wiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Dodge Challenger engine problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
3fires
1injury
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY (with mileage above 30,000) review and follow instructions from STAR Online S1809000007 REV. C available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗If a Mopar oil filter is not available, use a filter that meets or exceeds USCAR36 specification and is compatible with semi and full synthetic oils.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2012 Dodge Challenger has a documented timing chain guide fracture issue. Chrysler issued TSBs (CSN-P-01 and 09-PO-11-82) in 2014 acknowledging the problem affects numerous 2009–2012 Chrysler, Dodge Charger, and Challenger models. When the guide fractures, the timing chain breaks, the engine stalls without warning, and catastrophic engine damage results. Chrysler covers repair only if the failure happens under warranty—not the preventive guide replacement, which dealers quote around $2,000.
Cylinder head leaks plague these engines. One owner had the left head replaced at 144K miles, then again at 160K, only to have the right head leak afterward. Chrysler's extended warranty eventually covered the second head, but only after a month of battles and dealer refusals.
Alternator failures cause sudden engine stall in traffic. One owner heard a high-pitched noise for months, went to the dealer, was told to wait—then the alternator failed completely, killing all electrical power on a busy road. The recall replacement part wasn't available; the dealer installed a standard part.
Valve lifters have fractured on multiple vehicles, producing severe knocking at startup. One repair took four months and $4,000; the dealer made things worse by damaging the ABS module and ECM during work.
Stalls occur unpredictably, often without check engine lights or diagnostic codes, leaving two dealerships unable to diagnose. Engine fires have been reported. Some owners cite online discussions showing this pattern going back to 2011, with no effective fix.
Same Dodge Challenger engine reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Timing chain guide fracture with chain break
Timing chain guide fractures, allowing timing chain to break. Results in sudden engine stall and severe engine damage. Owner contends this should be a safety recall rather than a TSB, since stalling on a busy highway creates crash risk comparable to the alternator recall.
When: Variable mileage; TSBs CSN-P-01 and 09-PO-11-82 issued 2014 for 2009–2012 models
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning; Severe engine damage if chain breaks
Repairs/costs cited: Dodge service advisor cited ~$2,000 out-of-pocket cost to replace guide preventively; Chrysler will only pay for engine damage if break occurs under warranty, not for preventive guide replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSBs CSN-P-01 and 09-PO-11-82 issued; affects 2009–2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger; Chrysler covers engine damage from chain break only if under warranty
Cylinder head leak and repeated failure
Left cylinder head replaced under warranty at 144K miles, then replaced again at 160K miles. Right cylinder head subsequently developed leak. Owner disputes Chrysler's argument that single-head replacement is sufficient; contends both heads should be replaced together to prevent cascade failure.
When: Left head replaced at 144,000 miles (October 2018); replaced again at 160,000 miles (September 2020); right head leak discovered after second replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Cylinder head leak; Engine failure on freeway (per owner); Coolant or oil leakage
Repairs/costs cited: Left head replacement twice under warranty; Chrysler extended warranty X56 authorizes 9 hours diagnostic labor and right head cover/gasket replacement if needed; dealer initially denied coverage, demanded $2,000 out-of-pocket diagnosis fee, then refused service; after one month of calls, Chrysler finally authorized repair based on updated 2014 bulletin covering right side
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty X56 covers 9 hours diagnostic and right head cover/gasket replacement; 2014 TSB added right side to warranty coverage; Chrysler initially claimed customer was out of warranty despite coverage existing
Alternator failure with battery impact
Alternator failed suddenly, leaving battery unable to charge. Engine died in traffic without warning. Owner reported warning signs (high-pitch noise, idiot lights, radio glitching) 2–3 months before failure. Dealer replaced battery and non-recall-part alternator at no cost but did not cover new battery. Recall replacement part not available at time of repair.
When: Mid-2017: high-pitch noise first noted; 2–3 months later: dealer confirmed alternator charging noise; 2 months later: alternator failed while driving
Symptoms owners cite: High-pitch noise from engine; Idiot lights illuminated; Radio glitching; Power steering failure; Engine stall without warning; Complete electrical loss; Battery unable to hold charge
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced alternator at no cost; dealer installed new battery and non-recall alternator unit initially, as recall replacement part was unavailable; customer may need second visit once recall part is available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: T36 alternator recall announced; recall replacement part not in stock at time of repair; alternator replacement covered under recall but new battery cost not covered
Faulty valve lifters
Engine lifters failed, causing severe knocking noise. Repair required at 50K miles cost $4,000 and took four months due to parts unavailability and dealer errors (locking motor multiple times, damaging ABS module and main ECM during repair). Dodge investigating possible recall; at least five similar failures reported at one dealership in Grand Junction.
When: Approximately 50,033 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Knocking sound from engine compartment on startup; Engine damage from improper handling
Repairs/costs cited: $4,000 repair cost; four-month repair duration; dealer locked motor multiple times due to refusal to obtain Guardian Interlock override code; ABS module damaged; main ECM damaged and replaced by dealer during repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge notified and stated investigation underway for possible recall; at least five vehicles with same lifter issue identified at Grand Junction Dodge dealership alone
Engine fire
Vehicle stalled at 40 mph with check engine light on. Smoke, then flames, emerged from under hood while vehicle was still running. Fire department extinguished fire. Vehicle deemed total loss. No injuries reported.
When: Approximately 141,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls at 40 mph; Check engine light illuminated; Smoke from under hood; Flames from under hood
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle considered total loss; not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not made aware of failure
Timing chain and tappet hydraulic failure with recurrence
Vehicle stalled at 70 mph with instrument panel lights illuminating. Timing chain and cylinders diagnosed as failed. After initial repair, failure recurred. Second diagnosis identified timing chain and tappet hydraulic failure requiring further repair. Diagnosed and repaired under PO1 failure bulletin.
When: Approximately 118,572 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument panel lights illuminate; Engine stall without warning; Unable to restart
Repairs/costs cited: Repaired under PO1 failure bulletin via dealer; failure recurred requiring second trip to dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: PO1 failure bulletin covers repair
Engine compartment fire with smoke inhalation
At 45 mph, smoke and fumes emitted inside vehicle from engine compartment. Vehicle completely shut off and failed to restart. Owner inhaled enough smoke to lose her voice.
When: Approximately 43,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke and fumes in cabin; Engine shut off and failed to restart; Smoke inhalation injury
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified
Stall without check engine light or diagnostic codes
Vehicle randomly stalls while driving with no check engine light and no diagnostic trouble codes recorded by dealer OBD reader. Two Dodge dealerships unable to diagnose due to absence of codes. Owner reports online forums show this issue ongoing since at least 2011, suggesting manufacturer awareness and lack of response.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Random stalling while driving; No check engine light; No diagnostic codes present
Repairs/costs cited: Two dealerships unable to diagnose
Single stall episode with intermittent restart difficulty
Vehicle stalled at 50 mph while driving. Restarted after several attempts. Failure recurred once more. No diagnosis or repair pursued.
When: Approximately 58,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls at 50 mph; Difficult restart requiring multiple attempts; Intermittent recurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired
Lack of power with misfire and check engine light
Vehicle experienced reduced power output, engine misfire, and check engine light illumination. Not diagnosed by dealer.
When: Approximately 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Lack of engine power; Engine misfire; Check engine light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired
Transmission stall with multiple system failures
After only 4,000 miles of driving, transmission stalled. Nine diagnostic trouble codes present across anti-lock brakes, electric power steering, and transmission control systems, indicating multiple system failures occurring simultaneously or in cascade.
When: After 4,000 miles of driving
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission stall; Anti-lock brake failure; Electric power steering failure; Transmission control malfunction
Codes mentioned: Nine codes across ABS, power steering, and transmission control (specific codes not listed)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle available for inspection; not repaired
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2012 Dodge Challenger?
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 engine problem on the 2012 Dodge Challenger?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 43,000 and 125,000 miles, with the median around 58,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,000; a quarter make it past 125,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/Dodge/Challenger.
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.