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Timing chain failure on the Dodge Challenger

1M views 6K replies 443 participants last post by  Mopar Frank 
#1 · (Edited)
I have been finding many reports of the timing chain breaking on the Dodge Challenger, mostly in the 5.7L Hemi engines. The timing chain breaks in most reported instances around the 35K-40K mile range.

Once the timing chain breaks, the end result is usually the valves smacking the pistons which bend the valves, damages the pistons and leads to catastrophic engine failure. This often requires a new long block.

How many of you have had the timing chain break? How many miles on the car when when it happened? and what was your experience in getting it repaired?

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Known instances of the timing chain breaking on the 5.7L Dodge Challenger just in this forum alone in the past few months:

1. 06/27/2011 -- mileage not mentioned -- ... come to find out the timing chain broke ...

2. 07/19/2011 -- 85,000 miles -- ... and the timing chain broke...

3. 09/27/2011 -- 33,385 miles -- 2009 R/T Motor Broke

4. 11/23/2011 -- 38,000 miles -- Club member's car. Broken timing chain. Car in shop for over two months.

5. 12/07/2011 -- 34,000 miles -- I found this thread the hard way...

6. 12/19/2011 -- 22,600 miles -- 2010 Challenger - Timing Chain Breaks...

7. 01/21/2012 -- 60,000 miles -- Engine went..........

8. 02/02/2012 -- 38,000 miles -- 2009 Challenger R/T lost a second motor .. (Second occurrence. See #3 above. 4,000 miles on new motor).

9. 03/08/2012 -- 50,000 miles -- BLOWN ENGINE 50,000 miles

10. 03/23/2012 -- 14,000 miles -- ... my timing chain snapped

11. 04/04/2012 -- 53,500 miles -- My timing chain just broke today ...

12. 04/16/2012 -- 46,000 miles -- Mine is in the shop with a broken timing chain...

13. 04/27/2012 -- 31,000 miles -- My chain broke back in December of 2011 ...

14. 05/22/2012 -- 37,000 miles -- Here's another 2010 Auto R/T with a broken timing chain! ...

15. 06/13/2012 -- 40,257 miles -- I too have a broken timing chain ...

16. 06/23/2012 -- 38,485 miles -- Guess I can be added to the list ...

17. 06/26/2012 -- 38,500 miles -- Just happened last Saturday ...

18. 08/02/2012 -- 59,134 miles -- ... all of a sudden Bam the engine shuts down

19. 08/03/2012 -- 38,000 miles -- I had this happen at 38000 miles, 2010 R/T Auto

20. 08/08/2012 -- 27,000 miles -- The timing chain on my 2010 R/T just broke ...

21. 08/10/2012 -- 59,300 miles -- ... timing chain broke again. (Third occurrence. See #3 and #8 above. 16,000 miles on new motor).

22. 08/10/2012 -- 63,000 miles -- ... timing chain broke cruising at 70mph on the highway

23. 09/03/2012 -- 40,000 miles -- ... while driving to dallas my timing chain broke

24. 09/11/2012 -- 24,000 miles -- Welp - chalk up another one ... (first 2011 to be reported here)

25. 09/21/2012 -- 31,100 miles -- This just happened a few days ago ...

26. 10/10/2012 -- 42,559 miles -- Well it's looking like I'm the latest timing chain victim ...

27. 10/24/2012 -- 65,000 miles -- ... driving on the highway 65MPH and "Pop goes to weasel"

28. 11/18/2012 -- 40,000 miles -- Mine just broke...2010 mopar 10, no mods, auto ... (first to break not at highway speeds)

29. 11/19/2012 -- 39,000 miles -- just got another 2010 with 39000 in today ...

30. 12/04/2012 -- 40,000 miles -- The timing chain on my 2010 Auto RT broke last Friday ...

31. 12/09/2012 -- miles pending -- ... R/T not running at the moment timing chain broke ...

32. 12/11/2012 -- 27,000 miles -- ... cruising on the interstate at 70, MDS on, when suddenly loss of power ...

33. 01/03/2013 -- 58,000 miles -- ... the dealer has confirmed that I did have a timing chain failure.

34. 01/22/2013 -- 40,000 miles -- It has been confirmed I as well did have a broken timing chain

35. 01/22/2013 -- 43,000 miles -- 2010 R/T, 5-speed auto with mds. No mods at all.

36. 02/22/2013 -- 52,000 miles -- ... it happen to me this weekend ...

37. 04/15/2013 -- 55,000 miles -- I have now become victim to a failed timing chain

38. 04/20/2013 -- 73,000 miles -- cruising at 65 mph, in MSD, engine 'shut down'

39. 05/13/2013 -- 66,000 miles -- lost it on the interstate doing 73 in MDS

40. 05/20/2013 -- 56.616 miles -- ... on the freeway headed to work in the rain and Wham

41. 05/24/2013 -- 28,000 miles -- the chain went on the highway at 70+ mph

42. 06/07/2013 -- 88,256 miles -- ... driving down the highway heard a loud pop ...

43. 07/01/2013 -- 52,000 miles -- Timing chain broke on freeway ...

44. 07/23/2013 -- 54,057 miles -- Was in a canyon going uphill at about 55mph ... (claims MDS not engaged)

45. 07/26/2013 -- 49,000 miles -- Cruising along 65 mph engine stalled.

46. 08/10/2013 -- 22,281 miles -- I wish I found this topic sooner

47. 09/17/2013 -- 40,091 miles -- driving 74 mph in cruse control just died ...

48. 10/04/2013 -- 68,000 miles -- Add another one to the list OMG.

49. 10/22/2013 -- 89,000 miles -- Timing chain went on my 09 Challenger

50. 11/13/2013 -- 55,320 miles -- I had hoped I would never be posting this message ...

51. 11/13/2013 -- 42,342 miles -- Just got up to highway speed Bam Powerloss ...

52. 11/21/2013 -- 53,000 miles -- Add me to the list of failures ...

53. 11/27/2013 -- 73,000 miles -- I was cruising at highway speeds (70 mph), in MDS

54. Recall initiated, see below.

Remember, these reports are from this forum alone. Real world numbers are greatly increased.

The things in common when the timing chain breaks so far are:

1. MDS is activated (auto trans., so 6-speed are excluded)
2. Traveling at freeway speeds (or coming off of freeway)
3. 2009-2011 model years affected so far.
4. Limited to the 5.7L motor so far
5. Dodge Challenger only

Things ruled out thus far:

A. 6-speed manual transmissions not affected
B. Other 5.7L vehicles not affected, i.e., Charger, 300, Ram truck
C. New guide shoe (white color) has also failed (see #8 on list of failures)
D. New crate motor has also failed (see #3 and #8 on list of failures)
E. Both stock and mod cars affected
F. Both stock tune and Predator tune (with MDS turned on) affected
G. All oil change intervals affected, i.e., 3,000 miles, 5,000 miles, etc.
H. All types of oil affected, i.e., both synthetic and conventional oil

* Author's notes (last updated 10/28/13):

(1) When I created this thread, I was so taken back by a timing chain failure happening and discovering at least a half dozen similar occurrences, that I attempted to discover if anyone here had experienced a timing chain failure and what their dealership experience was. I got a lot of adverse feedback along the lines of "alarmist" and "chicken little" and other name calling, including some from dealerships and master mechanics, as can be seen in just the first few hundred posts below. Many attempted to derail this thread by taking it off-topic on many, many occasions. Some are still out there promoting denial of the issue. Still, the problem remains, it is real and it continues to plague fellow Challenger owners.

(2) The timing chain concern can be alleviated by disabling MDS (a band-aid solution not a fix). All but one recent report have shown that MDS was engaged and the car was traveling at freeway speeds. You can prevent MDS from being activated by switching into manual mode while driving on the freeway. You can read How to use the Autostick feature and manual mode here. You can also use a tuner to disable the MDS feature, but be forewarned, if the dealership discovers your use of a tuner on the car, you are in for a fight to get the repairs done under warranty.

(3) Chrysler is aware of the issue and has been monitoring this thread for some time regardless of they might tell you. In addition, many people have already telephoned customer service and have written to Chrysler directly. But, even without all of that, you don't have timing chains, tensioners, heads and short blocks rolling out of the warehouse in the numbers that they have without raising some internal red flags of a potential issue.

(4) Talks of running off to court and filing a lawsuit over this issue are misguided. Your warranty specifically states that you MUST first submit the matter to arbitration. Any lawsuit would be immediately dismissed, and now you are out the filing fees.

(5) When I first created this thread, the weekly parts demand for timing chains was at about 15. It is currently hovering around 35 at the moment.

(6) Chrysler has switched from the black tensioner and guide to white (supposedly stronger) and then to an aluminum tensioner and guide with a plastic face plate (the current part). Both black and white guides have failed. No reports of the aluminum failing yet but they are relatively new first showing up in mid-2013 R/T's.

(7) The exact cause of the timing chain failure is still unknown. In fact, it may never been known. There are just too many factors involved to isolate the problem, and if we haven't discovered the cause in over 350,000 page views, how can we expect Chrysler to? While there is a lot of speculation as to the exact cause, which seems to go round-and-round every few hundred posts, it is all just that -- speculation. What we do for for certain is that MDS is playing a part in the timing chain failures.

(8) Special shout outs to Desert Bum, Hal H, hmk123, Force10, 19johned53, and the nameless many who have helped to keep this issue real and on topic. Your comments are appreciated.

---------

* Author's notes (last updated 02/12/14):

Customer Satisfaction Notification P01
Engine Timing Chain and Chain Guide
Models
IMPORTANT: Some of the involved vehicles may be in dealer used vehicle inventory. Dealers should complete this repair on these vehicles before retail delivery. Dealers should also perform this repair on vehicles in for service. Involved vehicles can be determined by using the VIP inquiry process.
Subject
Repair
2009-2012 (LC) Dodge Challenger
(LD) Dodge Charger
(LX) Chrysler 300
NOTE: This recall applies only to the above vehicles equipped with a 5.7L Hemi engine (sales code EZD or EZH), automatic transmission (sales code DGJ) and rear axle ratio 3.06, 3.73 or 3.92 (sales code DMP, DME or DMH) built from August 04, 2008 through July 10, 2012 (MDH 080406 through 071008).
The engine timing chain guide on about 50,800 of the above vehicles may fracture. A fractured engine timing chain guide could cause the engine timing chain to break. A broken engine timing chain will result in severe engine damage.
The engine timing chain, timing chain tensioner and timing chain guide must be replaced.
Customer Satisfaction Notification P01 Engine Timing Chain and Chain Guide Page 2
Part Number Description
CBPRN291AA Engine Timing Chain Package
Each package contains the following components:
Quantity Description
1 Chain, Engine Timing
1 Guide, Engine Timing Chain
1 Tensioner, Engine Timing Chain
1 O-ring, Oil Pick-up Tube
1 Gasket, Engine Timing Cover
NOTE: Order two heater tube O-rings separately listed below for each repair.
Part Number Description
53013736AA O-ring, Heater Tube (order two per vehicle)
Each dealer
to whom vehicles in the recall were assigned will receive enough Engine Timing Chain Packages to service about 5% of those vehicles.

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Recall type:

Customer Satisfaction Notification - Customer Satisfaction Notifications are preventive in nature and involve warranty or customer satisfaction issues such as non-safety repairs. Chrysler will correct the problem, at no charge, even if the vehicle is out of warranty and you are not the original owner.

You can check if your vehicle is subject to the timing chain issue recall (or any other recall) by visiting the Chrysler website and entering your vehicle's VIN number. Visit: http://www.chrysler.com/en/mobile/webselfservice/

----------

We really want to thank everyone who wrote us, (Pietro), with their timing chain concerns. The engineering team has completed their work and the following statement has been released. If there are any questions, reach out to us on this forum as opposed to sending an email as that will be quicker.

Chrysler Group is launching a customer-service action to bolster timing-chain system durability in certain cars equipped with 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engines.

The decision follows an extensive investigation to determine the precise issue and appropriate remedy.
The investigation discovered the engine’s fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation technology may cause an adverse interaction with the timing-chain system. (Chrysler Group is unaware of any related injuries or accidents.) As a result, the Company will replace – at no cost to customers – the timing chains, tensioners and guides in certain vehicles built between Aug. 4, 2008 and July 10, 2012.

Affected are certain model-year 2009-2012 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 full-size sedans, and Dodge Challenger sport coupes. The scope is limited to vehicles equipped with 5-speed automatic transmissions and axle ratios of 3.06, 3.73 or 3.92.

Beginning this month, Chrysler Group will contact affected customers with instructions to schedule service appointments with their dealers.

Chrysler Group greatly appreciates the patience demonstrated by its customers while this issue was under investigation. The Company also values and shares the passion expressed on these pages by customers and fans alike.

Thanks,

DodgeCares
----------

Article: Timing Chain Failure on the Dodge Challenger – Ground Zero

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#2,289 ·
Yeah, my earlier post wasn't the clearest, I'm afraid, and I should've gone with my initial plan to quote the 2 or 3 posts I was responding to.

Some have brought up before that the MDS may be programmed differently on other models, explaining why Challengers are disproportionately affected (the very few Charger/300 failures could be freak occurrences, as opposed to the many Challenger ones posted here). They thought that the MDS programming was more aggressive on the Challenger, or that because wind resistance was less on the sleek coupe, MDS came on and stayed on more (less load). I doubt that drag coefficients are that different - gearings may be.

Now people seem to be saying that Dodge may be causing the MDS to come on more (on newer models or after repairs) and this could be a fix. If that's true, then it's because there's a problem during activation/deactivation (nasty vibration), so avoiding the hesitations (like trannies that don't know when to shift and keep going back and forth) would be the ticket. Whether the vibration causes a resonance or it's the jerking that slowly destroys the TC assembly is up for debate, 230+ pages of it...

What I'm saying, and it's a personal opinion on top of speculation (but we're deep into that), is that it would be a bandaid. No matter what, I'll get rid of MDS myself (the timing chain suspicions being the last straw), but I'm still following this because nothing has been settled and I'd like to know for sure what parts are likely to fail, and how, and when. I know I've been scapegoating the MDS, but I'm still not sure that it's the problem.
 
#2,290 ·
it could be as simple as a bad batch of chains, put in 5.7's and the day the arrived at the plant they were running a batch of Challengers hence the Challenger failures.
however with the thousand upon thousand of these motors out there there should be alot more failures especially on motors with very high mileage if there is a true timing chain guide issue

I am still leaning towards the failures are not that great, ya it would be bad to be one of the failures. also I doubt the Challenger is much slicker than the Charger in wind resistence looking at the frontal shape/area and the gearing on the autos are similar so I would dismiss that theory.

All Hemi chargers are autos, so you are not going to convimce me the TC's are designed wrong, yes there are failures 30 something on here and tens of thousands of Chrysler Dodge products with this same combo.

Why mostly Challengers?????? who knows but I am not going to loose any sleep over it, bsides at 2500 miles per year I might never reach 40000
 
#2,291 ·
No offense, sublime 781, but the problem with most of your points is that they have been addressed and settled in this thread before. Bad batch? Check the years of the Challengers that failed again. Doesn't hold any water.

And like yours most Challengers are not driven much at all, which, when you consider the average mileage for a failure (40,000 miles) may mean that a number of us are driving time bombs.

You're entitled to your opinion, and I'm not one to panic and cry that the sky is falling easily either. But I really think that to chime in intelligently you have to actually read this thread (I know it's long). I drive almost 20,000 miles a year so my concerns are obviously different - I didn't buy the car to speculate on value or look at it in my garage.
 
#2,292 · (Edited by Moderator)
no offence taken, just throwing out things to think about, stimulates the brain and might just get someone to think of the answer.

why with all the Chargers being Hemi Autos are there not alot of failures
there are tens of thousands high mileage Chargers with failure rate non existant

people are saying because of gearing differences. A Challenger tachs 2500 at 70 when they blow up
well a Charger with different gearing will tach 2500 at some mph, not everyone cruises at 70

different wind resistance, well a Charger is probably sleeker than a Challenger

weight they are within a few pounds


personally I still think this is isolated to some bad random chains and they break
there is no pattern to the breakage
the chain may break and in turn breaks the guide
maybe the guide breaks and takes the chain out
or maybe the dope smokers are sabotaging cars
 
#2,293 · (Edited)
We have more questions that anything else. If someone tells you that they know what causes the failures or why you shouldn't worry about it... please have them post here because we're all anxious for a resolution.

Redardless of whatever objections people can come up with, I always go back to that growing list on page one. I wasn't worried enough not to buy an auto R/T, but I am frustrated that we are still in the dark after all this time. Oh, I would LOVE for an official announcement from Dodge that the TC failures are a myth. I'd also like for them to explain then how/why all these posters got together and lied, or how 32 cars down with as low as 14,000 miles are insignificant. The collective you can raise all the suspicions they want, God knows we went round and round and turned every stone in this thread already, but they can't brush off the facts that easily.

Even the statistics have been discussed. 32 is not much given all the Hemis out there, no... but it's Challengers that fail; Challengers with an auto tranny; Challengers whose owners posted on this forum; Challengers with enough miles to have reached the breaking point. That 32 number starts to get preoccupying when you look at it that way.

ETA: just saw your edit so here's mine: could be possession cases too, like Christine. More questions or personal feelings about the risks ain't helping. If you want to ignore or dismiss the problem, fine, but why the need to post here and rehash old theories or bring up what's already been discarded?
 
#2,300 ·
... you have to identify the problem before you change anything or somethimg else fails.
Actually, you have to identify the cause before you make changes. You have it a little backwards.

We have identified the problem. i.e., the timing chain is breaking. What isn't known is the cause, i.e., what is causing the timing chain to break. Certainly MDS is playing a role in what is happening but even that isn't definitive as being the exact cause. It could be a balance or harmonics issue and MDS just happens to be engaged when it happens.

... and to help you understand why the bad batch of timing chains theory has been ruled out. You can look to the the cars that have had multiple timing chain failures. In one instance, the gentleman is on his fourth engine (see #3, #8 and #21 on the list). He has pretty much had timing chains from the beginning, middle, and end of the spectrum, and all have failed. Timing chains have been on back order since this thread was started over a year ago. Thus, you can deduce that those three failures all involved timing chains manufactured at various dates. But even if that weren't true and the timing chain was the cause, then you'd see it happening across all Challenger models and all Chrysler platforms which use the same exact same timing chain. We don't see that happening; therefore, we know it's not a bad batch of timing chains or the timing chain itself. We would all like to see a bigger and thicker timing chain, and that might help delay its failure for a time, but in the end, the cause would still be there.
 
#2,295 ·
Ugh....ignorance is bliss I guess. USRWDV8 is right, all of your points have been discussed at length and if you read this thread from beginning to end you might understand. Not all 5.7 Hemi's are created the same. My 2006 Charger RT's mds operation was way less intrusive and would only come on at highway speeds. In my Challenger, the MDS kicks in when going 5 mph in a parking lot as soon as I let of the gas. That means the mds kicks in about 1000 times more than it ever did in my charger. The timing chain and tensioner aren't exactly the same through the years either.

Challenger's appear to be more of the "Drive on the weekends and garage for the winter" type cars...that's why the numbers are somewhat low....but just keep growing. A bad batch of timing chains ey? That must of been the mother of all batches that stretches from 09 to 11 so far.

Do you even own a challenger? I don't see one listed in your sig.
 
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#2,297 · (Edited)
Not all 5.7 Hemi's are created the same. My 2006 Charger RT's mds operation was way less intrusive and would only come on at highway speeds. In my Challenger, the MDS kicks in when going 5 mph in a parking lot as soon as I let of the gas. That means the mds kicks in about 1000 times more than it ever did in my charger. The timing chain and tensioner aren't exactly the same through the years either.
Totally agree, as my 2006 Charger R/T MDS was the same as you describe. Usually didn't turn on until at least 40 MPH. Also, because of the VVT on 2009 and up, the chain is so much thinner now. Never heard of pre-2009 with problems.
 
#2,298 · (Edited)
Seems to me that you have to take in all the facts before throwing random explanations or raising doubts out there. You sound to me like you already made up your mind, sublime 781, and this while admitting that you didn't bother reading the thread. Not very scientific, is it?
The only thing I know for sure is how little I know. That's why I try to keep an open mind.
 
#2,299 ·
One thing I see on this thread that surprises me is the loyalty we challenger owners have to these cars. I myself not long ago wanted to sell or trade mine in due to this TC issue but couldn't bring myself to do it. We have a decent number of RT auto owners on here who like myself are hoping for an answer to this and in the meantime check in with this everyday. Some failure victims are on 2nd & 3rd motors and refuse to go to another car, that's loyalty. Would be nice if Chrysler was as loyal to its customers the way it's customers are to our cars. So Santa Chrysler,check my list and check it twice, an answer to mess be nice.


Sent from my iPhone using AutoGuide.com App
 
#2,301 ·
I have a Charger and Challenger both listed in my sig.
also if you read my posts I clearly stated I was throwing out thoughts to try to stimulate conversation and maybe have someone put togehter an answer to this.
The closet comparison we have is a Charger, the 300 is detuned and the Ram has different tuning and parts.
so if we look at the Charger and Challenger of the same years what is different between the cars?
they both use the same engine and parts, so is the problem in the ECU???
if the engines are identical which they are could we possibly eliminate the mechanical side? and contribute it to programming for the VVT or MDS
does the Challenger have a wider range on the VVT?
yes the screens fall out but they probably fall out in the Charger too same part.
finally I obviously hit some nerves on this subject so I will gracefully bow out,
 
#2,305 ·
at this point in time I would be looking at computer programming/operation.

there are to many vehicles using the same mechanical parts without failure
if it was truly the chain all late Hemis would fail, same for the tensioner and solenoid

or is it the human factor??? one person unlucky enough to get four bad engines??
what is his driving style there are so many variables to look at. stop and go traffic all highway hot climate cold climate everyone of these is going to change computer parameters which effect MDS VVt fuel delivery timing etc
and again 30 something failures is hardly catastrophic
 
#2,306 ·
30 failures on this website isn't all of whats out in the world. When my dealership lead tech almost vomits at the words "challenger timing chain failure", I know there is a lot of them. I'm sure there have been many more than 30...try in the hundreds...and that number will most likely rise dramatically in the next couple years as these cars get mileage on them. I am a betting man, and I would bet a good portion on it.
 
#2,307 ·
I say the chain is more at fault. Because if it wasn't for the wimpy chain Chrysler is using, we might of, at worst would of ended up with a broken tensioner that would be destroyed by the chain. Bad of course, but not breaking a chain and ruining the motor.

Maybe the chain would be fine on a Prius, but not a car like this.
 
#2,308 ·
USRWDV8, YOU COULD BE RIGHT IN THIS STAATEMENT!! "could be possession cases too, like Christine." The day I bought my car breand new and drove it over to my girlfriends house, she hated the Orange color so much she stood right next to it and PURPOSELY OUTLOUD stood there and put what she called her "MEAN MEXICAN CURSE" ON IT!! The poor car has had problems every since! (i just thought maybe we all needed a laugh, BUT IT IS TRUE!)
 
#2,309 · (Edited)
:icon_lol: I've felt that way about my Charger before... No, the chain is smaller than it used to be and Chrysler uses crappy plastics, but the fact that parts are shared with the other apparently trouble-free platforms points to something specific to the Challenger, like its programming as 19johned53 said. It's been on the table here for a long time now and the tweaks that we suspect they're trying on new or repaired cars seem to confirm it.

Could stronger parts help? Well, that never hurts but if they're doing OK on other cars (Chargers get driven a lot more and hard) I wouldn't worry about that.

I don't want to sound like I'm picking on sublime 781 (we've already lost a brilliant mind with Holeshot!), with whom I don't have a beef, but blaming the victim is an old tactic on forums or in repair shops. Must be their tune or they don't know how to drive, right? But again this is something that's been looked at before and doesn't hold water either. Almost none (2, from memory) of the cars were modded and almost in all cases they were being driven conservatively (cruising, with MDS on). Challenger owners love and baby their cars and I've said it before, those are the slowest cars I see on the road (Chargers are another story). Challenger owners are (we got stats) older and experienced drivers too. So I'm not buying the abuse/neglect argument one bit.

I'd personally ignore a handful of cases, not 32 and counting (they keep piling on with regularity as the mileages go up), and although I won't speculate on how many are out there unbeknownst to us or how many are about to fail, I agree with conceptmachine. The way to look at a problem reported online is to think it's either a fluke/fake or the tip of an iceberg. And I really don't see how so many reports can be viewed as the former.

My only hope is that we'll eventually get a definitive answer as to the cause, and that it's an easy fix like a different MDS programming. Ideas may be useful, but we've been looking at this (some like Desert Bum have contributed first-hand accounts of engine teardowns, not wild speculations) for too long to go back to square one with questioning whether this is even happening or the owners are at fault. My $.02.

We're at the point where Dodge needs to step in. Maybe they already have and aren't at liberty to talk, but the ball is in their court, even merely to stop the bad publicity as I suggested to them.
I'm not the first one to get that answer, but here's what a CSR sent me:

Dear [USRWDV8]:

Thank you for contacting the Dodge Customer Assistance Center in regards
to your 2013 Challenger.

I appreciate the time taken to inquire further with us regarding your
concerns related to the 5.7 Timing Chain.

The website you referenced is not ours and may contain erroneous
information.

Chrysler routinely analyses failed parts to develop product improvements
in response to data received from dealers and the warranty system.
Comments like yours are one way we have to learn of problems that may
develop and improvements desired by customers.

If you are experiencing any problems with an issue you feel deserves
attention, we certainly recommend that you contact your local dealer to
arrange an appointment so that they can inspect the vehicle and
determine an appropriate course of action.

Thanks again for your email, [USRWDV8].

ETA: I just read the above again and realized how much this sounded like most of my bosses: "You're a valuable employee so please be my eyes and ears and keep telling me what's going on so that I can do nothing about it". No wonder I keep changing jobs.
 
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#2,310 ·
To me, this one is one of the first ever reported (10-2010):
timing chain failure

And it is not a Challenger. It is a 2009 AWD car (a 300 or a Charger). The guy put 70k miles on it in 13 months: "drives to Indy every week about 4 hours.. miles add up fast.. Also the car is AWD." To me it fits the pattern: lots of highway miles. And I really wonder if using the cruise control makes it worse.

I know, ravenX thinks these failures are different from the Challenger since there are so few reported from 300/Chargers. Maybe it is just a lot more likely with a Challenger to stay prolonged in a certain RPM range that causes this issue? If that is so, wouldn't changing the tune at least minimize it?
 
#2,313 ·
That's what I'm doing too and just want to know for sure that it's all we have to do. I'd be fine with that.
 
#2,315 ·
Here's the biggest thing right here...
The common factor of cars with the timing chain failing:

1. Automatics w/ MDS

Everything else is a mute point...

Manuals are NOT failing.
Automatics w/o MDS are NOT failing.

All points to MDS..
If you have it, DISABLE IT, (tuner) or drive in Autostick..

Plain as day if you ask me..

Warranties will soon expire, then you'll be out of pocket if/when it breaks.
Take proper precautions NOW..
 
#2,316 ·
Here's the biggest thing right here...
The common factor of cars with the timing chain failing:

1. Automatics w/ MDS

Everything else is a mute point...

Manuals are NOT failing.
Automatics w/o MDS are NOT failing.

All points to MDS..
If you have it, DISABLE IT, (tuner) or drive in Autostick..

Plain as day if you ask me..

Warranties will soon expire, then you'll be out of pocket if/when it breaks.

Take proper precautions NOW..
I still think that there's something in the Challenger tune that's helping contribute to the failure. The only thing plain as day to me is that Challengers seem to have the highest failure rate. After that, we're all just speculating
 
#2,319 · (Edited)
Funny that some here are comparing the Charger MDS to our Challenger MDS. I had a employee of mine purchase a 2011 Charger R/T auto and when he asked me to take it around the block, I was amazed that I didn't feel the MDS kicking in as early as mine. In fact, I didn't think it when into MDS in the city driving that I did.

I auto stick now but last night, I let the MDS kick in and it was about 30mph that it started. Way to early IMHO. Dam I hate that MDS S_it!
 
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