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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Dodge RAM 5500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

40 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

29,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 40 complaints (45.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1947.5%
Electrical and battery issues512.5%
Braking behavior410.0%
Engine operation12.5%

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.

Steering
18
Power Train
8
Electrical System
7
Engine
3
Air Bags
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
2
Suspension
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering18
Power Train8
Electrical System7
Engine3
Air Bags2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly2
Suspension2

Steering: 18; Power Train: 8; Electrical System: 7; Engine: 3; Air Bags: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 2; Suspension: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 18 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.

2013
6
2014
17
2015
7
2016
3
2017
2
2018
2
2019
2
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20136
201417
20157
20163
20172
20182
20192
20231

2013: 6; 2014: 17; 2015: 7; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 10493197 · 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)

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 ##

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493197 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10495064 · 2013-01-29 (January 29, 2013)

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 TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED DAYS LATER AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER…

Owner-reported narrative. 580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495064 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10712787 · 2015-04-29 (April 29, 2015)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10712787 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10748608 · 2015-08-13 (August 13, 2015)

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 WAS TOLD THAT NO PART WAS AVAILABLE TO PERFORM RECALL. THIS TRUCK WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS.

Owner-reported narrative. 164,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748608 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10573715 · 2014-03-20 (March 20, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND APPROACHING AN EXIT, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEGAN WOBBLING. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS EXPOSED AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD, AXLE AND BRAKE PADS. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT THE VEHICLE BEING INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 36,784 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573715 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10573724 · 2014-03-20 (March 20, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A DODGE 2012 RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED DUE TO A LACK OF PARTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE W…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,743 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573724 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10984734 · 2017-05-10 (May 10, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 5500. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V739000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,025.

Owner-reported narrative. 78,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984734 at NHTSA ↗