Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

2018 Dodge Charger pre-purchase inspection checklist

What to check before you buy, built from NHTSA recall data, owner-reported failures, and mechanic intel. Print it or bring it to your mechanic.

Pre-purchase inspection · 2018 Dodge Charger
Check another vehicle
2018 Dodge Charger
SXT / GT / R/T / Scat Pack / Daytona / SRT 392 (LD, 7th gen, 2011-2023)
Watchful

The LD Charger is the last truly large American rear-drive sedan — roomier than any competitor and available with V8 power at used-car prices. The 5.7L Hemi MDS cylinder deactivation lifters are the primary mechanical risk (same as Ram 1500 and Durango). The V6 Pentastar avoids MDS entirely and is the budget-friendly reliable choice. Strong performance value when service history is documented.

Items to check
13
Open recalls
1
NHTSA complaints
260
Top concern
Hemi MDS lifter failure / electronics (UConnect)

Powertrain

5.7L Hemi MDS lifter failure

High Attention
MDS deactivating lifters in the 5.7L Hemi collapse at 60k–120k miles with neglected oil changes. Ticking at idle + misfire codes = lifter failure.
Cold-start the engine and listen for persistent ticking. Scan for P0300-series misfire codes. Verify oil interval records.
Est. cost: $3,000–$6,500 lifter replacement Source: Hemi MDS well-documented pattern

Transmission fluid and torque converter

Monitor
8HP70 ZF 8-speed is excellent but shudder at 25–45 mph = torque converter fluid contamination.
Test under light throttle at highway on-ramp.
Est. cost: $350–$550 fluid flush / $2,500–$4,000 torque converter Source: 8HP70 service pattern

Electrical

UConnect 8.4 freeze / GPS antenna

Monitor
UConnect 8.4 on LD Charger has documented freeze and GPS antenna failure issues.
Test navigation, Bluetooth, and backup camera.
Est. cost: $0 update / $500–$1,500 head unit Source: Dodge campaigns

Brakes

Brake pad and rotor wear (high-performance models)

Monitor
Scat Pack and R/T models are often driven hard — brake wear is accelerated. Inspect pad thickness and rotor runout.
Test brakes at varying speeds for pull, vibration, or squealing.
Est. cost: $400–$800 full brake service Source: Performance car inspection standard

Suspension

Control arm bushing wear

Monitor
Lower control arm bushings wear at 80k+ miles on the LD platform.
Check for clunking over bumps and inspect bushings visually.
Est. cost: $400–$800 per side Source: LD platform wear pattern

Documentation

Engine variant + Hemi oil history (and no, this is not a Takata car)

Critical
FCA's Takata inflator campaign covers the 2006–2015 Charger; a 2018 is outside it, so ignore any listing that advertises the repair. The document that actually decides this purchase is the oil history: the Hemi MDS lifter failure is the expensive fault on this car and it tracks oil-change discipline more than mileage.
Require complete Hemi oil-change records, then run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the campaigns that do apply. No records on a V8 Charger = walk away regardless of how the car drives.
Est. cost: Walk away from an undocumented Hemi — lifter/cam repair runs $4,000–$7,000 Source: FCA Takata affected-model list (mopar.com), verified 2026-08-09

NHTSA Recalls (verify completion via VIN)

Multiple
Open recalls — VIN check
Campaigns vary by build date. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and require every open recall closed before purchase.
After you buy: common DIY repair guides
Planning the upkeep this car will need? Our step-by-step guides cover oil changes, brake pads & rotors, battery replacement, transmission fluid, coolant flushes, and spark plugs — each with the tools, parts, torque specs, and common mistakes that matter. Browse all repair guides →

More Dodge checklists

2018 Challenger · 2018 Durango · 2023 Challenger
Want this exact car professionally vetted?
Independent pre-purchase inspection — we arrange it and walk you through the findings.

Send us the listing and we reply within 1 business day. Nothing due until we confirm a mechanic and a time. Piloting in Phoenix; other US metros by arrangement.

Get an inspection quote Get the full Vetting Report
The Vetting Report: this VIN’s full recall status, known-failure cost ranges, negotiation talking points, and inspection priorities — delivered within 24 hours.