10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,959 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Dodge Challenger electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Dodge Challenger Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #130

Apr 042024

Challenger

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car has come to a complete halt several times when I pressed the gas trying to get onto the speedway it will just have no power to it like it-??s in neutral and I will have to hurry up and get over to the side and turn it back into park and then back into drive and pray that it goes. It doesn-??t kick into gear like it should all the time my battery is always a hit or miss. I just spent $1000 on repairs and my power won-??t even work. It-??s an electric. and pray that it goes. It doesn-??t kick into gear like it should alternator all the time my battery is always a hit or miss. I just spent $1000 on repairs and my power. Siri won-??t even work. It-??s an electrical nobody can get anything to fix it and now we-??re out of state and it broke down again. It is so dangerous recently, the belt came off of it while I was driving and it caused liquids to explode and almost caused fire

- Centertown, KY, USA

problem #129

May 012021

Challenger

  • miles
2012 Challenger SRT8 TIPM is this issue and there is no recall for this, while it should due to being a major part of the electrical system that controls all aspects of the safety system. Also now I am being told Dodge does NOT make this part any longer....how is that possible. This IS a recall for other Dodge models, why not mine

- Richmond, TX, USA

problem #128

Dec 012021

Challenger

  • miles
Window keeps going up and down fixed it at the shop the door lock actuator is the problem had passenger side fixed now the driver side is doing it which is draining my battery seems like a lot of cars have this issue

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #127

Apr 252021

Challenger

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This would be the 3 or 4 time with this issue and I hade to replace part and fix it. Driver side smart window stops working it won't go down when opening door causing you to force door open and now door can not close correctly

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #126

Feb 152021

Challenger

  • 71,567 miles
The window sensors go out and all of the controls at the steering wheel. Windows stop rolling up on their own so close the door and leaves 1/4inch gap. Sometimes stays all the way up so window hits door jam. Does this on driver and passenger side. Also, windshield wipers control won't work, turn signals won't work. Checked all fuses and tried hard reset snd that didn't work. Sometimes they will start working again and then just stop again. Traction control light is always on.

- Kennewick, WA, USA

problem #125

Nov 012019

Challenger

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that every time she turned off her vehicle she had to unplug her battery because there was a malfunction with the smart switch in her windows. The windows did not completely close and as a result the electrical system overheated the vehicle and drained the battery. The contact called the dealer freedom Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram by ed morse 815 E camp wisdom rd, duncanville, tx 75116 888) 331-8981 and they said to bring the vehicle in for a diagnostic test. They also said there were no recalls. The vehicle was not repaired with contact having to buy new batteries to be able to start her vehicle. The manufacturer gave the contact a case number and referred her to call NHTSA. The failure mileage was 65,000.

- Grand Prarie, TX, USA

problem #124

Jun 262020

Challenger 6-cyl

  • 6 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Latch /motor for window going up and down by itself driver side had to be replaced very common problem with Dodge owners I just paid 563 dollars for dealer to replace latch so it won't drain my battery and leave me stranded.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #123

Jun 172020

Challenger

  • 53,000 miles
The vehicle was parked and turned off. A switch malfunctioned in the car, causing the driver's window to lower and raise 1/4" every 30 seconds or so. This drained the battery and left us stranded. After doing some research it looks like it is the smart glass switch that failed. This is a known issue on these vehicles and Dodge issued a recall for only 2011 model years leaving the rest of us in jeopardy of being stranded and to pay hundreds of dollars for a fix and possible another couple hundred for a new battery.

- Biscayne Park, FL, USA

problem #122

Apr 072020

Challenger 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
The driver side window goes up and down about a 1/4 of an inch on it's own when the car is off and no one is in the vehicle. This drained the battery completely and I needed to be jumped to get it to the mechanic. I saw on line where this was a recall for 2010,2011 and some 2012 models. This happened on April 7th.

- Lehigh Acres, FL, USA

problem #121

Mar 122020

Challenger

  • miles
Passenger window will go down about 1/4 of an inch every 10 seconds when door is closed and vehicle is unlocked. This caused battery to drain.

- Arvin, CA, USA

problem #120

Jan 182020

Challenger 6-cyl

  • 200,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated while driving at approximately 10 mph the vehicle started to emit smoke out of the cigarette lighter with a dime lodged in the hole. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over safely to attempt to extinguish the fire. Within a few minutes the vehicle engulfed in flames, the contact attempted to pour soda on the flames along with a fire extinguisher to no avail. However the fire department was able to put out the flames. A fire report was not taken. The vehicle was towed to the contacts home the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or local mechanic for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of this incident. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #119

May 012019

Challenger

  • 94,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that the front passenger window operated independently with or without the key fob in the vehicle. Also, the vehicle shut off and needed to be jumpstarted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #118

Sep 092019

Challenger

  • 120,000 miles
I initially got my alternator changed by my own mechanic before there was any recall on the alternator. Then some time last year 2018 I took my car in for the recall on the air bags. While my car was at Dodge they notified me that the recall on my alternator still hadn't been cleared since I never changed it with Dodge so I was like what the heck why not just get a brand new one through Dodge this time while they're repairing whatever needed to be done with my air bags. Fast forward to July of 2019 I took my car in to Dodge dealership for some shaking while my foot was on the break and for the gears not properly shifting. My rpms were going way too high before the next gear would shift. Service at dealership claimed to fix the issue but I was back a week later because my check engine light came back on. After leaving it there another several days they said they found the actual issue so now I shouldn't be having any problems. ( something was misfiring, a coil was changed etc.) now Sept of 2019 my car decided to stop on me while driving on the freeway almost killing me. My entire dashboard went crazy check engine light went off, air bags light, steering wheel, no key fob detected all while loosing power. Thankfully I made it off the exist with just enough power to get to a gas station right off the freeway before my car completely turned off on me. I took the battery to get checked it was completely dead, recharged it car started fine then went back to doing the exact same thing with warning signs all over the dashboard and leaving me again. I bought a brand new battery and still wont turn on. Being that I experienced something similar the first time my alternator went out I am pretty sure this is the same exact thing. I have had nothing but issues with this car since I got it will be taking it back to dealer but I no longer feel comfortable driving this vehicle.

- Pacoima, CA, USA

problem #117

Apr 302019

Challenger

  • 55,000 miles
Drivers side window would not roll down upon opening door causing window to be on the outside of weather stripping when closing door. This happens when the vehicle is stationary and when opening drivers side door.

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #116

May 082019

Challenger

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V634000 (electrical system). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Haley Dodge Jeep Ram (5400 S laburnum ave, richmond, va 23231, (804) 663-5337) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #115

Apr 032018

Challenger

  • 104,900 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. While driving and when the vehicle was turned off, the front passenger side window went up and down. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,900.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #114

Apr 062019

Challenger

  • 127,000 miles
The passenger side window keeps going up and down even when the car isn't running or keys in the vehicle.

- Wentzville, MO, USA

problem #113

Mar 012019

Challenger

  • 112,000 miles
My driver side window constantly rolls up and down and it drains my battery in moments. I dont know if my alternator is going back because even after I replaced my battery 2 times it takes forever to jump my car off. I dont understand how a faulty window can cause this

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #112

Mar 152019

Challenger

  • 200,000 miles
Subject: Door smart glass self cycling and/or battery drain the door smart glass feature cycles on its own which leads to battery drain. The condition typically occurs when the vehicle is parked and the ignition key is off. This condition is identical to the exact symptoms identified on the 2011 model. This issue has been identified on Chrysler's service bulletin csn-M24 smart glass switch. The smart glass switch issue needs to be recalled on the 2012 model asap..!

- Grand Prairie, TX, USA

problem #111

Mar 112019

Challenger

  • 113,000 miles
Battery was replaced because it went dead. Lost power steering. Windows going up and down on their own running down new battery. Found fuse that runs side mirrors and power steering to be good but is showing the fuse box to be grounding out when fuse is removed. I have heard of alot of issues with the windows on this car. Nobody can seem to locate the problem. The car was sitting still and engine not turned on. If I leave windows open, weather damage is done. Dangerous to drive without power steering. Afraid it might catch on fire due to the grounding out. There are no recalls referring to this issue. Why and what can I do about getting this resolved when mechanics can't find the problem?

- Mt Pleasant, TX, USA

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