2012 Dodge Ram 1500 engine problems

171 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500, which is 17% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

Complaints: 171 17% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage: 84,000 miles 120 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires: 1 and 2
Injuries and deaths: 3 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Based on 120 complaints that include mileage. 23% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.

View the numbers

Mileage	Complaints
0k to 20k miles	14
20k to 40k miles	5
40k to 60k miles	8
60k to 80k miles	26
80k to 100k miles	24
100k to 120k miles	18
120k to 140k miles	7
140k to 160k miles	7
160k to 180k miles	8
180k to 200k miles	2
200k+ miles	1

What the data shows

Of the 120 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 84,000 miles, and 22% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 1 crash, 2 fires, 3 injuries.

What owners wrote

I was driving my sons 2012 ram 1500 4x4 crew cab with less than 20k on the odometer back from texas to north carolina. I fell asleep at the wheel and we ran into a portable tow behind highway construction sign, bounced off a guard rail and then rolled several times down the freeway embankment on I-20 in tuscaloosa alabama. Not one of the 6 airbags in the vehicle deployed.

Reported at 18,000 miles, June 2013 CrashInjury

I noticed that there is a ticking sound from the engine bay. The sound stops after the engine warms slightly. From the information I have, the exhaust manifold bolts have broken and need to be replaced. The seal for the exhaust is now compromised thus possibly having an exhaust leak. I understand from other owners the issue returns even after repaired. Fca issued a TSB for this issue (TSB 11-002-11).

Reported at 81,500 miles, February 2020

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Dodge models