Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Dodge Charger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
My 2012 Dodge Charger was bought used and it had been recently repaired and recalls performed on it. (The dealership was nice to point that out to me.) in Dec 2020 Wa. state. I have had nothing but problems with it. About a month later I had smelled smoke. I had my car scanned and it said camshaft needed to be replaced. So I did. It has stalled and seized up without warning. I was only going 40 miles an hour when the steering went hard( could not move or control it) The dashboard went black and I tried to pull it to the shoulder. The engine was still on. I would put the gas on ... but it had died. There was one other vehicle on the road at that time following me. He went around just in time. This not only happened once but two times. Since the car was a dodge i went to that dealership. A couple of times telling then the problem. They just wanted to scan the vehicle for $85.00 PER SCAN. …
I purchased a 2012 Dodge Charger shortly after tha it just stopped working. It was perfectly fine and then it just wouldn't start. It only turned on to accessory mode. The lights ,radio,ac, ect. turned on but the vehicle did no. The brake pedal was very hard couldn't be pushed down. On the dashboard a red lightning bolt symbol with two parentheses appeared. I got it towed the dealership send the problem was the battery and the key fob. I picked it up it was fine and then a few days later while driving on the highway it suddenly started to lose power and completely stopped. same red lightning bolt symbol appeared.I barely made it to the side of the road. I had my son with me. It was a very scary situation our lives were in danger as well as the other drivers behind me because of the sudden decrease in speed. I had to get it towed for the second time. …
Service power steering warning comes on, causes my gauge cluster to go blank & dark, I lose A/C, power steering, headlights work intermittently, blinkers & all steering wheel button options stop working, and my transmission will start downshifting shifting erratically. It downshifts so hard I'm afraid I'll lose control of my car. Yesterday I had a message pop up saying it was going into Power Saving Mode. When the power steering warning is on, my A/C will have half the vents blowing cold air, the other half blowing hot heater air. During the winter my heated seats only worked intermittently. All of these issues are related to the past recalls on my car that were supposedly fixed; however, the problems are still occurring. Can somebody please contact me about these recalls and tell me what I should do? Thank you!
While driving my 2012 dodge charger at times it pops out of driving going into neutral. It happens when I'm on the hwy or in town. And the air bags has illuminated on the dash and it is at the dealership, and I was told, I have to pay for everything out of pocket.To replace it, popping out of gear while driving and the airbags. The dealership is not going to warranty anything because it's past. It does it off and on, and I don't know when it's going to happen. Popping in and out of gear. So I took it to the [redacted] 4025 Cleveland Blvd Caldwell Idaho. 83605.
Vehicle will shift into Neutral while driving while the gear shift is still in Drive. This happens multiple times throughout the week with speeds varying from 35-50 mph. I have not noticed if the road condition makes a difference, I have gone downhill, up hill, around corners, etc and it will randomly shift into neutral. I cannot recreate the issue, it just happens at random.
Lifter failure is causing metal shavings from the cam to fall into the engine block and cause the engine to fail. This is a known problem with these cars and nothing is being done about it by the manufacturer.
I started my vehicle and pulled out of my garage as I do each morning. As I went down the driveway at almost idle speed, I could feel a strong resistance (as if the emergency brake was on) and the power steering tightened up. Suddenly a strong burning smell filled the car, all of the lights on the dash came on and the ac fan blew on high speed. I immediately reversed back to the garage (100 feet or less) and was barely able to park. There was obviously something burning under the hood as the smell filled the garage. I turned off the car. When aaa arrived to tow it, the car was completely dead. The driver chose not to jump it for fear of doing more damage. My local trusted mechanic advised me that there was a recall on 2012 Dodge Charger alternators and he believed that it was my alternator that had failed. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the battery and low battery voltage warning indicators illuminated once the vehicle had been started and put in motion. While driving, various warning indicators flashed, the radio shorted, and there was a loss of power and steering. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to a repair shop. A mechanic noticed that the vehicle independently shifted from park into another gear and crashed into another vehicle being serviced at the repair shop. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the contact had not yet received a response from the dealer and manufacturer. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V240000 (power train) and 16V352000 (air bags). The approximate failure mileage was 79,000. Parts distribution disconnect. …
Vehicle rollaway, engine on. Re: odi pe15-30 and ea 16-002. I exited my vehicle with the engine running and the transmission was not in park. The vehicle hill start assist gave me enough time to exit the vehicle and then it began to roll backward. The open driver's side door knocked me down and dragged me 50 feet. My right leg and foot went under the left front wheel which pulled me out from under the open door. The vehicle continued rolling backward over an embankment and crashed on the road below. The vehicle was a total loss and I sustained a severe sprain to my right foot. I have pictures and an insurance claim report to provide proof of this incident.
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
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…
Transmission complaints in other Charger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2012 Dodge Charger?
NHTSA has 65 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2012 Dodge Charger, 10% of the model year's 648 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Charger transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-240 (control module (tcm/pcm/tecm), Apr 25, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Dodge Charger transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 2 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.