Most common 2012 Chrysler 200 problems
Share of the 638 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chrysler 200 complaints by model year
Best 200 years: 2010, 2017, 2014. Years to avoid: 2015, 2012, 2013. Compare all years →
2012 Chrysler 200 recalls (4)
Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. A component within the occupant restraint controller (ORC) may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying in the event of a rear-end crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Air bags
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017.
Air bags
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013.
Engine and engine cooling
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 Chrysler vehicles, including 200 and town and country models, Dodge vehicles, including charger, durango, grand caravan and journey models and Jeep grand cherokee vehicles manufactured from August 31, 2011, through September 13, 2011, that are equipped with 3.6l engines.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and replace the engine free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about November 18, 2011. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Chrysler 200:
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early…
What 2012 Chrysler 200 owners say
Engine & cooling all 161 →
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated while driving at 50 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 13V282000 (Electrical system, Air Bags), 16V668000 (Seat belts, Air Bags), and 17V640000 (Seats, Air Bags). The vehicle was repaired however, the failure still occurred. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 11V487000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 181,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the Emissions Recall Campaign: U67. The contact stated that the dealer determined that the check engine warning light failure was an Air Flow Circuit Sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
Electrical system all 140 →
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the horn inadvertently activated. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power while driving. The contact coasted to the side of the road and waited to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the fuel pump relay relocation kit needed to be replaced; however, the mechanic was unable to install the replacement part. Additionally, the mechanic disconnected the horn. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that occasionally, while driving at various speeds at night, the headlights intermittently became inoperable. The failure occurred with the high beam and low beam headlights. Additionally, the windshield wipers only operated at high speeds because the variable speed control was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The battery was replaced; however, the failures reoccurred. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
Air bags all 136 →
The contact owned a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed during night, a bright light suddenly obstructed his view to the roadway. The contact's son veered the steering wheel and suddenly crashed into a traffic signal, where it came to a stop. The traffic pole was knocked down and landed on top of the vehicle, damaging the front windshield and roof. The contact's son was unsure what exactly happened, and is unsure whether the vehicle spun around or crashed into any other private property. The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact's son was covered in glass from the front windshield and suffered injuries to the back on the right side that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. …
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that the seat belt warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the front driver's seat headrest was defective. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who provided a cost for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V640000 (Seats, Air Bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
2012 Chrysler 200 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 30 / 23 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Chrysler 200 a good car?
Based on 638 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 200 rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the 200 at the same age. It is one of the 200 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Chrysler 200?
The engine & cooling — 161 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system › radiator assembly. Next are the electrical system (140) and air bags (136).
How many recalls does the 2012 Chrysler 200 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2012 Chrysler 200, the most recent from October 10, 2017 (head restraint). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chrysler 200?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2017 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2012 and 2013. See the full Chrysler 200 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Chrysler 200 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 41% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.