2012 Dodge Challenger: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
253 NHTSA owner complaints · 6 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Dodge Challenger's year to avoid is 2012, an AVOID at 45 on 253 complaints, with 138 of them in the Electrical System category; the 2011, 2013 and 2014 cars are CAUTION at 59, 60 and 66. The years to buy are 2016 onward, where every year is a BUY and the 2020, 2021 and 2022 cars score 94, 90 and 92 on 20, 19 and 9 complaints. Read the full note on the model page. 2012 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 253 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Dodge Charger, Challenger and Chrysler 300: the years to avoid, including 2012 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 253 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 18.07
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the starter, throttle body, and transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the starter was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of th…
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that when shifting the vehicle to reverse(R) or to neutral(N), the vehicle would only move forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to two independent mechanics and was advised that there were known issues associated with the transmission valve body. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of t…
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle with passengers inside the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that after further inspection in the morning, the contact became aware of a puddle of fuel on the driveway by the rear driver’s side tire. The check warning light was then illuminated. The local dealer wa…
Recalls: 6 campaigns (6 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 13V118000 | 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… |
| 14V634000 | 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. |
| 18V021000 | 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… |
| 17V435000 | 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. |
| 19V018000 | 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. |
| 16V352000 | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a sports car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System138 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Air Bags47 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Engine25 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other20 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Steering19 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Power Train17 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Dodge Challenger years
Dodge Challenger years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Dodge Challenger?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (138 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2012 Dodge Challenger a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 45/100, computed from 253 NHTSA complaints and 6 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2012 Dodge Challenger's most common problem?
138 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2012 Dodge Challenger sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2012 Dodge Challenger cost to run per year?
About $5,862 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $29,312 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2012 Dodge Challenger have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for the 2012 Dodge Challenger, 6 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 03/04/2013. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other sportss of about the same age.
What will a 2012 Dodge Challenger really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 253 complaints, 6 recalls on record
- 253 NHTSA complaints on record (18.1/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (9.4/yr)
- 6 recall campaigns, 6 touching safety-critical systems