2012 Dodge Charger

Typical pattern

1.2% of complaints about the 2012 Dodge Charger came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2012 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (365 complaints), typically at 4.3 yr or about 64,000 miles.

Complaints: 956
Median age at failure: 4.6 yr
Median mileage: 64,000 n=717
Crash / fire / tow: 16.5% of reports
Safety recalls: 10 3 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System

0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y

Electrical system

365 reports · 64,000 mi

4.3 yr

18.9%

Air bags

111 reports · 60,306 mi

4.8 yr

13.5%

Engine

93 reports · 80,000 mi

5.6 yr

17.2%

Power train

65 reports · 66,900 mi

5.0 yr

13.8%

Steering

53 reports · 72,000 mi

5.8 yr

15.1%

Exterior lighting

52 reports · 48,000 mi

3.3 yr

13.5%

Service brakes

43 reports · 60,000 mi

5.0 yr

23.3%

Electronic stability control (esc)

35 reports · 55,000 mi

3.3 yr

8.6%

Other

33 reports · 80,000 mi

5.8 yr

12.1%

Speed control

20 reports · 68,200 mi

3.1 yr

10%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V018000 2019-01-15 Do not drive

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.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

18V021000 2018-01-09 Do not drive

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, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, a

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

16V352000 2016-05-24 Do not drive

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 Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, o

These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants

17V435000 2017-07-10

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. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.

If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

16V240000 2016-04-25

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. The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.

Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.

16V043000 2016-01-28

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.

A car that falls unexpectedly increases the risk of injury.

15V467000 2015-07-27

Air bags:side/window

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 belt pre-tensioners may activate.

Air bags that unexpectedly deploy increase the risk of a crash or injury.

14V634000 2014-10-08

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. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.

If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

14V101000 2014-03-04

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.

Loss of headlights reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

13V118000 2013-04-03

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. The affected vehicles may have improperly sized terminal crimps on the seat side-airbag wiring harness which may cause the seat side-airbags to malfunction and illuminate the airbag warning light.

In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment the airbags may not operate as designed, increasing the risk of injury.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 6,800 mi 1.0 yr in service crash / fire / tow

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, HE WAS CRASHED INTO FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 55 MPH AND WAS PUSHED INTO A PRECEDING VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, SHOULDER AND HEAD INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 6,800.

Air bags 10,980 mi 1.3 yr in service

WHILE DRIVING, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. HAS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY IN THE PAST. ONLINE SEARCH INDICATES THAT IT IS LIKELY WIRING TO A SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. WIGGLED WIRING UNDER SEAT AND LIGHT TURNED OFF. WILL HAVE DEALER LOOK INTO PROBLEM AT NEXT SCHEDULED SERVICE VISIT. PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FOR A RECALL; A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET BRINGS UP MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Air bags mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CENSOR CONTINUES TO COME ON AND OFF. EVEN THOUGH A RECALL HAS CAME OUT EACH TIME I CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY TELL ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS AND THAT DODGE HAS NOT CAME UP WITH A PERMANENT FIX FOR THE ISSUE. I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD CAUSE MAJOR INJURY. WHY SEND OUT A RECALL IF THE PARTS ARE NOT EVEN AVAILABLE? *TR

Electronic stability control (esc) 39,418 mi 2.2 yr in service

HEAD LIGHT HARNESS MELTING, LOW BEAMS NOT WORKING, ABS/ESC LIGHTS ON CONSTANTLY AND VEHICLE NOT STOPPING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF ABS/ESC ISSUES, SPOKE WITH DODGE AND WERE ADVISED THAT OUR VIN# WAS NOT ON THE LIST TO BE REPAIRED FOR KNOWN RECALLS RESULTING IN THESE ISSUES - SEE THIS LINK FOR RELATED RECALLS HTTP://WWW.MOTORTREND.COM/CARS/2012/DODGE/CHARGER/RECALLS/. *TR

Other Charger model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.