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Vehicle safety record

2012 Ram 1500 Quad Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 698 complaints about the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (175) and the engine & cooling (170). Those complaints describe 32 crashes, 10 fires and 27 injuries. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 2011 has 689 and the 2013 has 1,283.

NHTSA data checked

CAbout as many problems as a typical 1500 Quad year, for its age

#8 most complained-about 2012 vehicle

Complaints
698
Recalls
0
Crashes
32
Fires
10
Injuries
27
Deaths
0

Most common 2012 Ram 1500 Quad problems

Share of all 698 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

No recalls for the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.

What owners say

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698 complaints about the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 28.

Suspension

**Subject: URGENT VEHICLE SAFETY CONCERN - Steering Failure, Track Bar Bracket/Frame Damage, and Risk to Family Safety - 2012 Ram 2500** To Ram Customer Care and the Vehicle Safety Team, I am requesting immediate attention to a serious safety concern involving my 2012 Ram 2500 4×4 with the 6.7L Cummins diesel engine. This is not simply a complaint about suspension performance or the cost of repairing an older truck. My concern is the history of steering and suspension failures that could put the driver,...

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passengers, children, and other road users at risk. The factory drag link broke in half while I was driving down a steep hill. That was a frightening and dangerous experience. The truck also had problems while it was still at stock suspension height. I believed the stock suspension was responsible, which is why I later installed an aftermarket lift. The lift was an attempt to address the problem, not the beginning of the problem, based on my experience. The truck now experiences severe wobbling under braking, and the front track bar bracket appears to be pulling away from or tearing out of the frame. I am concerned about the integrity of the steering and front suspension mounting points and the possibility of losing control of the vehicle. **My family's safety is a major concern. Children ride in this truck.** I cannot treat a possible steering or structural failure as an ordinary maintenance issue when the consequences of a failure could be catastrophic. I am aware of FCA Safety Recall R46 / NHTSA campaign 15V-541, which addressed track bar frame bracket welding concerns on certain Ram trucks. I understand that my 2012 model year may not be included in the recall population. Nevertheless, I am asking Ram to examine the actual condition of my vehicle and determine whether the failures warrant further technical investigation. I respectfully request: 1. A formal safety case and a case reference number. 2. Escalation to the appropriate Ram technical, engineerin

Filed Incident SuspensionNHTSA 11770439
Other & unknown

Hello I have a 2012 Dodge ram 1500 and fuel tank bracket holder rusted off there is a recall x75 code that they're now telling me expired 2024, I've had to strap it up with bungee cords, but this is a safety hazard how do I go about getting a Goodwill warranty extension? It's the same issue detailed in TSB 14-002-18 REV. A. Bought in [[redacted]] and I live in [[redacted]] the salt state is on the list. This is a safety hazard recall how do I go about getting this done they don't seem to want to honor this or help me. Thank you for your help. [[redacted]] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11763314
Other & unknown

Dodge Ram 1500 2012 model, vehicle randomly turns off without warning while driving. It is as if someone turns off the key no warning lights before , no check engine lights , after is shuts down no codes shown, so far able to coast out of the way and restart vehicle with key fob once in neutral. this is a safety issue and according to my research others have had the same issue. but no diffident resolve. Dealership is currently attempting to diagnose the issue. You need to check into this before someone is killed. I am sure by now Ram dodge is aware of the problem but not doing anything about it.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11763137
Electrical systemLightsFire

While the vehicle was sitting in the driveway not running, the back of the headlight caught on fire. There wasn't any incedents (e.i. any collision, repairs) prior to the indecent. It is available for inspection. No dealership report yet, but have an appointment with local dealership Tuesday to get an itemized estimate for the repairs.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11755251
Engine & cooling

Unknown The engine is bad. Costing me $2500 that I don't have. The lifter needs fixing and probably other things as well. I need help.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11744333
Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH and hauling a camper, the rear wheels locked up, and the contact lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle spun out. The camper jackknifed during the failure. The rear axle and wheels locked without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11733543
Engine & cooling

My 2012 Dodge developed an engine issue at 129,000 miles. The issue was rough idling and no acceleration. I took it to a Dodge dealer. They diagnosed it as a chronic cam issue with this generation Chrysler hemi engine. I had the cam and replaced at Waldorf Dodge. The cost was at $3400. I believe this is a known problem and Dodge is aware of exactly why it happens. Lack of oil pressure to two of the cylinders that are dropped while driving for fuel economy. This should be Dodge problem not the consumer. I take excellent care of my vehicles. I also have a 2004 Dodge truck but that's over 450,000 miles on it same engine same transmission.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11731758
Transmission & drivetrain

The contact's ex-wife owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while his ex-wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver shifted into park(P) and then restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that the starter and key fob were replaced twice. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V265000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 165,353.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11729012
Fuel system

Fuel tank strap corroded due to environmental exposure to water and salt in West Virginia.

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11727697
Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the check engine warning light was flashing, and the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was shaking and continued decelerating. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. A certified mechanic was contacted and advised the contact to drive the vehicle approximately 45 MPH with the hazard lights flashing to the repair shop. The mechanic diagnosed a misfire in...

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cylinder #2, lifters failure, causing the camshaft failure, which allowed metal debris to enter the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11725787
Electrical system

The truck will just shut off driving down the road at highway speeds. This has occurred multiple times.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11722822
Transmission & drivetrain

My 2012 ram1500 st 4.7 liter has the 9.25 rear differential that was in fact common for that year model too have the loose pinion nut recall my trucks vin is [[redacted]] for confirmation after doing some research on the symptoms that could potentially be causing this problem include but are not limited to a whining sound coming from my trucks rear end that gets louder when accelerating and noticeably changes when decelerating and vibration that is noticeable as well which is commonly caused by this defect my...

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information was coming from reputable sources i came to the conclusion that they matched up perfectly with this recall however when I called the dealership to schedule an appointment to get the repairs done they told me the vin did not line up with the dates when it was manufactured to be considered apart of the recall I was surprised by this so i dug deeper into this issue only to find there was conflicting results some saying the vin did in fact match eligibility for this recall and not eligible to recieve repairs they the customer support rep also explained that in order to determine if it would be covered I would have to go to them in order for the technicians to diagnose and verify the cause for the issues followed up by saying they would not know if my truck did infact qualify for the manufacturer to cover repair costs if it did not qualify i would have to pay for the diagnostic analysis which amounted to the tune of 300-400 dollars which i found to be unreasonable and due to my financial position due to the fact that I am being medically discharged from the army and will be out in no later than 2 months from now 3-4 hundred is alot of money givin my situation however the main take aways from my complaint are 1. Everything points to the symptoms my truck is having points to the issue lining up with the recall2. My trucks year make model and rear axle that was directly effected by this issue3.my conversation with them seemed like I hat to go to the INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11722768
Fuel system

I called my local dodge dealer, brown motors in petoskey mi., A couple of weeks ago to have a couple of uncompleted recalls performed. I took my truck in to the dealer today and was notified later that they could not perform the recall and it would cost me nearly $1700 to perform the recall, mostly pertaining to the fuel bracket recall. I find this very odd as it would make sense that all related parts that have to be removed to perform this safety recall should be part of the recall including any said labor costs. My particular vehicle current has one of the fuel tank straps that has come loose and now I am force to drive that way until I can get this very hazardous ossue resolved.

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11720578
Fuel system

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was turned off; however, while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. After several attempts, the vehicle restarted and was driven to the residence. The contact stated that after parking and turning off the vehicle, the fuel pump was still...

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running. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a fuel pump relay failure. The contact was informed that the TIPM needed to be replaced. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that it was a known failure with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,300.

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 11715559
Transmission & drivetrain

Engine ticking noise, poorly made bolts on exhaust manifold were used. Bolts loosen or Break off and manifold warps or cracks. Cause exhaust leak into cabin. Truck can be inspected if needed

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11706813
Fuel system

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon inspection, the fuel tank strap was corroded. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because there was no related recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 11706707
Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was an abnormally loud howling and winding sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The sound had progressed over time. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the rear axle pin was faulty and might have caused the wheels to lock up. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11699801
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. After several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while starting the vehicle, after releasing the key fob, the vehicle stalled. The contact taped the key to the side of the vehicle to start. The contact stated...

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that once the key fob was taped, the windows failed to roll up, the indicators failed to function as intended, the heater and A/C failed to operate as needed, and the hazard lights were inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11696795
Fuel system

While driving my Ram truck at approximately 55 MPH, the front gas tank strap failed, causing the front portion of the fuel tank to drop below the vehicle's body. Upon inspection, I found that the strap securing the tank had detached from its connection point on the frame. The failed part is available for inspection upon request. This incident presented a serious safety hazard to myself and others on the road, as the entire fuel tank could have separated from the vehicle, creating a significant risk of fire or...

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collision. The issue was reported to a local dealership, which advised me to contact Dodge. Dodge acknowledged the issue but stated there is no warranty coverage or recall, and that any repair would be at my expense. No formal inspection has been performed other than my own, and I have implemented a temporary repair to secure the tank. There were no warning lights or prior symptoms before the failure. The only indication was a loud clunking noise followed by the sound of the strap repeatedly striking the drivetrain.

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11694960
Transmission & drivetrain

Differential making scraping sound, points to the pinion gear having a problem.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11693828
Fuel system

I noticed while looking underneath my vehicle the front fuel tank strap was no longer attached. Further inspection show the frame had rusted enough that the fuel tank strap is no longer attachable. I noticed a recall (U04 / NHTSA 18V-160) was available however my VIN shows no record of this recall being available. So no dealer will assist me with it although my vehicle meets all of the prerequisites the recall states. Currently undriveable due to safety concerns.

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11693696
Fuel system

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle, followed by the sound of metal striking the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the fuel tank strap had detached from the vehicle due to extensive corrosion. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 210,000

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 11689380
Fuel system

Front gas tank strap pulled out from (rusted)-frame. Dropping front of (full) gas tank inches from road. I'm told there was an extended warranty for the issue. That I never received notice of. It has since expired. I found recall - U04/NHTSA 18V-160 That I'm also told doesn't apply to my vehicle. Odd that the extended warranty would have. But the recall doesn't?

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11685276
Engine & cooling

The vehicle finally became inoperable at 119,000 miles due to lifter failure. Lifter issues started when the vehicle had about 106,000 miles on it. There were multiple misfire and gas mileage became worse. There was a loud ticking noise coming from the engine as well. Vehicle has been well maintained and only 1 owner, purchased new. With the lifter failure, this caused damage to the camshaft and which led to an excess amount of metal shavings to be spread throughout the engine. The vehicle ultimately had to get a engine replacement because of the excess metal shavings in the engine.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11677703
Fuel system

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 50 MPH, there was an abnormal thud coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that his son was unaware of a warning light being illuminated and continued driving to his destination. The contact was informed that the vehicle muffler might have fallen off the vehicle. The contact drove to his son's workplace and inspected underneath the vehicle and became aware that the right front strap of the fuel tank had detached...

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from the body of the vehicle and was touching the ground. The fuel tank was no longer properly secured to the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle back to the residence. The contact called a dealer and was informed that there had been a manufacturer program to cover the repair of the fuel tank straps due to rust however, the vehicle was not covered under the program. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 11676775

Ram 1500 Quad: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
20131,28307210SteeringD
201269803210Electrical systemC
20116890287Electrical systemC
All 1500 Quad years

2012 Ram 1500 Quad vs rivals

VehicleComplaintsRecallsCrashesGrade
2012 Ram 1500 Quad698032C
2012 Ram 1500698732CCompare
2012 Ram 1500 Crew698032CCompare
2012 Ram 250028358CCompare

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad

Does the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad have any recalls?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (175), engine & cooling (170), fuel system (126).

How many complaints has the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad had?

698 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 9, 2011 and the latest on October 11, 2026. Of these, 32 describe a crash and 10 a fire, and together they report 27 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Ram 1500 Quad year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Ram 1500 Quad years have the most complaints?

2013 (1,283), 2012 (698), 2011 (689). See every Ram 1500 Quad year compared.

What should I do if my 2012 Ram 1500 Quad has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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