2012 Dodge Charger Police Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Charger Police, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical627.3%
- Engine522.7%
- Steering313.6%
- Brakes29.1%
- Driver assistance29.1%
- Fuel system29.1%
- Powertrain (other)14.5%
- Suspension14.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 DODGE CHARGER POLICE VEHICLE. WHILE PARKED AT A GAS STATION, SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED SHE TRIED TO OPEN THE HOOD BUT THE LATCH WAS MELTED AND FAILED TO OPEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A RESIDENCE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V739000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER, WHERE IT WAS INVESTIGATED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
I WAS DRIVING IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY 14 ME AND MY 1-YEAR OLD. A LIGHTNING BOLT SYMBOL POPPED UP ON THE DASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS ON THINGS I SEE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FOR SOME REASON IN THE WINTER TIME MY CAR STARTED MISFIRING AND TAPPING AT WORK NOT IN MOTION JUST WARMING THE CAR BEFORE LEAVING. WENT TO THE SHOP COME TO FIND OUT THE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS ARE BAD OUT OF NOWHERE. OIL WAS GOOD, MILES ARE LOW. THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THE 5.7 I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS COMMON IN THE TRUCKS AND CARS WITH THE 5.7
I WAS DRIVING IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY 14 ME AND MY 1-YEAR OLD. A LIGHTNING BOLT SYMBOL POPPED UP ON THE DASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS ON THINGS I SEE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
SHOP HAS REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP TWICE AND THE POWER STEERING STILL LOCKS UP AND IS HARD TO TURN. THIS OCCURS DAILY ON PATROL. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OFF THE ROAD DUE TO THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE.
POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED ON HIGHWAY WHILE TURNING INTO REST STOP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHY IS IT THAT THE MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION FOR SAFETY IN REGARDS TO SUSPENSION REPLACEMENT, FUSE BOX(S) REWIRING AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM ARE NOT RECALLS FOR THE LD POLICE PURSUIT MODELS. I'M TOLD BY DON DAVIS IN ARLINGTON TEXAS THAT THESE ARE NOT "RECALL ITEMS" AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE? EVEN THOUGH THE POLICE FLEET WAS TAKEN CARE OF. THIS, IF I WERE TO BE INJURED IN A CRASH/ACCIDENT WILL OPEN CHRYSLER UP TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SUIT FROM EVERY MODEL ON THE STREET WHICH YOU KNOW THAT IS A LOT. TO ME AND OTHERS THIS IS ALL ABOUT MONEY TO FIX A KNOWN PROBLEM PLACING PROFIT/LOSS ABOVE SAFETY WHICH IS A THE LEAST GROSS NEGLIGENCE. THESE PROBLEMS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME I'M DRIVING THIS CAR.
DODGE SERVICE BULLETIN #08-040-14 REV. A . SUBJECT "POLICE VECHICLE A/C INOPERATIVE" AND #08-001-12 SUBJECT LOSE OF ABS/ESP FUNCTIONALITY" WITH FUSE BOXES INVOLVES THE FRONT AND REAR FUSE BOX THAT REQUIRES RE-WIRING. SERVICE BULLETIN #02-006-12 GROUP=FRONT SUSPENSION, SUBJECT "FRONT LEAF SPRING OUT OF SPEC" DON DAVIS DODGE WILL NOT ADDRESS THESE AND OTHER SERVICE BULLETINS AND MANUFACTURE COMMUNICATIONS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR FIXING DEFECTIVE AND SAFETY PRONE PARTS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY 14 ME AND MY 1-YEAR OLD. A LIGHTNING BOLT SYMBOL POPPED UP ON THE DASH AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS ON THINGS I SEE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED.
TAKATA RECALL 2012 DODGE CHARGER. DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH THEN CAR STARTED JUMPING. BATTERY LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. CAR STARTED TO KILL. HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD AND COULD BARELY TURN STEERING WHEEL. KEEP IN MIND I HAVE MY 2 KIDS IN THE CAR. TRIED TO JUMP BATTERY AND IT STATED SMOKING AND JUMPER CABLES BECAME REALLY HOT. TOOK OUT BATTERY AND BRUNG IT IN TO GET CHECKED. HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY FOR $220. BRUNG CAR TO GET ALTERNATOR CHECKED AND MACHINE SAYS FAULTY ALTERNATOR. JUST DROPPED IT OFF AT DODGE CERTIFIED. NOT SURE WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WIRING HARNESS ABOVE THE FUEL PUMP BECAME HOT ENOUGH TO MELT A HOLD IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK COVER AND ALLOW FUEL TO ESCAPE OUT OF THE TANK, UNDER THE BACK SEAT, THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. THIS WAS REPORTED TO CHYYLER SEPTEMBER 30, 2016, BY LETTER, AND TO NHTSA, FEBRUARY 7, 2017, BY LETTER. *TT
2012 DODGE CHARGER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL PUMP ELECTRIC SHORT. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A GAS LEAK THROUGH THE FUEL PUMP. THE WIRING HARNESS ALSO FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER POLICE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,351.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHY IS IT THAT THE MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION FOR SAFETY IN REGARDS TO SUSPENSION REPLACEMENT, FUSE BOX(S) REWIRING AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM ARE NOT RECALLS FOR THE LD POLICE PURSUIT MODELS. I'M TOLD BY DON DAVIS IN ARLINGTON TEXAS THAT THESE ARE NOT "RECALL ITEMS" AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE? EVEN THOUGH THE POLICE FLEET WAS TAKEN CARE OF. THIS, IF I WERE TO BE INJURED IN A CRASH/ACCIDENT WILL OPEN CHRYSLER UP TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SUIT FROM EVERY MODEL ON THE STREET WHICH YOU KNOW THAT IS A LOT. TO ME AND OTHERS THIS IS ALL ABOUT MONEY TO FIX A KNOWN PROBLEM PLACING PROFIT/LOSS ABOVE SAFETY WHICH IS A THE LEAST GROSS NEGLIGENCE. THESE PROBLEMS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME I'M DRIVING THIS CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .