Excessive "fish tailing" in minimal snowy conditions, very unstable, absolute death trap. I felt like I was going to end up smashing into a passing car or truck . Drove for 30 miles per hour for 260 miles while there wasn't more than one inch on snow on the ground because the rear end of the car was swing in all directions, my wife and daughter terrified. I just bought the car back in august 2013…
2012 Chrysler 200 suspension problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 14 suspension 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
Among the 5 model years of Chrysler 200 in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2012 Chrysler 200 has documented issues with rear suspension stability in winter weather that dealers acknowledge has no factory solution, along with recurring brake failures and premature wear requiring multiple replacements within short periods. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake system condition, suspension geometry, and test drive in varied conditions—especially winter if you're in a snow climate.
Owners consistently report severe handling problems in wet and snowy conditions. The most frequent complaint is violent fishtailing and loss of directional control in minimal snow or rain, starting at speeds as low as 25-35 mph. Several owners mention the rear end swinging side to side, making the vehicle difficult or impossible to control; one dealer acknowledged this is a known issue with no factory fix. New winter tires and wheel alignments do not resolve it.
A second major issue is brake system degradation. Multiple owners had brake pads wear out and rust rapidly, requiring replacements three to five times within a single year. Brake fluid leaks appear on the front right side, and in at least one case, the brake pedal went completely to the floor without stopping the vehicle, causing a collision. Owners also report grinding noises during braking, caliper boot melting, rear brake smoking, and ABS light illumination.
Front-end handling is problematic from ownership: vehicles pull hard to the left, and dealers initially claimed this is normal for front-wheel drive. Wheel alignment does not fix the pulling.
Front wheel bearing failures occur relatively early, producing metallic grinding noise. One owner reports the dealer disconnected the ABS system instead of repairing the faulty unit. Transmission hesitation, hard gear shifts, and jumping during acceleration are also documented, with dealer computer resets providing only temporary relief.
Same Chrysler 200 suspension reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Rear suspension instability in snow/wet conditions
Vehicle exhibits severe fishtailing, loss of directional control, and swerving in snowy or wet conditions. Occurs at speeds as low as 25-35 mph and worsens in winter weather. Owners report the rear end swinging side to side, making the vehicle difficult or impossible to control. New winter tires and wheel alignment do not resolve the issue. One owner states the dealer acknowledged this is a common problem with no factory solution. Another notes the rear suspension appears loose when impacted by potholes or dips.
When: Winter driving conditions; mileage varies across complaints (34,000-260 miles reported)
Symptoms owners cite: Severe fishtailing in snow/ice; Loss of directional control at highway speeds; Vehicle pulls to the left in rain or snow; Violent swerving when encountering road dips or bumps; Rear end swings side to side; Difficulty maintaining lane position
Repairs/costs cited: New winter tires, wheel alignment, and added weight do not resolve the problem; dealer stated no factory solution available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged common problem with no solution; Chrysler stated it is 'the make of the car'
Front-end pulling and handling control issues
Vehicle pulls severely to the left immediately upon purchase or early ownership, making it difficult to control, especially on highways and in adverse weather. Wheel alignment does not resolve the problem. Dealer initially claimed this is normal for front-wheel drive vehicles. Vehicle becomes uncontrollable in snow at speeds above 30 mph and nearly impossible to control in poor traction.
When: Present from purchase or early ownership; failures noted with mileage around 7,000 miles and 34,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Severe left pull; Vehicle jerks off road on highway; Hard to control in snow; Difficult to regain control if lost; Loss of control in slippery conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Front-end alignment performed but did not resolve the pulling or handling issues
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed pulling is normal for front-wheel drive; Chrysler dismissed complaint and offered extended warranty
Brake failure and reduced braking effectiveness
Brakes fail to stop the vehicle or respond inadequately when applied. Brake pedal goes to the floor without stopping power, leading to at least one collision. Vehicle jumps forward multiple times when braking is applied. Brake pads rust prematurely and require replacement multiple times within short intervals (3 times in one year, 2 times in the following year). Brake fluid leaks noted on front right side. Grinding noise occurs during braking.
When: Occurs as early as 7,000 miles; failure mileage around 17,000-21,000 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor with no stopping power; Vehicle jumps forward when braking; Grinding noise during braking; Premature brake pad rust and wear; Brake fluid leak on front right; Hard brake application required; Brake squealing
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads replaced 5+ times across one year; brake fluid leak present
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer blamed asbestos removal from brake materials; no recall or TSB mentioned
Front wheel bearing failure with ABS malfunction
Driver's side front wheel bearing fails, producing loud metallic grinding noise. ABS warning light illuminates and ABS system is faulty. Dealer disconnected the ABS system rather than repair it. Water pump also replaced due to loud noises.
When: Failure occurred at 17,000 miles; mileage was 21,000 when reported
Symptoms owners cite: Loud metallic noise from front end; ABS warning light illuminates; Loud water pump noise
Repairs/costs cited: Driver's side front wheel bearing not repaired; ABS system disconnected rather than repaired; water pump replaced
Brake caliper degradation and smoking brakes
Rubber boots inside brake calipers melt, causing brake fluid leakage and system degradation. Rear brakes smoke during operation. Front brake pedal sinks toward the floor and produces clicking noise. ABS brake light remains illuminated.
When: Multiple occurrences across the model year; one owner replaced brake pads 3 times in one year and 2 times in the next year
Symptoms owners cite: Melted rubber boots in brake calipers; Smoking rear brakes; Front brake pedal sinks with clicking noise; ABS light illuminated; Excessive brake pad wear
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple brake pad replacements; caliper boots melting
Left front wheel bearing noise with steering wheel vibration
Clunking noise audible from left front wheel felt in the steering wheel while vehicle is in motion. Present at 42,000 miles. Associated with illuminated airbag warning light.
When: At 42,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise from left front wheel; Vibration felt in steering wheel; Airbag warning light illuminated
Transmission and acceleration issues
Vehicle fails to accelerate when expected and cannot exceed 35 mph. Six-speed transmission does not engage. Vehicle jumps hard through gears and jerks violently between 1st and 2nd gear, creating the sensation it may stall. Dealer has reset the computer, which provided temporary relief (2 days) before problem recurred. Dealer reports inability to duplicate the problem.
When: Multiple occurrences over time
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not accelerate; Cannot exceed 35 mph; Six-speed transmission does not work; Jumping forward motion; Hard jerking between gears; Harsh gear transitions with possible stall feeling
Repairs/costs cited: Computer reset temporary fix lasting approximately 2 days
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer states unable to duplicate problem; advises to return when issue occurs again
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
When purchased this car, noticed that it pulled severly to the left, spoke to dealer ship and they stated that it was normal for front wheel drives to do so. So I continued to drive this car but always having to be on alert when driving on highway if car was going to jerk off road. This car handles horrible! I do not feel safe in this vehicle and do not feel if any control was lost, that I…
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2012 Chrysler 200?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 19,400 and 48,000 miles, with the median around 29,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 19,400; a quarter make it past 48,000. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.