Driving and interior lights dim down and get real bright spontaneously. Also my seat belt light and chime don't work all the time?? Trans already slips when leaving town at a medium acceleration? Only 75000 miles on the car.
2012 Chrysler 200 lighting problems
moderate 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 28 lighting complaints filed for the 2012 Chrysler 200, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Of the 5 model years of Chrysler 200 we track for lighting problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 28.
Owners have filed 28 lighting 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2012 Chrysler 200's low-beam headlights have a documented design flaw—a motorized shutter system that severely limits forward illumination and creates a dark horizontal line across the beam, cutting visibility to 20–100 feet at night. Many owners report the lights are unsafe for rural or unlit road driving and Chrysler has refused to acknowledge or fix the problem. Several also report electrical issues with turn signals and a few headlight module or TIPM failures.
The 2012 Chrysler 200's lighting complaints center overwhelmingly on a design-level low-beam headlight defect. Owners describe a horizontal blackout line cutting the beam in half, severely limiting forward visibility to as little as 20–100 feet on dark roads. The single-bulb system with a motorized shutter cover works this way by design: when you switch from high to low beam, the shutter covers half the bulb. The bulb itself sits too far back in the projector, blocking any side or corner illumination. Visibility gets worse downhill, around curves, and in fog. Owners report nearly hitting other vehicles and being forced to either crawl at unsafe speeds or use high beams illegally.
Dealers consistently adjust the headlights, acknowledge the limited output, and tell owners the lights operate as designed—nothing more can be done. Chrysler refuses to treat this as a defect. Multiple owners cite online forums showing hundreds of similar complaints on 2011–2012 Chrysler 200s.
Secondary electrical issues include a front left turn signal that quits when headlights are on, windshield wipers triggering with the turn signal, one TIPM failure disabling a headlight and tail light simultaneously, and one case of an LED headlight module failing at 38,000 miles with the bulb sealed inside—entire module replacement required.
Same Chrysler 200 lighting reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Low-beam headlight inadequate illumination and projection
Owners report critically limited forward visibility with low-beam headlights—variously described as 20–100 feet of illumination on dark roads. The headlight assembly uses a single bulb with a motorized shutter that covers half the bulb in low-beam mode to create a cutoff. This design produces a distinct horizontal blackout line across the beam, and the bulb sits too far back in the projector tube, blocking side and corner illumination. Visibility worsens on downhill grades, curves, and in fog. High beams work adequately but using them continuously violates traffic law. Owners report being forced to crawl or avoid night driving; some nearly hit other vehicles.
When: Apparent from new or very early miles (as low as 100–700 miles reported); persists throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Horizontal dark line or 'shade' across the low-beam pattern; Forward illumination limited to 20–100 feet depending on road conditions; No side or corner illumination in low or high beam; Worsens when descending hills; Inadequate visibility in rural areas, fog, and darkness; High beam required for safe night driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer adjustments (quoted $55–$115) reported ineffective by owners. One mechanic confirmed bulb position is not adjustable. Dealer technicians consistently state lights operate as designed; no repair possible.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler told owners the headlights operate as intended and are a design characteristic; no recalls or technical service bulletins mentioned by owners as addressing this. One owner reported Chrysler stated the vehicle was not included in any recalls.
Headlight assembly failure—single module inoperable
One owner reported a passenger-side headlight module failure at 38,000 miles. The dealer diagnosed a failed headlight module requiring replacement, and noted that the LED light bulb could not be replaced separately—the entire module had to be replaced.
When: 38,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger side headlight became inoperable
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed failed headlight module; LED bulb not user-replaceable. Vehicle was not repaired per owner report.
Headlight electrical/circuit malfunction—both headlights and tail light
One owner reported simultaneous failure of the passenger-side headlight and driver-side tail light while driving at 45 mph. The dealer diagnosed a failed TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) requiring replacement.
When: 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger side headlight failed to illuminate; Driver side tail light failed to illuminate; Both failures occurred simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed TIPM failure requiring replacement. Vehicle was not repaired per owner report.
Dim or very dim headlight illumination
One owner reported headlights illuminating very dimly at night (62,000 miles), affecting both high and low beam. Another reported dim interior and exterior lighting that fluctuates up and down unpredictably (at 75,000 miles). Causes were not diagnosed by owners or dealers.
When: 62,000 miles (dim headlights); 75,000 miles (dim and bright cycling)
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights illuminating very dimly; Unable to see road ahead at night; Interior and exterior lights dim and brighten spontaneously
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis or repair completed by owners.
Turn signal inoperative when headlights are on
Two owners reported that the front left turn signal does not function when headlights are illuminated, but works when headlights are off. One also reported turn signal activation causing windshield wipers to activate at the same time.
When: Not specified; one report at 38,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front left turn signal fails when headlights are on; Turn signal works when headlights are off; Turn signal activation triggers windshield wipers simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer could not diagnose the turn signal issue in one case. Neither vehicle was repaired.
Headlight bulb replacement required multiple times
One owner replaced both left and right headlight bulbs twice over the ownership period, suggesting frequent bulb failure or premature wear.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight bulbs failing requiring replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced headlight bulbs twice for both left and right sides.
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had lighting 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 lighting problem on the 2012 Chrysler 200?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 28 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 3,400 and 55,000 miles, with the median around 37,400. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,400; a quarter make it past 55,000. 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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.