Why is my 2011–2020 Dodge Challenger 5.7 Hemi ticking?

Short answer: A light, steady tick from a 5.7 Hemi can be normal injector and valve noise. But a tick that gets louder, comes with a misfire or rough idle, or shows up as a check-engine light is often a failing lifter (the small roller part that rides on the camshaft). Left alone, it can wear the cam lobe. Get it checked early.

Symptom: A ticking or tapping from the top of the engine that follows engine speed, sometimes with a rough idle, misfire codes or a check-engine light.

What to check first

1. Listen at idle and as you rev slightly. Owners say a tick that gets worse over weeks is a warning sign.
2. Read the codes. Misfire codes along with a tick point toward a lifter.
3. Have a shop check the oil control valve screen for metal. Owners say metal there can mean bigger engine damage.
4. Keep up with oil changes using the oil the manual calls for.

Likely causes

1. Failed lifter roller (often on MDS cylinders). Challenger Talk owners describe lifter and cam failures; the repair means removing the heads and replacing lifters.
2. Worn camshaft lobe from a failed lifter. If the lifter has chewed the cam, the camshaft gets replaced too.
3. Normal injector/valvetrain tick. Owners on r/Dodge note a light tick can be normal on these engines.

What it usually costs

I couldn't find a reliable published price for a Challenger lifter and cam job. It's a big repair because the heads come off, so get a written quote that says whether the cam is included.

Is it safe to keep driving?

A light normal tick is fine. A tick with a misfire, rough idle or flashing check-engine light is not: keep driving and a failed lifter can wreck the cam and spread metal through the engine. Get it checked soon and avoid hard driving until then. Verify with a mechanic.

DIY or shop?

Shop for most owners. Lifter and cam replacement is a heads-off job. Code reading and oil changes are DIY.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• No recall covers Hemi lifter failure.
• NHTSA complaints: 33 keyword-matched complaints for Dodge CHALLENGER 2011–2020 (of 1,180 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-17; keywords: tick, lifter, camshaft, cam shaft, misfire, MDS).

What owners report

• An owner on r/Challenger asked what happens if the Hemi tick goes untreated; replies warned that metal in the oil control valve screen can mean a full engine replacement.
• A Challenger Talk owner described a 5.7 lifter and cam failure, the 'Hemi tick'.
• On r/Dodge, owners debated whether a 5.7 tick was normal noise or a failing lifter.

My take

My advice as a former lube tech: I've seen plenty of Hemis that ticked a little their whole lives. The ones that worried me had a tick that changed. If yours gets louder or starts misfiring, don't wait for the next oil change.

Vehicle focus: 2011–2020 Dodge Challenger R/T with the 5.7L Hemi V8.

Safety / mechanic note

A failing lifter can quickly cause major engine damage. Verify with a mechanic.