Service shift linkage message came on, what my dealer found, prndl display circuit shorted to ground replaced electronic shift module and reprogramed. @ a cost of 582.98
2012 Chrysler 200 powertrain problems
moderate 46 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
46
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 46 powertrain 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
Owners have filed 46 powertrain 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.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Avoid this model if engine stalling or transmission failure concerns you—owners report unresolved failures from day one through high mileage, with dealers unable to fix recurring issues despite multiple PCM/PMU replacements. Have any used 2012 Chrysler 200 thoroughly pre-purchase inspected and confirmed stall-free before buying.
The 2012 Chrysler 200 shows a pattern of critical powertrain and electrical failures. Most serious: complete engine stalling without warning while driving, affecting owners from early miles to 105,000+. Vehicle shuts down completely—engine, power steering, brakes, lights all gone. Restart takes anywhere from seconds to 20 minutes, or sometimes requires disconnecting the battery. Owners have been stranded on freeways, in intersections, and behind slow-moving traffic, creating collision hazards.
Transmission issues are widespread and severe. Vehicles won't shift, get stuck in first gear, or shift to neutral unpredictably during acceleration. Hard shifts and violent jerking occur during normal driving. One owner needed a $2,600 repair kit for a known drum defect; others waited for dealer "corporate fixes" that never came.
Secondary failures compound the danger: passenger-side heater blows only cold air (preventing windshield defrosting), random horn blaring that lasts for miles, and electrical system glitches affecting lights and wipers. Engine overheating from failed coolant circulation recurs every month or two despite repairs, with one owner facing engine replacement after $2,000 in costs.
Dealers struggle to diagnose. Many stalling events produce no diagnostic codes, and repairs—including PMU and PCM replacements—often fail to stick. Owners report Chrysler issued service notices and PMU replacements but never initiated a recall despite known patterns spanning model years. The safety risk is immediate: loss of power steering and brakes at highway speed poses injury and fatality risk.
Same Chrysler 200 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Stalling without warning while driving
Engine shuts off completely during motion at various speeds—highways, stop lights, intersections, even while decelerating. Vehicle loses all electrical power including power steering, brakes, and headlights. Owners report no warning lights or sputtering before failure. Restart sometimes immediate, sometimes requires 10-20 minutes. Dangerous because loss of power steering and brakes on highways can force unsafe maneuvers or create rear-end hazard.
When: Reported from low mileage (1,000 miles, 13,500 miles) through 105,000+ miles. Most common in early ownership or first few years.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown while driving; Total loss of power steering and brakes; Loss of electrical systems (lights, wipers, radio); RPM gauge drops to zero; Sometimes restarts immediately, sometimes takes 10-20+ minutes; Occasionally requires battery terminal disconnect to restart; No warning lights until or after failure occurs
Codes mentioned: P0613 (transmission control module error implied), No codes found on many visits despite repeated failures, Electronic Throttle Control light reported, Electronic Stability Control light reported, Check Engine light sometimes appears after failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced PMU (Powertrain Module Unit) and PCM (Powertrain Control Module) multiple times without resolving issue; replacements often did not hold; one case required transmission repair kit at $2,600+; some owners reported $3,000+ in engine repairs under warranty; many repairs done at no cost were ineffective; independent diagnostics show no codes when dealer does.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler issued PMU replacements and customer service notices to dealers per multiple owner reports; owner #2 states Chrysler and NHTSA agreed on resolution in Sept 2012 to avoid recall; owner #8 reports Chrysler suggested additional module be added to on-board computer but customers gave up after prior attempts failed; no official recall issued despite known pattern across model years.
Transmission failure—no shift or stuck shift
Transmission will not shift gears (automatic mode), becomes stuck in one gear, or shifts to neutral unpredictably while driving. Vehicle sometimes will not shift out of first gear above 30 MPH, other times enters limp mode (restricted acceleration). Hard shifts and violent jerking at low speeds reported. Shift lever sometimes sticks in first or refuses to move from park.
When: Reported from 13,500 miles through 105,000+ miles. Early onset common.
Symptoms owners cite: Will not shift out of park or into reverse; Stuck in first gear, cannot exceed 30 MPH; Hard shifts or clunking/jerking during shifts; Transmission enters limp mode (max 30 MPH); Shifts to neutral unexpectedly during acceleration; RPM spikes (5,000-6,000 RPM) before shift occurs; Shift lever becomes stuck or unresponsive; Violent jerking when downshifting at low speed
Codes mentioned: No specific transmission codes cited, Check Engine light reported during transmission issues
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #12 paid $2,600+ for transmission repair kit (known drum issue per owner); transmission rebuild and torque converter replacements (three converters in 6 months); power control module and valve body replacement; dealership told one owner there were multiple vehicles waiting for corporate fix that never came; one owner reported only $150-170 flush performed with no permanent fix.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler aware of transmission drum issue and manufactured specific repair kit per owner #12; one dealership told customer other vehicles waiting on corporate call that did not materialize; no recall issued despite widespread complaints and known repair kits.
Passenger-side heater inoperative (blows cold air only)
Heater on driver's side works normally while passenger-side blows only cold air year-round. Broken or stuck heater door/blend door actuator prevents warm air from reaching passenger vents. Hazardous in winter because passenger-side windshield cannot defrost, creating visibility hazard. Repair requires full dashboard removal.
When: Reported from 56,000 to 100,000+ miles. Occurs across all seasons but becomes critical in cold weather.
Symptoms owners cite: Cold air only on passenger side regardless of temperature setting; Driver side heat works normally; Passenger-side windshield does not defrost in cold weather; Windshield does not clear in rain (no warm air to prevent condensation); Happens at all speeds and conditions (stationary, moving, turning, braking)
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership quoted $650 labor just to remove dashboard; actual part replacement cost not included; another mentioned need for heater core and radiator replacement; one case showed replacement of blend door actuator followed overnight by failure requiring heater core and radiator; repairs exceed $1,000 total in many cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or service bulletin mentioned; owners state Chrysler aware of widespread complaints; one owner notes no warranty coverage after 100,000 miles.
Loss of acceleration response—pedal fails to accelerate
When driver depresses accelerator, vehicle does not respond or responds very sluggishly. Vehicle may decelerate without input, maintain fixed low speed (30-40 MPH) despite high RPM, or hesitate violently. Often accompanied by electronic stability control or electronic throttle control light. Can occur suddenly while merging or at stop signs, forcing unsafe maneuvers.
When: Reported from 40,000 to 67,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal pressed but no acceleration; Vehicle decelerates without driver input; Maximum speed capped at 30-40 MPH despite high RPM; Hesitation and violent jerking when pressing gas; Electronic Throttle Control light illuminates; Electronic Stability Control light illuminates; Problem sometimes self-corrects during drive or after restart
Codes mentioned: Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) code, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) code, Check Engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to diagnose in many cases; problem often does not reproduce at dealership; one case suggested false overheating sensor shutdown; no confirmed repairs provided in narratives.
Random electrical failures—horn, lights, wipers, windows
Various electrical systems malfunction unpredictably: horn blares continuously for miles with no way to stop it, headlights turn on/off without driver input, windshield wipers activate/deactivate randomly, power windows intermittently fail. Horn blaring creates embarrassment and hearing hazard; light failures create safety hazard at night. Issues point to underlying electrical or module fault.
When: Reported throughout ownership, from early months to high mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Horn honks randomly and continuously for extended periods (miles at a time); Horn blares non-stop with no ability to stop it; Headlights turn on and off without input; Windshield wipers activate and deactivate randomly; Power windows work intermittently or not at all; All occur simultaneously or independently; Often accompanied by engine stall events
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #1 replaced battery and key fob without resolving horn issue; no confirmed repairs documented; owner #3 noted electrical smell similar to cooked PCM.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner #3 noted recall for loose circuit board in key fob causing signal issues but not directly addressed; Chrysler has not issued electrical system recall for these 2012 models.
Coolant circulation failure—engine overheating
Malfunction prevents coolant from circulating through engine, causing repeated overheating. Mechanic diagnostics and computer reboots temporarily restore flow, but problem recurs within weeks to months. On extended highway driving, becomes chronic. Owner had new engine recommended after multiple failed repairs costing over $2,000.
When: Reported over multi-year period with recurring pattern. Owner had issue over years of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine runs hot during normal driving; Coolant circulation stops or severely reduced; Problem recurs every 1-2 months despite repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Over $2,000 spent on repeated fixes including mechanic diagnostics, computer reboots, and fluid work; new engine eventually required; pattern shows no lasting fix available.
Synthesized from 46 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I own a 2012 Chrysler 200, the engine stops/fails about every two months while braking or while stopped. This is dangerous as it can stop anywhere and they might rear end the car or something. I have taken my car to the Chrysler dealership 4 different times with the same issue, the first time they changed the PCM. After about 2 months the car's engine stopped while braking or while at a…
I have been tiwed twice a d stuck on side of the road 4 times. I'll be driving along when everything just quits. Engine, power steering and power brakes. One time I was just about to get on a highway. Couldn't get car 100% off road. Very dangerous. When I try to restart car it trys to start. I let go of key and cajr just keeps trying to start. After being towed twice car started right up. So when…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2012 Chrysler 200?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 46 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 35 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 47,000 and 80,010 miles, with the median around 61,100. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,000; a quarter make it past 80,010. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.