2012 Dodge Charger problems and recalls

55% of owner complaints on the 2012 Dodge Charger related to the Electrical System (359 of 648).

648
Complaints
14
Recalls
20
Crash reports
49
Fire reports
16
Injuries
75.3
Severity index

Severity index 75.3 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 75.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 41 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 68% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 359 complaints (55.4%)359 55%Air BagsAir Bags: 111 complaints (17.1%)111 17%EngineEngine: 94 complaints (14.5%)94 15%Power TrainPower Train: 65 complaints (10.0%)65 10%SteeringSteering: 53 complaints (8.2%)53 8%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 52 complaints (8.0%)52 8%Service BrakesService Brakes: 46 complaints (7.1%)46 7%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 35 complaints (5.4%)35 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM35955.4%
AIR BAGS11117.1%
ENGINE9414.5%
POWER TRAIN6510.0%
STEERING538.2%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING528.0%
SERVICE BRAKES467.1%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)355.4%

Complaints filed per year

0651302012: 52013: 312014: 1122015: 1302016: 902017: 1142018: 442019: 432020: 312021: 72022: 122023: 112024: 102025: 62026: 2 (partial year)121314151301617181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20125
201331
2014112
2015130
201690
2017114
201844
201943
202031
20217
202212
202311
202410
20256
2026 (year to date)2
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (27 against 50).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V01800015/01/2019AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEChrysler (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
17V43500010/07/2017ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATORChrysler (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 eng
18V02100009/01/2018AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEChrysler (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, Sou
14V10100004/03/2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSChrysler 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
16V24000025/04/2016POWER 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, equip
16V35200024/05/2016AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEChrysler (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
16V04300028/01/2016STRUCTUREFCA 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
15V46700027/07/2015AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWChrysler (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
13V11800003/04/2013AIR BAGSChrysler 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 wiri
12V04200007/02/2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULECHRYSLER 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.
12V00400006/01/2012TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMSCHRYSLER 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 MONITORIN
11V48700029/09/2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCHRYSLER 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,
14V63400008/10/2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATORChrysler 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
12V19700002/05/2012SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULECHRYSLER 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.

Other Dodge Charger model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 12 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.