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2012 Dodge RAM 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Dodge RAM 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 275.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

179 reports with mileage · 104 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports12 fire reports4 injury reports

Steering complaints

109 reports
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205,000 miles · Oct 26, 2023
Steering

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle drove over a bump in the roadway and started to shake violently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the reinforcement bracket over the front track bar bracket had failed and needed to…

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The contact owns a 2012 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle drove over a bump in the roadway and started to shake violently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the reinforcement bracket over the front track bar bracket had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 205,000.

NHTSA ODI #11552066

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2023
Steering

Tie rod end sheared/broke causing the vehicle to be un-stearable. Fortunately, it happened as I was backing out of my driveway.

NHTSA ODI #11501693

170,000 miles · May 21, 2021
Steering

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 2500. The contact stated that after making the third right turn while driving approximately 3 -5 MPH, the steering linkage fractured and the vehicle loss steering functionality. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the drag link and the steering system nee…

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The contact owns a 2012 Ram 2500. The contact stated that after making the third right turn while driving approximately 3 -5 MPH, the steering linkage fractured and the vehicle loss steering functionality. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the drag link and the steering system needed to be replaced. The drag link was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #11418041

76,000 miles · Mar 25, 2021
SteeringWheels

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRUCK SHAKES SO BAD YOU HAVE TO GET STOPPED BEFORE IT GOES AWAY. ALMOST FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO FLIP THE TRUCK

NHTSA ODI #11404879

165,000 miles · Jun 17, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringStructure

FRAME BROKE IN 3 SPOTS, ALONG WITH A FRAME AND WHEEL BEARINGS, GEAR CONTROL BOX, ALIGNMENT, THE TRUCK BODY MOVES WHEN TURNING NOT THE WHEELS. THE TIRE STABILIZER HASN'T TURNED OFF IN OVER A YEAR AFTER POURING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS.. TRUCK IS UNDRINKABLE AND NOT EVEN 10 YEARS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11329345

200,000 miles · Mar 12, 2020
Steering

WHILE PARKING MY RAM 2500, MY CENTER DRAG LINK JOINT AT THE CRIMPED PORTION WHERE THE TIE ROD LINKS IN CAM APART. THIS COMPLETELY DISABLED THE STEERING OF THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL. THIS IN NOT A WEAR JOINT OR A, NORMALLY REPLACED JOINT ON THE STEERING COMPONENTS. THIS LINK ON THE RIGHT SIDE (FACING THE VEHICLE) GOES TO A TI…

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WHILE PARKING MY RAM 2500, MY CENTER DRAG LINK JOINT AT THE CRIMPED PORTION WHERE THE TIE ROD LINKS IN CAM APART. THIS COMPLETELY DISABLED THE STEERING OF THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL. THIS IN NOT A WEAR JOINT OR A, NORMALLY REPLACED JOINT ON THE STEERING COMPONENTS. THIS LINK ON THE RIGHT SIDE (FACING THE VEHICLE) GOES TO A TIE ROD END, AND ON THE LEFT SIDE IT GOES TO AN ADJUSTABLE LINK, FOR ADJUSTING WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND THEN ONTO THE LEFT (AGAIN FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE) TIE ROD. THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT, WHEN I WAS POSITIONING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPOT AND TURNED MY WHEEL TO CORRECT MY LOCATION. THE JOINT BEING DESCRIBED SEPARATED. DISABLING ANY STEERING ABILITY.

NHTSA ODI #11317731

180,000 miles · Mar 12, 2020
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL TURNED ON ITS OWN AND THE ABILITY TO STEER CEASED. NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE STEERING ROD WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL TURNED ON ITS OWN AND THE ABILITY TO STEER CEASED. NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE STEERING ROD WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COLORADO SPRINGS DODGE LOCATED AT (7455 AUSTIN BLUFFS PKWY, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80923), WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING ROD DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #11317703

10 miles · Mar 11, 2019
Steering

FRONT END HAS POPPING NOISE IN IT. DEALER TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE STEERING LINKAGE REPLACE SOON. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY YEAR/MODEL TRUCK BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. SHOULD I NOT BE DRIVING IT MUCH BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL? THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THEY JUST MENTIONED IT IN THE LA…

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FRONT END HAS POPPING NOISE IN IT. DEALER TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE STEERING LINKAGE REPLACE SOON. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY YEAR/MODEL TRUCK BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. SHOULD I NOT BE DRIVING IT MUCH BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL? THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THEY JUST MENTIONED IT IN THE LAST TIME I GOT IT SERVICED AND ANOTHER RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. HAS DONE THIS SINCE I PURCHASED TRUCK NEW IN FEBRUARY OF 2012.

NHTSA ODI #11185749

42,000 miles · Dec 21, 2017
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TIE ROD ON THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO GALEANA'S VAN DYKE DODGE (28400 VAN DYKE AVE, WARREN, MI 48093). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOE IN WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TIE ROD ON THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO GALEANA'S VAN DYKE DODGE (28400 VAN DYKE AVE, WARREN, MI 48093). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOE IN WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #11055965

73,200 miles · Nov 15, 2017
Service BrakesSteering

SPEED ABOUT 20 MPH WITH NO THROTTLE, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. A FEW SECONDS LATER THE STEERING AND BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. IF THE STEERING AND BRAKES DID NOT START WORKING AGAIN THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER MOTORIST.THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #11046370

Official recalls

4

17V821000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Dec 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

15V459000 · Air Bags:frontal

Jul 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

14V635000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel; Fuel System, Diesel

Oct 8, 2014

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Diesel

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.

13V529000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Nov 6, 2013

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 2500 4X4 and 3500 4X4 trucks, 2008-2012 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis, and model year 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4. The left tie rod assembly may break.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler notified owners on January 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary. On or about February 27, 2014, Chrysler ceased its recall remedy program due to parts quality concerns, and then re-initiated it on or about April 14, 2014. 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 N49.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.