2012 Ram 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 697 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 17 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 32 involved a crash and 10 involved a fire. 27 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assembly, mountingMar 8, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks currently, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Exposure to environmental conditions such as water mixed with road salt may cause the front fuel tank strap frame "T-Slot" bracket to corrode, possibly causing the fuel tank to drop and make contact with the ground.
If the fuel tank were to drop and contact the ground, a fuel leak may result. Additionally, in the event of a crash, the fuel tank may not remain secured to the vehicle, possibly causing a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence in an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will bolt a bracket reinforcement to the frame, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U04.
Campaign 18V160000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentDec 21, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is T82.
Campaign 17V824000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, column shiftDec 20, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.
Campaign 17V821000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentMay 16, 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling aftermarket Mopar Canvas Seat Covers for certain 2012-2016 RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. These Mopar canvas seat covers were sold through Chrysler dealerships beginning October 15, 2015. The seat covers can impede the deployment of the seat thorax airbags.
If the seat cover impedes the air bag deployment, the seat thorax air bags may not provide adequate protection in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of a injury.
Chrysler will notify owners to remove the front seat covers and return them for a full refund. The recall began on July 1, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S30.
Campaign 16E041000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalJul 22, 2015
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2011, to October 7, 2014, and equipped with the Electronic Vehicle Information Center option. The affected vehicles have a steering wheel wiring harness that may rub against the driver air bag module retainer spring.
This abrasion may result in an electrical short that could cause driver's frontal air bag to unexpectedly deploy. Inadvertent deployment of the air bag may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, repair as necessary, and secure the steering wheel wiring harness. Additionally, protective caps will be added to the air bag retainer spring ends. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R36.
Campaign 15V459000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, driveline, differential unitFeb 6, 2013
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through September 30, 2011; model year 2009 Chrysler Aspen trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008; and model year 2009 Dodge Durango trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008. The rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized pinion spline that can allow relative motion between the nut and companion flange.
If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
On November 7, 2013 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N08.
Campaign 13V038000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsMay 2, 2012
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 RAM 1500 TRUCKS, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 5, 2012 THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2012. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE A SPARE TIRE THAT DOES NOT MATCH THE SPECIFICATIONS LISTED ON THE TIRE PLACARD. THUS, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS.
IF INSTALLED, THE INCORRECTLY SIZED SPARE TIRE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEM, ALTERING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ESC SYSTEM, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR VEHICLES AS NECCESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2012. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Campaign 12V192000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
697 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 14, 2023
The TIPM is failing in several areas... Starter, fuel pump and passenger compartment heater. This seems to be a common problem and Ram has never been held accountable... This plastic box and wires that should cost under a hundred dollars to replace is being sold on line between $500 and $1500 The manufacturer also has a built in design flaw where the electrical auto start function is disabled if the consumer has to replace the battery. They must pay a dealer to reprogram the truck to auto start... Seems like Dodge new they would be robbing the public on both of these items...
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 17, 2023
Vehicle i cranks but doesn't always start. I did notice even after it started it seemed to run normally .But when I turn the key off I can still hear fuel pump running. It never shut off. I had to pull the relay fuse. After doing some research. I found that there was or is a safety recall on the fuel pump relay on other Chrysler vehicles having the same issue .Safety recall P54/NHTSA 14V-530. The vehicles that were recalled uses the same tipm as my vehicle. Just wanting to know if you can tell me if my vehicle falls under the same recall if so how can I get it repaired. And if it doesn't fall under the same recall why not. It doesn't seem to be very safe for a fuel pump to be running constantly. I do not have the best of hearing. My wife was the one that noticed that it was still running.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 5, 2023
In having my vehicle serviced, my mechanic noticed that one of the straps on my gas tank was corroded and needed to be replaced. He advised me that a safety recall was issued (TSB- 14-002-18) covering this issue. I was never issued a recall notice. I contacted the RAM recall # to raise the issue. I was told by 2 separate agents that the recall was VIN specific and that my RAM was not part of the recall. The vehicle was purchased and registered in CT as new in early 2013. I have been the owner since. When I questioned why the same model having the same issue would not be covered, I was told that is not covered since it was inspected when manufactured. This makes no sense since the issue and notice of recall happened years later. I was told I need to remediate this safety issue at my own expense. Again....this is totally unsatisfactory.
Exterior lighting, Sep 29, 2023
My headlights (specifically on the driver side) keeps going out randomly. I have replaced the high and low beam bults 3 times and the wiring harness twice. I can be driving down the road and they it will go out and 10 minutes later it will just come back on all on it's on. I looked on all of the Dodge discussion forums and this seems to be a very common issue with this make/model of the Dodge Ram 1500 I recieve no error messages on my dash console telling me that this has occurred. However, every other bulb that has ever went out gave an error on the dash.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cam shaft and lifters needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 14, 2023
The brakes don’t work well. The steering sucks And had death wobble.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 7, 2023
Van shuts off while driving on the highway When attempting to restart no fuel is provided to the fuel rail Engine cranks but remains with a no start condition Negative battery terminal must be disconnected to reset the PCM. After reconnection and reset of PCM vehicle will start. No diagnostic trouble codes are provided through OBD port. No check engine light eliminates Issue has happened numerous times and is documented on the internet through various chat boards
Structure, Sep 3, 2023
Weak metal that the running boards are secured to. Reinforcement plates need installed on both driver and passer sides.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 3, 2023
Gas tank strap pulled through where it is mounted.
Steering, Aug 23, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel made a low winding sound. The vehicle lost power steering functionality without warning. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle to regain power steering functionality. The failure occurred 3 times. The contact stated that her spouse replaced the power steering pump. The contact learned that the power steering pump was already replaced once before purchasing the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000.
Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2023
As a number of customers have complained about i have a 2012 RAM and I have the tick on the right side.why is there no recall on this problem , it's in the dealership know going to cost over 1,000 to fix something should be done about this thay won't have to worry about selling me another one
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon inspection the vehicle, it was discovered that the fuel tank was hanging low and not properly secured to the vehicle, due to a faulty front fuel tank strap which had failed. The local dealer was notified of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 170,000.
Electrical system, Aug 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 RAM 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the electronics in the vehicle behaved erratically and the vehicle lost all motive power. After restarting the vehicle, it seemed to return to normal functionality but has since become a regular occurrence. The battery warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the TIPM. The contact stated that the TIPM had been replaced three weeks prior. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number 14V530000 (Electrical System), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Engine, Aug 9, 2023
I am experiencing a loud exhaust manifold leak for the third time now in this vehicle. The previous mechanic told me the bolts were broken and this is a known problem with these Rams. I can't afford to keep fixing this issue. This isn't an inexpensive fix. Please help
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 4, 2023
-Wireless Ignition Node (WIN) malfunctioned while driving and randomly shut the engine off. The component is available for inspection. -The vehicle immediately loses power and power steering. At high speeds or an intersection could cause a crash. -Research online has indicated that these are known to cause issues after a period of time where the contacts wear out. -The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. -There were no warning lamps or messages. The only other symptoms of the problem prior was an immediate shutdown of the engine after starting at random instances.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was alerted by another driver that the fuel tank had detached and was on the ground. Additionally, there was a fuel odor detected. The low fuel warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and inspected the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the front fuel tank strap and fuel tank was the ground, causing a fuel leak. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank bracket and fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
Air bags, Jul 16, 2023
Warning light on air bags stays lit will not go out according the other trucks of the same year and make where I worked this light does this on most of them it has been on for over a year
Power train, Jun 26, 2023
Truck switched off, immediately switched back on, all dash lights flashed, transmission was in manual mode and showed in 6 gear. This happened four times within a 2 week period while turning slightly to the right and under light acceleration. My truck has been in a reputable repair shop for over a week and the technicians can't find out what's wrong. No computer codes were recorded.
Engine, Jun 19, 2023
The engine is "Ticking". Ticks real bad when first started cold. After it warms up the ticking diminishes. Vehicle has just over 50,000 miles on it
Structure, Fuel/propulsion system, May 24, 2023
The fuel strap frame bracket failure has occured on my vehicle and i'm wondering why it was not covered under the recall? ref: Safety Recall U04 / NHTSA 18V-160 Frame Bracket
Other or unspecified, May 22, 2023
When using iPhone through Bluetooth connect it stops working and then freezes. You have to shut the vehicle off wait for a few minutes and then turn vehicle back on. When I say it freezes it makes the whole radio unusable.
Engine, May 5, 2023
The exhaust manifold bolts have broken off inside the block 3 times in 7 years. I have fixed them every time. Most recently, I was advised by service manager at Lithia Chrysler Dodge that 4 manifold bolts were broken and the repair cost $1490. This is a very common issue that needs a recall.
Electrical system, Apr 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start after multiple attempts. Additionally, the vehicle had lost motive power and stalled several times while driving at various speeds. The electronic throttle control system warning light was illuminated. The contact had replaced the fuel pump and TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) himself; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Engine, Apr 12, 2023
Engine "tick" - exhaust bolts are broken and according to dealer cylinder head needs to be extracted
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 16, 2023
The component affected on my 2012 dodge ram is the front fuel tank strap frame "T slot" bracket that has corroded with water mix with road salt, making the fuel tank to dangle and possibly causing it to drop and make contact with the ground. I know other ram truck have this recall but unfortunately this recall doesn't show up on my vin. The problem has been confirmed by a dealer but unfortunately they cant not fix it unless the recall shows on my vin or i pay out of pocket.