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2012 Dodge Charger problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Dodge Charger. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 33% of relevant complaints.
Better than 66% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 152 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 25%).
Does the 2012 Dodge Charger have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 167 of 509 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Charger concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 36% and the 2013 scores 33%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Dodge Charger years
Of the 13 Dodge Charger years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 6th-best on engine and transmission share (33%). The worst is the 2015 (52%), the best the 2018 (20%). By volume, the 2012 drew 661 complaints (167 drivetrain), against 699 for the 2011 and 367 for the 2013.
Dodge Charger years to avoid and best years →
2010 Charger problems · 2011 Charger problems · 2012 · 2013 Charger problems · 2014 Charger problems · 2015 Charger problems · 2016 Charger problems · 2017 Charger problems · 2018 Charger problems · 2019 Charger problems · 2020 Charger problems · 2021 Charger problems · 2023 Charger problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Dodge Charger
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Dodge Charger said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 167 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Dodge Charger engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Dodge Charger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 15 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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 16, 2012, to December 22, 2015. 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…
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 while the engine is running and the parking brake is not…
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. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at…
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHRYSLER VEHICLES, INCLUDING 200 AND TOWN AND COUNTRY MODELS, DODGE VEHICLES, INCLUDING CHARGER, DURANGO, GRAND CARAVAN AND JOURNEY MODELS AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 31, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 13, 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH 3.6L ENGINES. THESE ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILURE DUE TO DEBRIS INSIDE THE ENGINE BLOCK.
Risk: CONNECTING ROD FAILURE MAY LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
13 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Dodge Charger? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Dodge Charger have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 167 of 509 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Charger concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Dodge Charger?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Dodge Charger is electrical system: 365 of 661 complaints (55%) name it, followed by air bags (111) and engine (98). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 33% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Dodge Charger reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 33% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 66% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Dodge Charger years we score, it ranks 6th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Dodge Charger?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Dodge Charger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 15 in total: 16V240000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)), 11V487000 (engine and engine cooling). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Dodge Charger years are better?
Among the Dodge Charger years we track, the 2018 (20%), the 2019 (28%) and the 2020 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (33%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/dodge-charger
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.