2012 Dodge CHALLENGER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Dodge CHALLENGER has 338 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: the challenger srt8 is not equipped with a dash illumination system, which comes on, during normal daytime driving. the instruments (speedometer, tachometer) are only illuminated during operation of the parking or headlamps function. the gauges are somewhat recessed and are only partially visible d. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.

7 fire reports 12 crash reports 10 injuries

338

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

140 complaints

41%

• THE CHALLENGER SRT8 IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A DASH ILLUMINATION SYSTEM, WHICH COMES ON, DURING NORMAL DAYTIME DRIVING. THE INSTRUMENTS (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER) ARE ONLY ILLUMINATED DURING OPERATION OF THE PARKING OR HEADLAMPS FUNCTION. THE GAUGES ARE SOMEWHAT RECESSED AND ARE ONLY PARTIALLY VISIBLE D
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER FROM DIM TO MAXIMUM ILLUMINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED
• CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK, AIRBAG LIGHTS COMING ON MULTIPLE TIMES . TAKEN TO DEALER / SHOP FOR REPAIR . CRUISE CONTROL WORKS NOW. STILL PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG LIGHTS COMING ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIFFERENT RATES OF SPEED. HAS BEEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES (AT LEAST 4 TIMES) FOR AIRBAG IS SUES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“THE CHALLENGER SRT8 IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A DASH ILLUMINATION SYSTEM, WHICH COMES ON, DURING NORMAL DAYTIME DRIVING. THE INSTRUMENTS (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER) ARE ONLY ILLUMINATED DURING OPERATION OF THE PARKING OR HEADLAMPS FUNCTION. THE GAUGES ARE SOMEWHAT RECESSED AND ARE ONLY PARTIALLY VISIBLE D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

47 complaints

14%

• I WAS REARENDED, (AT 4200 MILES ON MY NEW VEHICLE), WHILE AT A DEAD STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT BY A FORD F250 PICKUP TRUCK TRAVELING AT 45 MPH PULLING A UTILITY TRAILER HAULING APPROXIMATELY 6000 - 7000 POUNDS WHICH HIT MY 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER IN THE RIGHT REAREND PUSHING ME INTO THE BACK END OF A NI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT ENGAGE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S FACE STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN A FRACTURED NOSE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAGS FAILE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“I WAS REARENDED, (AT 4200 MILES ON MY NEW VEHICLE), WHILE AT A DEAD STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT BY A FORD F250 PICKUP TRUCK TRAVELING AT 45 MPH PULLING A UTILITY TRAILER HAULING APPROXIMATELY 6000 - 7000 POUNDS WHICH HIT MY 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER IN THE RIGHT REAREND PUSHING ME INTO THE BACK END OF A NI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

25 complaints

• I GOT IN MY VEHICLE TO RUN AN ERRAND. I TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE ABS, BRAKE, AIRBAG, SEAT BELT AND EVERY OTHER LIGHT LIT UP AND STAYED ON. A RINGING SOUNDS STARTED AND MY RADIO BEGAN TO FLASH UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT OUT. THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. I AM UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT THE ISSUE MAY B
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SMOKE FUMES STARTED TO EMIT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY
• ALTERNATOR FAILURE (DOCUMENTED RECALL) CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND LOSE ALL POWER. LUCKY THIS WAS AT LOW SPEED ON A SURFACE STREET VS. HIGHWAY SPEED AND INTERSTATE. WAS ABLE TO COAST VEHICLE TO A SIDE STREET HOWEVER BLOCKING ONE LANE OF TRAVEL. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START NOR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“I GOT IN MY VEHICLE TO RUN AN ERRAND. I TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE ABS, BRAKE, AIRBAG, SEAT BELT AND EVERY OTHER LIGHT LIT UP AND STAYED ON. A RINGING SOUNDS STARTED AND MY RADIO BEGAN TO FLASH UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT OUT. THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. I AM UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT THE ISSUE MAY B”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

• LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING HIS 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER THAT STATES BAY DODGE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL AND WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO NOTIFY THEM; REF: (ATTN: JOSIAH MANZO) *TGW
• 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD
• A 35 DOLLAR PART HAS MALFUNCTIONED OR BROKEN (AC/HVAC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR). IT RESULTS IN AN 800 DOLLAR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST PASSED THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY AND STILL HAS LESS THAN 36000 MILES TO DATE. IF YOU INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG MANY DODGE OWNERS. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING HIS 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER THAT STATES BAY DODGE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL AND WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO NOTIFY THEM; REF: (ATTN: JOSIAH MANZO) *TGW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

19 complaints

• THE COMPONENTS CAUSING ISSUE ARE SUSPENSION AND STEERING COMPONENTS, SUCH AS THE STRUTS, STRUT PLATES, CONTROL ARM, BUSHINGS AND TIE ROD ENDS, THE AXLES, REAR SUSPENSION ARMS, AND THE U-JOINT CONNECTORS FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT, PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY CRISWELL DODGE IN GAITHERSBURG, MD. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WOULD NOT INFORM THE CONTACT OF WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE T
• AT SLOW SPEED I CAN HEAR A WINDING NOISE, (NOISE SOUNDS LIKE POWERING STEERING FLUID IS LOW, EVEN THOUGH IT IS FULL AND NO LEAKS). YOU CAN HEAR THE NOISE AT LOW SPEED FOR EXAMPLE BACKING UP AND TURNING THE WHEEL (EVEN IF THE WHEEL IS ONLY TURNED A QUARTER OF A TURN) OR WHEN YOU HAVE TO TURN IN TO A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE COMPONENTS CAUSING ISSUE ARE SUSPENSION AND STEERING COMPONENTS, SUCH AS THE STRUTS, STRUT PLATES, CONTROL ARM, BUSHINGS AND TIE ROD ENDS, THE AXLES, REAR SUSPENSION ARMS, AND THE U-JOINT CONNECTORS FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT, PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY CRISWELL DODGE IN GAITHERSBURG, MD. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 338 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: THE CHALLENGER SRT8 IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A DASH ILLUMINATION SYSTEM, WHICH COMES ON, DURING NORMAL DAYTIME DRIVING. THE INSTRUMENTS (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER) ARE ONLY ILLUMINATED DURING OPERATION OF THE PARKING OR HEADLAMPS FUNCTION. THE GAUGES ARE SOMEWHAT RECESSED AND ARE ONLY PARTIALLY VISIBLE D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I WAS REARENDED, (AT 4200 MILES ON MY NEW VEHICLE), WHILE AT A DEAD STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT BY A FORD F250 PICKUP TRUCK TRAVELING AT 45 MPH PULLING A UTILITY TRAILER HAULING APPROXIMATELY 6000 - 7000 POUNDS WHICH HIT MY 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER IN THE RIGHT REAREND PUSHING ME INTO THE BACK END OF A NI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I GOT IN MY VEHICLE TO RUN AN ERRAND. I TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE ABS, BRAKE, AIRBAG, SEAT BELT AND EVERY OTHER LIGHT LIT UP AND STAYED ON. A RINGING SOUNDS STARTED AND MY RADIO BEGAN TO FLASH UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT OUT. THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. I AM UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT THE ISSUE MAY B
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING HIS 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER THAT STATES BAY DODGE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL AND WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO NOTIFY THEM; REF: (ATTN: JOSIAH MANZO) *TGW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)