internal engine damage including warped valves, bent pushrods, and in some cases complete engine failure. Occurs without warning at highway speeds.
When: 80 mph highway driving, 138,000 miles, 125,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine stall at highway speeds; Complete loss of power; No warning lights before failure; Engine dies while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement or rebuild required; timing chain tensioner, timing chain guides, timing chain all require replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2009-2012 Dodge Chargers with same components; 2013 model year not included despite using identical parts through 2019. Consumer reported case number 32974397 opened with manufacturer.
Alternator diode failure
Alternator diodes fail rapidly, causing complete electrical shutdown while driving. Vehicle loses all functions including ABS, ESC, and power steering. Low battery indicator precedes total failure by 1-2 minutes.
When: City street driving at 50 mph; failure recurred within minutes of restart
Symptoms owners cite: Low battery indicator light illumination; Complete shutdown of ABS, electronic stability control, power steering; Inability to shift to park initially; Burning or melting smell; Total loss of vehicle functions
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replacement required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall P60/NHTSA 14V-634 issued but only covered 160-amp alternators; 180-amp alternator equipped vehicles reportedly experiencing same failure not covered
Rocker arm and lifter wear
Rocker arms and lifters wear prematurely, producing tapping or ticking noise and causing excessive camshaft wear. Results in bucking, surging, hesitation, loss of power, and misfires. May lead to complete engine failure requiring replacement.
When: 125,000 miles, 145,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Ticking or tapping noise from engine; Bucking and surging; Hesitation; Loss of power; Engine misfire; Abnormal noise at idle
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required in at least one case; rocker arms, lifters, and camshaft replacement indicated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One case contacted manufacturer; no recall coverage offered for lifter failure
Oil filter housing fracture and leakage
Oil filter housing fractures and leaks oil suddenly without warning. Housing system found to be loose at installation.
When: 122,450 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leakage without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Entire oil filter housing system replaced
Fuel tank and exhaust fuel leak
Fuel tank develops hole allowing fuel to leak from tank, exhaust pipe, and muffler. Vehicle exhibits strong fuel odor and smoking. Heat shield also develops hole. Vehicle came equipped with two mufflers and no resonators.
When: 168,237 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Strong fuel odor; Smoking from vehicle; Fuel leaking from side of fuel tank; Fuel leaking from exhaust pipe and muffler
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel tank, muffler, exhaust pipe, and heat shield replacement required
Coolant temperature sensor or cooling system malfunction
Coolant temperature goes above limit, triggering temperature warning light repeatedly during driving. Problem recurs after coolant refills, suggesting sensor malfunction or underlying cooling system issue. Dealer unable to locate cause.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant temperature warning light illumination; Excessive coolant temperature; Repeated recurrence after coolant refill
Repairs/costs cited: Coolant refill attempted; no permanent repair found
Sudden engine stall
Vehicle stalls suddenly while driving at various speeds with no prior warning or diagnostic codes. Complete power loss reported in at least one case where instrument panel would not illuminate.
When: 6,000 miles, 40 mph, 50 mph driving speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden stall while driving; Engine warning light illumination; Complete power loss in some cases; Instrument panel failure to illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: One case involved timing chain detachment requiring engine rebuild or replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted and case opened
Computer/PCM malfunction
Engine control unit or PCM fails after software update, causing stalling and multiple warning lights. Computer fails to operate as designed; software reflash performed but did not resolve issue. Computer replacement ordered.
When: 91,500 miles; occurred after software recall update
Symptoms owners cite: Oil warning light illumination; Vehicle stalling; Multiple warning lights; Ticking sound from engine initially misdiagnosed
Codes mentioned: Cam positioning sensor code, Computer-related codes
Repairs/costs cited: Cam positioning sensor replaced; computer software reflashed; computer replacement ordered but vehicle still would not run; timing chain guide found shattered with broken timing chain
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall for computer software update was issued but did not resolve issue; subsequent diagnosis revealed timing chain problem not covered by recall
Engine noise undiagnosed
Abnormal engine noise reported at low mileage that dealer could not duplicate during diagnostic testing. No repair performed.
When: 30,000 miles, 51,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from engine; Whistling noise at 70 mph
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; dealer unable to duplicate
Transmission or driveline hesitation and surging
Vehicle lunges forward when accelerating instead of smooth acceleration. Occurs consistently in 1000-2000 RPM range since purchase.
When: Early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Forward lunge instead of smooth acceleration; Occurs between 1000-2000 RPM consistently
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Dodge charger. The contact stated that the oil filter housing fractured and leaked oil without warning. The contact took the vehicle to maguire Dodge Ram of syracuse (959 hiawatha blvd w, syracuse, ny 13204, (315) 487-6211) where it was diagnosed that the entire oil filter housing system was loose. The dealer installed a new oil filter system in the vehicle. The…
Alternator
Had engine trouble with your 2013 Dodge Charger?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2013 Dodge Charger?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 24 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 40,000 and 130,000 miles, with the median around 90,153. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 130,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Dodge/Charger.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.