Is the 2012 Dodge Charger reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2012 Dodge Charger is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Charger?

The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 56% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Charger have?

14 recalls on file for this model year.

2012 Dodge Charger

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2012 Dodge Charger
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints: 648
Recalls: 14
Investigations: 3
Top problem: Electrical system

Complaints per year

2012: 648 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1983	0
1984	1
1985	2
1986	0
1987	0
2001	3
2005	0
2006	1,294
2007	554
2008	609
2009	174
2010	232
2011	695
2012	648
2013	359
2014	343
2015	136
2016	182
2017	128
2018	122
2019	120
2020	57
2021	34
2022	16
2023	26
2024	9
2025	19
2026	5
2027	0

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

56% · 365 reports

Most commonly citing alternator/generator/regulator and 12v/24v/48v battery.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Show complaint excerpts

My insuramce claim is [XXX]. [XXX] afternoon. My car was parked on hill parking lot. I put on drive, was getting ready to leave and go home. Car has no acceleration, start sliding down while i stepped on gas.

NHTSA ODI report, 2024-12-09

Also filed under Service brakes

Takata recall sent a notice about the alternator. It was on the second carfax I received but not from the original dealer I got the car. They never replaced the alternator.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-08

Also filed under Engine

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge Charger. While driving 45 MPH, the windshield wipers activated independently, and the traction control and battery saver mode warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle stalled.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-08

Air bags

17% · 111 reports

Most commonly citing inflator module and driver clockspring/spiral cassette.

CRASHINJURY

Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while traveling between 50-60 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-07-30

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp illuminated when vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-05-02

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-09-28

Engine

15% · 94 reports

FIRE

Power train

10% · 65 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Steering

8% · 53 reports

CRASHFIREINJURY

Safety timeline

14 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

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2011-12-28Engine and engine cooling11V487000 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…

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.

Check if this car was fixed →
▮
2012Complaint volume 648 complaints filed for this model year.
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2012-03-02Tires12V004000 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…

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the vehicleâs TPMS. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on March 2, 2012. Owners may contact Chrysler at…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2012-04-02Electrical system, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic12V042000 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…

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…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2012-05-18Electrical system, service brakes, air12V197000 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.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2013-04-22Air bags13V118000 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…

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…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2014-05-02Exterior lighting14V101000 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.

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. Owners may contract Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2014-07-22Preliminary evaluationClosed 2014-11-06 Alternator failure
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2015-02-27Electrical system14V634000 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...

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. Chrysler's number for this recall is P60.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2015-08-25Air bags, seat belts15V467000 Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured May 6, 2010, to June 5, 2014.

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. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Check if this car was fixed →
I
2016-02-03Engineering analysisClosed 2016-06-24 Vehicle rollaway, engine on
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2016-03-21Structure16V043000 FCA US LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured August 23, 2010, to January 7, 2016.

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. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2016-06-24Power train16V240000 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,...

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. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2017-03-27Air bags16V352000 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.

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.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2018-02-12Electrical system17V435000 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.

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.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2018-02-28Air bags18V021000 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,...

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. The recall began February 28, 2018.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2019-02-04Air bags19V018000 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.

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. The recall began February 4, 2019.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2012 Dodge Charger — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

Electrical system: 365 reports on file for this year.
Air bags: 111 reports on file for this year.
Engine: 94 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

Recall 11V487000 · Engine and engine cooling
Recall 12V004000 · Tires
Recall 12V042000 · Electrical system, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic
Recall 12V197000 · Electrical system, service brakes, air
Recall 13V118000 · Air bags
Recall 14V101000 · Exterior lighting
Recall 14V634000 · Electrical system
Recall 15V467000 · Air bags, seat belts
Recall 16V043000 · Structure
Recall 16V240000 · Power train
Recall 16V352000 · Air bags
Recall 17V435000 · Electrical system
Recall 18V021000 · Air bags
Recall 19V018000 · Air bags

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2012 Dodge Charger reliable?: Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2012 Dodge Charger is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Charger?: The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 56% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Charger have?: 14 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.

2012 Dodge Charger

Complaints per year

Known problem areas

Electrical system

Air bags

Engine

Power train

Steering

Safety timeline

Buy-smart checklist

Inspect

Verify these recalls were completed

Other years of this model

▲Best years3 years

■Worst years3 years

FAQ

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years