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Dodge RAM 5500Model year report

2012 Dodge RAM 5500 Problems

Complaints
40filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
29,000miles, 22 complaints with mileage
Recalls
9campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Dodge RAM 5500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints for the 2012 Dodge RAM 5500. The part named most often is steering, with 21 complaints (53% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (9) and electrical system (7). 22 of the complaints include a mileage, and 68% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 29,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns and 223 technical service bulletins for this model year. Steering complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the tie rod assembly and 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the column shift and 17 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Steering: “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. ## VIN passed ## Dodge RAM 5500 2012 ##”

NHTSA complaint #10493197, filed 2013-01, 100 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Over 9 months ago we received a safety recall notice from chrysler: safety recall n26 / NHTSA 13v-239 front axle tube welds letter states that parts needed to do repairs are not on hand. As soon as they are made available they will contact us for repairs. Here it is 9months later and we get the same exact letter. The letter states that this defect could cause a driver to wreck and lose control of the vehicle. I feel that time has exceeded for them to make this right.”

NHTSA complaint #10560407, filed 2014-01

Electrical system: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10748608, filed 2015-08, 164,000 miles

Engine: “The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 mph the vehicle started making noise coming from the engine compartment. The smoke originates from the engine compartment and the exhaust pipe in the rear of the vehicle and when the accelerator was depressed the vehicle did not accelerate. Additionally, the check engine safety warning light became illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle veered to the side of the road where the vehicle was turned off but the engine continued to run. …”

NHTSA complaint #11516561, filed 2023-04, 73,031 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

68% of the 22 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 59,000 miles.

23%0–1014%10–2532%25–5014%50–7514%75–1000%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (22 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 29,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2013201417201520162017201820192023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

See all 9 recalls for the 2012 Dodge RAM 5500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 223 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 223 bulletins →

Other model years of the Dodge RAM 5500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20124029,0009——Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
20112346,0004———Stable
2009754,4243———Not enough data
20081956,0003———Stable

All Dodge RAM 5500 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Dodge RAM 5500 have?

NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints for the 2012 Dodge RAM 5500 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Dodge RAM 5500 is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 21 complaints (53% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 9.

Has the 2012 Dodge RAM 5500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Dodge RAM 5500 reported?

Among the 22 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 29,000 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 59,000 miles; 68% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.