YearToAvoid

2012 Dodge Dart Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 181 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Dodge Dart, 17% of all complaints filed for the year. These include 7 fires and 3 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 37,500. No related recalls are listed in this data.

Electrical System complaints
181
17% of 1,081
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
37,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles stalled or lost power unexpectedly while driving at various speeds, sometimes followed by a burning smell or engine compartment fire.
  • Dashboard, radio, backup camera, blinkers, and window controls cut out intermittently, especially in hot weather, then resumed working after a wait.
  • Battery and charging system warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel along with dimmed dash lights, sometimes accompanied by a stall.
  • Owners reported airbags failing to deploy in crashes that occurred after electrical failures affected steering or dashboard functions.
  • Some owners said dealers identified a software update as the fix, but the stalling or warning-light issue recurred afterward.
  • Fires were reported starting near the battery or engine compartment, in some cases while the vehicle was moving at low speed.

When 2012 Dodge Dart electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 16, 2013, latest Oct 23, 2019.

2012 Dodge Dart electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter182013 Q22014 Q32015 Q32016 Q32017 Q42018 Q42019 Q4
181 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q2 to 2019 Q4; peak 2016 Q1 (18).

Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Dodge Dart

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Dart model year

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

  1. 2012181 (17%)
  2. 201359 (21%)
  3. 201476 (20%)
  4. 2015123 (23%)
  5. 201652 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2012 Dodge Dart have?
NHTSA lists 181 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Dodge Dart, which is 17% of the 1,081 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Dodge Dart electrical system?
This data shows no related recalls listed for the 2012 Dodge Dart electrical system, despite some owner complaints mentioning a recall.
At what mileage do 2012 Dodge Dart electrical problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2012 Dodge Dart is 37,500 miles.
Are the electrical problems dangerous on the 2012 Dodge Dart?
NHTSA data tied to this complaint area includes 7 fires, 3 crashes, and 3 injuries for the 2012 Dodge Dart.

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.