RoadVitals

2012 Dodge Charger Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
52
Latest Jun 30, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 648 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Dodge Charger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 52 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 52, in the owner's own words

ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Jun 30, 2023

When I purchased the car it had been used as a police car in the state of Mississippi. So after I bought the car I checked for any recalls and found it to have 2 open recalls. 1 was a passenger side airbag and the other was the alternator. So I contacted Moss motor company in South Pittsburg Tennessee and they agreed to do the recalls. After they had finished installing the air bag they told me the alternator wasn't required for change out because the part number listed on it wasn't warranted. So I did some investigating and found my part number to be 7030. The part numbers not required for change out is 7051-7031-and 7170.. It's listed under the NHTSA S68/16v-739 recall. Since I've had the car I have had blinking headlight issues.. I have a little bit of automobile knowledge and I knew it had to be a grounding problem or a alternator problem. So I even added a couple of grounds from the engine to the chassis with no improvement. So I contacted a good friend of mine whom is a retired Dodge Chrysler master technician and he agreed to check my alternator for fluctuating amperage. He placed a device around the lead wire coming from the alternator to the battery and when he did the needle was constantly fluctuating very rapidly probably 2/3 across the entire dial. So there is no question whatsoever the alternator is the source of the problem. There's one more issue I would like to report. When I carried my car in for the recalls to be performed the technician didn't even bother to raise the hood of the car to check the part number on the alternator.. The reason I know this is because he didn't take my car to the shop area, he pulled my car in front of the high bay doors and installed the passenger side airbag.. I did witness this.. But not 1 time did I see him raise the hood. It took me a 30x magnifying glass and a flashlight to take the photo clearly showing the part number on my current alternator that was supposed to be changed. Photo attached is part number.

NHTSA ID
11529695
Incident
Oct 13, 2022
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 14, 2022

Loss of touchscreen functionality only works initially and then freezes completely making it unusable and making the most part of the internal features and climate control completely unavailable and increasing the risk of safety of the driver, Dealer stating to replace whole touch screen unit which is extremely expensive to replace, It should be standard and lot of functionality is used from the touchscreen And also Loss Of Low Beam Headlights seems like issue with electrical system recall issue that was done a long time back

NHTSA ID
11493492
Incident
Oct 10, 2022
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 24, 2020

NO LIGHTS

NHTSA ID
11384875
Incident
Dec 24, 2020
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 4, 2019

THIRD TIME CHANGING THE LIGHT BULB AND THE WIRES FOR MY HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, FEW FRIENDS OF MINE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. LOW BEAM GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11286776
Incident
Dec 3, 2019
Mileage
75,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 8, 2019

1.THE WIRING TO THE HEADLIGHTS KEEPS BURNING INTO AND IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY. 2. THE RADIO DOESN'T COME ON WHEN I START THE CAR; I HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES TO GET EVERYTHING CONNECTED. 3. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR ALIGNED 4 TIMES IN 9 MONTHS AND BOUGHT 2 SETS OF TIRES BECAUSE IT WILL NOT KEEP THE ALIGNMENT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND THE RADIO AND LIGHTS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MUCH LONGER. WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS?

NHTSA ID
11267046
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 26, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS UNINTENTIONALLY WENT OUT. DULUTH DODGE INC (4755 MILLER TRUNK HWY, DULUTH, MN 55811, (218) 720-6123) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V101000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA ID
11163520
Incident
Dec 12, 2018
Mileage
148,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 28, 2018

PASSENGER HID LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF. AFTER A PERIOD OF THE VEHICLE BEING SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED THE LIGHT WILL COME BACK O BUT WILL SHUT OFF AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE WIRING HARNESS, BUT NOTHING IS SHOWING ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE FOR THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11154650
Incident
Oct 15, 2018
Mileage
107,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 13, 2018

MY 2012 DODGE CHARGER IS HAVING THE SAME LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ISSUE AS THE RECALL POSTED 5/2/2014 FOR MY YEAR. HOWEVER, WHEN I LOOK UP MY VIN NUMBER, ITS SAYING THERE IS NO ACTIVE RECALLS.

NHTSA ID
11151185
Incident
Oct 26, 2018
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 19, 2018
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE PLUG IN PART FOR THE HEADLIGHT, WHICH WAS MELTING. AFTER THE CONTACT TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED JIM COGDILL DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (8544 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN 37919, (865) 690-1611) AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
11141491
Incident
Oct 19, 2016
Mileage
45,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 22, 2018

I HAVE REPLACED 6 PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM WIRING HARNESSES IN THE LAST 5 MONTHS DUE TO THE HARNESS MELTING AT THE LIGHTBULBS CONNECTOR. ALSO REPLACING LIGHTBULBS EACH TIME BECAUSE ONCE THE HARNESS MELTS THEY CANNOT BE SEPARATED CAUSING AN ADDED ADDITIONAL COST EACH TIME TO THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED A NEW LIGHTBULB HARNESS 3 WEEKS AGO & HAD IT INSTALLED DUE TO MY LOW BEAM GOING OUT YET AGAIN, & YESTERDAY EVENING NOTICED IT WAS OUT AGAIN!!!! AFTER ALL THE TIME AND MONEY SPENT, I'M GETTING TIRED OF THIS AND FRANKLY IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO KNOW ELECTRICAL STUFF IS BURNING UP UNDER YOUR HOOD THAT SHOULD BE SAFE! ALSO IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS OUT IN MY STATE GEORGIA.

NHTSA ID
11121609
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 24, 2018

LOW BEAM HID HEADLIGHTS FAIL (TURN OFF COMPLETELY) WHEN ON FOR PERIOD OF TIME REGARDLESS OF IF VEHICLE IS STOPPED OR IN MOTION. THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL, RECALL NUMBER P08 DATED 04/2014 HOWEVER MY VIN AND OTHER VEHICLES WITH HID LOW BEAM LIGHTNING WERE "NOT INCLUDED" IN THE AFFECTED VINS FOR P08.

NHTSA ID
11113439
Incident
Jul 7, 2018
Mileage
117,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 6, 2018

MY HEADLIGHT HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS NEVER REPAIRED,I NEVER GOT THE PAPER FOR IT

NHTSA ID
11092133
Incident
May 9, 2014
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 19, 2018

THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AFTER TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS ON. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS ON AUTO OR MAUNUAL. SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN RECALL P-08 FOR THE SAME VICHICLES BUILT 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO MINE. THIS PROBLEM PERSIST THROUGHOUT ALL VEHICLE OPERATIONS. I CHANGED THE BULB TWICE ALREADY BUT THE HEADLIGHT STILL GOES OUT.

NHTSA ID
11073607
Incident
Jan 4, 2018
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 15, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAMS FAILED TO FUNCTION AND SHORTED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LIGHTS, BUT THE LOW BEAMS SHORTED OUT AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE LOW BEAMS WERE REPLACED AGAIN, ALONG WITH THE WIRING AND WIRING HARNESS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V197000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 12V042000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING) ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF REPLACING THE PARTS WITH THE SAME OEM PARTS WOULD CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,097. *AS

NHTSA ID
10966165
Incident
Jan 29, 2017
Mileage
79,097 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 20, 2016

MY LOW BEAM DOES NOT FUNCTION. I GOOGLED MY PROBLEM AND AN EDMONDS ARTICLE IDENTIFIED A RECALL ON POLICE VEHICLES ( P08 ) AND A SUBSEQUENT RECALL ON THE REST OF THE MODEL RUN. WHEN I CALLED THE RECALL LINE GIVEN FOR FCA I WAS TOLD IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY PROBLEM. I WAS TRANSFERRED TO CUSTOMER CARE WHO TOLD ME THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME SINCE THE RECALLS WERE VIN SPECIFIC. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A REPAIR I COULD ACCOMPLISH AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. UNTIL I HAVE A REMEDY I WILL BE DRIVING AROUND WITH ONE HEADLIGHT. IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE IN RECALL CAN AGREE THAT I HAVE THE AFFECTED WIRING IN MY VEHICLE, ACCORDING TO THE BUILD SHEET FOR MY VIN, BUT THEY WILL NOT MAKE THE REPAIR CALLED FOR IN THE RECALL ON THE DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10936494
Incident
Dec 20, 2016
Mileage
66,967 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 15, 2016

I OWN A 2012 DODGE CHARGER R/T. MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS TURNING ITSELF OFF AND ONCE I TURN THE SWITCH TO THE HEADLIGHTS OFF INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND BACK ON, THE HEADLIGHT COMES ON FOR A WHILE. NOW THE HEADLIGHT DO NOT COME ON AT ALL. THIS WAS LAST WEEK, NOW AT THIS TIME THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS DOING THE SAME THING. I DID CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I AM DRIVING ALONG AT 35 MILES A HOUR WHEN I GET PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND STATES MY HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT ON.

NHTSA ID
10895848
Incident
Aug 11, 2016
Mileage
84,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 11, 2016

THE LED LIGHTS AROUND THE TRUCK LID OF THE CAR. ARE BURNING OUT ON THERE OWN. NO PHSICAL DAMAGE TO TRUCK LID OR CRACKS IN PLASTIC CASING. HOW DO YOU REPLACE THESE LAMPS.

NHTSA ID
10883885
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 29, 2016

TAKATA RECALL ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 MY CAR RADIO BEGAN TO TURN OFF AND ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN IT SAID BATTERY SAVER MODE. I ASSUMED MY BATTERY NEEDED TO CHARGE BUT LATER THAT NIGHT IT STARTED AND WITHIN MINUTES IT DID IT AGAIN BUT THE AUTO SHOPS WERE CLOSED. I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE IT THE NEXT DAY AND TODAY MONDAY FEBRUARY 29 AS I DROVE TO WORK MY RADIO TURNED OFF AGAIN. AFTER WORK I DECIDED TO DRIVE TO THE AUTO ZONE TO GET THE BATTERY CHECKED. AS I DROVE MY SCREEN BEGAN TURNING OFF AND ON, MY A/C KEPT TURNING UP AND DOWN BUT BLOWING HOT AIR, AS IF THE HEATER WAS ON, AND THE DISPLAY SCREEN WHERE IT SHOWS SPEED TURNED WHITE AND STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF, ALL THE INDEXES ON THE DASH WENT CRAZY AND MAYBE TWO MINUTES LATER MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND I STRUGGLED TO TURN AS THE STEERING LOCKED. I WAS LUCKY TO BE NEAR THE AUTO ZONE ALREADY AND AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. MY SON WAS WITH ME IT WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. THEY WERE ABLE TO CHECK IT AND IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. MY HEADLIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS OUT AS WELL. I HAVE HEARD OF RECALLS WITH ALL THESE PARTS BUT APPARENTLY MINE IS NOT ON THE LIST. SAME PROBLEMS. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID
10839080
Incident
Feb 29, 2016
Mileage
89,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 7, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS, REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOME LIGHT ACTUATOR, AND STEREO FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID
10808905
Incident
Nov 23, 2015
Mileage
84,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 9, 2015

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON CITY ROADS OR HIGHWAY. USUAL ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT SOMETIMES BOTH AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS ISSUE STARTED IN JUNE OF 2015 AND HAPPENS NOW EVERY TIME THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR DODGE CHARGERS. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN EARLIER SAFETY RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10789444
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
98,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 31, 2015

DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO GO OUT EVEN AFTER CHANGING THE BULB 4 TIMES. LOOKS LIKE A HARNESS MELTING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR EXCEPT ONLY IN POLICE VEHICLES. IT IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM FOR OTHER TYPES THAN JUST POLICE CARS.

NHTSA ID
10787446
Incident
Oct 1, 2014
Mileage
28,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 11, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT DIMMED AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,426.

NHTSA ID
10763235
Incident
Aug 28, 2015
Mileage
51,426 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID
10726575
Incident
Jun 20, 2015
Mileage
48,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 28, 2015

CONNECTOR AT PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLAMP OVERHEATED AND MELTED. REPLACED CONNECTOR. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED UNDER RECALL 12V-042 AND THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10722027
Incident
May 13, 2015
Mileage
45,200 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 28, 2015

RECALL 12V-042 WAS COMPLETED AND THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED WE HAVE HAD CONTINUED FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT AND FOUND THE CONNECTOR HAS BEEN OVERHEATED.

NHTSA ID
10722022
Incident
May 28, 2015
Mileage
39,380 mi

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.

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