Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here.
Owners have filed 648 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Charger, and it carries 14 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 207 | 32% |
| Air bags | 77 | 12% |
| Engine | 35 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 31 | 5% |
| Power train | 26 | 4% |
| Steering | 17 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 15 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 13 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 the
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
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 rep
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
While driving my 2012 dodge charger at times it pops out of driving going into neutral. It happens when I'm on the hwy or in town. And the air bags has illuminated on the dash and it is at the dealership, and I was told,
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Can not put car into park i have took it to normals dealership and referred to me that it's a recall issue.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
My vehicle has been experiencing electrical issues causing my radio to cut off and my car to cut off and lose power while driving. When the car is moving and loses power it's causes the vehicle to shift into neutral.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Says that my car is simply just dead smells like gas when trying to start up and shakes but doesn’t start up
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I have called the dealerships in Fresno Ca and Clovis Ca asked them to check out my car because of all the recalls that were done by them I'm having problems with it or had to replace it again. I also told them since it
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for the 2012 Dodge Charger. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 t
Risk: 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 inj
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 r
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 o
Risk: 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.
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.
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,
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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 r
Chrysler 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-harness for the headlights may overheat and cause the low beam headlights to go ou
Risk: Loss of headlights reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 co
| Reliability raw | 38 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 57 | average |
| Maintenance | 72 | good |
| Depreciation | 64 | average |
| Performance | 74 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
| Safety | 100 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 648 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 207 of them (32%). There are 14 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 38/100 (below average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 57/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2012 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip, because the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here. Its overall ownership score is 60/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.