There are 13 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2012 Dodge Challengerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The transmission stalled after driving it for 4000 miles. The car has 9 codes associated with the anti lock brakes, electric power steering, and transmission control. The car is available for inspection. This car creates an unsafe condition for the driver whose anti lock brakes fail, and the fact that the transmission is bad.
Car randomly stalls while driving. Does NOT show CHECK ENGINE light, nor have any codes been recorded as checked by dealer obd reader. 2 Dodge Dealerships unable to diagnose because of no codes. Both dealerships claim they have not heard of this problem before I appeared. I saw in online forums that other owners have been dealing with this issue since at least 2011, so it appears the manufacturer is ducking their responsibility.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge challenger. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the timing chain to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
LEFT CYLINDER HEAD WAS REPLACED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY AT 144,XXX OCT 18 2018. CYLINDER HEAD WAS REPLACED AGAIN UNDER THE SAME WARRANTY AT 160XXX SEPTEMBER 2020. AFTER REPAIR DEALER STATED THAT THE RIGHT HEAD HAD A LEAK AND NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED. CHRYSLER AUTHORIZES 9 HOURS OF SERVICE LABOR FOR DIAGNOSIS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY X56 . THE WARRANTY ALSO AUTHORIZES REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT HEAD COVER AND GASKET IF REQUIRED. WHEN I BROUGHT UP THIS FINE PRINT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT CHRYSLER WOULD NOT COVER ANYTHING ELSE. IT TOOK CALLING FOR OVER A MONTH STRAIGHT FOR THEM TO FINALLY AUTHORIZE THE WARRANTY WORK BASED ON THE UPDATED 2014 BULLETIN THAT ADDED THE RIGHT SIDE TO THE WARRANTY.I WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET 2000$ TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THEY TOLD ME IT WASNT. I AGREED TO PAY AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR IN. I ASKED THEM TO PUT IT IN WRITING THAT THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD I WAS NOT WELCOME THERE. I AM A DISABLED ARMY VETERAN AND I USE DRIVING AS MY THERAPY. MY CAR HAS BEEN NON OP FOR OVER A MONTH NOW. NOW THAT CHRYSLER HAS VERIFIED EVERYTHING I HAVE SAID THE WHOLE TIME IT'S TOO LATE BECAUSE NOW THE DEALERSHIPS AROUND TOWN WONT TOUCH THE CAR BASED ON THE BELIEF CHRYSLER WONT COVER IT. CHRYSLER SAID TO ME TONS OF TIMES THAT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT TOOK THEM FINDING THE UPDATED BULLETIN. I DONT BLAME THE DEALERSHIPS I BLAME CHRYSLER. HOW CAN YOU REPLACE ONE HEAD AT 144K AND EXPECT THE OLD HEAD TO WORK WELL WITH IT. THE LEFT HEAD IS A WAY TO GET PEOPLE IN THE SHOP FOR A FREE LEFT SIDE HEAD THAT CAUSES MORE DAMAGE. IT'S LIKE PUTTING AN OLD TIRE WITH A NEW ONE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ASKING FOR REPLACEMENT OF BOTH HEADS. CHRYSLER CLAIMED IT DOESN'T CAUSE THE VEHICLES TO FAIL AND IT DOES LIKE MINE DID ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE WAS DETECTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND FLAMES WERE DETECTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED BUT A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A RECOVERY TOW LOT WAITING TO BE DIAGNOSED BY THE VEHICLES INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 141,000.
DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED 14,000 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A KNOCKING SOUND EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIFTERS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,033. *BF VONSUMER STATED THE CAR ENDED UP GOING TO GRAND JUNCTION DODGE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSE. THE DODGE CORP WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THEY WERE LOOKING WRITE IT. IT COST ME $4,000 IN REPAIRS MECHAICS LOCKED MOTOR UP NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO CALL GAUNDAIN INTERLOCK FOR OVERRIDE CODE. TOOK FOUR MONTHS TO GET CAR BACK DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO OBTAIN PARTS AND THEN DODGE DEALERSHIP STATING MY ABS MODULE WAS ALSO BAD AND THEN THEY FRIED THE MAIN ECM IN MY CAR WHICH THEY HAD TO REPLACE. JACKARY GAURMEN (XXX)XXX-XXXX IS THE PERSON WHO WAS THE REP FOR DODGE ON THIS JOB. DODGE CORP IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING INTO RECALL. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 5 DODGES WITH THE LIFTER ISSUE IN GJ. ALONE. 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
THIS IS IN REGARD TO THE DODGE T36 ALTERNATOR RECALL. AFTER THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED, MY CAR WAS AFFECTED. I WANT TO ADD ANOTHER REPORT. IN MID 2017, A HIGHER PITCH NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. 2 TO 3 MONTHS LATER, I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER WHO AFFIRMED THE NOISE WAS THE SOUND OF THE ALTERNATOR CHARGING. THE RECALL REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. AS LONG AS I WAS OPERATIONAL, THE ADVICE WAS TO WAIT. 2 MONTHS AFTER THE DEALER VISIT, WHILE DRIVING ONE MORNING, MY ALTERNATOR FAILED, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, AND MY ENGINE DIED. WHEN I LEFT OUT THAT MORNING, A COUPLE OF THE IDIOT LIGHTS CAME ON WHICH WAS WEIRD. THEN 15 MINUTES LATER, WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY ROAD, THE RADIO WAS GLITCHING, MANY OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE, THOUGH NEARLY SIDESWIPING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE PROCESS. THE ENGINE THEN JUST CEASED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP IN A SAFE SPOT. NO POWER WHATSOEVER. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER CLAIMED BATTERY, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL, DID NOT DIE AS A RESULT OF THE ALTERNATOR FAILURE. TO ME, THE TIMING SAYS OTHERWISE. IF THE BATTERY WAS ON ITS WAY OUT, THIS SURE FINISHED IT OFF. DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY AND A REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR - BUT THIS WAS THE EXISTING NON-REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR STOCK. ONCE THE RECALL REPLACEMENT PART BECOMES AVAILABLE, WHENEVER THAT WILL BE, I WILL NEED TO TAKE THE CAR IN AGAIN TO HAVE THAT PUT IN IF IT'S A REPLACEMENT PART TO THE ALTERNATOR. OTHERWISE, IF IT'S A WHOLE ALTERNATOR UNIT, THEN THEY WILL SWAP OUT THE EXISTING STOCK NEW ONE I RECEIVED. DEALER/MFR DID NOT COVER THE COST OF THE NEW BATTERY. THEY DID REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AT NO COST.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LACK OF POWER AND MISFIRED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHAPMAN DODGE, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED WHILE THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER, BRENNAN DODGE 1371 NORTH SERVICE ROAD EAST RUSTON, LA 71270 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND OTHER VARIOUS ENGINE CYLINDERS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TAPPET HYDRAULIC FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER PO1 FAILURE VIA THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,572.
I OWN A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT 8. CHRYSLER ISSUED 2 TSBS IN 2014 ABOUT THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE POSSIBLY FRACTURING, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK, AND RESULTING IN SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. CHRYSLER WILL PAY FOR THE ENGINE DAMAGE IF THE CHAIN BREAKS IF IT OCCURS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT, THEY WILL NOT PAY TO REPLACE THE GUIDE TO PREVENT THE CHAIN FROM BREAKING. THESE TWO TSBS, NUMBERS CSN-P-01 AND 09-PO-11-82, AFFECT 2009 ' 2012 CHRYSLER 300S, AND DODGE CHARGERS AND CHALLENGERS. THE SECOND TSB SAYS IT AFFECTS A "NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF VEHICLES'. A DODGE SERVICE ADVISOR ADVISED THE OUT-OF-POCKET COST TO REPLACE THE GUIDE IS AROUND $2000. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL, NOT A TSB. THE REASON IS THAT WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL. THIS COULD VERY EASILY RESULT IN A SERIOUS CRASH IF THE VEHICLE STALLS IN THE SECOND OR THIRD LANE OF A BUSY 4 LANE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR. THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OVER TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT SHOULDER BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS, AND IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER TO TRY TO RUN FROM THE VEHICLE TO A SHOULDER. IN 2015, CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2011 ' 2014 CHRYSLER VEHICLES BECAUSE THE ALTERNATOR MAY SUDDENLY FAIL. IT STATES, 'IF THE ALTERNATOR FAILS, THE VEHICLE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.' SO, IF CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL BECAUSE AN ALTERNATOR MAY FAIL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING DUE TO A GUIDE THAT MAY FRACTURE, WHICH WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL, HAS RESULTED IN ONLY TSBS BEING ISSUED AND NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THE ONLY REASON I CAN THINK OF IS THE COST OF TO THE MANUFACTURER TO REIMBURSE THE DEALERSHIPS FOR REPLACING AN ALTERNATOR VS. REPLACING A TIMING CHAIN GUIDE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT COMPLAINT BE REMOVED FROM THE SYSTEM. UPDATED 07/22/16*LJ *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
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 SHUT OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST HER VOICE DUE TO SMOKE INHALATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026