Why does my Chrysler 300 5.7 Hemi tick at idle?

Short answer: A ticking 5.7 Hemi at idle often means lifters and cam are wearing. Shorten oil intervals, get a mechanic’s listen/borescope, and budget a cam/lifter job if it is already ticking.

Symptom: Tick at hot idle that may quiet with rpm, MDS-related chatter talk, or a shop saying the cam is wiped.

What to check first

1. Record the tick at hot idle.
2. Ask for a lifter/cam inspection.
3. Shorten oil changes if you keep the MDS system.
4. Get quotes for cam/lifter repair versus MDS-delete rebuild packages.

Likely causes

1. Collapsed/failed MDS lifters and cam wear. Hemi tick on 5.7 engines is commonly worn lifters and cam lobes, especially on MDS cylinders. Left alone it can eat the cam.
2. Oil change interval / oil choice. Owners arguing prevention stress shorter oil intervals and the right viscosity. Tick already present still needs mechanical inspection.
3. MDS delete / non-MDS cam as a repair path. Some owners delete MDS with a tuner or install non-MDS cam/lifters during a rebuild so the failure mode cannot return the same way.

What it usually costs

Owners discussing prevention and deletes did not post a single standard price; cam/lifter jobs on Hemis are major engine work.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Short trips may continue, but a worsening tick can leave metal in the engine—do not ignore it.

DIY or shop?

Oil interval changes are DIY. Cam/lifter replacement is a shop job.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Related recalls: NHTSA lists these recalls touching this area of the Chrysler 300: 14V634000 (2011-2014 model years, electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator); 17V435000 (2011-2014 model years, electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator); 17V741000 (2014-2014 model years, electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 630 keyword-matched complaints for Chrysler 300 2011–2023 (of 1683 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-11-06; keywords: lifter, tick, mds, cam, oil). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In Wondering about MDS Delete. on Reddit r/Chrysler300, a Chrysler 300 owner asked about MDS delete after learning about Hemi tick and MDS-related lifter failures. Replies debated electronic deletes versus mechanical non-MDS cam/lifter packages.
• In Modlist that will allow you to Idle without Hemi tick? on Reddit r/Chrysler300, Chrysler 300 owners discussed mod lists aimed at idling without Hemi tick, reflecting how common the idle tick complaint is on these cars.

Quick tip

Once a 5.7 ticks at idle, plan the repair—do not wait for a dead hole.

Vehicle focus: Chrysler 300 with the 5.7 Hemi roughly 2011-2023 (MDS-equipped).

Safety / mechanic note

Sudden engine failure can leave you stranded. Verify with a mechanic.