3.4

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,392 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Dodge Challenger Owner Comments

problem #13

Dec 102017

Challenger

  • 64,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. While driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle decelerated and shut off. In addition, the battery, transmission, and another unknown warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle restarted after a few minutes. The contact also heard clicking noises when the vehicle was started. Also, the driver's side window did not roll back up in the rain. The failure recurred several times. The contact called landmark Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of morrow at 770-968-4900 (located at 6850 mount zion blvd, morrow, ga 30260) and was informed to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #12

Oct 132018

Challenger

  • 58,000 miles
Driving, on a city street when going to make a turn onto highway. When I attempted to change gears, the shifter handle bracket broke away from transmission and shifter handle fell to the side. This is a 6 speed manual transmission.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #11

Jun 052018

Challenger

  • miles
Windows going up and down about 1/8 inch as if the door is being opened and closed, its causing the battery to die and fail. I read up on this and unfourtunately a Dodge owners are having the same issue. Someone seems to thinks its the latch which has been a problem solver for most customers. There should be a recall in place for both 2011and 2012 Dodge owners for window latch defect

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #10

Feb 112017

Challenger

  • 101,450 miles

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

I received a recall notice regarding timing chain, casing, and guide I took vehicle in to dealership to have recall performed and after I picked up my vehicle 2 weeks later my engine slung a rod through my engine block when vehicle excellerated to 70 miles per hour now Chrysler as well as dealership is refusing to repair my vehicle when the recall clearly state if the job is not performed correctly this could take place I was travelling on the highway when it blew with vehicles coming on both sides it was a two lane highway 278

- Fairfield, AL, USA

problem #9

Jul 112016

Challenger

  • 26,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact placed the vehicle in neutral and exited the vehicle. The vehicle rolled away while in neutral. The contact jumped in the vehicle and depressed the brake pedal. The contact took the vehicle to the mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was malfunctioning. The approximate failure mileage was 26,000.

- High Springs, FL, USA

problem #8

Jul 152015

Challenger

  • 50,000 miles
Since the vehicle has hit 50.000 miles the transmition is messing up.can't get it in guear or can't get it out of gear.

- Ocala , FL, USA

problem #7

Mar 242015

Challenger 8-cyl

  • miles

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

I purchased my Challenger new, within the first month it started the stopped" I tried again same thing, after doing this three times it started. Finally! I called the dealership where I purchased it, they checked it said nothing was wrong, okay thanks. I've had my Challenger over 3 years now, and itstill has had the same "mysterious" problem ! during a scheduled recall and diagnosis test, still nothing! now they are only recalling certain models for transmission problems, and not others" my Challenger is not shifting smoothly, I love this car, I need help, I did my part by buying this car I love! someone needs to step up and do theirs!

- Ringling, OK, USA

problem #6

Feb 052015

Challenger 6-cyl

  • 42,242 miles
Alternator failure (documented recall) caused the vehicle to stall and lose all power. Lucky this was at low speed on a surface street vs. Highway speed and interstate. Was able to coast vehicle to a side street however blocking one lane of travel. Vehicle would not start nor shift to neutral and the hazard lights would not function it was completely dead. Had vehicle towed to dealer for repair. Dealer installed a new alternator subject to the same recall and stated that the proper replacement is on back order as well refused to pay towing (cost incurred due to a failed component under recall) stated they were doing us a favor by not having to pay for the repair and providing a rental car. This is a serious issue that will cause a crash and or fatality if this happens at highway speed or on any busy thoroughfare. It is unacceptable to replace a failed part with another part subject to the same recall. Another solution needs to be available other than subjecting owners of these vehicles to continued serious safety risk while awaiting back ordered parts.there are alternate replacements that could be obtained by Dodge vs. Having the oem of the alternator cover the entire recall cost. This is a Dodge issue to its consumers however Dodge pursues recouping its costs is its own issue. They are blatantly putting cost above safety and not accommodating owners to defer cost. Keeping a vehicle in operation with this serious of an issue will be disastrous at some point. Many owners have no alternative but to operate the vehicles with the issue given their financial situation. Impacted owners should have costs of mitigating the risk such as a long term rental car deferred by Dodge while awaiting an appropriate repair/replacement of the recalled part given the seriousness of the safety risks involved. Updated 3/31/16

- Plant City, FL, USA

problem #5

Dec 012014

Challenger 8-cyl

  • 36,150 miles
I am having difficulty shifting into gear at various speeds and when stopped. The problem is increasing in difficulty and causing safety issues when I try to downshift, or attempt to put into gear on a hill. I have viewed numerous posts from Challenger owners going back to model year 2009 with similar problems. All of these models use a tremec transmission.

- Phoenix, MD, USA

problem #4

Dec 032014

Challenger 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
I was driving along the road and approached a set of lights to make a left turn. While making the left turn, my ABS brake light and traction light started flickering, the interior instrument lights turned off, my sunroof and windows secured itself, my nav system shut off and the vehicle appeared to be failing. After pulling into a gas station and parking the vehicle, I shut the vehicle off and after a few seconds, turn the ignition on. The vehicle would not start up so towed it to the dealership. After the dealership completed some diagnostic testing, they advised me that my alternator was defective as well as my battery and both would require replacement. My vehicle has approximately 75,000kms and it is very difficult for me to understand that a 2 year old vehicle requires a replacement alternator and battery with very little mileage. Most batteries on the market typically have 3 to 5 year warranties and most alternators usually require replacement at 130,000 to 160,000kms. The repair cost $1,125 (cad). I am deeply disappointed with the quality of the components with my Chrysler as well as trifling issues I?ve had with my Dodge Challenger. I would be very reluctant to purchase another Chrysler/Dodge vehicle ever again.

- Innisfil, Ontario, Canada, NY, USA

problem #3

Nov 042014

Challenger

  • 53,210 miles

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

While driving on a two lane road, the car began to lose power and steering control. It became very difficult to get the car to a safe location. It turned out to be the alternator. I saw on this website the older 2012 cars Challengers were recalled with the same engine and alternator. I was very lucky not to have crashed my car.

- Pearland, TX, USA

problem #2

Sep 012012

Challenger

  • 6,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the vehicle failed to shift into second gear. The contact stated that after driving the vehicle for a distance and stop for a period of time the vehicle would experience the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 6,000.

- Cato, WI, USA

problem #1

Nov 272011

Challenger 8-cyl

  • 50 miles
Skip shift. This feature is already the cause of several near misses of me being rear-ended because from a stop, I am unexpectedly prevented from shifting from first into 2nd gear to maintain expected acceleration in traffic. I realize what the skip shift is intended for but in the real world of traffic, the skip shift feature is inherently dangerous and is a safety issue. When ever anyone is behind me at a stop or at a left or right turn, when its time to go, the skip shift feature puts me at risk of being rear ended every time it engages. There is a display on the instrument panel when skip shift is engaged but to take your eyes off the road to refocus and look for this display while at the same time driving in traffic is as dangerous as the skip shift feature itself. Additionally, as a result of being forced to shift from first to forth is damaging to the clutch, transmission and engine. The engine knocks and pings terribly if I try to accelerate in forth gear at such a low speed. Often times I am frantically double clutching trying to override the feature by trying to yank and jam the transmission into second gear all the while decelerating with following traffic honking or yelling verbal abuse. There needs to be a way to disable the skip shift feature on these 6 speed manual transmissions.

- Fremont, CA, USA

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