repaired · 2019 Q3
Tank assembly: mounting
Risk. If the fuel tank were to drop and contact the ground, a fuel leak may result.
2012 Dodge RAM 1500Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 698 owner complaints about the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-824 the manufacturer reports only 44% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 11, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 has problems
698 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
175Electrical system9 crash/fire/injury
163Engine3 crash/fire/injury
92Power train6 crash/fire/injury
92Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
80Air bags16 crash/fire/injury
49Service brakes
47Steering
46Exterior lighting
30Fuel system, gasoline
13717 other systems16 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 175 | 9 |
| Engine | 163 | 3 |
| Power train | 92 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 92 | 1 |
| Air bags | 80 | 16 |
| Service brakes | 49 | 6 |
| Steering | 47 | 5 |
| Exterior lighting | 46 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 30 | 0 |
| 17 other systems | 137 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2012 Dodge RAM 1500 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Equipment
Risk. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Lever and linkage: column shift
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2016 Q4
Air bags: frontal
Risk. This abrasion may result in an electrical short that could cause driver's frontal air bag to unexpectedly deploy.
Show 2 more recalls
repaired · 2015 Q2
Driveline: differential unit
Risk. 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.
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. IF INSTALLED, THE INCORRECTLY SIZED SPARE TIRE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEM, ALTERING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ESC…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
75kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 124 electrical system complaints. 73% were reported before 100,000 miles.
15under 30k miles90under 100k miles34100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
11 owners mentioned a cost$1,800median
Middle half: $1,100 – $3,950
Electrical system
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,000median
Middle half: $985 – $1,425
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other RAM 1500 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RAM 1500 median. How we score
'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'14
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500, and the recalls they led to.
- Electrical overstressLed to recall 20V-024
In owners' words
What RAM 1500 owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
While the vehicle was sitting in the driveway not running, the back of the headlight caught on fire. There wasn't any incedents (e.i. any collision, repairs) prior to the indecent. It is available for inspection. No dealership report yet, but have an appointment with local dealership Tuesday to get…
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. After several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The contact stated that the failure…
Unknown this truck was not involved in an accident however it came close with steering /brakes the Engine Faulty Wiring Harness caused major issues it wasn’t until recently I saw a video of how to fix the problem you can view these videos online I will say Dodge is Responsible they did have…
Own a 2012 RAM 1500?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.