Most common 2012 Dodge Charger problems
Share of the 648 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Charger complaints by model year
Best Charger years: 2022, 2021, 2015. Years to avoid: 2011, 2012, 2008, 2006. Compare all years →
2012 Dodge Charger recalls (14)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa,…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured February 15, 2011, to November 27, 2014, and 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured July 16, 2012, to December 22, 2015.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software to mitigate the risk of vehicle rollaway, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016.
Structure
FCA US LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured August 23, 2010, to January 7, 2016. When an affected vehicle is lifted using the supplied tire jack without chocking the wheels, the vehicle's body-side sill may give causing the tire jack to fail and the car to fall.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will provide owners with wheel chocks and instructions for their use, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2016.
Show 8 more recalls
Seat belts
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured May 6, 2010, to June 5, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the side impact sensor calibrations may be overly sensitive, and as a result, the side air bag inflatable curtains and seat air bags may unexpectedly deploy and the seat…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the Occupant Restraint Control module calibration, free of charge. The recall began on August 25, 2015.
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango; and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured April 22, 2010, to January 2, 2014, and equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured May 20, 2010, through November 8, 2011, and equipped with halogen headlamps. In the affected vehicles, a sub-harness for the headlights may overheat and cause the low beam headlights to go out.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlamp jumper harnesses and bulbs, or the headlamp assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2014.
Air bags
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured April 11, 2011, through December 14, 2011.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace both driver and passenger seat airbag wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011 and 2012 300 and Dodge charger vehicles. These vehicles May lose ABS/ESC system function due to an overheated power distribution center.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the ABS/ESC system fuse, free of charge. The safety recall began on May 18, 2012. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011 and 2012 Dodge charger police vehicles. The low beam headlamps of some vehicles could fail due to an overheated bulb harness connector. Other vehicles May lose ABS/ESC system function due to an overheated power distribution center.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will replace the headlamp jumper harnesses and relocate the ABS/ESC system fuse within the power distribution center, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 2, 2012.
Tires › Pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 Dodge charger srt8 and the Chrysler 300 srt8 vehicles manufactured from May 2, 2011, through November 17, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 138, "tire pressure monitoring system" (TPMS).
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the vehicle's TPMS. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on March 2, 2012. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
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 3 possible defects involving the 2012 Dodge Charger:
Alternator failure
On July 22, 2014, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-022 to investigate 14 complaints (VOQs) alleging incidents of alternator failure resulting in engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2011 through 2012 Dodge Charger vehicles.The MY 2011 through 2012 Dodge Charger vehicles were sold with three different engine options:1) 3.6L V6 (VIN8 = G), 88,766 vehicles; 2) 5.7L V8 (VIN8 = T), 38,615…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Vehicle rollaway, engine on
On April 22, 2016, Fiat Chrysler Automotive US LLC, (FCA) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding a defect that could result in unattended vehicle rollaway with the engine running in approximately 811,586 model year (MY) 2012 to 2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles and MY 2014 to 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 8-speed transmissions and a monostable gear selector (NHTSA…
What 2012 Dodge Charger owners say
Electrical system all 359 →
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The driver was able to coast to the side of the roadway and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the failure as an alternator diode-thermal fatigue in which the alternator needed to be replaced. The alternator was replaced along with the water pump, caskets, and thermostat. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle was overheating and was taken to the dealer where the same failure cause was determined, and a thermostat was replaced in January. The contact stated that the paperwork stated that an alternator was not available. The contact stated the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V435000 (Electrical System) in March 2018. …
Oct, 2022 my car did not shift out of park so I googled my car and the problem, So it said it was my monostable shifter modular. I towed it to A Transmission mechanic and they did a full body diagnostic test and I was told all I needed was to buy a new transmission shifter modular and a PCM to get my car running again. I did not have the $ 4,200 for them to fix my car so I had it towed back home. Now as of today my car is not running still because of the transmission shifter modular and PCM I bought brand new Installed myself and for some odd reason the electrical started flickering as if maybe the wiring is wrong or something. …
Air bags all 111 →
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Charger. The contact stated after the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired und NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V018000 (Air Bags), he noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the warning light was not illuminated before the vehicle was taken to be repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was an electrical connector that was not compatible with the air bag. The contact was informed that the part was not covered under warranty and had to be replaced out-of-pocket. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 201,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the air bags wiring harness to be reconnected. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience a failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Engine & cooling all 96 →
Oct, 2022 my car did not shift out of park so I googled my car and the problem, So it said it was my monostable shifter modular. I towed it to A Transmission mechanic and they did a full body diagnostic test and I was told all I needed was to buy a new transmission shifter modular and a PCM to get my car running again. I did not have the $ 4,200 for them to fix my car so I had it towed back home. Now as of today my car is not running still because of the transmission shifter modular and PCM I bought brand new Installed myself and for some odd reason the electrical started flickering as if maybe the wiring is wrong or something. …
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, she saw steam exiting the hood. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to her residence. The contact stated she continued to see steam exiting from the engine. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the engine was misfiring and the ignition wire for cylinder #2 to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,957.
2012 Dodge Charger engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 19 / 30 / 23 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | AWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
| 6.4L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 23 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Dodge Charger a good car?
Based on 648 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Charger rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Charger at the same age. It is one of the Charger 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 Dodge Charger?
The electrical system — 359 complaints, 55% of all complaints for this model year, most often about alternator/generator/regulator. Next are the air bags (111) and engine & cooling (96).
How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Charger have?
There are 14 recalls for the 2012 Dodge Charger, the most recent from January 15, 2019 (inflator module). 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 Dodge Charger?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2021 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2012, 2008 and 2006. See the full Dodge Charger years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Dodge Charger problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 32% 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.