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2012 Chrysler 200 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Chrysler 200 has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 4safety recalls
- 638owner complaints
- 29crash reports
- 4fire reports
- 33injuries reported
638 complaints, against an average of 640 for the other 5 Chrysler 200 model years.
Every Chrysler 200 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Chrysler 200?
The components named most often in the 638 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2012 Chrysler 200 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 638 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2012 Chrysler 200 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?108 owners · 16.9%
- Why does the heater or defroster not work in my 2012 Chrysler 200?47 owners · 7.4%
- Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Chrysler 200?38 owners · 6% · Recall 16V668000
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2012 Chrysler 200?29 owners · 4.5%
- Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2012 Chrysler 200?23 owners · 3.6%
- Why do the headlights or taillights fail on my 2012 Chrysler 200?21 owners · 3.3%
Has the 2012 Chrysler 200 been recalled?
4 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Seats: Front Assembly: Head Restraint Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. A component within the occupant restraint controller (ORC) may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying in the event of a rear-end crash.
Risk: If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is T56.
Seat Belts: Pretensioner Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.
Electrical System Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.
Engine And Engine Cooling CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHRYSLER VEHICLES, INCLUDING 200 AND TOWN AND COUNTRY MODELS, DODGE VEHICLES, INCLUDING CHARGER, DURANGO, GRAND CARAVAN AND JOURNEY MODELS AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 31, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 13, 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH 3.6L ENGINES. THESE ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILURE DUE TO DEBRIS INSIDE THE ENGINE BLOCK.
Risk: CONNECTING ROD FAILURE MAY LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Is the 2012 Chrysler 200 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAVehicle electronic systems may malfunction
Risk: On vehicles with Uconnect 8.4 screen radio the computer-controlled electronic systems may be at risk of unauthorized and/or unlawful access which may affect vehicle behaviour.
Fix: Update software on affected vehicles
EU Safety GateThere is an internal fault in the control module for the occupant restraint controller.In the event of an accident involving a rear-end collision, this may lead to the active head restraints not being triggered.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
What do 2012 Chrysler 200 owners report?
12 of the 638 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
Replaced all spark plugs and coils , code is saying misfire cylinder 4..replaced intake manifold gasket code states multiple cylinder misfire .My [XXX] was stranded in the middle of a busy road due to loss of power the.engine jeking..cutting out .after $1000 worth of shop work CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ITS INSANITY .....IM TIRED OF DUMPING MONEY INTO THE CAR THAT HAS A MAKER ISSUE !!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that occasionally, while driving at various speeds at night, the headlights intermittently became inoperable. The failure occurred with the high beam and low beam headlights. Additionally, the windshield wipers only operated at high speeds because the variable speed control was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The battery was replaced; however, the failures reoccurred. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the…
The problem seems to be with the electrical system the TIPM is malfunctioning. Wipers will stop midstream or run constantly, any time power is engaged in the car the wipers will begin to work whether the switch is on or off and regardless if the key is even in the ignition or not. Airbag lights are lit up, blinker switch will engage wipers to run.
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated upon starting the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
It happened to my wife with our three kiddos in the car, she was on the freeway doing speed limit 65 when the car just shut off going around a corner at night all of everything shut off including head lights, power steering, and moter it almost through her and kids off the road in the dark ,the wipers shut off whenever they want and the healights off and on without warning, the horn blows unpredictable like , eceleration from bogging down to super fast causes the car to swerve and jerk around unpredictabley the windows sometimes work and sometimes not, once in a while car wont start and or…
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was restarted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,000.
As I was waiting for the light to change, my car suddenly shuts off and won't restart. Luckily, some goof Samaritans helped push my vehicle out of traffic. The mechanic close to where the incident took place found that the ASD fuse needed to be replaced and my car started right up. Well my car shut off while waiting for a light a few days later. I will be having my car looked at again however after research it seems to be that the TIPM needs to be replaced. It would be amazing if there was a recall on this as I see so many others having the same issue. This is a HUGE safety concern.
The first time this incident occured I was driving in a residential neighborhood and my horn started randomly honking. Over the past few months the horn will randomly start honking and will continously honk for long periods of time. The horn will blast for miles and there is nothing that I can do to make it stop. I have been pulled over because of this and it's terrible driving at night with the horn blaring. The horn does not work regularly anymore. Then my car started shutting off while driving with no warning lights and total loss of anything that is powered (steering, brakes, etc). I have…
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V668000 (Seat Belts, Air Bags) and 17V640000 (Seats, Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine, traction control, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally failed to start as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. NO WARNING OF IT ABOUT TO HAPPEN JUST DOES. I LOSE STEERING AND BRAKES AND TURNS ON ONLY AFTER TIME GOES BY OR BY REMOVING NEGATIVE TERMINAL FROM BATTERY. IT'S HAPPENED AT 35MPH AND AT 60 MPH. I'VE GONE A WEEK WITH NO INCIDENT TO HAVING IT HAPPEN DOZENS OF TIMES ON A SINGLE TRIP. VERY SCARY SITUATION. ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC.
MY SEAT POPS OUT SOMETIME WHEN DRIVING. IT HAPPENS ANYTIME WHETHER IN MOTION OR STATIONARY HENCE THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON.
2012 Chrysler 200: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Chrysler 200 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 638 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chrysler 200; the most common categories were engine (146, 22.9%), electrical system (140, 21.9%), air bags (136, 21.3%). There are 4 safety recalls. 29 complaints mention a crash, 4 mention a fire, 33 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chrysler 200?
Across 638 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (22.9% of complaints), electrical system (21.9% of complaints), air bags (21.3% of complaints), seat belts (11.1% of complaints), visibility/wiper (8.8% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Chrysler 200 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2012 Chrysler 200; the most recent (campaign 17V640000, 2017-10-10) concerns Seats: Front Assembly: Head Restraint. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2012 Chrysler 200 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
108 of the 638 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chrysler 200 (16.9%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Replaced all spark plugs and coils , code is saying misfire cylinder 4..replaced intake manifold gasket code states multiple cylinder misfire .My [XXX] was stranded in the middle of a busy road due to loss of power the.engine jeking..cutting out .after $1000…" (NHTSA complaint 11732791, April 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the heater or defroster not work in my 2012 Chrysler 200?
47 of the 638 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chrysler 200 (7.4%) describe the heater or defroster not working. One owner wrote: "While driving the vehicle in 30 degree weather, started smelling something very bad coming from hvac system and windows became very foggy. i had to roll the windows down with the defrost on in order to see. vision was still impaired." (NHTSA complaint 11302250, January 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Chrysler 200?
38 of the 638 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chrysler 200 (6%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. A related recall exists: campaign 16V668000 (seat belts: pretensioner). The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. One owner wrote: "The problem seems to be with the electrical system the TIPM is malfunctioning. Wipers will stop midstream or run constantly, any time power is engaged in the car the wipers will begin to work whether the switch is on or off and regardless if the key is even…" (NHTSA complaint 11679512, August 2025). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2012 Chrysler 200?
29 of the 638 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chrysler 200 (4.5%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chrysler 200. the contact stated while driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated." (NHTSA complaint 11413032, April 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2012 Chrysler 200?
23 of the 638 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chrysler 200 (3.6%) describe ABS, traction or stability control warnings or faults. One owner wrote: "The alternator went out and fried the battery. You could smell like something burnt then the dash lights started flashing like the traction control then the abs light then everything started flashing and the car died and was completely dead." (NHTSA complaint 11503731, January 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why do the headlights or taillights fail on my 2012 Chrysler 200?
21 of the 638 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chrysler 200 (3.3%) describe headlights, taillights or brake lights failing or condensation in the lamps. One owner wrote: "Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chrysler 200. while driving at night, the headlights illuminated very dimly and the driver was unable to see the road ahead. the failure occurred while using both the high beam and low beam headlights." (NHTSA complaint 10983544, May 2017). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own 200
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only.