There was a recall on the airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment capability on my car that started on october 1, 2016. When I got the recall notice in october it said that there was no current remedy. It's now december and there still is no remedy which means that the problem won't be fixed in the foreseeable future which is outrageous. If our lives are at risk because a car company can't…
2012 Chrysler 200 airbags problems
severe 116 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
116
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
19crashes
22injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 116 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 Chrysler 200, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 116 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 6 model years of Chrysler 200 in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2012 Chrysler 200 airbag systems show a track record of warning light issues that dealers struggle to diagnose and repair, plus documented failures to deploy in real crashes causing serious injuries. Recall parts (Takata airbags and pretensioners) have been chronically unavailable since the 2016 recall was issued, leaving owners unprotected for years.
Owners report two main categories of airbag failures. First, intermittent or persistent airbag warning lights that stay on or flicker, sometimes accompanied by dinging sounds. Dealers often cannot identify the root cause when the light appears intermittently, and some charge diagnostic fees when owners bring vehicles in. Second, and more critical, are complete failures of airbags to deploy during crashes across multiple impact scenarios—frontal, side, and rear collisions at speeds ranging from 11 to 45 mph. In these crash events, owners sustained injuries including facial trauma, broken ribs, cervical spine injuries, and tooth damage that required hospitalization. No deployment occurred even in severe frontal crashes where the vehicle was totaled.
Many owners relate their issues to NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 (involving Takata airbags and seat belt pretensioners). Owners report receiving recall notices but waiting months or years without remedy parts becoming available. Dealers repeatedly confirmed parts were unavailable, with some mentioning they received only two replacement parts per month. Owners were told to wait for a second notice when parts became available, and manufacturers often could not provide estimated timelines. Additionally, some owners reported active headrest restraints deploying spontaneously without any collision or warning.
Same Chrysler 200 airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent airbag warning light with dinging
Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently or persistently, often accompanied by dinging sounds while driving. Diagnostic scans sometimes show no fault codes, making troubleshooting difficult.
When: Occurs intermittently while driving; reported at various mileages (11,500–161,123 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light flashing or remaining on; Dinging/chiming sounds every few minutes; Light and sound trigger intermittently, sometimes only when certain drivers operate vehicle; No fault codes appear on scanner despite illuminated light
Codes mentioned: Airbag warning light (no specific codes captured in narratives), Clock spring sensor failure (one narrative)
Repairs/costs cited: Clock spring replacement mentioned in one case ($125 diagnostic fee quoted at dealers for diagnosis alone; full repair costs not provided). Many vehicles undiagnosed because light does not appear during dealer visits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not under recall (per dealership in narrative #1). NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 mentioned for some vehicles but with no remedy parts available.
Airbag non-deployment in frontal crash
Airbags fail to deploy in frontal collisions despite sufficient impact severity. Vehicles involved were totaled or heavily damaged; occupants sustained serious injuries.
When: During crash events at 25–45 mph; failure mileages ranged from 4,000 to 147,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on frontal impact with another vehicle; Vehicle heavily damaged or totaled; Occupant injuries to face, chest, sternum, teeth, and back
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were totaled or towed and not repaired. Some owners reported crash documentation and police reports filed but no post-crash diagnostics on airbag system.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 mentioned for some vehicles; dealers stated no remedy available at time of complaint. One owner noted Chrysler stated the car was 'up to par' despite failure.
Airbag non-deployment in side-impact crash
Airbags fail to deploy when vehicle is struck on passenger side or driver side, despite significant impact forces. Owners expected deployment based on vehicle marketing and manuals.
When: At impact; failure mileages ranged from 80,566 to unknown
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on side impact (passenger or driver side); Occupants thrown or struck interior components; Head contact with steering wheel or other surfaces
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was driven to body shops and deemed total loss. No airbag system diagnostics or repairs performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer deflected responsibility. One manufacturer response: 'it's not their problem' and vehicle was 'up to par.' NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 received before crash in at least one case; parts unavailable.
Airbag non-deployment in rear-end collision
Airbags and seat belt pretensioners fail to deploy/activate during rear-end crashes. Seat belts also failed to restrain occupants properly.
When: During rear-end impact at 25 mph; failure mileage 26,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag or seat belt pretensioner activation on rear-end impact; Occupant head struck steering wheel; Tooth trauma and back injuries sustained
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis completed on vehicle; no repairs documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted but no additional assistance offered.
Seat belt warning light / occupant restraint module fault
Seat belt warning light illuminates; diagnostics point to occupant restraint control module or seat belt module needing replacement. Related to recall 16V668000.
When: Reported at 50,000–115,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Seat belt warning indicator illuminated; No obvious seat belt malfunction
Codes mentioned: Occupant Restraint Control Module (ORC) fault, S61 Occupant Restraint Controlled (ORC) recall code
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quoted $125 for diagnosis alone; parts and labor to be charged separately. Some dealers reprogram TIPM and install new ORC module as part of recall work, but warning light persists afterward.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V668000 (Seat Belts, Air Bags). Dealers told owners recall remedy parts unavailable; owners advised to wait for second notice. One owner on 'fast track' system pending part availability.
Spontaneous headrest restraint deployment
Active headrest restraints deploy without any collision or impact. Occurs while vehicle is parked or at rest. Owners report spontaneous deployment within weeks of purchase or years later.
When: At rest or parked; reported within 2 weeks of ownership in one case, and after 5 years in another
Symptoms owners cite: Headrest restraint deploys with no collision; Vehicle sitting in driveway at time of deployment; No warning signs or notification to owner
Repairs/costs cited: One owner told to pay out of pocket; warranty claim denied or extended warranty not communicated. Owner claims recall fixes did not resolve the issue. Repair costs not specified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 17V640000 (Seats, Air Bags) and 13V282000 (Electrical System, Air Bags) mentioned. One owner stated Chrysler corporate said warranty was extended but no notification was sent. Vehicle not repaired in at least one documented case.
Recall parts unavailability (16V668000 and 17V640000)
Multiple owners received recall notices for 16V668000 (Takata airbag/seat belt pretensioner) and/or 17V640000 (Seats, Air Bags) but recall parts were not available for extended periods. Manufacturers could not provide timelines for part availability.
When: Recall notices issued October 2016 onward; complaints filed through 2017 and later
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but parts unavailable; Dealers confirm no remedy parts in stock; No estimated delivery date provided by manufacturer
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed. Owners waiting indefinitely. One dealer received two parts per month. Manufacturers stated parts distribution disconnect or parts simply not available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 16V668000 and 17V640000. Manufacturers could not provide estimated timelines. Owners instructed to wait for second notice when parts available (projected August 2017 in some narratives, but many complaints filed after that date indicate delays persisted). VIN TOOL confirmed parts unavailable in multiple cases.
Synthesized from 116 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags, seat belts); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact was driving approximately 25 MPH when the brakes were depressed however, the vehicle did not stop and began to slide instead. The air bag warning light illuminated simultaneously with the failure. In addition, there was a loud whistling sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The contact was able to stop the vehicle on the shoulder and…
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 Chrysler 200?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2012 Chrysler 200?
It's a meaningful issue. 116 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 47 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 43,000 and 86,000 miles, with the median around 65,897. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,000; a quarter make it past 86,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Chrysler/200.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.