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2012 Dodge RAM 3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most RAM 3500 years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Dodge RAM 3500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 124.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

165 reports with mileage · 201 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 222 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports8 fire reports2 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2021
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

While pulling a trailer, integrated trailer brake controller stopped working and disabled the trailer brakes. All trailer lights worked, just no brakes. Showed red warning in dash and "CF" on brake controller after failure. No warning before failure. Checked connections and tested with another trailer. Even with no trailer,…

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While pulling a trailer, integrated trailer brake controller stopped working and disabled the trailer brakes. All trailer lights worked, just no brakes. Showed red warning in dash and "CF" on brake controller after failure. No warning before failure. Checked connections and tested with another trailer. Even with no trailer, warning is on and trailer brakes are not functional. Created hazard to driver and other motorists by spontaneous loss of brakes. Online forums indicate this is not an isolated incident. More recently, now the trailer running lights have failed. Brake and turn signal lights work, but no running lights. No police report of inspections. Not yet repaired. Available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI #11420194

205,000 miles · Jan 29, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

I WAS TOLD BODY CONTROL MODULE IN DRIVERS DOOR WAS BAD AND DODGE IS BACK ORDERED ON PARTS.SO I AM HAVING TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #11172850

102,000 miles · Jul 7, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT NOT RUNNING. ALL INTERIOR LIGHTING INCLUDING DASH LIGHTING WENT OUT ALONG WITH EXHAUST BREAK, TOW HAUL, CARGO LIGHT. CRUISE CONTROL. AND HORN. UPON TAKING TO DEALER THEY SAID THE TIPM HAS FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACED AT A INSTALLED COST OF $1156.90

NHTSA ODI #11003742

59,000 miles · Jun 13, 2016
Exterior Lighting

PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN FEBRUARY, 2012. IN FEBRUARY, 2012, PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD BLINK AND GO OFF, INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER TESTED AND REPLACED TIPM (TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE) COMPUTER. APPEARED TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY. IN MARCH, 2016, PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND IS NOW NON-…

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PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN FEBRUARY, 2012. IN FEBRUARY, 2012, PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WOULD BLINK AND GO OFF, INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER TESTED AND REPLACED TIPM (TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE) COMPUTER. APPEARED TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY. IN MARCH, 2016, PASSENGER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND IS NOW NON-FUNCTIONAL. WORKS ON HIGH BEAM. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULB WITH A KNOWN GOOD BULB. SAME PROBLEM. TIPM IS OUT AGAIN. REPAIR IS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR A PART THAT IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF SAME PROBLEM BY HUNDREDS OF OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND MAKES OPERATOR OF VEHICLE IN VIOLATION OF TRAFFIC LAWS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10873958

3,000 miles · Mar 2, 2016
Exterior LightingStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER BUILT UP IN THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EACH TIME IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR GASKET LIGHT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER BUILT UP IN THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EACH TIME IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR GASKET LIGHT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER DAMAGE AFFECTED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.

NHTSA ODI #10839501

168,000 miles · Sep 25, 2015
EngineExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH, THE ENGINE AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS FLUCTUATED AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH, THE ENGINE AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS FLUCTUATED AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ODI #10777756

8,000 miles · Jul 10, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATED IN THE MANUAL SETTING, BUT FAILED IN THE AUTOMATIC SETTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATED IN THE MANUAL SETTING, BUT FAILED IN THE AUTOMATIC SETTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI #10733282

100,000 miles · Feb 26, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10690947

15,000 miles · Jan 9, 2014
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE BROKEN WIRES IN THE HARNESS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPAIR THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE BROKEN WIRES IN THE HARNESS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPAIR THE PIN CONNECTOR BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #10559224

5,500 miles · Jun 19, 2013
Exterior Lighting

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW IN 2011 BUT I HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN FOR THE LAST 1.5 YEARS AND THE TRUCK SITS IN THE SHOP MOST OF THE TIME. MY WIFE KEPT TELLING ME ON THE PHONE THAT WHEN SHE HAS TO DRIVE OUR TRUCK AT NIGHT IT WAS LIKE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT EVEN TURNED ON AND SHE CAN NOT SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT . I DROVE THE…

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I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW IN 2011 BUT I HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN FOR THE LAST 1.5 YEARS AND THE TRUCK SITS IN THE SHOP MOST OF THE TIME. MY WIFE KEPT TELLING ME ON THE PHONE THAT WHEN SHE HAS TO DRIVE OUR TRUCK AT NIGHT IT WAS LIKE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT EVEN TURNED ON AND SHE CAN NOT SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT . I DROVE THE TRUCK ON MY R&R AND I WILL SAY THE TRUCK HAS SOME VERY VERY POOR HEADLIGHTS. IT'S LIKE A HEADLIGHT IS OUT OR SOMETHING BUT THEY BOTH WORK. THEY ARE BRIGHT BUT THE BEAM IS NOT FOCUSED OR SOMETHING, I COULD HARDLY SEE AT ALL DRIVING THE TRUCK AT NIGHT, THEY DON'T SHINE ANY DISTANCE DOWN THE ROAD. IF YOU DRIVE MORE THAN 50 MPH YOU ARE OUT DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS CAPABILITY. I GOOGLED 2012 RAM HEADLIGHT ISSUES AND THERE IS A TON OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW POOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON THESE TRUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520593

Official recalls

8

21V398000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

May 27, 2021

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2021 RAM 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. Incorrect information in the Service and Owner's Manuals may cause the flanged lug nuts to be over-tightened, which could result in a broken wheel stud and possible wheel separation.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the torque specification in the owner's manual and other published service documents. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle's wheel studs, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y36 owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y26 owner notification letters were mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's numbers for this recall are Y26 and Y36.

17V824000 · Equipment

Dec 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

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

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.

16V739000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator

Oct 13, 2016

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Police vehicles, 2007-2013 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2013 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2013 RAM 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may suddenly fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the alternator with a revised alternator, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S68.

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.

13V344000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Aug 6, 2013

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2012 RAM 3500 trucks manufactured May 4, 2012, through August 7, 2012; and model year 2012 RAM 4500 and 5500 trucks manufactured May 3, 2012, through August 7, 2012. Due to a loose snap ring inside the transmission, there may be a loss of power transfer through the transmission to the wheels.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unexpected loss of power transfer may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission assembly free of charge. The recall began on October 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N50.

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.