A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Dodge Charger

If you’ve always loved driving performance cars but you don't know how you’ll fit a baby seat in a Mustang or a Camaro, the 2012 Dodge Charger could be the car for you. While it has the room and amenities of a family sedan, it also has the style and engine of a high-performing muscle car, fulfilling all of your needs and your wants, too.

Key Features

The base model 2012 Dodge Charger comes standard with a V6 engine with 292 horsepower and a 5-speed AutoStick transmission that has plenty of get-up-and-go and is a lot of fun to drive. You also have the option of including the UConnect 8.4N infotainment system with Garmin navigation and voice-activated controls, as well as a number of other features and options.

Changes for 2012

In 2012, Dodge brought out an 8-speed automatic transmission option for some Charger trim levels, as well as paddle shifters and hands-free texting features.

What We Like

The Charger is the perfect compromise for anyone who wanted a Challenger but needs a sedan. It’s powerful, fun, and practical, all in one package.

What Concerns Us

For the money, there are a lot of other less expensive family sedans out there that get better fuel efficiency and have very similar features. We’re also concerned that the Charger may depreciate at a faster rate than some of its lower-priced peers.

Available Models

With a few different trim levels, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from with the 2012 Dodge Charger. The biggest decision, though, will of course be which engine to go with. The 8-speed option for the 3.6-liter V6 gets the best fuel economy at 31 MPG on the highway, but has the least horsepower (still an impressive 292 HP). On the other end of the scale, the 6.1-liter HEMI V8 has 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque but only gets 23 MPG on the highway. Of course, you could just split the difference and get the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 370 horsepower and 25 MPG on the highway.

Major Recalls

There have been a few recalls on the 2012 Dodge Charger. The most significant of these have been performed to address issues with failing alternators, inadvertent side airbag deployment, loss of low-beam headlights, and rod bearing failures.

Common Issues

The most commonly reported issues with the 2012 Dodge Charger include electrical problems with brake lights, traction control, alternators, and windshield wipers.

Dodge Charger 2012 Interior


Next Step

Schedule Pre-purchase Car Inspection

The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Pre-purchase Car Inspection. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. We currently cover over 2,000 cities and have 100k+ 5-star reviews... LEARN MORE

SEE PRICING & SCHEDULING

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Recent Pre-purchase Car Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(5,493)

Rating Summary
5,137
193
39
38
86
5,137
193
39
38
86

Jermaine

25 years of experience
382 reviews
Jermaine
25 years of experience
Dodge Durango V6-3.6L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Silver Spring, Maryland
Awesome mechanic! Very reliable !! Awesome personality! Explained everything and now I feel less stressed.
Hyundai Ioniq - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Chevy Chase, Maryland
Jermaine was very friendly, efficient and professional. He kindly explained to me those things that did not score well in the service report, so that it didn't come as a surprise, and I would know what to do about it.

Caz

18 years of experience
146 reviews
Caz
18 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz GLA250 L4-2.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Woodstock, Georgia
Caz was extremely knowledgeable, personable and provided excellent service. He was on time for the appointment and answered and explained everything I asked concerning my vehicle. I will definitely use the company again and I would love to have Caz as my mechanic! Excellent!
Mercedes-Benz S550 - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Mableton, Georgia
Caz Arrived on time much earlier than scheduled. He was very professional in inspecting the car and made excellent recommendations.

Brian

19 years of experience
138 reviews
Brian
19 years of experience
Lexus RX350 V6-3.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Brian was very informational and knowledgeable about the Inspection. He throughly inform me what issues on vehicle. Great Mechanic !!!
Ford Transit-350 HD - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Great service. Honest , respectful and truly cares about making sure you get the best options possible at an affordable price. Finding a mechanic you can trust is rare. I highly recommend Brain.

Jay

24 years of experience
262 reviews
Jay
24 years of experience
Honda CR-V L4-2.4L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Glendale Heights, Illinois
Jay did a great job! Excellent at taking time to explain things about your car. And provided sound recommendation on repair. Courteous and responsive. I would definitely recommend Jay!
BMW 535i xDrive - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Des Plaines, Illinois
Excellent ! Jay is very detail oriented and forward thinking. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Car Title in South Carolina
There There are a few different reasons you may find yourself needing to obtain a duplicate car title in your lifetime. Your car title is what proves you are the registered owner of your vehicle, and is important if you...
How to Buy a Used Car on AutoTrader
The The online vehicle aggregator site AutoTrader.com (http://www.autotrader.com/) allows you to quickly and effectively search through thousands of used vehicles sold by dealers and private sellers. On the AutoTrader site, you can find vehicle reviews, advice for shopping, and car...
Dodge Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Car Program
Drivers Drivers who are shopping around for a used Dodge vehicle may want to consider cars under the Dodge certified pre-owned program. Many manufacturers have a certified pre-owned (CPO) program, and each one is set up differently. Read on to...

Related questions

My cruise control does not work - 2012 Volkswagen Passat
Your car has an electronic throttle body which is controlled by the engine electronic control unit (ECU). As such, the cruise control is incorporated into the engine management system and will not have a separate fuse. There are a few...
Possible causes of P0303 code 2009 Dodge Journey
Hi there - misfires (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-can-problems-with-the-ignition-system-cause-misfiring_2) can be caused by worn spark plugs, failing coils, or injectors dumping too much (or no) fuel into a cylinder, causing a misfire. Yes, this could be a failing coil. Swap the cylinder #3 coil...
Heat wasn’t working, Changed thermostat, heat won’t work, temp gauge goes to H.
Hi Eric. Thanks for contacting us today. Typically when you have an issue where the vehicle is running extremely hot and the heater does not work, it's due to an obstruction of debris inside the heater core, or coolant isn't...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com