Home · 2012 Dodge Charger EV · Complaints

What 648 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Charger EV

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (648)Crash / fire / injury (70)Electrical system (359)Airbags (111)Engine (94)Transmission & drivetrain (65)Steering (53)Lights (52)Brakes (44)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (35)Speed control (20)Visibility & wipers (15)

12 of 648 complaints match · Engine · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Feb 14, 2023Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngineFire

Oct, 2022 my car did not shift out of park so I googled my car and the problem, So it said it was my monostable shifter modular. I towed it to A Transmission mechanic and they did a full body diagnostic test and I was told all I needed was to buy a new transmission shifter modular and a PCM to get my car running again. I did not have the $ 4,200 for them to fix my car so I had it towed back home. Now as of today my car is not running still because of the transmission shifter modular and PCM I bought brand new Installed myself and for some odd reason the electrical started flickering as if maybe the wiring is wrong or something. Now there was already a recall on the following repairs I've done and yet its documented in the recall system that all recalls were repaired by manufacture In 2017 Alternator Diode Thermal Fatigue, April 2016 TRANSMISSION ELECTRONIC SHIFT LEVER, Jan 2016 WHEEL CHOCKS, July 2015 REPROGRAM OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE, Dec 2019 Reprogram Powertrain Control Module, Oct 2012 EMISSIONS RECALL M30 POSITION VALVE/INTERNAL TEMP DIAGNOSTICS. So either the recalls weren't repaired as documented or it is a factory defect and my car needs the repairs done again at no charge. When I call to the dealers the management was a female and told me me my car was to old and they longer work on my car I've been told that several times. I also have all receipts for repairs and you will see that its the same issue as the recall that was apparently repaired.

NHTSA ODI 11507318

Jan 24, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFire

AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN AND LOSE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO SPUTTER AT 10 MPH FOR ABOUT A QUARTER MILE TO A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLES ELECTRONICS WERE SHUTTING DOWN THE WHOLE TIME AND WEIRD ELECTRICAL ACTIVATION'S STARTED OCCURRING OR FREEZING ON THEIR OWN SUCH AS LIGHTS, SENORS, WIPERS, RADIO ETC. I COULD ALSO SMELL A BURNT ODOR EMITTING FROM THE AIR VENTS. WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE IT DID NOT START AND HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I CHECKED THE ENGINE AND SAW SOME SMOKE COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR AND SMELLED BURNT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 01-22-18 AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE ALTERNATOR FAILING DUE TO THE RECALL BUT THERE WAS NO FIX YET FROM CHRYSLER. THEY STATED THE QUICK FIX IS REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK UNTIL THEY DISCOVER WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED ON THE RECALL. TODAY IS 01-24-18 AND MY VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE DEALER IS WAITING APPROVAL FROM CHRYSLER TO INSTALL A NEW ALTERNATOR SINCE THERE IS NO EXACT FIX FOR THE RECALL YET. THEY TOLD ME IT MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL COMPUTER PROBLEM, WIRING PROBLEM OR ALTERNATOR PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY MAY INSTALL A NEW ALTERNATOR TODAY (01-24-18) AND THEY HAD TO ORDER IT. I HAVE BEEN WITH NO VEHICLE SINCE 01-18-18 DUE TO THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER NOT PROBLEM SOLVING THEIR MISTAKE. I'M GLAD I DIDN'T CRASH OR WAS IN THE FAST LANE OF THE FREEWAY WHEN I LOST POWER BUT MY SON WAS SCARED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I CANT IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES IF THINGS HAD NOT GONE THE WAY THEY DID. SOMEONE COULD SERIOUSLY GET INJURED AT THE EXPENSE OF CHRYSLER FAILING TO FIND A FIX. WOULD THIS FALL UNDER THE LEMON LAW?

NHTSA ODI 11064636

Nov 8, 2017Electrical systemEngineFire

TAKATA RECALL SENT A NOTICE ABOUT THE ALTERNATOR. IT WAS ON THE SECOND CARFAX I RECEIVED BUT NOT FROM THE ORIGINAL DEALER I GOT THE CAR. THEY NEVER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. SO I BOUGHT THE CAR WENT TO THE BANK AND I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS GOING TO BURN TO THE GROUND NOTHING BUT HEAVY SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER THE CAR AND UNDER THE HOOD. MY CAR WAS SITTING IN THE BANK OF AMERICA PARKING LOT.. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR BECAUSE THE DEALSHIP GAVE ME A BOGUS CARFAX TO BEGIN WITH.

NHTSA ODI 11044734

Jul 26, 2017SteeringEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED SCOTT ROBINSON CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM LOCATED AT 20900 HAWTHORNE BLVD, TORRENCE, CA 90503 AT PHONE NUMBER: (424) 299-8800 WHERE THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11010793

Feb 10, 2017Electrical systemEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. MOST OF THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THOSE FOR THE BATTERY, ABS, AND SERVICE ENGINE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10953833

Nov 28, 2016EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A FAULTY THERMOSTAT MELTED ONTO THE ENGINE AND BURNED. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10928344

Nov 25, 2016EngineFire

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN MILWAUKEE WI AND THE CAR STOPPED. I HAD IT TOWED TO PALMEN ON 75 IN KENOSHA . I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS THE ENGINEER FROM CHYRSLER TOLDED ME IT WAS A FAULTY RADIATOR. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE TOW TRUCK HOOKED IT UP. THEY WILL NOY HONOR THE WARRANITY OR THE RECALL COULD YOU LOOK INTO RECALL ON RADIATOR . I ALMOST DIED ON THE HIGHWAY. I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS..

NHTSA ODI 10927912

Oct 18, 2016Electrical systemEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WITHOUT WARNING, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND WARNING INDICATORS RANDOMLY FLICKERED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE MOTOR AND STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY PREMATURELY FAILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES AND WAS TO CHECK WITH THE DEALER TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

NHTSA ODI 10916746

May 18, 2016Electrical systemBrakesEngineFire

I HAD HE EXACT SAME ALTERNATOR FAILURE AS DESCRIBED BY THE DODGE CHARGER P60 RECALL. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60MPH WHEN MY RADIO AND FRONT PANEL FLICKERED, THEN CUT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE COMING BACK ON. MY TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS STAYED ON. ABOUT A MINUTE LATER, I LOST POWER AND MY CAR COMPLETELY STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE CENTER LANE BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS WAS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE, IT'S A POORLY LIT ROAD AND OF COURSE I HAD NO ELECTRICITY TO TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS. WITH NO WAY TO POP THE TRUNK, I HAD TO CRAWL INTO IT VIA THE BACK SEAT TO GRAB FLARES (LUCKILY I HAD SOME-MOST PEOPLE DON'T). I WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY SEVERAL CARS DURING THIS TIME. ALAS, THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND I WAS TAKEN TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE AVERAGE QUOTE FROM MECHANICS IN THE DC AREA IS ABOUT $800. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $970. THE 180AMP ALTERNATOR SHOULD BE RECALLED JUST AS THE 160AMP ALTERNATOR. ITS DEFECTIVE AND ITS A SAFETY RISK.

NHTSA ODI 10865701

Aug 9, 2015EngineFire

I SMELLED SMOKE AS I WAS PULLING INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE. I STOPPED THE CAR BESIDE A GAS PUMP. AT THAT TIME I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I POPPED THE LATCH TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS TRYING TO FIND THE LATCH TO OPEN THE HOOD AND COULD NOT FIND IT, SO I LOOKED UNDER THE UNOPENED HOOD AND SAW A FIRE. I THEN GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND MOVED IT AWAY FROM THE FUEL PUMPS AND AWAY FROM THE BUILDING. I GATHERED UP MY PHONE AND PHONE CHARGER, POPPED THE TRUNK TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I NEEDED TO GET OUT. I THEN BACKED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AT A SAFE DISTANCE AND CALLED 911. THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE CAR IS TOTALED. THE INTERIOR IS BURNED UP, THE 2 FRONT TIRES ARE BURNED UP, THE WIND SHIELD AND BOTH FRONT WINDOWS SHATTERED, THE ENGINE IS BURNED UP AND THE FRONT HALF OF THE CARS PAINT HAS BEEN BURNED UP.

NHTSA ODI 10747311

Jul 28, 2014Electronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngineFire

LEAVING WORK I NOTICED MY RADIO SUDDENLY TURNED OFF, DISPLAY SHOWED POWER SAVER MODE. I CONTACTED MY HUSBAND BY CELL PHONE AND HE ADVISED ME TO STOP DRIVING IT BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN REPORTS OF FIRES, CRASHES AND LOSS OF CONTROL. I WAS TURNING ON TO MY STREET AND I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING, BRAKES, AND ALL POWER IN THE CAR. I WAS COASTING TO PARK AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MY HUSBAND CAME DOWN TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT TURN VEHICLE ON AT ALL. NOW, I DRIVE OUR CAR TO AND FROM WORK, A 15 MINUTE TRIP 6 DAYS A WEEK. WE REGULARLY KEEP OUR VEHICLE SERVICED. THIS CAR IS COMING ON A 2 YEAR ANNIVERSAY AND I HAVE PAID FOR A NEW BATTERY, PARTS/LABOR AND DIAGNOSTIC TEST. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT MY CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT THE ALTERNATOR IS MAKING A NOISE AND THAT IT CAN LAST FROM 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR OR DIE A WEEK FROM NOW. HOW DRAMATIC IS THAT? CHRYSLER GAVE ME A CASE # AND ADIVSED ME THAT THEY NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT BEFORE THEY OFFERED COST ASSISTANCE. THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT EITHER COMPANY CAN GIVE ME TO REPLACE THE LOSS OF A LIFE IN MY FAMILY. PLEASE KEEP US SAFE AND FIX THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES OFF OF THE ROAD TO PREVENT EVEN MORE UNNECESSARY COLLISIONS. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10616870

Jun 22, 2014Electrical systemTraction Control SystemEngineFire

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 15MPH AND THE TPMS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH AND THAN I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND HEARING A LOUD HIGH PITCHED NOISE, CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD CREATING A HAZARD, I GOT OUT QUICKLY AND POPPED THE HOOD AND SMOKE FLEW OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR AREA. TOOK CAR IN AND DODGE IS TRYING TO CHARGE 790.00 TO FIX THIS VERY COMMON ISSUE ON THE 3.6 2012 DODGE CHARGER SE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10605090

Working with the data? Download all 648 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 11, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Dodge Charger EV verdict →