Model year guide

2012 Dodge Challenger

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Dodge Challenger is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 209 on record.

2012 Dodge Challenger at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints253
Combined19 mpg
Typical price$21,258

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Dodge Challenger recalls 6

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V018000 · 15/01/2019

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chr…

Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator NHTSA Campaign #17V435000 · 10/07/2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall …

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #18V021000 · 09/01/2018

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." A…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Ch…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #16V352000 · 24/05/2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 200…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on…

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #13V118000 · 03/04/2013

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured April 11, 2011, through December 14, 2011. The affected vehicles may have improperly sized terminal crimps on the seat side-airbag wiring harness which may cause the seat side-airbags to malfunction and illuminate the airbag warning light.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace both driver and passenger seat airbag wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N07.

Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator NHTSA Campaign #14V634000 · 08/10/2014

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango; and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured April 22, 2010, to January 2, 2014, and equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.

Fix: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P60.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Dodge Challenger common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 253 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

2012 Dodge Challenger safety ratings

Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Dodge Challenger 2 DR RWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Dodge Challenger MPG & running costs

Combined19 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,617

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Dodge Challenger worth?

Low
$14,400
Typical price
$21,258
High
$33,000

From 204 comparable 2012 Dodge Challenger listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Dodge Challenger costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,085
Depreciation (5 yrs)$5,850
Total$23,935
Per mile$0.32

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($21,258) with the same model 3 model-years older ($17,737), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Dodge Challenger trims & engines on record

Trims
SXT · R/T · SRT8 392 · Base
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl 283 hp · 5.7L 8-cyl · 6.4L 8-cyl · 3.6L 6-cyl

2012 Dodge Challenger vehicles on record

Other Dodge Challenger model years

2012 Dodge Challenger — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Dodge Challenger have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2012 Dodge Challenger. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Challenger?

Based on 253 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, engine, power train.

What is the 2012 Dodge Challenger safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Dodge Challenger crash-test ratings of rollover 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Dodge Challenger get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Dodge Challenger at about 19 mpg combined (16 city / 25 highway).

How much is a 2012 Dodge Challenger worth?

Comparable 2012 Dodge Challenger listings run roughly $14,400–$33,000, typically around $21,258 (from 204 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.