2012 Chrysler 200 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Chrysler 200 holds 638 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 43 per year. 200 years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 41 complaints per year. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Front seat head restraint, Pretensioner, and Electrical system.

Complaints

638

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (146 of 638), then Electrical system (140) and Air bags (136). Those filings include 29 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 23 that report an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 200 has 628 complaints, 43 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Chrysler 200. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (4)

Recall Front seat head restraint 2017-10-10 · NHTSA campaign 17V640000

Summary Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. A component within the occupant restraint controller (ORC) may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying in the event of a rear-end crash.

Remedy Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is T56.

Recall seat belts, pretensioner 2016-09-15 · NHTSA campaign 16V668000

Summary Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

Remedy Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

Recall Electrical system 2013-07-02 · NHTSA campaign 13V282000

Summary Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision.

Remedy Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.

Recall Engine and engine cooling 2011-09-29 · NHTSA campaign 11V487000

Summary CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHRYSLER VEHICLES, INCLUDING 200 AND TOWN AND COUNTRY MODELS, DODGE VEHICLES, INCLUDING CHARGER, DURANGO, GRAND CARAVAN AND JOURNEY MODELS AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 31, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 13, 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH 3.6L ENGINES. THESE ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILURE DUE TO DEBRIS INSIDE THE ENGINE BLOCK.

Remedy CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Complaints by component (638 total)

Engine

146

Electrical system

140

Air bags

136

Seat belts

Visibility and wipers

Powertrain

Steering

Service brakes

Exterior lighting

Visibility

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Speed control

Structure

Seats

Suspension

Engine and engine cooling

Fuel and propulsion system

Fuel system, gasoline

Wheels

Equipment

Tires

Traction control

Air brakes

Hydraulic brakes

Lane departure

Latches, locks, and linkages

Show 18 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"My husband sat down in the driver seat of my vehicle thatwas parked in our driveway and wasnt even turned on and the head rest deployed and smacked the back of his head"
Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-27
"Replaced all spark plugs and coils , code is saying misfire cylinder 4..replaced intake manifold gasket code states multiple cylinder misfire .My [XXX] was stranded in the middle of a busy road due to loss of power…"
Engine · filed 2026-04-21
"The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that occasionally, while driving at various speeds at night, the headlights intermittently became inoperable. The failure occurred with the high beam and low beam…"
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility and wipers · filed 2026-03-05
"The problem seems to be with the electrical system the TIPM is malfunctioning. Wipers will stop midstream or run constantly, any time power is engaged in the car the wipers will begin to work whether the switch is on or…"
Electrical system, Air bags, Visibility and wipers · filed 2025-08-09
"The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated upon starting the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The vehicle was…"
Air bags · filed 2025-08-04

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 Chrysler 200 4 DR FWD	4 stars	4 stars	3 stars	4 stars
2012 Chrysler 200 C FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
200	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic 4-speed	Front-wheel drive	21	29	24 MPG	$2700
200	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	20	30	23 MPG	$2800
200	3.6L, 6-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	19	28	22 MPG	$2950
200 convertible	3.6L, 6-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	19	28	22 MPG	$2950
200 convertible	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	18	29	22 MPG	$2950

Compare

Next year 2013 Chrysler 200 See every Chrysler 200 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Chrysler 200 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 Chrysler 200?

Is the 2012 Chrysler 200 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 200 has 628 complaints, 43 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

Has the 2012 Chrysler 200 been recalled?

The 2012 Chrysler 200 has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Chrysler 200?

Owners have filed 638 complaints about the 2012 Chrysler 200 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Chrysler 200 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Chrysler 200 is 22.6 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Chrysler 200 use?

0W-20 (2.4L four-cylinder; V6 may differ)

What does NHTSA recall 16V-529 cover on the Chrysler 200?

Recall 16V-529 covers certain 2015 Chrysler 200 vehicles with 9-speed automatic transmissions among other FCA models: transmission sensor-cluster wire harness crimps may be insufficient, so the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral; dealers reprogram the powertrain…

What generation is the 2016 Chrysler 200?

UF generation (2015-2017).