repaired · 2020 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. 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…
2012 Dodge ChargerProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 648 owner complaints about the 2012 Dodge Charger, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 14 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-352 the manufacturer reports only 34% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 21, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Dodge Charger has problems
648 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
359Electrical system45 crash/fire/injury
111Air bags13 crash/fire/injury
94Engine12 crash/fire/injury
65Power train7 crash/fire/injury
53Steering
52Exterior lighting
43Service brakes
35Electronic stability control (ESC)
20Vehicle speed control
8520 other systems11 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 359 | 45 |
| Air bags | 111 | 13 |
| Engine | 94 | 12 |
| Power train | 65 | 7 |
| Steering | 53 | 5 |
| Exterior lighting | 52 | 7 |
| Service brakes | 43 | 5 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 35 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 20 | 2 |
| 20 other systems | 85 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
14 recalls
2012 Dodge Charger recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
Risk. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2018 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. 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…
Show 10 more recalls
repaired · 2018 Q1
Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2017 Q2
Structure
Risk. A car that falls unexpectedly increases the risk of injury.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Air bags: side/window
Risk. Air bags that unexpectedly deploy increase the risk of a crash or injury.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
Risk. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2015 Q3
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. Loss of headlights reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment the airbags may not operate as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
no report yet
Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
Risk. THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY AND/OR BRAKING ABILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Risk. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. CONNECTING ROD FAILURE MAY LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
64kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 282 electrical system complaints. 85% were reported before 100,000 miles.
18under 30k miles239under 100k miles43100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
20 owners mentioned a cost$884median
Middle half: $575 – $991
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Charger year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Charger median. How we score
'66'67'68'70'71'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'83'84'85'86'87'01'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Dodge Charger safety ratings
2012 Dodge Charger 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (10.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Dodge Charger, and the recalls they led to.
- Vehicle rollaway, engine onLed to recall 16V-240
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- Alternator failureLed to recall 14V-634
In owners' words
What Charger owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Headlight pigtail assembly burned out as described in the 2014 safety recall. 14V-101 / P08 Recall Summary The wiring sub-harnesses for the headlights may overheat, and the low beam headlights may fail. Dealers will replace the headlamp jumper harnesses and bulbs or the headlight assemblies as…
My vehicle has been experiencing electrical issues causing my radio to cut off and my car to cut off and lose power while driving. When the car is moving and loses power it's causes the vehicle to shift into neutral.
I have called the dealerships in Fresno Ca and Clovis Ca asked them to check out my car because of all the recalls that were done by them I'm having problems with it or had to replace it again. I also told them since it was a recall and they supposedly repaired it I wanted them to check into it to…
Own a 2012 Charger?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.