NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Dodge Charger Police Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 Dodge Charger Police has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 13 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Dodge dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Dodge Charger Police. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2012 Dodge Charger Police owner complaints

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Charger Police, describing incidents dated May 9, 2016 to June 7, 2019.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 6 complaints
Engine 5 complaints
Steering 3 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint

Of the 13 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11221015 · Filed June 18, 2019
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…
ODI #11220439 · Filed June 16, 2019
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.
ODI #11183800 · Filed March 3, 2019
POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED ON HIGHWAY WHILE TURNING INTO REST STOP.

Read all 13 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Dodge Charger Police in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Alternator may Fail Resulting in Engine Stall/Fire

NHTSA #16V739000 · Electrical System — Alternator/Generator/Regulator · NHTSA notice

Reported October 13, 2016 · Chrysler (FCA US LLC)

Potentially affected: 74,811 vehicles

Repair completion: 66.7% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign S68 · Owners notified December 23, 2016 · Vehicles built November 15, 2010 – July 10, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Police vehicles, 2007-2013 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2013 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2013 RAM 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may suddenly fail.

Safety consequence

If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the alternator with a revised alternator, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S68.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2012 Dodge Charger Police. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

13 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Dodge Charger Police.

Electrical System

ODI #11221015

Fire

Incident: June 16, 2018 · Filed: June 18, 2019

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.

Steering

ODI #11220439

Incident: June 7, 2019 · Filed: June 16, 2019

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.

Steering

ODI #11183800

Incident: October 5, 2018 · Filed: March 3, 2019

POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED ON HIGHWAY WHILE TURNING INTO REST STOP.

Engine

ODI #11171100

Incident: January 15, 2019 · Filed: January 20, 2019

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

Electrical System; Vehicle Speed Control; Engine

ODI #11145205

Incident: October 31, 2018 · Filed: November 4, 2018

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11114630

Incident: September 30, 2016 · Filed: July 30, 2018

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

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #11109599

Incident: July 4, 2018 · Filed: July 5, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER POLICE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED A HEAVY CLOUD OF SMOKE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE ON THE GROUND. WHEN THE CONTACT REFILLED THE RADIATOR WITH ANTI-FREEZE, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO LEAK OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED JAY MALONE MOTORS AT 320-587-4748 (LOCATED AT 1165 MN-7, HUTCHINSON, MN 55350) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED WITH AN AFTERMARKET RADIATOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. *TT

Suspension; Electrical System; Service Brakes

ODI #11096854

Incident: May 9, 2016 · Filed: May 19, 2018

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.

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11076507

Incident: March 1, 2018 · Filed: March 6, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CHARGER POLICE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE OFFICER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COUNTY GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE OFFICER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND REFERRED THE OFFICER TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Steering; Electrical System; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #11055296

Incident: December 18, 2017 · Filed: December 18, 2017

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.

Other Dodge Charger Police model years

Check your 2012 Dodge Charger Police VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Dodge Charger Police at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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