Chargerbuyer's guide

The LD Charger looks like a muscle car bargain until the repair bills arrive. The two faults that define whether you are buying a driver or a project are CVT/automatic shudder or harsh shift — fluid-neglected transmissions run $900–$5,500 to fix or replace — and engine oil consumption or leak, where low oil on a V6 or Hemi quietly destroys bearings and timing components for $500–$4,500 or more. Neither fault announces itself on a brief test drive in warm weather. This guide walks you through the checks before you pay a deposit.

This guide covers ten documented issues: CVT/automatic shudder or harsh shift, Engine oil consumption or leak, Coolant leak or overheating, Infotainment/camera electrical faults, Suspension knocks and tyre wear, Brake corrosion or seized caliper, AC condenser/compressor fault, Water leak or accident repair, ADAS/radar calibration fault, and Recall/campaign status. Each fault has a field check and a real repair-cost range.

A low-owner LD Charger with full service records and a clean diagnostic scan is a genuinely rewarding used car. Without those, the repair costs outrun the purchase price quickly. This guide tells you which one is in front of you, in twenty minutes.