2012 Dodge RAM 1500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 has 978 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 12.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: 2012 dodge ram 1500 crew cab lone star 5.7 hemi w/mds auto trans. transmission has a very moderate "bump" or jarring thud inside the vehicle after the truck comes to a complete stop from normal driving speeds in city/highway. took to dealership and they could not repeat concern as i described. this . ⚠️ 11 fire reports filed.
978
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
12.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRICAL
176 complaints- • 2012 DODGE RAM 1500 CREW CAB LONE STAR 5.7 HEMI W/MDS AUTO TRANS. TRANSMISSION HAS A VERY MODERATE "BUMP" OR JARRING THUD INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE TRUCK COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS IN CITY/HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT REPEAT CONCERN AS I DESCRIBED. THIS
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE HORN WAS REPAIRED. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE HORN FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE HORN SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO GET A RESPONSE.
- • STARTED VEHICLE AFTER I RAN ERRANDS AND GOT ABOUT 500 YARDS BEFORE VEHICLE DISPLAYED SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES INCLUDED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS RUNNING WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL WAS SET TO OFF, DISPLAYING A WARNING THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS NOT LATCHED WHEN THE
“2012 DODGE RAM 1500 CREW CAB LONE STAR 5.7 HEMI W/MDS AUTO TRANS. TRANSMISSION HAS A VERY MODERATE "BUMP" OR JARRING THUD INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE TRUCK COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS IN CITY/HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT REPEAT CONCERN AS I DESCRIBED. THIS ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
171 complaints- • 2012 DODGE RAM WITH 4.7 LITRE ENGINE. NOTICED A GROUND OUT VIBRATION TYPE NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS AND AT IDLE IN GEAR AT STOP LIGHT THERE WAS A REALLY NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. FOUND POWER STEERING PUMP TO BE LOOSE AND UNDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THERE WERE NO THREADS IN MOUNTIN
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGAGED IN ECONOMY OR MULTIPLE DISPLACEMENT MODE, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY VIBRATE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED
- • THE TRUCK WAS PARKED THE NIGHT BEFORE AT APPROXIMATELY 7:15PM AND AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30AM MY WIFE WOKE TO SOMETHING POPPING OUTSIDE AND HER 2012 RAM WAS OUTSIDE ON FIRE. IT CAUGHT MY 2005 DODGE RAM 3500 ON FIRE ALSO, AND EVENTUALLY BURNT OUR HOME DOWN. *TR
“2012 DODGE RAM WITH 4.7 LITRE ENGINE. NOTICED A GROUND OUT VIBRATION TYPE NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS AND AT IDLE IN GEAR AT STOP LIGHT THERE WAS A REALLY NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. FOUND POWER STEERING PUMP TO BE LOOSE AND UNDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THERE WERE NO THREADS IN MOUNTIN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
129 complaints- • SOMETIMES WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS BEING REAR ENDED EVEN THOUGH NO ONE IS BEHIND IT.
- • ENGINE IDLE SPIKED AND DROPPED IN RUSH HOUR STOP AND GO TRAFFIC UNTIL THE TRUCK EVENTUALLY STALLED. I PLACED THE TRUCK IN PARK AND TRIED RESTARTING. THE "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL" LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE DASH. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND TRIED RESTARTING. THE STARTER TURNED OVER BUT THE TRUCK ACT
- • TRIED TO START TRUCK - DEAD JUMPED BATTERY - WENT AND BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY TRUCK RAN FINE DURING THE DAY - WENT OUT NEXT MORNING - TRUCK WOULD TRY TO TURN OVER BUT WOULDN'T START- TOOK IT TO DEALER- DEALER SAID TO DIAGNOSE WOULD BE $ 130 DOLLARS PAID FOR THAT- THEY SAID THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT HO
“SOMETIMES WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS BEING REAR ENDED EVEN THOUGH NO ONE IS BEHIND IT.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
93 complaints- • 2012 DODGE RAM 1500 CREW CAB LONE STAR 5.7 HEMI W/MDS AUTO TRANS. TRANSMISSION HAS A VERY MODERATE "BUMP" OR JARRING THUD INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE TRUCK COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS IN CITY/HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT REPEAT CONCERN AS I DESCRIBED. THIS
- • I HAVE A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500 BIG HORN WITH A 5.7L HEMI AND 6 SPEED TRANNY WITH IN 30MILES NOTICED VERY LARGE FLAWS IN THE PAINT ON THE HOOD UNDER THE CLEAR COAT THAT I DIDN'T SEE AT DEALER AT TIME OF PURCHASE DO TO RAIN TOOK BACK THE NEXT DAY AND TOOK THEM 3 DAYS TO REPAINT HOOD TO MATCH SOON AFTER
- • I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 59 IN HOUSTON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, I NOTICED A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM BELOW THE VEHICLE. I WAS EXITING 59 ONTO SAM HOUSTON TOLL ROAD, WHEN THE HUMMING STARTED AND THEN I HEARD A LOUD CRASH. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, TO SEE IF I HAD HIT SOMETHING AND I SAW TH
“2012 DODGE RAM 1500 CREW CAB LONE STAR 5.7 HEMI W/MDS AUTO TRANS. TRANSMISSION HAS A VERY MODERATE "BUMP" OR JARRING THUD INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE TRUCK COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS IN CITY/HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT REPEAT CONCERN AS I DESCRIBED. THIS ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
80 complaints- • VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TWO FRONT AIRBAGS WHILE WATCHING THE CRASH TEST RATINGS. THE DRIVER COMPLETELY COLLAPSED THE BAG, HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE PASSENGER BAG WAS ABOVE AVERAGE BUT SEEMED TOO AGGRESSIVE CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO WHIP LASH BACK TOWARDS THE SEAT. A GREAT PASSE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED IN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY PERSON INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE
- • TRAVELING APPROX 45MPH. ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO YIELD AND HIT MY VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT HEAD LIGHT. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS TRYING TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROX 15-25MPH. THE IMPACT WAS ALMOST A COMPLETE HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. MY PASSENGER AND I W
“VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TWO FRONT AIRBAGS WHILE WATCHING THE CRASH TEST RATINGS. THE DRIVER COMPLETELY COLLAPSED THE BAG, HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE PASSENGER BAG WAS ABOVE AVERAGE BUT SEEMED TOO AGGRESSIVE CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO WHIP LASH BACK TOWARDS THE SEAT. A GREAT PASSE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 978 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: 2012 DODGE RAM 1500 CREW CAB LONE STAR 5.7 HEMI W/MDS AUTO TRANS. TRANSMISSION HAS A VERY MODERATE "BUMP" OR JARRING THUD INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE TRUCK COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS IN CITY/HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT REPEAT CONCERN AS I DESCRIBED. THIS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 2012 DODGE RAM WITH 4.7 LITRE ENGINE. NOTICED A GROUND OUT VIBRATION TYPE NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS AND AT IDLE IN GEAR AT STOP LIGHT THERE WAS A REALLY NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. FOUND POWER STEERING PUMP TO BE LOOSE AND UNDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THERE WERE NO THREADS IN MOUNTIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: SOMETIMES WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS BEING REAR ENDED EVEN THOUGH NO ONE IS BEHIND IT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: 2012 DODGE RAM 1500 CREW CAB LONE STAR 5.7 HEMI W/MDS AUTO TRANS. TRANSMISSION HAS A VERY MODERATE "BUMP" OR JARRING THUD INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE TRUCK COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS IN CITY/HIGHWAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT REPEAT CONCERN AS I DESCRIBED. THIS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Dodge RAM 1500 — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 978
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 11
- Crash reports
- 38
- Injury reports
- 31
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Dodge RAM 1500