2012 Dodge Charger: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Dodge Charger: 14 recalls, 648 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
14 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #11V487000 · 2011 · 667 vehicles
What's wrong: 6l engines. These engines May experience connecting rod bearing failure due to debris inside the engine block.
Why it matters: Connecting rod failure May lead to engine seizure which May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners and replace the engine free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about November 18, 2011.
Tires Vehicle recall #12V004000 · 2012 · 303 vehicles
What's wrong: As built, the TPMS does not warn the driver when a tire is 25 percent below the recommended pressure. The recalled vehicles notify the customers when the tire pressure reaches 22 psi rather than the required 24 psi.
Why it matters: Underinflated tires can result in tire overloading and overheating, which could lead to a blowout and possible crash.
The fix: 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.
Exterior lights, Electrical Vehicle recall #12V042000 · 2012 · 9,137 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: This could lead to loss of visibility and/or braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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 on April 2, 2012.
Electrical, Brakes (air) Vehicle recall #12V197000 · 2012 · 119,072 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles May lose ABS/esc system function due to an overheated power distribution center.
Why it matters: This could lead to loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the ABS/esc system fuse, free of charge. The safety recall began on May 18, 2012.
Airbags Vehicle recall #13V118000 · 2013 · 119,497 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 the airbag warning light.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment the airbags May not operate as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #14V101000 · 2014 · 43,431 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, a sub-harness for the headlights May overheat and cause the low beam headlights to go out.
Why it matters: Loss of headlights reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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. Chrysler's number associated with this recall is p08. This recall…
Electrical Vehicle recall #14V634000 · 2014 · 435,081 vehicles
What's wrong: 6l engine and a 160 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator May suddenly fail.
Why it matters: If the alternator fails, the vehicle May stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #15V467000 · 2015 · 284,095 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 air bags May unexpectedly deploy and the seat belt pre-tensioners May activate.
Why it matters: Air bags that unexpectedly deploy increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the occupant restraint control module calibration, free of charge. The recall began on August 25, 2015.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #16V043000 · 2016 · 441,578 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 tire jack to fail and the car to fall.
Why it matters: A car that falls unexpectedly increases the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V240000 · 2016 · 811,290 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a monostable gear selector, May not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in park, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.
Why it matters: 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 while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V352000 · 2016 · 4,648,270 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Ram 1500, 2005-2009 Ram 2500, 2006-2009 Ram 3500, 2007-2010 Ram 3500 cab chassis, 2008-2010 Ram 4500 and 5500 cab chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep wrangler,…
Why it matters: 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 replacement equipment. These inflators May rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and…
The fix: 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. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on…
Electrical Vehicle recall #17V435000 · 2017 · 442,214 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. In the affected vehicles, the alternator May suddenly fail.
Why it matters: If the alternator fails, the vehicle May stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V021000 · 2018 · 328,177 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, Chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 Ram 4500 cab chassis, Ram 5500 cab chassis, Ram 3500 cab chassis, Jeep wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge dakota, Dodge challenger, and Dodge charger vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V018000 · 2019 · 1,413,222 vehicles
What's wrong: Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure May cause the inflator to explode.
Why it matters: 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 occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 49 mention a fire, 16 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (359): the most common themes are electrical failure (259), stalls / loses power (174), warning light on (119).
- Airbags (111): the most common themes are warning light on (43).
- Engine (94): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (37), electrical failure (33), warning light on (31).
- Transmission & drivetrain (65): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (24), warning light on (20), stalls / loses power (19).
The 2012 Dodge Charger has 648 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 22 Charger model years for complaints (2.5× the average Charger year). Complaints peaked in 2015 (130 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 64,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (695 complaints, 11 recalls), 2013 (360 complaints, 8 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 30 | 23 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | Regular |
| 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 25 | 19 | Midgrade |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Dodge Charger.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Dodge Charger have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 14 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Dodge Charger. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Dodge Charger problems?
Owners have filed 648 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (359), airbags (111), engine (94).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Dodge Charger get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (3.6 L, Automatic 8-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Dodge Charger repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.