AIR BAG - SIDE CURTAIN
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Dodge Charger airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Dodge Charger have filed 82 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 55,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
82
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Charger | 57 |
| 2009 Charger | 41 |
| 2010 Charger | 59 |
| 2011 Charger | 37 |
| 2012 Charger (this page) | 82 |
| 2013 Charger | 30 |
| 2014 Charger | 24 |
| 2015 Charger | 11 |
| 2016 Charger | 8 |
6crashes
7injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 82 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 Dodge Charger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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 82 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 16 model years of Dodge Charger in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags 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.
The above vehicles may have been built with front seat airbag wire harnesses with improper sized terminal crimp(s) that may cause an intermittent airbag warning light.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The above vehicles may have been built with front seat airbag wire harnesses with improper sized terminal crimp(s) that may cause an intermittent airbag warning light.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2012 Charger airbag system is a reliable source of trouble. The most common complaint is an airbag warning light that comes on intermittently or stays illuminated—often at 40k to 100k miles. Owners take the vehicle in, dealers replace or rewire the harness under the driver's or passenger's seat, and the light comes back on within days or months. One owner replaced the same harness twice, the second time out of warranty, despite the identical fault pattern.
Several owners report airbags that failed to deploy in actual crashes: a 35 mph offset collision into a tree causing $20k in damage with zero airbag firing, a rear-end collision at 55 mph with no deployment, and a multi-impact event (vehicle-to-vehicle, hydrant, tree) with sustained injuries and no airbags. A defective wiring harness under a seat was found in one crash case, but deployment failure investigations are mostly undocumented.
Takata inflator recall (Campaign 16V352000) sits as a second major problem: the front passenger airbag can rupture in humid climates, potentially sending metal shrapnel at occupants. Parts for the fix were unavailable for a year or longer; dealers reported receiving only one or two replacement inflators per week. Owners live in high-humidity states like Louisiana with no timeline for repair.
VINs manufactured just outside recall windows are excluded entirely, forcing owners to pay $350+ for the same defect that's free three weeks earlier in production. One owner disputes that a dealership billed for a recall repair that was never done. Dealer records don't match receipts, and Dodge offered to charge the owner for diagnostics to sort out whether the recall was actually completed.
Additional complaints cite post-repair warning light illumination, battery drain from alternator failures cascading into airbag system faults, and dealers refusing repairs on vehicles with salvage titles despite active recalls.
Same Dodge Charger airbags reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag warning light illumination (intermittent or continuous)
Airbag warning lamp comes on intermittently or stays illuminated continuously. Owners often find the problem recurs after dealer repairs. Some dealerships claim the issue is unrelated to recalls even when the same fault pattern appears in recalled vehicles.
When: Most reports between 2,300 and 115,000 miles; some on low-mileage vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on at startup or during driving; Light comes on intermittently with or without a chime; Light remains on after vehicle is turned off and restarted
Codes mentioned: B0020-13
Repairs/costs cited: Harness wiring under driver or passenger seats found defective; connector pins out of position; often requires rewiring. Repairs frequently recur. Dealer diagnostic fees ($350 reported) charged to owners whose VINs fall outside recall boundaries despite identical faults.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V118000 (harness wiring), 16V352000 (Takata inflator), 15V467000 (airbags/seatbelts), 19V018000 (airbags). Many VINs excluded from recalls; manufacturer records sometimes show recalls completed when no work was performed; parts for 16V352000 were not available for months or years; some dealers refuse repair due to salvage titles.
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Airbags fail to deploy in collision events despite sufficient impact severity. Incidents range from head-on collisions to multi-impact events. In one case, a crash at 35 mph into a tree caused $20,000 in damage with no airbag deployment; another report involved three successive impacts (vehicle, hydrant, tree) with zero deployment.
When: Occurs across mileage range; low-mileage vehicle (5 miles at incident) and higher-mileage vehicle (90,837 miles) both affected
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy upon impact despite severe frontal or offset crashes; Multiple impacts occur without any airbag firing; Airbag warning light was illuminated prior to or at time of crash in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Post-crash inspection identified disconnected airbag wiring under seats in one case. No field data on root cause or repair path provided in most narratives. Vehicle damage in one incident approx. $20,000 front-end repair; injuries sustained include closed head injury, neck/spine trauma, facial/elbow injuries.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated in one case that failure was not caused by a manufacturer defect; another case was not escalated to manufacturer. No systematic recall or service campaign documented for deployment failures.
Front passenger airbag inflator rupture risk (Takata)
NHTSA Campaign 16V352000 documents a defect where the front passenger airbag inflator may rupture due to excessive internal pressure during normal deployment, particularly in high-humidity environments. Metal fragments could strike occupants. Parts for remedy were unavailable for extended periods (one owner reported nearly a full year without remedy availability).
When: Recall issued July 1, 2016 (Campaign 16V352000); parts unavailable as of mid-2017 in multiple reports
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated (sometimes intermittently); Vehicle unsafe for front passenger use pending repair
Repairs/costs cited: Remedy requires front passenger airbag inflator replacement; parts were unavailable for prolonged periods. In high-humidity climates (Louisiana, etc.), risk of rupture elevated. One owner noted the passenger seat remained unusable for nearly a year awaiting parts.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V352000 issued July 1, 2016. Manufacturer initially stated parts not available. Multiple owners (campaigns 16V352000) reported months-to-year-long delays with no remedy parts in stock; one claimed a door-to-door representative scheduled a home visit that never occurred; others told dealers had only one or two remedy parts per week.
Airbag harness wiring defects (crimp/disconnection recurring)
Airbag wiring harnesses under seats become crimped, disconnected, or develop loose pins. Repair by replacement or rewiring, but the problem frequently recurs at higher mileage. One owner experienced the same harness short at 50k miles and again at 110k miles despite prior warranty repair.
When: Recurrence reported at ~50k miles and again at ~110k miles in one vehicle; others at 40k–100k range
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates; Short circuit codes detected in airbag harness; Intermittent light operation tied to wiring movement/vibration
Codes mentioned: B0020-13 (driver seat airbag circuit short)
Repairs/costs cited: Rewiring or harness replacement performed; one owner replaced harness twice under and then out of warranty. Diagnostic fee $350 cited. One forum search revealed many owners with same pattern and repeated repairs yielding same temporary fix.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: First occurrence covered under warranty (50k miles); second occurrence (110k miles) not warranted. No systematic design recall noted despite owner assertion that Chrysler should address the seated harness location vulnerability.
Recall parts unavailability and delayed remedy
Owners receive recall notifications (particularly Campaign 16V352000, Takata inflators) but dealers report remedy parts are not in stock and no delivery estimate can be provided. Delays stretched months to years, leaving vehicles with active warning lights unrepaired.
When: Campaign 16V352000 issued July 2016; reports of unavailability through 2017; Campaign 13V118000 (2013) also had parts supply issues
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received; Dealer unable to schedule repair due to parts shortage; Airbag warning light remains illuminated throughout delay period; Manufacturer unable to provide parts availability timeline
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed. Dealers reported receiving only 1–2 remedy parts per week. One owner attempted door-to-door mobile service offer that was never completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 16V352000, 13V118000: Remedy parts not available. Manufacturer stated expected availability 'several months' or no estimate given. One owner complained of nearly one-year delay with no resolution option. Multiple owners noted 'parts distribution disconnect' in NHTSA records.
Airbag warning light illumination after dealer recall repair
Following a dealer-completed recall repair, the airbag warning light illuminates or remains illuminated despite the stated repair completion. Dealers then claim the light issue is not part of the original recall and charge for additional diagnosis or repair.
When: Occurs shortly after recall service; one case within 11 days of recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on after recall work completed; Light was not on before the recall repair visit; Dealer claims light is separate issue and not covered
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer offered courtesy check but required out-of-pocket payment if repair needed. One case involved electrical connector incompatibility not covered under warranty (owner charged for replacement).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No clear manufacturer response documented. Dealers shifting repair responsibility to owner for warning light diagnostics post-recall.
VIN exclusion from recall despite identical defects
Vehicles with identical airbag faults are excluded from recalls due to manufacturing date falling outside the recall window (sometimes by only two weeks). Owners then required to pay out-of-pocket repair costs for the same defect that is free under recall for nearly identical vehicles.
When: Examples: vehicle manufactured January 2012 but excluded from recall covering earlier production dates; similar date-boundary exclusions reported
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on; Defective harness wiring confirmed by dealer inspection; VIN not listed in recall campaign due to production date
Repairs/costs cited: Harness replacement cost $350 reported. Owner forced to pay despite identical defect in recalled vehicles manufactured 2 weeks earlier.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer/dealers cite VIN not included in NHTSA recall scope. No accommodation or warranty extension for near-boundary vehicles with same defect.
Fraudulent or incomplete recall completion documentation
One owner alleges a dealership billed Dodge for a recall repair that was never performed or discussed. Dodge records showed the recall completed on 5/22/2016, but the owner's receipt showed only oil change and inspection that day. No signature or authorization for recall work was obtained.
When: Recall allegedly completed 5/22/2016; dispute reported months later
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on; Owner's receipt does not match manufacturer records; No signature or authorization documentation present
Repairs/costs cited: If recall was not performed, the underlying defect remains unrepaired. Dealer/manufacturer did not provide itemized work receipt.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge records show recall completed; owner disputes and manufacturer offered to charge customer for diagnostic testing to determine if underlying issue is present.
Synthesized from 82 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge charger. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the wiring harness needed to be soldered. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.
While driving, airbag light came on. Has come on intermittently in the past. Online search indicates that it is likely wiring to a sensor under the passenger seat, seems to be a common problem. Wiggled wiring under seat and light turned off. Will have dealer look into problem at next scheduled service visit. Problem should be looked into for a recall; a search of the internet brings up many…
Tl* takata recall- the contact owns a 2012 Dodge charger. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v3520000 (air bags) was received in june of 2016. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could…
Passenger air bag warning light,when check by a auto technician,the stated danger of serious injury or death, could occur if this problem is not repaired,there could be potential damage to a part defect in the vehicle air bag deploment,if a crash occur,metal debris from the air bag component could cause serious injury or death.
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 Dodge Charger?
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 Dodge Charger?
It's a meaningful issue. 82 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 41 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 39,000 and 89,125 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,000; a quarter make it past 89,125. 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/Dodge/Charger.
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.