Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Chrysler 3 Series problems

Owners filed 426 complaints about the 2012 Chrysler 3 Series with NHTSA between Nov 2011 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (212).

Complaints
426
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
34
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system212
  2. Air bags83
  3. Power train79
  4. Engine58
  5. Steering28
  6. Service brakes28
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)24
  8. Vehicle speed control17
  9. Exterior lighting14
  10. Fuel/propulsion system11
  11. Structure7
  12. Seat belts6
  13. Visibility/wiper5
  14. Engine and engine cooling4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20111
201212
201311
201426
201561
2016108
201785
201840
201934
202014
20216
202212
20235
20242
20254
20265

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

212 reports2 crashes30 fires2 related recalls
“Vehicle received passenger airbag inflator recall service at Viva CDJR in El Paso, TX. The dash disassembly disturbed adjacent wiring/BCM connections, and after driving, vibration caused a short/ground fault, creating runaway wipers, A/C failure, transmission limp mode, check engine and power steering lights while in transit. Dealer has kept the car for over two weeks and refuses to scan diagnostic trouble codes or inspect the recall-adjacent wiring harness. The vehicle has never experienced this issue prior to the recall service.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2026Power train, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11762499

Air bags

83 reports13 crashes2 fires4 related recalls
“I was involved in a hit and run on March 2,2026 and the airbags did not deploy at all. My car was taken to ray lathem dealership when there was a recall pertaining to the airbags back in 2019. I was told everything was corrected. Now fast forward to March 2,2026 no airbags deployed at all from the impact of crash. That was the first thing the police and ambulance asked and saw. Myself and My fiancee both were taken to the hospital.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2026Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11725705

Power train

79 reports8 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“Esc off light comes on and transmission does not shift has loss of power gets extremely bad gas mileage. Whole engine shakes and bucks as if misfiring., cruise control nor sport mode engage.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2022Suspension, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11493407

Engine

58 reports1 crash8 fires
“The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the temperature gauge had independently increased levels. The contact managed to pull over to the shoulder of the road and was able to restart the vehicle as a temporary repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, white smoke had leaked through the air vent into the interior cabin before independently shifting the gear into neutral. In addition, a fire had started from under the hood of the vehicle. No warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that a couple of nearby pedestrians attempted to extinguish the fire, but were unsuccessful due to the size of the fire. The contact had COPD, which was impacted during the failure, and medical attention was sought for a heart-related issue. The fire department arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire. A report was filed; however, it was unclear if either the local Fire department or Police department had filed the report. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot, where it remained and was declared a total loss. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2025EngineFire reportedODI 11676234

Steering

28 reports4 fires
“WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY MY CAR BEGAN TO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS BLINKING AND DISPLAY GOING IN AND OUT BEFORE THE VEHICLE CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD THREE CHILDREN ALL UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE.AFTER HAVING IT TOWED AND INSPECTED A REFURBISHED ALTERNATOR WAS PUT IN DUE TO A RECALL (NEW ONES WERE ON BACK ORDER). LAST WEEK MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I COULDN'T MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALI. I CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO SEND ASSISTANCE TO NO AVAIL. I REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FUSE THE NEXT DAY AND AFTER DROPPING MY SON OFF TO SCHOOL, IT WENT OUT AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY, I HAD PURCHASED EXTRA FUSES IN THE EVENT IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE WORK BEFORE, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD FIX THAT PROBLEM WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP BECAUSE ITS ELECTRICAL. HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO OPERATE THE CAR WHILE YOU ARE OPERATING IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN ABOARD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2019Steering, Electrical systemODI 11271796

Service brakes

28 reports4 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS PURCHASED FROM MOPAR A DISCLAIMER WAS LISTED ON THE BOX. THE CONTACT HAD NOT PURCHASED THE PART, BUT HE INDICATES THE BRAKE SWITCH CAUSES CANCER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPEREINCED A FAILURE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 11, 2020Service brakesODI 11308593
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.