NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Ram 1500. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH and hauling a camper, the rear wheels locked up, and the contact lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle spun out. The camper jackknifed during the failure. The rear axle and wheels locked without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000
The contact's ex-wife owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while his ex-wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver shifted into park(P) and then restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that the starter and key fob were replaced twice. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V265000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 165,353.
Fuel tank strap corroded due to environmental exposure to water and salt in West Virginia.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the check engine warning light was flashing, and the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was shaking and continued decelerating. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. A certified mechanic was contacted and advised the contact to drive the vehicle approximately 45 MPH with the hazard lights flashing to the repair shop. The mechanic diagnosed a misfire in cylinder #2, lifters failure, causing the camshaft failure, which allowed metal debris to enter the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
My 2012 ram1500 st 4.7 liter has the 9.25 rear differential that was in fact common for that year model too have the loose pinion nut recall my trucks vin is [XXX] for confirmation after doing some research on the symptoms that could potentially be causing this problem include but are not limited to a whining sound coming from my trucks rear end that gets louder when accelerating and noticeably changes when decelerating and vibration that is noticeable as well which is commonly caused by this defect my information was coming from reputable sources i came to the conclusion that they matched up perfectly with this recall however when I called the dealership to schedule an appointment to get the repairs done they told me the vin did not line up with the dates when it was manufactured to be considered apart of the recall I was surprised by this so i dug deeper into this issue only to find there was conflicting results some saying the vin did in fact match eligibility for this recall and not eligible to recieve repairs they the customer support rep also explained that in order to determine if it would be covered I would have to go to them in order for the technicians to diagnose and verify the cause for the issues followed up by saying they would not know if my truck did infact qualify for the manufacturer to cover repair costs if it did not qualify i would have to pay for the diagnostic analysis which amounted to the tune of 300-400 dollars which i found to be unreasonable and due to my financial position due to the fact that I am being medically discharged from the army and will be out in no later than 2 months from now 3-4 hundred is alot of money givin my situation however the main take aways from my complaint are 1. Everything points to the symptoms my truck is having points to the issue lining up with the recall2. My trucks year make model and rear axle that was directly effected by this issue3.my conversation with them seemed like I hat to go to the INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The truck will just shut off driving down the road at highway speeds. This has occurred multiple times.
i CALLED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER, BROWN MOTORS IN PETOSKEY MI., A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO HAVE A COUPLE OF UNCOMPLETED RECALLS PERFORMED. I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO THE DEALER TODAY AND WAS NOTIFIED LATER THAT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL AND IT WOULD COST ME NEARLY $1700 TO PERFORM THE RECALL, MOSTLY PERTAINING TO THE FUEL BRACKET RECALL. I FIND THIS VERY ODD AS IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT ALL RELATED PARTS THAT HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO PERFORM THIS SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL INCLUDING ANY SAID LABOR COSTS. MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE CURRENT HAS ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS THAT HAS COME LOOSE AND NOW I AM FORCE TO DRIVE THAT WAY UNTIL I CAN GET THIS VERY HAZARDOUS OSSUE RESOLVED.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was turned off; however, while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. After several attempts, the vehicle restarted and was driven to the residence. The contact stated that after parking and turning off the vehicle, the fuel pump was still running. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a fuel pump relay failure. The contact was informed that the TIPM needed to be replaced. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that it was a known failure with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,300.
Engine ticking noise, poorly made bolts on exhaust manifold were used. Bolts loosen or Break off and manifold warps or cracks. Cause exhaust leak into cabin. Truck can be inspected if needed
While driving my Ram truck at approximately 55 MPH, the front gas tank strap failed, causing the front portion of the fuel tank to drop below the vehicle’s body. Upon inspection, I found that the strap securing the tank had detached from its connection point on the frame. The failed part is available for inspection upon request. This incident presented a serious safety hazard to myself and others on the road, as the entire fuel tank could have separated from the vehicle, creating a significant risk of fire or collision. The issue was reported to a local dealership, which advised me to contact Dodge. Dodge acknowledged the issue but stated there is no warranty coverage or recall, and that any repair would be at my expense. No formal inspection has been performed other than my own, and I have implemented a temporary repair to secure the tank. There were no warning lights or prior symptoms before the failure. The only indication was a loud clunking noise followed by the sound of the strap repeatedly striking the drivetrain.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. After several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while starting the vehicle, after releasing the key fob, the vehicle stalled. The contact taped the key to the side of the vehicle to start. The contact stated that once the key fob was taped, the windows failed to roll up, the indicators failed to function as intended, the heater and A/C failed to operate as needed, and the hazard lights were inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
I noticed while looking underneath my vehicle the front fuel tank strap was no longer attached. Further inspection show the frame had rusted enough that the fuel tank strap is no longer attachable. I noticed a recall (U04 / NHTSA 18V-160) was available however my VIN shows no record of this recall being available. So no dealer will assist me with it although my vehicle meets all of the prerequisites the recall states. Currently undriveable due to safety concerns.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle, followed by the sound of metal striking the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the fuel tank strap had detached from the vehicle due to extensive corrosion. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 210,000
Differential making scraping sound, points to the pinion gear having a problem.
Front gas tank strap pulled out from (rusted)-frame. Dropping front of (full) gas tank inches from road. I’m told there was an extended warranty for the issue. That I never received notice of. It has since expired. I found recall - U04/NHTSA 18V-160 That I’m also told doesn’t apply to my vehicle. Odd that the extended warranty would have. But the recall doesn’t?
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 50 MPH, there was an abnormal thud coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that his son was unaware of a warning light being illuminated and continued driving to his destination. The contact was informed that the vehicle muffler might have fallen off the vehicle. The contact drove to his son's workplace and inspected underneath the vehicle and became aware that the right front strap of the fuel tank had detached from the body of the vehicle and was touching the ground. The fuel tank was no longer properly secured to the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle back to the residence. The contact called a dealer and was informed that there had been a manufacturer program to cover the repair of the fuel tank straps due to rust however, the vehicle was not covered under the program. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The brake line broke on my Dodge truck and all the brake fluid leaked out. Fortunately this didn't happen while driving on the highway. I discovered no brakes when I got in the vehicle to leave. I have a long driveway. As I was driving the slight grade down to the main road, I hit the brakes and they went to the floor. I was able to turn around in my yard before all the brake fluid was gone and get the truck back to my barn. I got under the truck and took a picture. I discovered that the brakes had rusted and leaked out the fluid. No one has inspected it or confirmed it. The truck is not safe to drive and sitting in my barn
The vehicle finally became inoperable at 119,000 miles due to lifter failure. Lifter issues started when the vehicle had about 106,000 miles on it. There were multiple misfire and gas mileage became worse. There was a loud ticking noise coming from the engine as well. Vehicle has been well maintained and only 1 owner, purchased new. With the lifter failure, this caused damage to the camshaft and which led to an excess amount of metal shavings to be spread throughout the engine. The vehicle ultimately had to get a engine replacement because of the excess metal shavings in the engine.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an extremely loud knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a front detached fuel tank strap and a rear fractured fuel tank strap. The contact was advised that the fuel tank straps needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to contact the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a front detached fuel tank strap and a rear fractured fuel tank strap. The contact was advised that the fuel tank straps needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
While driving down the highway I hit a bump then got a severe grinding noise in my 2012 Ram 1500. I pulled over and found the front gas tank strap had pulled out of the welded frame bracket for the fuel tank strap. The strap was not broken, the front fuel tank frame bracket had rusted out. The front fuel tank bracket which is welded to the frame needs to be repaired so the fuel tank strap will be held securely. The grinding I heard was the front fuel tank strap that had become detached was rubbing on the driveshaft.
The engine has lifters ticking when cold and a loss of power during operation. The engine hesitates during driving at different times and runs rough. There is no warning before this happens and no warning lights/sensors activated. The truck only has 76k miles on it.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that while driving over a speed bump, the gas gasket detached. The vehicle was temporarily repaired using a rope and then taken to a local dealer. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics for repair however, the repairs were unavailable. The local dealer advised the contact the vehicle could not be diagnosed or repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) because the recall was no longer active and had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary at a red light, upon starting to drive and attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to immediately restart the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Fuel tank strap came loose from frame
Fuel pump won’t shut off when car is turned off, I had to pull out fuel pump fuse because my battery kept getting drain, I’ve had difficulty starting and it’s only been a month since I bought this car,I’ve had to buy a bypass cable to temporarily fix the issue, this has happen to so many people, there should be a recall on the timp failing
The engine has this ticking sound that has progressively gotten louder and now the engine shakes. My truck has turned off multiple times in traffic at a random and I would presume it’s from a failing engine.
Fuel pump randomly shuts down while driving. Or no start condition. Loss of cruise control hitting bumps in the road. Service 4x4, no tc, no cc, trailer lights disconnect. Dealer has recalls on other same year vehicles w same motor w same TIPM defective part. Not on truck. Warranty will not cover due to common problem. Since fuel relay is part of fuse box, will not cover part. Part alone is $2200. Dealer only. Can't get remanfactured, rebuilt, or part store item. Stuck with a truck that barely runs and almost $3000 to fix a non warranty issue. And very common.
The truck was sitting at home in the driveway (untouched) for 3 days. Suddenly smoke began to appear from under the hood and within minutes, the engine compartment burst into flames. Because of the fire, smoke and water damage, the vehicle was considered a total loss by the insurance company. The fire marshal advised that the fire started in the vicinity of the passenger side starter battery. It is thought the fire originated from the battery or the grid heater relay that is very near the passenger side battery. The fire also damaged a nearby RV that experienced smoke and heat damage. It was a very intense fire. There were no open recalls on this vehicle and no recent maintenance work performed.
On my way home. Going through in town (slow)traffic all of sudden I notice I had no power steering & no brakes, no please pull out , I noticed if I keep my rpm about 1500, I would get a little power steering & brakes back!, 4 miles to get home , I drove home slowly What happened was I lost my serpentine belt tensioner!!! .MY MAIN Purpose, for my truck is to toe my fifth wheel RV!!, I live in the north west of US, LIKE! in the mountains!! Terrified that it won’t happen again!️
Front frame bracket on gas tank has rotted out. There is a recall on this already for other 2012 ram 1500 vehicles. Nhtsa 18v-160 frame bracket
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered that the fuel tank strap had detached. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that two of the fuel tank straps needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked at a shopping center parking lot, the contact became aware that the fuel tank was hanging down and was almost touching the ground. The contact stated that he had taken the vehicle to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the fuel tank straps and bracket were extremely corroded, causing the fuel tank to fall. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed by the manufacturer of Extended Warranty Coverage: X75 - (Fuel System, Gasoline) to cover repairs, however, the warranty had expired, and the vehicle was no longer covered. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
Bracket for fuel tank straps broke, causing gas tank to fall during operation without any warning,it could of caused a fire or explosion causing harm to driver and others or death.My local service center confirmed the problem and repaired the bracket and secured the gas tank back into place with new straps.This happened on our about [XXX] about [XXX].Friday (Rush Hour)!! I was at Walmart when I saw the problem returning to my truck.I went to the auto service center to buy some cargo straps to secure the gas tank back into place so it was safe to drive,the service manager was shocked! Thank God that I saw the problem and secured the gas tank!!! I was a mechanic and service manager earlier in life.I called a local Ram Dealer Ganley in Bedford Ohio and found out that this problem had a extended warranty on it that expired 4 or 5 days ago.[XXX].I never received any information of this from the Dealer I bought it from or the manufacturer, I could of been Killed and others due to the neglect of the Dealer and Manufacturer,Buyers of Columbus,Ohio and Fiat, Chrysler ! Why didn't NHTSA Make sure I was warned of this? It was a Life Threatening Problem! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gas tank was dragging on the ground. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel system needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
Front fuel tank strap rusted off of the frame
TIPM failure. Vehicle fails to start ("crank, no start" or it acts likes it's out of gas) and/or fuel pump continues pumping after turning the vehicle off (draining battery).The vehicle stalls while driving which has created very unsafe conditions. There has been recalls on other dodge vehicles with same problem. This needs to be a uniform recall on all affected vehicles.
Driver warning light came for airbag, yes it could be if deployed, no dealer has confirmed (but looked up recall # 15V459000), called molar said no recall on my vehicle…., no one else looked at vehicles book says to immediately take to dealer, yes warning light on follow book info and it appeared 9/8/24
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the fuel tank strap "T-Slot" had detached. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Looking under my truck, I found that the front Gas Tank Strap had fallen down from the vehicle frame mount. During further inspection of the vehicle it was that the gas tank strap mounting point has rusted through and that the strap has pulled thru the rusted point. The front of the gas tank has fallen down and pushed the gas tank strap into the drive shaft. Th only thing supporting the gas tank is the rear gas tank strap
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, an abnormal scraping sound was coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over and discovered that the front fuel tank strap bracket had detached due to corrosion. Due to failure, the front end of the fuel tank began to hang down from the vehicle. The contact cautiously drove the vehicle home and attached a cable to the fuel tank strap bracket as a temporary fix. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) which was linked to the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
Shut off vehicle and fuel pump kept running. Tapped on Totally Integrated Power Managment module and stuck relay corrected, so the fuel pump shut off. Found a safety recall (Safety Recall R09/NHTSA 15v-115) for stuck relay in TIPM on same year Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee. A quick search of many automotive enthusiast forums indicates this issue is common in my particular year, make, and model vehicle as well. I believe this recall should be expanded to include all Dodge products using similar TIMP/Fuel Relay configurations. It is very likely this relay could have been stuck off, while driving causing an unexpected engine shutdown. In my case I was lucky it was stuck on.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shut off with unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted immediately after the failure; however, the failure persisted, and the vehicle would no longer immediately restart after the failure. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle several times before the vehicle eventually restarted. The contact used a code reader to determine the cause of the failure but was unable to diagnose the failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the failure was likely related to a defective fuel pump relay. Both the dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure, and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 310,000.
Warning light came on suddenly. Vehicle lost power. Smoking out of the tail pipe. Very dangerous for other drivers. Took the vehicle to a mechanic, said I have problems with the lifters, and need to replace the engine. I don’t know why Chrysler doesn’t issue a recall for this issue, it seems to happen often. Thank you very much.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the fuel tank detached and fell from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The contact related the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon inspection, the fuel tank strap was corroded. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because there was no related recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while his wife was driving at approximately 65 MPH, a loud sound was noticed coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that when the wife arrived home, he inspected the vehicle and became aware that the fuel tank was hanging on the ground. The contact also stated that the frame that held the bracket was rusted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while performing maintenance on the vehicle and checking underneath the vehicle near the fuel tank, the contact became aware that there was a metal strap hanging down. The contact determined that one of the strap supports had rusted and fractured. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the fuel tank straps, and bracket were extremely corroded and could not be repaired. The contact was informed that the bracket and straps needed to be replaced. The mechanic referred the contact to a dealer The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Vehicle has presented multiple electrical problems which I understand is caused by the TIPM module which controls all electrical components in the vehicle. I have replaced the vehicle battery on 5 occasions over the past 5 or 6 years. One reason is the fuel pump fails to shut-off after the vehicle is turned off and continously cycles fuel until the battery is drained. Secondly, the ignition module is faulty and presents a safety risk to the vehicle occupants and the public's safety as the power to the vehicle cuts off while in operation at various level of speed to include highway speeds.The vehicle becomes disabled when it hits a road bump or while making a turn, making it hard to maneuver and may cause operator to lose control of the vehicle and crash with other vehicles, objects or people.
The exhaust manifold bolts Broken causing it to leak ,tick.