2012 Dodge Charger Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report electrical trouble: alternator failures that leave the car without power, repeated low-beam headlight and wiring problems, and intermittent stalls in which the dash goes dark and the car goes into auto park. Air bag warning lights and power steering assist failures (where the steering wheel becomes very hard to turn and fuses blow) are also reported repeatedly. Engine complaints, especially lifter/camshaft wear and timing chain failures, mostly appear at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Alternator failure and loss of electrical power

   • 320 complaints (49%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (253 state mileage)
   • 41 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $876 (median of 31 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2025

   Complaints describe the battery or electrical warning light coming on, warning lights flashing across the dash, battery-save mode, and the engine stalling or losing power while driving; some report smoke or a burnt electrical smell from the alternator. Service visits led to alternator replacement, sometimes more than once. Several owners state their vehicle was not covered by the alternator recall campaigns despite matching symptoms. Spread from low mileage up to roughly 200,000 miles, with many reports between about 45,000 and 110,000 miles.

   Recall 17V435000Recall 14V634000

   What to check: Ask whether the alternator has been replaced and whether any alternator-related recall campaigns were completed for this VIN. Have a mechanic load-test the charging system and check for a battery-save or charge warning light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My alternator or starter went out my car stopped on me in the middle of the freeway. It would not turn over when I try to start. I had to get a tow truck to take the vehicle to my home. Also the front headlight harness burnt out and I had to put another obe which does not work sometimes”

   NHTSA complaint #11317808, filed 2020-03, 3 miles

   “On february 5th at approx. 11am we were driving down a busy las vegas street when we had a immediate shut down of all power. Dash light when off and on, wipers went on then shut off, and the vehicle died right in the middle of heavy traffic. The vehicle had no power, no power to do anything acted completely dead as if the battery had been removed. To have the vehicle lose complete power and to lose the ability to steer the vehicle created an extreme hazard to both my family and to other drivers on the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10949877, filed 2017-02, 38,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and seat/air bag wiring problems

   • 106 complaints (16%)
   • median 60,306 mi at 4.3 yrs old (57 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners report the air bag warning light coming on and staying on, often traced by dealers to a wiring harness or connector under the seat that is crimped, loose or disconnected; some had the harness repaired or soldered and the light returned later. Some complaints follow air bag recall work, describing a warning light or a connector that did not match the air bag afterward. Reported from very low mileage (a few thousand miles) up to about 115,000 miles, including repeat occurrences around 50,000 and 110,000 miles.

   Recall 19V018000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V021000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 13V118000Recall 15V4670001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm the air bag inflator and side-air bag recall campaigns were completed for this VIN, and check that the air bag light goes out after the bulb check at start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall I received a recall notice on this and have been to the dealer more than once and still am unable to get this resolved. This is a safety hazard and I don't know what I have to do to get this fixed. I don't want to end up in an accident due to it going off at a bad time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10967212, filed 2017-03, 48,000 miles

   “When I would start my car the airbag light would come on this is the 2nd time this problem has occurred -1st time was when my car was just around 50k miles--airbag light came on--was told that it was due to having to replace harness getting crimped-caused a short(this was covered by warranty). My car now hit around 110k miles and same thing happened again. I took it in and stated same thing--explained what the problem was again--listed has having a short and repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11405214, filed 2021-03, 110,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist loss (hard steering, blown fuses)

   • 49 complaints (8%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2023

   Complaints describe the power steering assist cutting out so the wheel becomes very difficult to turn, sometimes with a service power steering message; several owners say fuses blew repeatedly when turning and one describes the car dying with the wheel hard to turn and the brakes locking. Repairs reported include replacing fuses, power steering components or the alternator, and some owners were quoted significant cost outside warranty. Mostly reported between roughly 35,000 and 140,000 miles, with a few at higher mileage; often noticed during low-speed turns or parking.

   Recall 17V435000Recall 14V634000

   What to check: During the test drive, turn the wheel at low speed with the engine running and listen for warnings; ask whether power steering fuses or the electro-hydraulic pump have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When starting my car the radio sometimes don't come on. I have to put the car in park shut off the car and restart it in order for the radio to come on. When driving and listening to the radio it goes in and out as if the dj is trying to block out profantiy but that's not the case. Also, when driving and I make a u-turn it feels as if the steering wheel is trying to lock up.”

   NHTSA complaint #11373473, filed 2020-11, 159,000 miles

   “I can barley turn at all. It is hard to turn at all. I took the car in oct 4 and the said it is past warrenty and it will be 1800 to fix it. How can a car only 2 years old have this problem. They told me the car is safe to drive until I can afford to fix it. I have read many complaints online with a ton of other people with the same problem. Is there a recall? Is this fair? I am a single mom of 3 kids and I have a newer car for reliabilty. And cannot afford this...”

   NHTSA complaint #10650722, filed 2014-10, 36,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine misfire, lifter/camshaft wear and timing chain

   • 61 complaints (9%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (51 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe a check engine light, rough idle, ticking or rattling noise, shuddering and loss of power, with mechanics diagnosing excessive camshaft lobe or lifter wear, a cylinder misfire, or a broken timing chain. Some owners report the engine needing major repair or replacement, and one notes a noise was present for thousands of miles before the failure was identified. Mostly reported above roughly 80,000 miles, with some owners noting early noises under 30,000 miles.

   Recall 11V4870003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for ticking or rattling at idle and cold start, check for a stored check engine light, and ask for service records showing oil changes and any camshaft/lifter or timing chain work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have an engine light took it to the mechanic, the oil sensor was changed 2 times, the check engine light was deleted twice and still come back on, as result I cant use the remote started and even the dealer don't know what to do. Am I the only one with this issue>?”

   NHTSA complaint #11320291, filed 2020-04, 106,152 miles

   “While driving my 2012 Dodge Charger, the check engine light came on. I took it to a mechanic. The mechanic immediately diagnosed the problem as a tune up was needed. So I paid money for that. After getting the car back home, I drove it around the corner to the gas station and the check engine light came on again. I took it then for further diagnosing, went back to my mechanic, only to find out the lifter on the cam shaft is bad. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11321875, filed 2020-04, 135,113 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Headlight and wiring failures (low beams out, melted

   • 75 complaints (12%)
   • median 51,000 mi at 3.6 yrs old (59 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners report low beams or one headlight going out without warning, sometimes revived briefly by tapping the housing, and technicians finding a melted socket or burnt harness connector. Complaints also describe repeated bulb and wiring harness replacement, and some owners note their VIN was not included in headlight-related recall campaigns despite matching symptoms. Reported from around 40,000 to about 85,000 miles in the sample, often without warning during normal driving.

   Recall 14V101000Recall 12V0420002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check both low beams and inspect the headlight connectors and sockets for discoloration or melting; ask whether the headlight sub-harness recall work was done for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Passenger side headlight went out. I was able to tap on it for a few days to make it come back on thinking it was just a loose wire, but one night it completely went out. I brought it to pepboys and upon a closer observation they found that the socket was melted and had caused the headlight to burn out as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #10555139, filed 2013-12, 39,768 miles

   “The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the vehicle headlights, rear driver side door dome light actuator, and stereo failed to operate when the vehicle was started. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was an electrical short in the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10808905, filed 2015-12, 84,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the charging system, headlight wiring, steering assist and stored engine codes is worthwhile, and it is worth confirming which open recalls apply to the specific VIN. Service records showing completed recall work and regular oil changes help gauge how well the car has been maintained.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.