2012 Dodge RAM 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Ram 2500 most often describe front-end shaking at highway speed, steering linkage and tie-rod breakage, and intermittent stalling tied to ignition and electrical modules. Electrical complaints tend to appear at higher mileage than steering complaints, and several points in the sample are tied to safety recalls issued for this model year.

1. 1
   Steering

   Tie rod and steering linkage separation

   • 80 complaints (28%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2023

   Complaints describe the left outer tie rod or center drag link breaking or coming apart, sometimes at very low speed while parking or turning, leaving the driver unable to steer one or both front wheels. Several owners mention recall 13V529000 for the left tie rod and report parts were unavailable or that they were told their truck was not covered. Reported from very low mileage up to well past 150,000 miles, often during low-speed turning or parking.

   Recall 13V529000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 13V529000 was completed and have the tie rods and drag link inspected for play, cracks at the crimped section, or a loose ball stud.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I keep receiving an important recall notice for the left tie rod from chrysler but they will not make enough parts to get it fixed. There last line on the notice is we're sorry for any inconvenience, but are sincerely concerned about your safety . If they really cared about my safety they would make a lot more parts to fix my truck and the other 100 or so that are waiting in northwest montana.”

   NHTSA complaint #10606801, filed 2014-06, 10,000 miles

   “Front end has popping noise in it. Dealer told me I would have to have steering linkage replace soon. I see there was a recall on my year/model truck but I never received a recall for this problem. Should I not be driving it much because of this recall? This has been ongoing for several years, they just mentioned it in the last time I got it serviced and another recall taken care of. Has done this since I purchased truck new in february of 2012.”

   NHTSA complaint #11185749, filed 2019-03, 10 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Front-end shake at highway speed (death wobble)

   Mentioned in 9 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a violent shaking of the front end after hitting a bump or pothole, usually at highway speed, that forces them to slow down or stop before it stops. Complaints mention worn or failed ball joints, track bar bushings, shock dampers and a failed bracket over the front track bar bracket as what shops found. Some said repairs did not end the problem and it came back. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles, often after hitting a bump at highway speed.

   What to check: Road-test the truck at highway speed over uneven pavement and ask whether ball joints, track bar bushings and the steering damper have been replaced; look for play or torn bushings in the front end.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Front end vibration loose steering. Over 60mph very bad vibrating almost feels as if the truck was being pushed one way and going the other. Braking also causes the steering to wooble or pull depending on the speed, when hitting bumps in the road way is the worst I never know where I may end up. All highway and turning into companies I use it as a sales vehical”

   NHTSA complaint #10908020, filed 2016-09, 40,000 miles

   “Driving on freeway 55 MPH towing heavy duty concrete trailer ( 2 axle 4 yard w/rear mounted mixer) and truck violently started shaking bad , leaving me with no control . Have invested over$1000 in parts alone, with no luck. Now am replacing all tie rods and ball joints $500 (parts alone), to see what happens. Though I have read there is no fix??? Cant sell it cuz I owe 36,000 and it is only worth 25,000. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10731986, filed 2015-07, 82,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalling or sudden shutdown while driving

   • 28 complaints (10%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the engine cutting off while driving, sometimes at highway speed and sometimes after hitting a bump, with loss of power steering and power assist for brakes. Complaints attribute it to a faulty wireless ignition node or WIN module, and one owner reported the dealer found the ignition switch at fault. Reported from roughly 75,000 to over 200,000 miles, often triggered by bumps or by movement of the key fob.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the wireless ignition node or TIPM has been replaced, and test-drive over rough pavement to see whether the engine cuts out or warning lights flicker.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My ignition switch failed yesterday (7/10/2019) while driving,I was doing 50 MPH in a moderate curve when it failed leaving me with no power steering or anti-lock brakes I slammed the brakes on which put me into a 180 degree spin winding up in the other lane facing where I came from when the switch failed it was like someone shut the truck off!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11230954, filed 2019-07, 127,000 miles

   “When driving my truck on any kind of rough road or hitting a bump the truck will shut off. This happens at all speeds while driving in town and on the highway. When the engine shuts off I lose all power to steering, power brakes and all electric components. I have found that the win module is the issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11021238, filed 2017-09, 157,454 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   No-start and fuel pump cutoff from the power module

   • 27 complaints (10%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe intermittent no-start or immediate stall after starting, traced by dealers to a shorting TIPM relay cutting power to the fuel pump, and one owner noted a fire in the center of the dash. Others describe lighting behaving oddly, with headlights dropping out when a turn signal or parking brake is used. A service bulletin addresses TIPM replacement showing an incorrect VIN. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 100,000 miles.

   Recall 15V4590002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the TIPM or fuel pump relay has been replaced, and check that the truck starts reliably from cold and that all lights work with the turn signal and brake applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I tried to switch my headlights from dim to bright, they wouldn't stay in bright. After several attempts the brights would not come on. When I signalled to turn left, the left headlight went out. When I signalled right, the right headlight went out. When I stopped and set the parking brake, both headlights went out. Seems like my truck has a ghost onboard!”

   NHTSA complaint #10749303, filed 2015-08, 55,834 miles

   “On monday 9-2-2013 I dropped of my truck and took my car for a ride. When I returned to get my truck for work I realized that the center dash had caught on fire.the truck was full of smoke so I disconnected the battery and called my insurance company. On 9-3-2013 I contacted chrysler corporation to report the incident but I am not getting any call backs from them so know im letting the insurance company handle it.I have obtained a surveillance tape copy of the fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #10543352, filed 2013-09, 25,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Diesel fuel heater connector and exhaust odor

   • 41 complaints (14%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 3.6 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners of diesel trucks describe a strong exhaust smell entering the cabin through the vents, mainly when coming to a stop during a regeneration, and dealers were unable to resolve it after repeated visits. Complaints also mention poor fuel economy, frequent check engine lights and loss of power after emissions-related updates. A recall covers overheating electrical connectors on the diesel fuel heater. Reported from very low mileage up to about 100,000 miles.

   Recall 14V6350002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm recall 14V635000 was completed, ask about the emissions update history, and note any exhaust smell in the cabin during a test drive that includes a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving the truck I will occasionally smell a very strong diesel exhaust odor from the A/C vents in the cabin of the truck, only when fresh air is selected (not recirculate). I have noticed this smell only occurs when coming to a stop, and usually corresponds when the truck is in a regeneration process. The only indicator I have for regeneration is severely decreased fuel mileage the very strong untreated exhaust smell being emitted into the cabin of the truck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10653975, filed 2014-11, 3,634 miles

   “We took our truck to the dealership for a brake recall. After the recall was fixed, my dad was driving home on the freeway with my truck when my check engine light started flashing and blinking. It was almost immediately after that the truck started to shake and was having a hard time accelerating. He got the truck to my house. I drove it straight to the mechanic a few miles from my house and experienced the same issues. Whenever I would slow down the truck would start shaking. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11128534, filed 2018-09, 98,000 miles

Buying note. Have a shop inspect the front steering and suspension linkages and confirm the tie rod and fuel heater recalls were completed before purchase. Because steering and stalling complaints show up across a wide mileage range, a highway test drive over rough pavement is worth doing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.