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Exterior lightingPart report

2012 Dodge RAM 3500 Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
11about this part
Share
3%of 366 total for the year
Median mileage
59,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2012 Dodge RAM 3500, 3% of the 366 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 59,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I bought this truck new in 2011 but I have been deployed to afghanistan for the last 1.5 years and the truck sits in the shop most of the time. My wife kept telling me on the phone that when she has to drive our truck at night it was like the headlights were not even turned on and she can not see the road at night . I drove the truck on my r&r and I will say the truck has some very very poor headlights. It's like a headlight is out or something but they both work. …”

NHTSA complaint #10520593, filed 2013-06, 5,500 miles

“Parked in my driveway overnight not running. All interior lighting including dash lighting went out along with exhaust break, tow haul, cargo light. Cruise control. And horn. Upon taking to dealer they said the tipm has failed and needed replaced at a installed cost of $1156.90”

NHTSA complaint #11003742, filed 2017-07, 102,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2012 Dodge RAM 3500. While driving 65-70 MPH, the engine and seat belt warning lights illuminated. In addition, the rpms fluctuated and all the lights on the vehicle illuminated simultaneously. The windshield wipers also activated independently. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 168,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10777756, filed 2015-09, 168,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2012 Dodge RAM 3500. While driving 65 MPH in the rain, the headlights became inoperable when the windshield wipers were turned off. The failure occurred three times. The headlights operated in the manual setting, but failed in the automatic setting. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 8,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10733282, filed 2015-07, 8,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2012 Dodge RAM 3500. While driving at approximately 65 MPH, the passenger side headlight failed. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the wire harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired three times, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.”

NHTSA complaint #10690947, filed 2015-02, 100,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2012113%
201110%
200933%
200853%
200710%
20064417%
200574%
200473%
200362%
200132%
199933%
19981413%
19972520%
199697%
199555%
199457%
1993525%
1992110%

Other parts of the 2012 Dodge RAM 3500

Steering
222 complaints
Electrical system
45 complaints
Fuel system
40 complaints
Suspension
36 complaints
Engine
35 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
28 complaints
Air bags
15 complaints
Wheels
15 complaints
Brakes
14 complaints
Other or unknown
11 complaints
Engine cooling
10 complaints
Body and structure
5 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Dodge RAM 3500

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology