2012 Dodge RAM 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
366 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
46,840 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 165 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 220 of 366 complaints (60.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 158 | 43.2% |
| Braking behavior | 37 | 10.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 4.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 220 |
| Electrical System | 43 |
| Engine | 35 |
| Suspension | 32 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 29 |
| Power Train | 27 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Service Brakes | 14 |
Steering: 220; Electrical System: 43; Engine: 35; Suspension: 32; Fuel/Propulsion System: 29; Power Train: 27; Air Bags: 15; Service Brakes: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 51 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 20 |
Under 25,000: 51; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 20
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (51). 201 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 181 |
| 2015 | 60 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2012: 4; 2013: 12; 2014: 181; 2015: 60; 2016: 26; 2017: 19; 2018: 14; 2019: 16; 2020: 7; 2021: 8; 2022: 2; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 5; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 158 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10548523 · 2013-10-19 (October 19, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING WITH A 4 HORSE TRAILER ATTACHED ( 2 HORSES INSIDE) WE WIT A ROUGH SPOT IN THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. WE APPLIED THE BRAKE IMMEDIATELY AND HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO GET IT TO STOP. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL AND STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND IS VERY, VERY SCARY! WE HAVE HEARD IT IS CALLED THE DEATH WOBBLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556828 · 2013-12-20 (December 20, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING) AND THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10556828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460518 · 2012-06-04 (June 4, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE BRAKES SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 600,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 400,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460518 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466087 · 2012-07-12 (July 12, 2012)
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 WOULD BECOME VERY HOT FROM TRYING TO STOP THE EQUIPMENT TRAILER WITHOUT THE BRAKE CONTROLLER WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES OVERHEATED, IT DAMAGED OTHER COMPONENTS. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10466087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683478 · 2015-02-14 (February 14, 2015)
IN DECEMBER, I RECEIVED THE P65 FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR RECALL WHICH WARNS OF A FUEL LEAK AND RISK OF FIRE. IT IS NOW FEBRUARY AND PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS AND AVOID THE FIRE RISK. IF CHRYSLER CAN COME UP WITH THE PARTS TO SUPPLY THEIR PRODUCTION LINES, WHY CAN'T CHRYSLER COME UP WITH THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL? BASED ON THIS RECALL AND OTHER CHRYSLER RECALLS, THE DELAYS PROCURING RECALL PARTS WHILE SUPPLYING PRODUCTION LINE PARTS APPEARS TO BE A DELIBERATE STRATEGY BY CHRYSLER TO DELAY OR AVOID THE EXPENSE OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10555154 · 2013-12-07 (December 7, 2013)
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 A BOOST TEST ON THE TURBO AND SAID THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO PRODUCE 32 POUNDS OF BOOST BUT MINE WAS ONLY PRODUCING 26 POUNDS OF BOOST, AND THEN I WAS INFORMED THEY COULD NOT JUSTIFY REPLACING THE TURBO BECAUSE IT HAS NOT THROWN A CODE ON THE INSTRUMENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10555154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10632859 · 2014-09-17 (September 17, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10632859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10332595 · 2018-03-29 (March 29, 2018)
2012 DODGE RAM 3500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH CRANKCASE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LD *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10332595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513437 · 2013-05-24 (May 24, 2013)
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, DROPPED INTO THE INSIDE OF THE RIM, AND PUNCTURED THE RIM. MY TRUCK WAS DISABLED AT THIS TIME AND I CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE DEALER. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE 2008-11 RAM TRUCK. THERE WAS A RECALL (L16). THIS IS AN EXTREME…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10578877 · 2014-04-10 (April 10, 2014)
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 VALVE, THE FUEL FILTER TWICE, THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE FUEL CANISTER HOUSING WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES, AND THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 156,894 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578877 at NHTSA ↗