[Kevin Wright]

Hello all. I am looking at getting a new Dodge Charger RT in the summer, but in the mean time I have been looking up the reliability of the Charger, so I am putting it out to all of you, what is your personal experience?
Since this will be the first Dodge product I am considering, I want as many facts as possible before I commit. I know some of my friends who have had Dodge vehicles have had bad experiences, and they have told me to stay away, but I have found no more serious issues with the new Charger than with any other new vehicle.
So please help. Good and bad experiences
Thanks

 

[blackRTnTN]

Go for it! I've had my 2012 R/T since July 2012 and it now has 35K and I've only had a couple of minor problems. I was very suspect of buying a Chrysler product based on horrible experiences my parents had with several of their cars in the mid 90s, but to-date I am very impressed with the Charger. I'd put it's quality up against that of my '06 Infiniti G35 and it hands down blows away the reliability of my Cadillac CTS which is what the Charger replaced.

 

[Charger RT CT]

I second the go for it advice! My first car was a mopar...Le Baron turbo from the 80s. Fun car but not very well made. Like you, I was concerned with going back to Dodge/Chrysler but after researching for a while, found these cars are very well made with proven parts. I have a 2011 RT I bought new in early 2013 (yes, 2 year leftover) and it has been flawless in its first 20k miles. Mine was one of the first produced of the second generation so I thought it might have some hiccups as an early build but it has not.

It is the by far the most fun car I've ever owned. Not surprisingly given its looks, it also gets the most compliments and attention.

 

[HemiLonestar]

06 R/T with over 120,000 miles and going strong. I also have an 03 Ram hemi with over 140,000 miles on it. You take care of it, it will last.

 

[SuperTrooper169]

The first car I learned to drive on was a 1987 Dodge Charger. I now own a 2009 Dodge Charger. There's absolutely nothing in common other than the name. Dodge has come a long, long way since those dark days. The Charger is especially a very reliable car. Like any car little things will pop up but nothing major for me so far in my nearly 2 years of ownership.

 

[Kevin Wright]

Thanks so far guys. I was originally thinking the Dodge Durango, but with the laundry list of issues with it and the class action lawsuits over it, AND the 24 gallon tank which will blow a hole in my pocket when gas prices hit over $1.30/litre up here in Canada, it scares me off.

 

[Ddaddy]

Thanks so far guys. I was originally thinking the Dodge Durango, but with the laundry list of issues with it and the class action lawsuits over it, AND the 24 gallon tank which will blow a hole in my pocket when gas prices hit over $1.30/litre up here in Canada, it scares me off.

What does the size of the fuel tank have to do with operating cost?

It's how much fuel you you per Km that actually matters. The size of the tank just means how often you need to refill it based on your driving.

 

[Kevin Wright]

for me a 24 gallon tank is alot. $130 every 2 weeks for the durango, does not make sense. That is more than my insurance. So the Charger with its zippo-like gas tank is the better choice

 

[Shots]

The point Ddaddy was trying to make is the size of the tank doesn't affect how much it cost you to drive it. If you use 24 gallons every 2 weeks, that's based on how much you drive, not the size of the tank. If you use 24 gallons every 2 weeks and it had a 12 gallon tank, you'd just have to fill up twice as often. Tank size doesn't affect operating cost. Make sense?


Anyway back to the original question.
Being on a Dodge enthusiast site you're likely to hear good things about them. If you posed the same question on a Ford site, most (if not all) of them would say the Charger is riddled with problems.
On that note. I've owned Chevys, Dodges, Fords, a Pontiac, and a Honda, so I'm far from brand loyal. I'll buy the best car/truck I can get for the best price. However, having said that, I'm on my 3rd Charger (and I'm on my 5th Ram). My first Charger was a used SXT. Nice car, but nothing fancy. The second Charger was a new SXT loaded with options. I had no real reason to get rid of it, except that I wanted to upgrade to a V8, so I traded it for a RT.
As for longevity. They seem pretty durable. I drive one at work every day, and it doesn't exactly live an easy life, but it seems to take whatever abuse I throw at it.

In the end it's hard to find a really bad car. Naturally some are better than others and you'll find lemons in all brands, but cars companies have come a long way, and even the imports are pretty good quality these days. Of course I obviously like what Dodge has been doing the last few years which is why I've bought 3 Chargers.

 

[Kevin Wright]

Well Shots, for me $260 on gas a month does effect operating costs, as I have always budgeted a certain amount for gas. Maybe later I might say "screw it" and toss away that amount, but for now, no.

As you said all companies have come along way, but you will still find lemons. I totally agree, and when I have researched the Charger and found nothing more mechanically worse than an Impala, Taurus(which I have to compare it to). I thought why not?

 

[michiganpat]

Well Shots, for me $260 on gas a month does effect operating costs, as I have always budgeted a certain amount for gas. Maybe later I might say "screw it" and toss away that amount, but for now, no.

As you said all companies have come along way, but you will still find lemons. I totally agree, and when I have researched the Charger and found nothing more mechanically worse than an Impala, Taurus(which I have to compare it to). I thought why not?

uh, what I think guys are trying to say is there is no difference in operating cost if you have vehicle A averaging 20mpg with a 24 gallon tank, vs. vehicle B averaging 20mpg with a 18 gallon tank. you'll just be filling up vehicle B more often....

no idea about durango economy, but my RWD charger R/T has been averaging about 22mpg over the 3 years I've owned it

 

[Shots]

Well Shots, for me $260 on gas a month does effect operating costs, as I have always budgeted a certain amount for gas.....

As observed by michiganpat, I don't think you understand what we meant.
Operating cost = How much it cost you to operate a vehicle over a given time. This includes fuel consumption, maintenance (oil, filters, tires, etc).

I wasn't trying to imply that the cost of fuel is inconsequential. In fact it is a major factor to many people when buying a new car/truck, so it's a legitimate concern.

To try to be more clear.
If you buy a Durango that gets 17mpg with an 18 gallon tank you'll be empty in 306 miles (492 KM per tank).
That same Durango getting 17mpg with the optional 24 gallon tank will allow you to drive 408 miles before empty (656 KM per tank).
Yes the 24 gallon tank will cost more to fill from empty, but that doesn't mean it will be empty sooner.
If you drive 492 KM a week you'll be filling the 18 gallon tank from empty, but the 24 gallon tank will still have 6 gallons left so you'll be filling from 1/4 tank. With either tank those 492 KM will cost you the same 18 gallons of fuel. So the operating cost is unaffected by tank size.

Point being, if fuel consumption is a concern, you need to be looking at efficiency not the size of the tank. A bigger tank does not mean less efficient. It just means you've got further range before you need to stop for fuel.

I hope that made more sense this time .

.......As you said all companies have come along way, but you will still find lemons. I totally agree, and when I have researched the Charger and found nothing more mechanically worse than an Impala, Taurus(which I have to compare it to). I thought why not?

I don't think it was a bad idea to ask. On the contrary. I think it's very wise of you to do some research before jumping into a purchase. Just keep in mind that if you inquire on a vehicle specific site, they're likely to be a bit biased.
For example, go to a Ram forum, and ask about a F150. They'll tell you it's trash, and unreliable. Flip that so you ask about the Ram on the Ford site, and the responses will be exactly the opposite. I guess what I was trying to say is, take the responses you get with a grain of salt.

 

[DodgeGuy]

Go with R/T , Kevin

My first Dodge was 2010 Caliber, which I choose for brutal design all over same class other cars and was happy with it for 3 years. No issues.
After 3 years, I already knew that want Charger and bought new 2013 SXT Plus, which was really cool and relativelly gas-saver car, enjoyed it, except one thought - became not enough for me, so traded after 1 year for 2014 R/T.

And basically my real needs - powerful cruiser for me and family (2 small kids) - happy with it, specially with current gas prices.

 

[kevin1727]

Thanks so far guys. I was originally thinking the Dodge Durango, but with the laundry list of issues with it and the class action lawsuits over it, AND the 24 gallon tank which will blow a hole in my pocket when gas prices hit over $1.30/litre up here in Canada, it scares me off.

LOL! Yes, I understand what you're saying about the gas tank. The size is typically inversely proportional to the fuel economy.
I was always a GM guy. I loved my full size Impalas. In 1993 I traded a Coupe DeVille in for an Intrepid. I have been a Dodge devotee since. Two Intrepids over 20 years and they proved to be very reliable. Never left me stranded and no major issues.
As for the Charger, I can't speak for the V8 but my V6 8 speed has been a pleasure so far and my fuel economy is great which is why I chose the 8 speed.
I have read several good fuel economy reports on the R/T too. The MDS is turning in some impressive highway economy. Of course you can always have fun with the V8 when the gas prices are low.
I really don't think you can go wrong with a Charger. I would buy another one in a heartbeat but with the gas prices this low I would probably get the R/T.

 

[krautmaster]

My garage and driveway contain: 1968 Chrysler Newport Convertible, 2001 Chrysler 300M, 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser, and 2013 Dodge Charger. I have not had to replace anything on any of them other than normal wear/tear items like timing belts, brake pads, fan belts etc. The headlights on the PT flicker, so I have to fix the ground wires and my Charger does need a new alternator, but all the V-6's are on recall for that issue.

I have also owned quite a few other Mopars over the years, and the only bad ones were from the late 1970's when all American cars were crap. The three absolute worst cars I've owned have all been Fords, and I will never buy another , but that is mainly because I'm too big to fit in them with their tight interiors that have narrow buckets and huge consoles (that and their brakes suck-I call them "Push n Pray").

Bottom line: maintain the car and it will last a long long time.

 

[Ddaddy]

LOL! Yes, I understand what you're saying about the gas tank. The size is typically inversely proportional to the fuel economy.

OK, so why does the SRT Hellcat and the 3.6L V6 have the virtually the same size fuel tank?

Fuel tank size is irrelevant.

MPG is what determines operating cost.

 

[michiganpat]

OK, so why does the SRT Hellcat and the 3.6L V6 have the virtually the same size fuel tank?

Fuel tank size is irrelevant.

MPG is what determines operating cost.

because they're the same car with different engine options...I think he was making a blanket statement comparing different cars....a chevy cruze has a 12 gallon tank, a dodge ram has a 35 gallon tank. you'd expect the cruze to have better mileage...of course, a ram with the ecodiesel can get real world highway economy over 30mpg, which isn't that far off from the cruze....

 

[Playhard]

Ill bit regardless of the gas tank size debate going on. lol. I've had my 2011 RT for two years with only a few minor issues fixed under warranty. Been a great car so far. Bottom line, I had no problem buying it because it's what I wanted. End of story.

 

[HemiLonestar]

because they're the same car with different engine options...I think he was making a blanket statement comparing different cars....a chevy cruze has a 12 gallon tank, a dodge ram has a 35 gallon tank. you'd expect the cruze to have better mileage...of course, a ram with the ecodiesel can get real world highway economy over 30mpg, which isn't that far off from the cruze....

LOL not mine

 

[Shots]

Ha ha, mine either. My last 2 did, but I didn't waste the money on that option this time around. No need to carry the extra weight in fuel, since I avoid going below 1/2 tank anyway.