2019 Dodge Charger Scat Pack: What Buyers Need to Know

The 2019 Dodge Charger Scat Pack sits in an interesting spot in the used muscle car market — powerful enough to compete with purpose-built sports cars, practical enough to seat five, and still available at prices well below new. But buying one used means understanding exactly what you're getting: a high-output, performance-tuned machine with ownership costs to match.

What Makes the Scat Pack Different From Other Charger Trims

The Charger lineup spans several trim levels, and the Scat Pack is not just a cosmetic upgrade — it's a distinct powertrain tier. Where the base and mid-range Charger trims use a 3.6L Pentastar V6, the Scat Pack steps up to the 6.4L HEMI V8, rated at 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. That engine is shared with the Dodge Challenger Scat Pack and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT — so parts and service knowledge are well-established.

Paired to that engine is an 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. There is no manual option on the Charger in this trim. The rear-wheel-drive layout is standard; no AWD is available on the Scat Pack.

Key standard features on the 2019 model include:

The Scat Pack also includes launch control, line lock (for track use), selectable drive modes (Sport, Default, Track, Custom), and an electronic limited-slip differential. These aren't just comfort features — they directly affect how the car behaves and how it wears over time.

What to Inspect When Buying a Used 2019 Scat Pack 🔍

Because these cars attract enthusiastic drivers, their history matters more than average. A Scat Pack with 30,000 miles driven hard at a dragstrip is a very different purchase than one used as a daily commuter.

Check for signs of performance use:

• Tire wear patterns (uneven wear may signal burnouts or hard launches)
• Brake rotor condition — Brembo-equipped cars stop hard, but rotors still wear
• Suspension components for modifications or damage
• Transmission fluid condition and color

Pull a full vehicle history report, but don't rely on it alone. Many launch events and track days go unreported. A pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with HEMI-powered vehicles is worth the cost.

Look at modification history carefully. Scat Packs are popular platforms for aftermarket upgrades — intakes, exhausts, tuners, and supercharger kits. Any ECU tune or power-adding modification may affect the powertrain warranty (if any remains) and can alter how the engine and transmission behave long-term.

Fuel Economy and Running Costs

The 392 HEMI is not an efficient engine. EPA estimates around 13 MPG city and 23 MPG highway, though real-world figures often run lower depending on driving style. The engine includes cylinder deactivation (MDS) — it can run on four cylinders during light cruising — but aggressive drivers frequently see averages in the 14–16 MPG range overall.

Premium fuel is recommended. Dodge specifies 91 octane or higher for optimal performance. Running regular may not cause immediate damage, but it can reduce power output and, over time, stress the engine.

Other ownership costs that vary by location and driving habits:

• Insurance — V8 muscle cars typically carry higher rates than comparable sedans; your driving history and state matter significantly
• Tires — The wide rear tires (245/45ZR20) wear faster under performance driving and are not cheap to replace
• Oil changes — The 6.4L uses a larger oil capacity than average; synthetic oil is standard practice

Reliability and Common Issues

The 6.4L HEMI has a solid reputation built over years of production. That said, no engine is without its known patterns.

MDS (multi-displacement system) lifter wear is a documented issue on HEMI engines, including the 6.4L in some cases. Symptoms include ticking noises and rough running. Severity varies; some owners disable MDS via a tune to reduce wear risk, though this affects fuel economy and warranty status.

The 8-speed transmission in performance applications has had mixed feedback — generally reliable, but sensitive to fluid maintenance and aggressive use.

Check for open recalls using the NHTSA database or the vehicle's VIN before purchasing. Recall status doesn't always transfer cleanly between owners, and some repairs may still be outstanding.

What the Right Scat Pack Looks Like Depends on Your Situation

A clean 2019 Scat Pack with documented maintenance history, no modifications, and a pre-purchase inspection is a different purchase than one with an aftermarket tune and 60,000 hard miles — even if both are priced similarly. Price, insurance rates, registration costs, and emissions requirements also shift significantly by state. 🚗

The car is the same across the country. What you pay to own it, insure it, register it, and maintain it depends on where you live, how you drive, and what the specific vehicle's history looks like.