2012 Dodge Ram 1500 problems
Owners have filed 983 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 18% of complaints. After that come engine (17%) and fuel system (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 983 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 51 and 15
- Injuries and deaths
- 41 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 69,000 miles 662 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 109 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 81 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 87 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 113 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 114 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 54 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 34 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 32 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 24 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 8 |
What the data shows
Among the 662 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 68,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 75,000 miles (126 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 51 complaints mention a crash; 15 complaints mention a fire; 41 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 19 model years of the Dodge Ram 1500 with enough data (474 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
My dodge ram 1500 2012 has, per the dealer, a faulty total integrated power module (tipm). I am experiencing electrical problems with my door locks, brake lights, and remote start. The problems occur at all times of vehicle operation. This is an extremely common problem that costs consumers >$1000 to repair, and not been recalled.
My airbag light came on and stayed on and my horn or cruise control does not work. Not sure if I got in an accident that my air bag would actually deploy.. Thinking it is a clock spring issue.. Had a recall on my 2011 wrangler and same thing was happening to that vehicle also..this happened right after I started the vehicle after work today.