DODGE RAM 4500 · model year

2012 DODGE RAM 4500

19 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012DODGERAM 4500 carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 RAM 4500 is power train with 5 filings, followed by steering (4) and engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2012 RAM 4500, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

19
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

19 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN5
STEERING4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL2
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL2
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
SUSPENSION1
WHEELS1
SERVICE BRAKES1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recent Complaints

20190515SERVICE BRAKES

FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON DRIVER SIDE WENT OUT ON THE TRUCK IT MADE A CRUNCHING SOUND. I WAS ON A CITY STREET HEADED BACK HOME. HAD TO TOW TRUCK TO REPAIR SHP, HAD TO REPLACE HUB ASSY, BRAKE ROTOR'S, BRAKE CALIPER, AXLE SEAL, AXLE COLLAR. THE COST WAS $1,589.43. THE IS A 2012 DODGE RAM 4500.

Mileage: 32,000

20190515UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON DRIVER SIDE WENT OUT ON THE TRUCK IT MADE A CRUNCHING SOUND. I WAS ON A CITY STREET HEADED BACK HOME. HAD TO TOW TRUCK TO REPAIR SHP, HAD TO REPLACE HUB ASSY, BRAKE ROTOR'S, BRAKE CALIPER, AXLE SEAL, AXLE COLLAR. THE COST WAS $1,589.43. THE IS A 2012 DODGE RAM 4500.

Mileage: 32,000

20150603FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

2012 DODGE RAM 4500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR & FRONT AXLE HOUSING RECALL NOTICES REPAIR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS RECEIVED FOUR RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL. EACH TIME SHE GOES TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORM HER THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

20150603ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

2012 DODGE RAM 4500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR & FRONT AXLE HOUSING RECALL NOTICES REPAIR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS RECEIVED FOUR RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL. EACH TIME SHE GOES TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORM HER THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

20150603POWER TRAIN

2012 DODGE RAM 4500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR & FRONT AXLE HOUSING RECALL NOTICES REPAIR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS RECEIVED FOUR RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL. EACH TIME SHE GOES TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORM HER THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

20150126STEERING

LEFT OUTER TIE ROD BROKE!!! LUCKILY ONLY MAKING A U TURN WHEN IT HAPPENED. RECALL IS ABOUT A YEAR OLD AND STILL NO PARTS AVAILABLE BUT CHRYSLER WE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT AND HAVE THE DEALER INSTALL FACTORY PART THAT COULD BREAK AGAIN BUT AT LEAST IT WILL GET YOU BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN AND MAYBE IT WILL LAST UNTIL WE GET THE CORRECT PART.MIND YOU THIS IS A PART THAT COULD BREAK AND CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY KILL SOMEONE. WHILE MY COMPANY TRUCK IS SITTING BROKE DOWN AND WAITING FOR THE LOCAL DEALER ARRIGO TO CALL CHRYSLER BACK FOR 5 DAYS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT I CAN HAVE MY TRUCK TOWED TO THEIR SHOP AT MY EXPENSE FOR THE REPAIR THAT IS BEING PAID FOR BY CHRYSLER. *TR

Mileage: 77,953

20150126SUSPENSION

LEFT OUTER TIE ROD BROKE!!! LUCKILY ONLY MAKING A U TURN WHEN IT HAPPENED. RECALL IS ABOUT A YEAR OLD AND STILL NO PARTS AVAILABLE BUT CHRYSLER WE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT AND HAVE THE DEALER INSTALL FACTORY PART THAT COULD BREAK AGAIN BUT AT LEAST IT WILL GET YOU BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN AND MAYBE IT WILL LAST UNTIL WE GET THE CORRECT PART.MIND YOU THIS IS A PART THAT COULD BREAK AND CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY KILL SOMEONE. WHILE MY COMPANY TRUCK IS SITTING BROKE DOWN AND WAITING FOR THE LOCAL DEALER ARRIGO TO CALL CHRYSLER BACK FOR 5 DAYS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT I CAN HAVE MY TRUCK TOWED TO THEIR SHOP AT MY EXPENSE FOR THE REPAIR THAT IS BEING PAID FOR BY CHRYSLER. *TR

Mileage: 77,953

20150126WHEELS

LEFT OUTER TIE ROD BROKE!!! LUCKILY ONLY MAKING A U TURN WHEN IT HAPPENED. RECALL IS ABOUT A YEAR OLD AND STILL NO PARTS AVAILABLE BUT CHRYSLER WE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT AND HAVE THE DEALER INSTALL FACTORY PART THAT COULD BREAK AGAIN BUT AT LEAST IT WILL GET YOU BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN AND MAYBE IT WILL LAST UNTIL WE GET THE CORRECT PART.MIND YOU THIS IS A PART THAT COULD BREAK AND CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY KILL SOMEONE. WHILE MY COMPANY TRUCK IS SITTING BROKE DOWN AND WAITING FOR THE LOCAL DEALER ARRIGO TO CALL CHRYSLER BACK FOR 5 DAYS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT I CAN HAVE MY TRUCK TOWED TO THEIR SHOP AT MY EXPENSE FOR THE REPAIR THAT IS BEING PAID FOR BY CHRYSLER. *TR

Mileage: 77,953

20141208ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 1/23/15*CN

20141208FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 1/23/15*CN

20141208STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 1/23/15*CN

20141112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW LAST YEAR. THE TIPM HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALONG WITH COUNTLESS USELESS TRIPS TO THE DEALER JUST TO LISTEN TO THEM SAY THEY CAN'T FIX IT UNTIL IT GETS WORSE SO THEY CAN FIND IT, AND GO FIGURE IT IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN WITH INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE ISSUES WHICH CAUSE LIGHTS TO GO OUT OR STAY ON OR BLINK, THE TRUCK NOT TO START OR TO INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATE, MELTED CHARGERS IN THE CHARGER PORT THAT ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO, INTERMITTENT POWER TO MY TRAILER BRAKES, AND LOST TIME AND MONEY AS THIS IS MY WORK TRUCK!!! THEY ARE QUICK TO REPLACE THE TIPM BUT THEIR FIX NEVER SEEMS TO LAST LONG. *TR

Mileage: 85,104

20140227POWER TRAIN

WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR OUR BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE N26/NHTSA 13V-239 FOR FRONT AXLE TUBE WELDS. THE NOTICE ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD CRASH OR HAVE A LOSS IN MOTIVE POWER IF USED. WE HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER MANY TIMES TO HAVE THIS EMERGENCY AMBULANCE REPAIRED BUT THEY HAVE NOT REPAIRED, INSPECTED OR EVEN SEND CORRESPONDENCE WHEN THE VEHICLE MAYBE REPAIRED IN MORE THEN TEN WEEKS. THIS VEHICLE IS A 4 WHEEL DRIVE AMBULANCE WHICH IS NEEDED FOR OUR REMOTE COVERAGE AREA FOR ACCESS TO HOMES ON DIRT LANES, SNOW AND ICE TRAVEL. WE FEEL THAT AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A HIGHER PRIORITY TO GET REPAIRED AND WE ARE LOOSING REVENUE NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THIS UNIT YET WE ARE PAYING INSURANCE AND LOAN PAYMENTS. WE ARE A VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION SO OUR RESOURCES ARE LIMITED AND HAVING THIS AMBULANCE OUT OF SERVICE IS A GREAT HARDSHIP TO OUR COMMUNITY.

20140226STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V527000 (STEERING) AND 13V239000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY SINCE THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT OF THE DELAY ON RECEIVING THE PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20140226POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V527000 (STEERING) AND 13V239000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY SINCE THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT OF THE DELAY ON RECEIVING THE PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20140113POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 4500. HE RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES, NHTSA RECALL 13V239000 POWER TRAIN WAS RECEIVED IN JULY 2013; AND NHTSA RECALL, 13V527000 , STEERING WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY 2014 BOTH RECALLS INDICATED HE COULD LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS REQUIRED TO SIGN A MOTOR VEHICLE DOCUMENT INDICATING THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES INCLUDING CARRYING A LOAD. HE NOW HAS LIMITED USE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK STATED IN BOTH RECALLS ONE OF WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FRONT END COULD FAIL DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING AND THE LEFT TIE ROD MANY FRACTURE. THERE ARE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. HE WAS ADVISED BY THE CHRYSLER RECALL CENTER THAT THEY WILL DISCUSS WHAT ACTIONS THEY WOULD TAKE REGARDING A CRASH ONLY WHEN OR IF A CRASH DID OCCUR. THE CONTACT IS EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED.

Mileage: 5,000

20140113STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 4500. HE RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES, NHTSA RECALL 13V239000 POWER TRAIN WAS RECEIVED IN JULY 2013; AND NHTSA RECALL, 13V527000 , STEERING WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY 2014 BOTH RECALLS INDICATED HE COULD LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS REQUIRED TO SIGN A MOTOR VEHICLE DOCUMENT INDICATING THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES INCLUDING CARRYING A LOAD. HE NOW HAS LIMITED USE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK STATED IN BOTH RECALLS ONE OF WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FRONT END COULD FAIL DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING AND THE LEFT TIE ROD MANY FRACTURE. THERE ARE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. HE WAS ADVISED BY THE CHRYSLER RECALL CENTER THAT THEY WILL DISCUSS WHAT ACTIONS THEY WOULD TAKE REGARDING A CRASH ONLY WHEN OR IF A CRASH DID OCCUR. THE CONTACT IS EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED.

Mileage: 5,000

20131118STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 4500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY BECAME FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAD PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 30,000

20131106POWER TRAIN

2012 DODGE RAM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT AXLE TUBE WELDS RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL, WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

Compare 2012DODGERAM 4500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 DODGE RAM 4500 have?
The 2012 DODGE RAM 4500 has 19 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 DODGE RAM 4500?
The most-complained component for the 2012 DODGE RAM 4500 is POWER TRAIN with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL.
Is the 2012 DODGE RAM 4500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.