2012 Dodge Challenger Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 2012 Dodge Challenger, and owners have filed 253 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 2012 Dodge Challenger
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
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 the inflator to explode.
Remedy: 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…
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
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, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
Remedy: 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…
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Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)
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 or 220 amp alternator. In the affected…
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact…
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
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,…
Remedy: 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…
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Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango; and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured April 22, 2010, to January 2, 2014, and equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this…
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Air bags
Chrysler 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 improperly sized terminal crimps on the seat side-airbag wiring harness which may cause the seat side-airbags to…
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.…
253 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Dodge Challenger have filed 253 complaints with NHTSA; 11 describe a crash and 8 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 62,361 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 46 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 23, 2026 · Power train
“The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that when shifting the vehicle to reverse(R) or to neutral(N), the vehicle would only move forward. There were no warning lights illuminate”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 23, 2026 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Dodge Challenger (Challenger SRT8). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 14–18 / 23–27 |
| Fuel | Midgrade, Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3.6/5.7/6.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Dodge Challenger model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Challenger model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 Dodge Challenger | 5 | 1 |
| 1971 Dodge Challenger | 3 | 0 |
| 1974 Dodge Challenger | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 Dodge Challenger | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 Dodge Challenger | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 Dodge Challenger | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 Dodge Challenger | 3 | 10 |
| 2009 Dodge Challenger | 7 | 133 |
| 2010 Dodge Challenger | 7 | 299 |
| 2011 Dodge Challenger | 6 | 193 |
| 2012 Dodge Challenger | 6 | 253 |
| 2013 Dodge Challenger | 5 | 179 |
| 2014 Dodge Challenger | 4 | 149 |
| 2015 Dodge Challenger | 5 | 126 |
| 2016 Dodge Challenger | 1 | 78 |
| 2017 Dodge Challenger | 3 | 49 |
| 2018 Dodge Challenger | 3 | 75 |
| 2019 Dodge Challenger | 3 | 59 |
| 2020 Dodge Challenger | 1 | 20 |
| 2021 Dodge Challenger | 2 | 19 |
| 2022 Dodge Challenger | 2 | 9 |
| 2023 Dodge Challenger | 2 | 43 |
Checking a specific 2012 Dodge Challenger
How do I know if my 2012 Dodge Challenger has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2012 Dodge Challenger; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 13V118000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Dodge models
- Durango13,770 complaints
- Grand Caravan13,508 complaints
- RAM 150012,416 complaints
- Caravan10,526 complaints
- Dakota6,629 complaints
- RAM 25006,443 complaints
- Intrepid6,228 complaints
- Charger5,741 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.