YearToAvoid

2012 Dodge Charger Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 391 Electrical System complaints for the 2012 Dodge Charger, 60% of its 648 total complaints, with 42 fires and 8 crashes reported. The year is tied to five electrical recalls, including headlight wiring and alternator issues, with a median failure mileage of 62,000.

Electrical System complaints
391
60% of 648
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
42
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
62,000 mi
Related recalls
5

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Low-beam headlight connectors overheat and melt, sometimes recurring after bulb replacement.
  • Alternators burn out or smoke, often preceded by dashboard warning lights and a burning smell.
  • ABS and traction control lights flash while dash gauges and touchscreen go blank or stall while driving.
  • Vehicles stall at low speeds (around 15 to 35 mph) accompanied by smoke from under the hood.
  • Some owners report their vehicle was excluded from the headlight recall despite showing the same melted-connector failure.

When 2012 Dodge Charger electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 7, 2012, latest Nov 25, 2025.

2012 Dodge Charger electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter372012 Q32014 Q32016 Q12017 Q32019 Q12020 Q32022 Q42024 Q4
391 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q3 to 2025 Q4; peak 2014 Q4 (37).

Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Dodge Charger

  1. NHTSA 17V435000Jul 10, 2017Electrical System442,214 vehicles

    Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator

    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 vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.

    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.

    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 Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T36.

  2. NHTSA 14V634000Oct 8, 2014Electrical System435,081 vehicles

    Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator

    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.

    Risk: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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 recall is P60.

  3. NHTSA 14V101000Mar 4, 2014Electrical System43,431 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:headlights

    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 out.

    Risk: Loss of headlights reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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 contract Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number associated with this recall is P08. This recall concerns non-police vehicles. A separate campaign was launched in 2012 to address police vehicles. See NHTSA recall 12V-042.

  4. NHTSA 12V197000May 2, 2012Electrical System119,072 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers

    Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011 and 2012 300 and dodge charger vehicles. These vehicles may lose ABS/esc system function due to an overheated power distribution center.

    Risk: This could lead to loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the ABS/esc system fuse, free of charge. The safety recall began on may 18, 2012. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

  5. NHTSA 12V042000Feb 7, 2012Electrical System9,137 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011 and 2012 dodge charger police vehicles. The low beam headlamps of some vehicles could fail due to an overheated bulb harness connector. Other vehicles may lose ABS/esc system function due to an overheated power distribution center.

    Risk: This could lead to loss of visibility and/or braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will replace the headlamp jumper harnesses and relocate the ABS/esc system fuse within the power distribution center, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 2, 2012. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Electrical System complaints by Charger model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201074 (32%)
  2. 2011481 (69%)
  3. 2012391 (60%)
  4. 2013169 (47%)
  5. 2014115 (34%)
  6. 201529 (21%)
  7. 201630 (16%)
  8. 201750 (39%)
  9. 201847 (39%)
  10. 201928 (23%)
  11. 20208 (14%)
  12. 20213 (9%)
  13. 20225 (31%)
  14. 202310 (38%)
  15. 20241 (100%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does the 2012 Dodge Charger have?
NHTSA lists 391 Electrical System complaints for the 2012 Charger, which is 60% of the 648 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Dodge Charger electrical system?
Yes. NHTSA recalls 17V435000, 14V634000, 14V101000, 12V197000, and 12V042000 cover electrical issues including alternator replacement, headlight jumper harnesses, and an ABS/ESC fuse relocation on the 2012 Charger.
At what mileage do 2012 Charger electrical problems usually start?
The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2012 Charger is 62,000 miles.
Are the electrical failures linked to fires?
NHTSA data shows 42 fire reports and 8 crashes among the 391 electrical complaints for the 2012 Charger.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.