2012 Dodge RAM 3500 Problems

What owners report

Most owner complaints for this model year concern the front suspension and steering, with repeated reports of severe shaking after hitting a bump or rough pavement, premature front tire wear, and loose or worn front-end parts. A separate group describes the left tie rod recall repair being delayed for months because dealers lacked parts. Electrical and fuel-system complaints tend to appear at higher mileage, including stalling and rough running.

1. 1
   Steering

   Left tie rod recall repairs delayed by parts shortage

   • 192 complaints (52%)
   • median 19,839 mi at 2.3 yrs old (46 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Owners who received the left tie rod recall notice report that dealers confirmed the truck needed the repair but had no parts, placing them on long waiting lists. Complaints describe being told the wait could be weeks to months and that only a few parts arrived per dealer, sometimes with repeated calls not returned. Some also report the repair being done yet steering problems continuing afterward. Concentrated in trucks taken in under the recall, mostly at low to moderate mileage.

   Recall 13V529000

   What to check: Ask whether the left tie rod recall repair was actually completed and get documentation; confirm the part was replaced rather than just inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a recall notice in january about the left tie rod ball stud possibly breaking. I took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that my vehicle was in need of this repair but that they did not currently have the parts. It has now been over six months and I still have not heard any word from the dealer that they have the parts to do this needed repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10606138, filed 2014-06, 20,000 miles

   “We received a recall on this Dodge truck. We called many dealers including the dealer we bought it from fisher Dodge yuma az. There are no parts available for this recall and found out its going to be 2 months min. This truck is our only transportation, what are we suppose to do...we are in arizona and we live in idaho. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10562405, filed 2014-01, 5,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Front-end shake / "death wobble" at highway speed

   • 49 complaints (13%)
   • median 38,194 mi at 3.7 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners describe the front of the truck shaking violently after hitting a bump, expansion joint, railroad crossing or rough patch, sometimes at highway speed. The shaking stops only after slowing almost to a stop, and complaints mention difficulty steering and braking during the event. Several say dealers replaced tie rods, steering shafts or front-end parts, sometimes more than once, without resolving it. Often reported between roughly 10,000 and 60,000 miles, during highway driving or while towing.

   Recall 13V529000

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed over bumps and rough pavement; ask for service records showing front-end parts replacement and whether an alignment and tire-wear inspection was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Death wobble seems when I hit a small repair in the road at the right angle I get the death wobble with no control of the truck. I have to pull over and almost stop before it is ok again. I pull a 40' 5th wheel with my wife in the truck most of the time. It has happened several times when passing a semi with me having to pull into the media to stop the wobble. I have taken to several repair places and they tell me nothing wrong it's the Dodge truck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10897423, filed 2016-08, 50,000 miles

   “Driving on freeway, went to change lanes and then all of a sudden the front of the vehicle started to shake erratically almost causing me to wreck and/or hit other vehicles. Could not stop the vehicle and it started to lose control. Had to come to a complete stop on the freeway in order for the vehicle to stop shaking. I have made several complaints and attempts to have the vehicle repaired but the dealership keeps telling me that they cannot fix and do not have the parts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10567947, filed 2014-03, 14,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Engine shuts off while driving (stalling)

   • 58 complaints (16%)
   • median 110,386 mi at 5.7 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the engine and gauges cutting out without warning at various speeds, sometimes requiring a stop, park and restart to get going again. Several owners point to the ignition switch, saying the key or switch feels loose and the truck loses power when bumped or when the key is touched. Others report stalling with no cause found after repeated diagnostics. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 145,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch or wireless ignition node has been replaced, and check that the key stays firmly in the run position without wiggling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2012 RAM 3500 truck and the ignition switch is faulty. I have to wiggle the key to engage the contacts of the switch. The truck has lost electrical power while driving because of the faulty switch. Ram knows of the issue and has a replacement switch the eliminates the physical contacts in the switch which will not wear out over time. I purchased the truck new and it only has 45,000 miles on it. I believe this is a safety issue from a faulty design of the switch. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11172733, filed 2019-01, 44,989 miles

   “While driving down the highway/roads every so often the truck would shut down completely. Been doing this a couple of times. Luckily I never got into a wreck because of this issue. Now the truck won?t start and it happened at home. After troubleshooting the problem I have found the wireless ignition node to be bad. After a little research on this I came up on a recall for the same problem and the same ignition system on other Dodge?s and was wondering why the Dodge ram was left out. Recall number r03/NHTSA 14v-373.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323833, filed 2020-05, 161,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Diesel fuel leaks and loss of power from fuel system

   • 38 complaints (10%)
   • median 124,000 mi at 3.2 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners describe the check engine light coming on with a loss of power, sometimes while towing, and dealers finding low fuel rail pressure or faults in the fuel heater and filter housing. Several complaints mention fuel leaking from the fuel filter heater assembly, with repeated replacements of pumps, filters and housings that did not stop the problem. One complaint describes an under-hood fire and another a parking-lot fire near the fuel heater area. Typically reported above roughly 60,000 miles, often during towing or long trips.

   Recall 14V6350002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the diesel fuel heater recall was completed and check the fuel filter housing and heater area for diesel smell, residue or seepage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was towing a 5th wheel and the check eng. Light come on and the truck stalled whent from 60mph. To 30 MPH. I stoped for the night in the morning I got it to holiday Dodge in austin mn. And was told the a code of p0087 was on and it was a low fuel rail perssure. But the part need was on back order and no Dodge shope had one it would take 4 to 6 weeks to get one. After this repair was done it has been into Dodge 8 time for the same thing and has cost me a lot. But I stell don't have a sefe truck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10689909, filed 2015-02, 156,894 miles

   “Recalls: p65 diesel fuel heater, potential fuel leak and fire. Ram does not have parts to fix, refuses loaner vehicle until parts are avaliable. Vehicle not safe to drive n49 left tie rod, requested appointment to have repaired appointment never made by dealer. Emmission control problems related to o2 sensors and wiring, paid $387 to have repairs made, not repaired and not under warranty according to ram. Engine stops running requires code clearing thru obd2 system to get running out of limp mode. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10690526, filed 2015-02, 60,000 miles
5. 5
   Wheels

   Lug nuts over-tightened and wheel studs breaking

   • 14 complaints (4%)
   • median 74,820 mi at 4.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Complaints describe abnormal noise or vibration followed by rear wheels or studs failing, with owners told the lug nuts had been over-tightened on the studs. One report notes missing studs on a rear wheel after driving, and another notes missing lug nuts on the front wheels. Reported on trucks at high mileage, generally above 90,000 miles.

   Recall 21V398000

   What to check: Have the wheel studs and lug nuts inspected and torqued to the correct specification, and ask whether the lug nut torque correction from the recall was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On highway 174, approximately 20 miles nw of meridian, tx, the 2012 RAM 3500 veered to the right and went off the road into a steep ditch. According to the state trooper's report, a witness was driving behind this truck and saw the passenger side dual wheels with axle attached come off of the truck and go across the road before the truck left the pavement. Two different employees of the wrecking yard where the truck was taken said it looks like the axle came apart. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10731139, filed 2015-06, 42,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2012 Ram 3500 equipped with Duraturn Tires, Tire Line: Travia A/T, Tire Size: 235/85/R17, DOT Number: DOTUFPPFLB1117. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the two front tires made abnormal sounds. The contact stopped and inspected the tire and became aware that the treads on both tires had separated. The contact stated that he purchased the tires from Pro Puller and contacted the store and made them aware of the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11533323, filed 2023-07, 92,500 miles

Buying note. Check that the left tie rod and lug nut recalls were completed and keep proof, and budget for a thorough front-end and tire inspection. A highway test drive over uneven pavement and a look at fuel-system and electrical service history will tell you the most about a specific truck.

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.