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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

Suspension complaints

22 reports
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55,000 miles · Aug 27, 2015
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A CRACKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE DRIVE LINE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CRACKING NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A CRACKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE DRIVE LINE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CRACKING NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK A THIRD TIME TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILD. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10759832

50,222 miles · Aug 18, 2015
SteeringSuspensionWheelsCrash

I NOTICED FOR 6-8 MOS STEERING ISSUE TO THE LEFT, CALLED DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG. AT VARIOUS TIMES A STRANGE CLUNKING CLICKING LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA AS DECELERATING AND TURNING LEFT WEIGHT TO THE FRONT. NOW CHOPPY TIRE LEFT FRONT AS THERE ARE NO BALL JOINTS IT APPEARS TIE ROD IS BAD OR SOMETHING. WHILE PULLING INTO A TURN THE…

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I NOTICED FOR 6-8 MOS STEERING ISSUE TO THE LEFT, CALLED DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG. AT VARIOUS TIMES A STRANGE CLUNKING CLICKING LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA AS DECELERATING AND TURNING LEFT WEIGHT TO THE FRONT. NOW CHOPPY TIRE LEFT FRONT AS THERE ARE NO BALL JOINTS IT APPEARS TIE ROD IS BAD OR SOMETHING. WHILE PULLING INTO A TURN THE OTHER DAY AUGUST 17,2015 THE VEH PULLED HEARD THE CLANK AGAIN AND THE STEERING PULL CAUSED US TO STRIKE FIXED OBJECT. DEALER SAYS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL, BUT WE HAVE ALL THE SAME ISSUES, AND NOTED FOR AWHILE STEERING AT INTERMITTENT TIMES PROBLEMS... WHAT CAN I DO VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE AS WE DRIVE INTERSTATE OFTEN WITH LOADS, WE NEED THE VEHICLE BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS RECALL EVEN THOUGH OUR VIN SHOWS DIFFERENT PLANT, BUT WHAT DO WE DO JUST BE KILLED FIRST? HELP PLEASE.

NHTSA ODI #10749629

35,000 miles · Aug 9, 2015
SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other

3 DIFFERENT INSTANCES, WHILE TRAVELING FROM DIFFERENT ROAD SURFACES,CEMENT TO GRAVEL, GRAVEL TO TAR. SEEMS SMALL DIFFERENCE IN ROAD HEIGHT CAUSES TRUCK TO SHAKE VIOLENT,AND LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING ABILITY.2 OF 3 TIMES ENDED UP COMING TO A STOP IN DITCH. ONLY AFTER CROSSING BOTH LANES.THANK GOD THERE WAS NOBODY ELSE ON THE ROAD …

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3 DIFFERENT INSTANCES, WHILE TRAVELING FROM DIFFERENT ROAD SURFACES,CEMENT TO GRAVEL, GRAVEL TO TAR. SEEMS SMALL DIFFERENCE IN ROAD HEIGHT CAUSES TRUCK TO SHAKE VIOLENT,AND LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING ABILITY.2 OF 3 TIMES ENDED UP COMING TO A STOP IN DITCH. ONLY AFTER CROSSING BOTH LANES.THANK GOD THERE WAS NOBODY ELSE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. AFTER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I WENT ON LINE TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT THEY DID AND THEY HAVE A TERM FOR IT [ THE DODGE DEATH SHAKE ]. THE AFTER MARKET EVEN MAKES PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FROM NEW STEERING LINKS ,STEERING BOXES.AND FRAME STIFFENERS. MAKES A PERSON WONDER,IF THEY HAVE A TERM FOR IT,AND MAKE PRODUCTS TO STOP IT.WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE DOING ABOUT IT?. AND WHY DO CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS OUT OF POCKET, TO REPAIR AN POORLY DESIGNED PRODUCT THEM SELVES? FROM LAWSUITS TO LIES AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

NHTSA ODI #10747323

19,000 miles · Mar 25, 2015
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A DEALER FOR A ROUTINE SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINTS AND TRACK BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRON…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A DEALER FOR A ROUTINE SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINTS AND TRACK BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A BOLT NEEDED TO BE SCREWED ONTO THE TRACK BAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 7/29/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10701791

60,000 miles · Dec 8, 2014
Power TrainStructureSuspensionFire

I LEFT THE TRUCK RUNNING, I WALKED ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY WHILE DOING SOME CLEANING ON MY PROPERTY AND WHEN I TURNED AROUND I SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE THE GROUND ON FIRE. IT LOOKED LIKE FIRE DRIPPING DOWN FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND IN NO TIME THE TRUCK BURNED TO THE GROUND. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO AT THIS POINT? SHOULD I GET AN ATTORNEY…

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I LEFT THE TRUCK RUNNING, I WALKED ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY WHILE DOING SOME CLEANING ON MY PROPERTY AND WHEN I TURNED AROUND I SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE THE GROUND ON FIRE. IT LOOKED LIKE FIRE DRIPPING DOWN FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND IN NO TIME THE TRUCK BURNED TO THE GROUND. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO AT THIS POINT? SHOULD I GET AN ATTORNEY? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10663004

15,000 miles · Jun 29, 2014
SteeringSuspension

THIS IS IN REF TO SAFETY RECALL N49 / NHTSA 13V-529. I RECEIVED A RECALL FORM DODGE AND TOOK MY TRUCK INTO MILLER'S DODGE IN MARTINSBURG WV. THE SERVICE DEPT. LOOKED AND SAID YOUR LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE CALLED TO CHECK ON THE PART STATUS 3 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN 5 MONTHS AND EVERYTIME I PUT MY FAMIL…

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THIS IS IN REF TO SAFETY RECALL N49 / NHTSA 13V-529. I RECEIVED A RECALL FORM DODGE AND TOOK MY TRUCK INTO MILLER'S DODGE IN MARTINSBURG WV. THE SERVICE DEPT. LOOKED AND SAID YOUR LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE CALLED TO CHECK ON THE PART STATUS 3 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN 5 MONTHS AND EVERYTIME I PUT MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK THEY ARE AT RISK. I AM TOLD THAT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE FROM DODGE WHICH PROMPTED ME TO LOG THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606857

10,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014
SteeringSuspension

TRIED CALLING IN FOR THE LEFT FRONT TIE ROD RECALL TO AUTO NATION DODGE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED THE PARTS TO FIX. CALLED THE CHRYSLER HELP LINE AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. THE LADY I TALKED TO COULD NOT TELL ME WHEN CHRYSLER IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE PART TO FIX THE RECALL. WHY IS CHRYSLER SENDING OUT NOTIFI…

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TRIED CALLING IN FOR THE LEFT FRONT TIE ROD RECALL TO AUTO NATION DODGE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED THE PARTS TO FIX. CALLED THE CHRYSLER HELP LINE AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. THE LADY I TALKED TO COULD NOT TELL ME WHEN CHRYSLER IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE PART TO FIX THE RECALL. WHY IS CHRYSLER SENDING OUT NOTIFICATIONS AND TELLING PEOPLE TO CALL THERE LOCAL DEALERS TO FIX THE RECALL WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX AND WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576769

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2014
SteeringSuspension

REGARDING RECALL NOTICE EFFECTIVE JAN 6 2014 N49/NHTSA 13V-529 CONTACTED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES THEY SAY NO PARTS AVAILABLE FROM MANUFACTURER MEANWHILE I CONTINUE TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITH THIS DEFECT PRESENT I FEEL LIKE THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURE ARE NOT TAKING THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574386

95,000 miles · Jun 11, 2013
SteeringStructureSuspension

I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY FORWARD IN A PARKING LOT. I TURNED LEFT AND MY LEFT TIE ROD BROKE. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DODGE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519300

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2012
StructureSuspension

I BOUGHT A 2012 RAM 2500 CREW CAB 4X4 MADE IN MEXICO 10TH MONTH OF 2011. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK DEC 28TH 2011 NEW. THE TRUCK WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND UNDER A LOAD YOU CAN NOT CONTROL THE TRUCK. UNDER A LOAD, IT WANTS TO DART ALL OVER THE ROAD IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING HOOKED TO THE BUMPER. TOOK THE TRUCK TO 3 DODGE DEALERS COMPLA…

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I BOUGHT A 2012 RAM 2500 CREW CAB 4X4 MADE IN MEXICO 10TH MONTH OF 2011. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK DEC 28TH 2011 NEW. THE TRUCK WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND UNDER A LOAD YOU CAN NOT CONTROL THE TRUCK. UNDER A LOAD, IT WANTS TO DART ALL OVER THE ROAD IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING HOOKED TO THE BUMPER. TOOK THE TRUCK TO 3 DODGE DEALERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ABOVE PROBLEM. DODGE SAYS THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK WHATSOEVER. BUT, AFTER HOOKING THE TRAILER TO MY 2009 GMC DIESEL WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL TOWING I KNEW IT WAS THE DODGE TRUCK THAT I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH. DODGE STILL DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS DODGE TRUCK. I TOOK THE DODGE TO A FRAME SHOP. THE FRAME SHOP CALLED ME IN LESS THAN A HOUR REQUESTING THAT I RETURN TO THE SHOP, SO THEY COULD SHOW ME THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRAME. THE FRAME IS OFF FROM PLUS 5 MM TO MINUS 23 MM OFF CENTER. THE REAR END IS SITTING ABOUT AN INCH CLOSER ON ONE SIDE THAN THE OTHER MAKING THE TRUCK WANT TO TURN LEFT ALL THE TIME. THE BED ON THE TRUCK SITS CROOKED TO THE CAB. DODGE STILL DON'T WANT TO FIX THE TRUCK. I HIRED A LAWYER BUT DODGE HAS NOT REPLIED. I THINK IT IS TIME THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEPPED IN ON THIS MATTER. BECAUSE I HAVE A FACTORY DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457596

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.