2012 Dodge RAM 3500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Dodge RAM 3500 has 502 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (44% of all complaints), specifically: pulling into a parking spot and turned wheel. left lower tie rod bolt snapped. *tr. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.
502
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
6.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
223 complaints- • PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND TURNED WHEEL. LEFT LOWER TIE ROD BOLT SNAPPED. *TR
- • I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE WHEEL TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. MY TRUCK FELT AS THOUGH IT HAD SHIFTED INTO 4WD. I STOPPED, MOVED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET. STOPPED AND BACKED FIVE FEET. I THEN HEARD AN AIR LEAK. I LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK AND FOUND THE TIE ROD HAD DISENGAGED, D
- • MY SAFETY ISSUE IS WHEN A LANCE TRUCK CAMPER, MODEL 1172 IS ATTACHED TO TRUCK. THE CG IS 6-8 BEHIND THE REAR AXLE (EVEN THOUGH BOTH DODGE AND LANCE DATA SHEETS INDICATE IT SHOULD BE OVER OR IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL). IN ADDITION, WHEN FRESH WATER TANK IS FULL (AND WITHOUT A NORMAL CAMPING LOAD), THE
“PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND TURNED WHEEL. LEFT LOWER TIE ROD BOLT SNAPPED. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
46 complaints- • 2012 DODGE RAM 3500 LARAMIE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE CONTROLLER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A DEALER HELPED HIM INSTALL A UNIVERSAL BRAKE CONTROLLER, BUT IT DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ABLE TO USE IT, WITH THE HAND CONTROL, BUT NOT THE FOOT CONTROL. THE BRAKES WOU
- • 2012 DODGE RAM 3500 LARAMIE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE CONTROLLER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A DEALER HELPED HIM INSTALL A UNIVERSAL BRAKE CONTROLLER, BUT IT DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ABLE TO USE IT, WITH THE HAND CONTROL, BUT NOT THE FOOT CONTROL. THE BRAKES WOU
- • DRIVER SIDE CONTROL FOR POWER WINDOWS/POWER LOCKS - SMOLDERED, SMOKED AND THEN STARTED SMALL FIRE. LOTS OF SMOKE - TO THE POINT WE WERE SICK FROM FUMES. DOORS AND WINDOW POWER OPERATION CEASED. THE ENTIRE CONTROL PANEL MELTED AND NEED TO BE EXTINGUISHED. *TR
“2012 DODGE RAM 3500 LARAMIE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE CONTROLLER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A DEALER HELPED HIM INSTALL A UNIVERSAL BRAKE CONTROLLER, BUT IT DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ABLE TO USE IT, WITH THE HAND CONTROL, BUT NOT THE FOOT CONTROL. THE BRAKES WOU”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
46 complaints- • I PULL A LIGHT WEIGHT 40' GOOSENECK TRAILER, AND WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE FUEL MILEAGE DROPPED TREMENDOUSLY AND THE COOLANT TEMP STAYED AROUND 220DEG AND I NOTICED A HORRIBLE LOSS OF POWER WHICH WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN AROUND 40-45MPH! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PERFORMED
- • 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT END TIE ROD RECALL PART ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE IN DECEMBER 2013. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM, THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. AS OF JULY 2014, THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED
- • WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 50MPH WENT TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A TRUCK AND NOTHING HAPPENED. DEAD PEDAL, A BIG TRUCK WAS COMING UP BEHIND ME AND HE HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES AS I WAS NOW IN THE LEFT LANE. HE WENT TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES. DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT
“I PULL A LIGHT WEIGHT 40' GOOSENECK TRAILER, AND WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE FUEL MILEAGE DROPPED TREMENDOUSLY AND THE COOLANT TEMP STAYED AROUND 220DEG AND I NOTICED A HORRIBLE LOSS OF POWER WHICH WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN AROUND 40-45MPH! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PERFORMED”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
39 complaints- • I PULL A LIGHT WEIGHT 40' GOOSENECK TRAILER, AND WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE FUEL MILEAGE DROPPED TREMENDOUSLY AND THE COOLANT TEMP STAYED AROUND 220DEG AND I NOTICED A HORRIBLE LOSS OF POWER WHICH WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN AROUND 40-45MPH! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PERFORMED
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAULING A TRAILER AT 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE RELIEF VA
- • 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TIE ROD ASSEMBLY RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE TIMES, WHERE HE COULDN'T OBTAIN A SPEED GREATER THAN 40 MPH. ALSO, HE WAS EXPERIENCING POOR FUEL ECONOMY. *JB
“I PULL A LIGHT WEIGHT 40' GOOSENECK TRAILER, AND WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE FUEL MILEAGE DROPPED TREMENDOUSLY AND THE COOLANT TEMP STAYED AROUND 220DEG AND I NOTICED A HORRIBLE LOSS OF POWER WHICH WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN AROUND 40-45MPH! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PERFORMED”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
36 complaints- • 2012 DODGE RAM 3500 LARAMIE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE CONTROLLER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A DEALER HELPED HIM INSTALL A UNIVERSAL BRAKE CONTROLLER, BUT IT DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ABLE TO USE IT, WITH THE HAND CONTROL, BUT NOT THE FOOT CONTROL. THE BRAKES WOU
- • PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND TURNED WHEEL. LEFT LOWER TIE ROD BOLT SNAPPED. *TR
- • I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE WHEEL TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. MY TRUCK FELT AS THOUGH IT HAD SHIFTED INTO 4WD. I STOPPED, MOVED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET. STOPPED AND BACKED FIVE FEET. I THEN HEARD AN AIR LEAK. I LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK AND FOUND THE TIE ROD HAD DISENGAGED, D
“2012 DODGE RAM 3500 LARAMIE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE CONTROLLER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A DEALER HELPED HIM INSTALL A UNIVERSAL BRAKE CONTROLLER, BUT IT DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ABLE TO USE IT, WITH THE HAND CONTROL, BUT NOT THE FOOT CONTROL. THE BRAKES WOU”
— 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 502 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND TURNED WHEEL. LEFT LOWER TIE ROD BOLT SNAPPED. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: 2012 DODGE RAM 3500 LARAMIE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE CONTROLLER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A DEALER HELPED HIM INSTALL A UNIVERSAL BRAKE CONTROLLER, BUT IT DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ABLE TO USE IT, WITH THE HAND CONTROL, BUT NOT THE FOOT CONTROL. THE BRAKES WOU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: I PULL A LIGHT WEIGHT 40' GOOSENECK TRAILER, AND WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE FUEL MILEAGE DROPPED TREMENDOUSLY AND THE COOLANT TEMP STAYED AROUND 220DEG AND I NOTICED A HORRIBLE LOSS OF POWER WHICH WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN AROUND 40-45MPH! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PERFORMED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: I PULL A LIGHT WEIGHT 40' GOOSENECK TRAILER, AND WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE FUEL MILEAGE DROPPED TREMENDOUSLY AND THE COOLANT TEMP STAYED AROUND 220DEG AND I NOTICED A HORRIBLE LOSS OF POWER WHICH WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN AROUND 40-45MPH! I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PERFORMED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Dodge RAM 3500 — 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
- 502
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 6
- Crash reports
- 5
- Injury reports
- 5
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Dodge RAM 3500