2012 Dodge Charger Problems

648 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Electrical System · verdict AVOID 5/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Electrical System359
Air Bags111
Engine94
Power Train65
Steering53
Exterior Lighting52

In the owners’ words

“My airbag light comes on intermittently and when I called the dealership and told them they brushed it off as nothing. My car already had open recalls for the airbag and got fixed but it’s still having the same issues. I had the car since October of 2025 and there was no lights on when I financed it. The car has had 2 airbag related recalls done in 2015, 2019. Is there any way of getting my vehicle fixed by the deal”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Dodge Charger owner
“Brake Light, ABS Light, and Traction Control Light lit up on dash. Took car to dealership and the issue was diagnosed as a faulty ABS module. This is MOPAR part 68160269AB, which is discontinued. I was also told that there were no after-market options, and that programming a used one might not work. So I have no option to get ABS functionality for my car. I am willing to pay for the part and labor to get this repair”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Dodge Charger owner
“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 needed free of charge to resolve the concern.”NHTSA complaint, 2012 Dodge Charger owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
15/01/2019Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module SAFETYChrysler (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 dep
10/07/2017Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator SAFETYChrysler (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 powe
09/01/2018Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module SAFETYChrysler (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, Calif
04/03/2014Exterior 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-ha
25/04/2016Power 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 1
24/05/2016Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module SAFETYChrysler (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
28/01/2016StructureFCA 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 t
27/07/2015Air Bags:Side/Window SAFETYChrysler (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, an
03/04/2013Air Bags SAFETYChrysler 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 i
07/02/2012Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module SAFETYCHRYSLER 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 SYST

Questions owners ask

Is the 2012 Dodge Charger reliable?

On the federal record it scores 5/100: 648 owner complaints (46.29 per year on the road) and 12 recall campaigns, 7 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Dodge Charger?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Electrical System, with 359 of 734 categorised reports.

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The 2012 Dodge Charger scored 5/100 on the federal record.

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