2012 Dodge RAM 5500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Dodge RAM 5500 has 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: the truck wanders all over the road. going back and forth with the steering. this happens when driving down all type of roads and speed. *tr ## vin passed ## dodge ram 5500 2012 ##. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.
51
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
21 complaints- • THE TRUCK WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE STEERING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING DOWN ALL TYPE OF ROADS AND SPEED. *TR ## VIN PASSED ## DODGE RAM 5500 2012 ##
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN THE LANE AND THE STEERING PULLED LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX NEEDED
- • THE RAM 5500 TENDS TO WANDER OVER UNDULATING OR IRREGULAR SURFACE ROADS REQUIRING A HIGH LEVEL OF VIGILANCE TO REMAIN IN ONE'S LANE. THE STEERING ALSO HAS A HIGHER THAN NORMAL STICTION LEVEL IN THAT IT IS HARDER THAN NORMAL TO TURN ENTERING A CORNER AND THEN FAILS TO READILY RETURN TO CENTER WHEN EX
“THE TRUCK WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE STEERING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING DOWN ALL TYPE OF ROADS AND SPEED. *TR ## VIN PASSED ## DODGE RAM 5500 2012 ##”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
9 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V239000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,00
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DOGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V239000 (POWER TRAIN) AND THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE REMEDY PART TO BECOM
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V239000 (POWER TRAIN) AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. TH
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V239000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,00”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
7 complaints- • ON DEC. 21, 2013 WAS DRIVING 2012 DODGE 5500 4 X 4 IN NEWBURY OHIO AND TRUCK LOW FUEL GAUGE CAME ON. THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND WIPERS TURNED ON AND TRUCK SHUT DOWN AND THEREFORE WIRES AND TIPM STARTED MELTING AND SMOKING AND BURNED ALL THE WIRES GOING INTO THE CAB AND CLUSTER. DRIVER DISCONN
- • ON MARCH 2, 2014 WHILE SITTING IN OUR 2012 DODGE 5500 4 X 4 THE LOW FUEL LIGHT CAME ON AND WE OPENED HOOD AND TIPM WAS SMOKING AGAIN. WE JUST GOT THE TRUCK BACK FROM THE DEALER FROM THE FIRST TIPM FIRE 4 DAYS BEFORE. I JUMPED OUT OF THE TRUCK AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERIES AND FLED FROM HARMS WAY.
- • ON THE EVENING OF JULY 30, 2015 WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 DODGE RAM 5500 UTILITY TRUCK, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH I BELIEVE WAS DUE TO RECALL P65. THIS RECALL IS FOR THE DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIPS MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR, YET I
“ON DEC. 21, 2013 WAS DRIVING 2012 DODGE 5500 4 X 4 IN NEWBURY OHIO AND TRUCK LOW FUEL GAUGE CAME ON. THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND WIPERS TURNED ON AND TRUCK SHUT DOWN AND THEREFORE WIRES AND TIPM STARTED MELTING AND SMOKING AND BURNED ALL THE WIRES GOING INTO THE CAB AND CLUSTER. DRIVER DISCONN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
4 complaints- • 2012 RAM 5500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO RECEIVED RECALL # 13V527000. UPDATED 04/11/16.*JB
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) AND 13V527000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REA
- • ON THE EVENING OF JULY 30, 2015 WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 DODGE RAM 5500 UTILITY TRUCK, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH I BELIEVE WAS DUE TO RECALL P65. THIS RECALL IS FOR THE DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIPS MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR, YET I
“2012 RAM 5500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO RECEIVED RECALL # 13V527000. UPDATED 04/11/16.*JB”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
3 complaints- • 2012 RAM 5500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO RECEIVED RECALL # 13V527000. UPDATED 04/11/16.*JB
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) AND 13V527000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REA
- • ON THE EVENING OF JULY 30, 2015 WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 DODGE RAM 5500 UTILITY TRUCK, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH I BELIEVE WAS DUE TO RECALL P65. THIS RECALL IS FOR THE DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIPS MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REPAIR, YET I
“2012 RAM 5500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO RECEIVED RECALL # 13V527000. UPDATED 04/11/16.*JB”
— 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 51 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: THE TRUCK WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE STEERING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING DOWN ALL TYPE OF ROADS AND SPEED. *TR ## VIN PASSED ## DODGE RAM 5500 2012 ##
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V239000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,00
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: ON DEC. 21, 2013 WAS DRIVING 2012 DODGE 5500 4 X 4 IN NEWBURY OHIO AND TRUCK LOW FUEL GAUGE CAME ON. THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND WIPERS TURNED ON AND TRUCK SHUT DOWN AND THEREFORE WIRES AND TIPM STARTED MELTING AND SMOKING AND BURNED ALL THE WIRES GOING INTO THE CAB AND CLUSTER. DRIVER DISCONN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 2012 RAM 5500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO RECEIVED RECALL # 13V527000. UPDATED 04/11/16.*JB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Dodge RAM 5500 — 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
- 51
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 6
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Dodge RAM 5500