Is the 2012 Chrysler 200 a bad year?
639 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 161, 4.2× a quiet 200 year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 4.2× the complaints of a quiet 200 year, spread over 33k–100k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 200 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 68,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 160 (25%) | 33k–100k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 140 (22%) | 46k–95k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 136 (21%) | 43k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 81 (13%) | 46k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat beltsSTANDS OUT | 71 (11%) | 42k–79k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 54 (8%) | 32k–77k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 42 (7%) | 26k–112k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 26 (4%) | 13k–71k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 26 (4%) | 33k–82k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 19 (3%) | 19k–79k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 18 (3%) | 32k–112k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seats | 18 (3%) | 52k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 45 (7%) | 14k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 36 (6%) | 1k–51k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 68,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 639 complaints: 29 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 23 report an injury · 24 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Appears to be a common issue in 2012 which Chrysler has known about. No heat/ defrost on passenger side apparently caused by engine block manufacturing process fluids mixing with antifreeze causing a blockage in heater core.
The car won't stop overheating, we have replaced thermostats and pumps thinking there was a leak but that never stopped the problem.
In march 2014 owner noted a problem with the HVAC system - no heat was delivered to the passenger side air vents or heater vents in cold weather.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 68,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Chrysler 200: 4
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. If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.
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. If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
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. In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.
These engines may experience connecting rod bearing failure due to debris inside the engine block. Connecting rod failure may lead to engine seizure which may increase the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chrysler: 88
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Chrysler 200. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Gear Ratio DTC's, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
Cam Phasers, Oil Control Valve For Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) issues related to 2012-2017 3.6L Pentastar engines
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2011 200: 336 complaints, consider selling · 2013 200: 628 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Chrysler 200 year
2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · All 200 years side by side
Other Chrysler models: Chrysler 300 · Chrysler 300C · Chrysler 300M · Chrysler Aspen · Chrysler Concorde · Chrysler Crossfire · Chrysler Crossfire Roadster · Chrysler PT Cruiser · Chrysler Pacifica · Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid · Chrysler Sebring · Chrysler Sebring Conv · Chrysler Sebring Convertible · Chrysler Town and Country · Chrysler Voyager. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2012 Chrysler 200 a bad year?
639 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 161, 4.2× a quiet 200 year. At 68,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 4.2× the complaints of a quiet 200 year, spread over 33k–100k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chrysler 200?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (160), electrical system (140), air bags (136), visibility and wipers (81), seat belts (71). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 33k–100k miles.
How many recalls does the 2012 Chrysler 200 have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 17V-640), Seat belts (NHTSA 16V-668), Electrical system (NHTSA 13V-282), Engine (NHTSA 11V-487). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.