2012 Dodge Charger
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.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 2 |
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1293 |
| 2007 | 554 |
| 2008 | 609 |
| 2009 | 174 |
| 2010 | 232 |
| 2011 | 692 |
| 2012 | 648 |
| 2013 | 358 |
| 2014 | 342 |
| 2015 | 135 |
| 2016 | 182 |
| 2017 | 125 |
| 2018 | 122 |
| 2019 | 118 |
| 2020 | 57 |
| 2021 | 32 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 19 |
| 2026 | 3 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
50% of complaints: electrical system — 325 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIRE INJURYShow 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, 20241209
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, 20171108
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, 20171108
17% of complaints: air bags — 109 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURYShow 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, 20130730
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, 20130502
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, 20120928
15% of complaints: engine — 94 distinct reports on file.
FIREShow complaint excerpts
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, 20171108
10% of complaints: power train — 64 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIRE INJURY8% of complaints: steering — 53 distinct reports on file.
CRASH FIRE INJURYSAFETY TIMELINE
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
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.
Campaign 11V487000 — check if this car was fixed
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 REQUIREMEN
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 1
Campaign 12V004000 — check if this car was fixed
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 M
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 O
Campaign 12V042000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 12V197000 — check if this car was fixed
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
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
Campaign 13V118000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 14V101000 — check if this car was fixed
Alternator failure
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.
Campaign 14V634000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 15V467000 — check if this car was fixed
Vehicle rollaway, engine on
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.
Campaign 16V043000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 16V240000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 16V352000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 17V435000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 18V021000 — check if this car was fixed
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.
Campaign 19V018000 — check if this car was fixed
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
2012 Dodge Charger — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for electrical system issues (325 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for air bags issues (109 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for engine issues (94 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 11V487000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
- Verify recall 12V004000 (tires) has been completed.
- Verify recall 12V042000 (electrical system, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 12V197000 (electrical system, service brakes, air) has been completed.
- Verify recall 13V118000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 14V101000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 14V634000 (electrical system) has been completed.
- Verify recall 15V467000 (air bags, seat belts) has been completed.
- Verify recall 16V043000 (structure) has been completed.
- Verify recall 16V240000 (power train) has been completed.
- Verify recall 16V352000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 17V435000 (electrical system) has been completed.
- Verify recall 18V021000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 19V018000 (air bags) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST 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 50% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Charger have?
14 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.