The power of the Internet can sometimes work for good. I’ve been lurking around ChallengerTalk for a week or so now and noticed a sticky thread that involved 5.7 Hemi cars, timing chains, and warranty work. A quick look revealed plenty of information that would be of great concern to anyone with any of the LX platform cars (Charger, 300C, Magnum) and the LY-platform Challenger…mainly because gross engine failure is usually the end result. Challengers seem to be the most affected vehicle, however. Even Johnny Hunkins of Hot Rod and Popular Hot Rodding got bitten with his 2011 Dodge Challenger when the timing chain broke. Here’s what you need to know: while the year range is pretty sketchy and could potentially affect the entire model run, generally 2009-12 Chrysler LX/LY cars with the 5.7 Hemi V8 and automatic trans are affected. If your Challenger is a six-speed, you are fine. During MDS (cylinder deactivation) operation at freeway speeds, for reasons that still elude Chrysler/FCA Powertrain engineers, the timing chain can break. We don’t need to tell you what happens next, and because the 5.7 is an interference engine, bent valves are pretty much guaranteed and piston damage is likely. And that doesn’t account for whether or not the timing chain guide shoe or tensioner fails, at which point there’s a possibility of fragments being introduced into the oil supply.

Photo: Johnny Hunkins

There isn’t a clear reason as to what is causing the timing chain to snap. One theory is that the Challenger, in MDS operation between 2,300 and 2,800 RPM, creates conditions that are optimal to bring the chain and/or tensioner to the breaking point. Another is that the timing chain itself, a new design for 2009, is simply not stout enough, but it was used on all of the engines.

ChallengerTalk user “raVenX” tracked failures that he was seeing pop up on just that forum and put together some metrics:

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 (A quick look around other LX sites indicates this might not be accurate)
C. New guide shoe (white color) has also failed
D. New crate motor has also failed (One particular forum member had a replacement engine break the chain after 4,000 miles)
E. Both stock and mod cars affected
F. Both stock tune and Predator tune (with MDS turned on) affected (Turning off MDS is preventative, but has problems. See below)
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

In early 2014, FCA released Customer Satisfaction Notification P01, which is meant to address the issue:

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. 

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/

Now, here’s where the fun of dealing with the dealership begins: if you have modified your engine, your warranty was voided, and that does include turning off the MDS via a controller as a precaution. If the dealership suspects that the vehicle has been raced, expect things to turn into a long, drawn-out battle. And here’s the biggest eye-opener, one that Hunkins learned: the technician is only allowed to service the timing chain as part of the recall work. Once the timing chain is fixed, they have to reassemble the vehicle, start the engine to prove that there is engine damage, and only then will they remove the heads for inspection. Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?

So what do you do? If you have a warranty and your car lives, hound your dealership about getting the work done. If you must drive the car, use the AutoStick for manual shifting to keep the car out of MDS. DO NOT use a tuner to shut MDS off or your warranty will be voided! If your car is getting close to 100,000 miles, just plan on doing a timing chain, it’s cheap insurance.

You can read up on the ChallengerTalk thread HERE

You can read the Mopar Muscle article HERE