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.
2012 Dodge Ram 1500 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2012 record →
Catalytic converter, sensors, knocking loss of power, bogging , hot and cold engine , was on a road trip back home passing a 18 wheeler and it starts to lose power Boggs down and then takes off , steering wheel was iffy, fumes are stong in and out of truck. Threw my suitcase and dog in floor . I have replaced sensors , knock sensor , coils, sparks plugs - no fix muffler shop said catalytic is not plugged up . Sent me to mechanic said ram / dodge designed these years messed up common problem ,one mechanic telling me new engine parts might fix won’t pass inspection so now it just sits and drys up that’s not right for what it has cost my insurance said there nothing they can help with it only has 84k miles please emission and knock common problem that is mana factory defect surely loss of power in traffic scary please help with insurance and parts , gas I have no money for deep engine problems 84 k should still run like new truck the trip there drove great then I went to start to go back home 2 days later and knocking and wouldn’t drive putting scanner said sensor . This truck was running awesome I like driving . But to malfunction no reason. The codes are not right . need my truck back on the road I live in Texas has to pass emission to get inspection sticker
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 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.
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.
In approximately 2019 I received multiple warning lights including "Serv 4WD", TCS disabled, and ABS warning lights. Had it looked at by the dealer who replaced wheel sensors and performed diagnostics. All lights cleared exept TCS disabled warning which is indicationg that the TCS system is not functioning and has a collateral effect of the cruise control not being able to turn on. I have paid to have this remaining indication diagnosed on two different occasions, each leading to a dealership recommendation to replace the Hydraulic Control Unit / ABS Module at a cost of approximately $1500 and a wait for backordered parts exceeding one year - all with no guarantee of this fixing the problem. My truck has been in this condition for about 5 years now. A quick Google search will show that there have been multiple instances of faults of this type affecting the HCU/ABS modules with the problem becoming particularly prevalent in the 2017-2018 model years. Thousands of complaints have been submitted and Class Action Lawsuits started, but it appears FCA has yet to adequately address this potential safety issue caused by a defective part that is known to them.
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 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.
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.
The seat belt and air bag warning light has stayed on. I have had multiple Mechanics, look at it and even try to inspect it. So the lights will go off and they cannot find a problem. I am just worried that if I getting an accident my seatbelt wont-work correctly and the airbags wont-work correctly. I have tried to do a hard reset and so has the mechanics but the lights stay on.
Happen to notice something hanging under my truck while in a parking lot. Looked under and the front of my fuel tank was almost touching the ground. After further inspection the front strap had pulled out of the frame that was suppose to be holding it. The frame was completely rusted out and can no longer hold the fuel tank strap. I never received a letter regarding the extended warranty so was unaware of that this issues could occur. Now not covered because the extended warranty expired 20 days ago. First time while owning any vehicle where I though the vehicle was putting me in danger because of a failed component. This should be a safety recall not a extended warranty. I had over 22 gallons of fuel in the tank when it failed.
The dash warning light appeared referring to a possible problem with the airbags. I took vehicle to the local dealer and I was informed after their inspection that I did have a problem the passenger airbag. They said they would need to replace passenger seat airbag and wiring harness associated with that device.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound emanating from underneath the vehicle, prompting him to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. After a visual inspection, the contact observed that the fuel tank had become partially detached. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 114,000.
As I was driving and started to come to a stop, my brakes lost all pressure. I was able to safely stop on the side of the road. When I checked the vehicle, I found that the rear driver side brake line had been severed due to it rubbing against the wheel. I checked the passenger side and saw the same mark, but the line has not been severed yet.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the engine was previously replaced due to camshaft failure. Additionally, the contact stated while checking the tire with the vehicle parked and turned off, the contact became aware that the fuel pump was still running. The contact stated that the car key was in the basement during the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly shut off while driving over a bump in the road. The vehicle taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the ignition switch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 204,000.
Went to drive my truck to the store this morning and heard metal scraping against pavement. I immediately pulled over and looked under truck and noticed my fuel tank was hanging down and the front bracket came undone. Luckily was only a couple blocks from the house slowly drove back home so I could more in depth diagnose the issue. I noticed the strap to hold fuel tank up seemed fine but the bracket it sits in, in the frame rusted out causing the strap to come out and the tank to drop. Now no options to fix and without a vehicle until I can get it figured out… I did some research and noticed that there was a recall for this and the year of my truck was included so typed my vin on NHTSA and showed my truck has 0 unrepaired recalls but this is a recall and unsafe if I would not have noticed so soon could have been very bad.
The Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) system installed in 2009-2012 Ram vehicles is prone to premature failure, resulting in the sudden cessation of the fuel pump while the vehicle is in operation. This critical malfunction poses significant safety hazards, including the potential for collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, or stationary objects. Despite the persistence of this issue over several years, no official recall has been initiated to address it. Furthermore, in an attempt to mitigate the TIPM's failure and maintain continuous fuel pump operation, some individuals have resorted to unauthorized modifications, commonly referred to as "Jerry rigging," by bypassing the system with improvised wiring to maintain a constant "hot status." However, this makeshift solution introduces additional risks, including the heightened potential for serious fires due to the bypassed safety mechanisms. Given the severity of these safety concerns and the absence of a comprehensive recall, there is a pressing need for the manufacturer to take decisive action to rectify the TIPM system's deficiencies and ensure the safety of affected vehicles and their occupants.
Fuse box caught on fire while driving
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for an oil change, he was made aware that the fuel tank strap bracket was corroded and had detached from the fuel tank. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 145,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated when the vehicle was turned off and in park, he accidentally bumped the gear shit lever and the vehicle slipped out of park (P) without the brake pedal being depressed. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V821000 (Power Train). The contact stated that he had attempted to set numerous appointments with a local dealer but was unable to set an appointment for the vehicle. Additionally, while driving approximately 55 MPH the contact stated that he began to smell a burning plastic odor. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact observed that smoke was being emitted from the defroster vents on the top of the dash board. The contact stated that he pulled off of the roadway and shut the vehicle off. The contact stated as he exited the vehicle he observed pieces of burning melted plastic were dripping from under the dash and onto the vehicle floor carpets. The contact stated he called the fire department. The fire department arrived and extinguished the flames with a chemical fire extinguisher. The contact stated that the dash board and the right front passenger side were burned by the flames. There was extensive damage to the dashboard. The contact stated that the police also arrived but was not sure if a report had been written. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact stated that prior to the fire the
2012 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 liter HEMI Completely shut down turned off losing ALL power I was 9n the freeway with my kids that was the first time my power steering doesn't work at all when this happens happens about 8 to 12 times a week and to make things better if I hit a bump truck shuts down also I t'' can be driving along and all my indicator light come on everything starts beeping and my wipers go crazy it's like my truck is possessed it's unbelievably dangerous and a major inconvenience I'm late for work kids late for school
GAS TANK STRAP IS NOT CONNECTED I SEE A RECALL ON THE YEAR OF MY TRUCK BUT WHEN I LOOK UP MY VIN # IT DONT SHOW MY TRUCK HAVING THE PROBLEM BUT IT SAYS IN THE RECALL MY TRUCK ON IT WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THAT
The TIPM is failing in several areas... Starter, fuel pump and passenger compartment heater. This seems to be a common problem and Ram has never been held accountable... This plastic box and wires that should cost under a hundred dollars to replace is being sold on line between $500 and $1500 The manufacturer also has a built in design flaw where the electrical auto start function is disabled if the consumer has to replace the battery. They must pay a dealer to reprogram the truck to auto start... Seems like Dodge new they would be robbing the public on both of these items...
Vehicle i cranks but doesn't always start. I did notice even after it started it seemed to run normally .But when I turn the key off I can still hear fuel pump running. It never shut off. I had to pull the relay fuse. After doing some research. I found that there was or is a safety recall on the fuel pump relay on other Chrysler vehicles having the same issue .Safety recall P54/NHTSA 14V-530. The vehicles that were recalled uses the same tipm as my vehicle. Just wanting to know if you can tell me if my vehicle falls under the same recall if so how can I get it repaired. And if it doesn't fall under the same recall why not. It doesn't seem to be very safe for a fuel pump to be running constantly. I do not have the best of hearing. My wife was the one that noticed that it was still running.
In having my vehicle serviced, my mechanic noticed that one of the straps on my gas tank was corroded and needed to be replaced. He advised me that a safety recall was issued (TSB- 14-002-18) covering this issue. I was never issued a recall notice. I contacted the RAM recall # to raise the issue. I was told by 2 separate agents that the recall was VIN specific and that my RAM was not part of the recall. The vehicle was purchased and registered in CT as new in early 2013. I have been the owner since. When I questioned why the same model having the same issue would not be covered, I was told that is not covered since it was inspected when manufactured. This makes no sense since the issue and notice of recall happened years later. I was told I need to remediate this safety issue at my own expense. Again....this is totally unsatisfactory.
My headlights (specifically on the driver side) keeps going out randomly. I have replaced the high and low beam bults 3 times and the wiring harness twice. I can be driving down the road and they it will go out and 10 minutes later it will just come back on all on it's on. I looked on all of the Dodge discussion forums and this seems to be a very common issue with this make/model of the Dodge Ram 1500 I recieve no error messages on my dash console telling me that this has occurred. However, every other bulb that has ever went out gave an error on the dash.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cam shaft and lifters needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
The brakes don’t work well. The steering sucks And had death wobble.
Van shuts off while driving on the highway When attempting to restart no fuel is provided to the fuel rail Engine cranks but remains with a no start condition Negative battery terminal must be disconnected to reset the PCM. After reconnection and reset of PCM vehicle will start. No diagnostic trouble codes are provided through OBD port. No check engine light eliminates Issue has happened numerous times and is documented on the internet through various chat boards
Gas tank strap pulled through where it is mounted.
Weak metal that the running boards are secured to. Reinforcement plates need installed on both driver and passer sides.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel made a low winding sound. The vehicle lost power steering functionality without warning. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle to regain power steering functionality. The failure occurred 3 times. The contact stated that her spouse replaced the power steering pump. The contact learned that the power steering pump was already replaced once before purchasing the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon inspection the vehicle, it was discovered that the fuel tank was hanging low and not properly secured to the vehicle, due to a faulty front fuel tank strap which had failed. The local dealer was notified of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 170,000.
As a number of customers have complained about i have a 2012 RAM and I have the tick on the right side.why is there no recall on this problem , it's in the dealership know going to cost over 1,000 to fix something should be done about this thay won't have to worry about selling me another one
The contact owns a 2012 RAM 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the electronics in the vehicle behaved erratically and the vehicle lost all motive power. After restarting the vehicle, it seemed to return to normal functionality but has since become a regular occurrence. The battery warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the TIPM. The contact stated that the TIPM had been replaced three weeks prior. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number 14V530000 (Electrical System), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
I am experiencing a loud exhaust manifold leak for the third time now in this vehicle. The previous mechanic told me the bolts were broken and this is a known problem with these Rams. I can't afford to keep fixing this issue. This isn't an inexpensive fix. Please help
-Wireless Ignition Node (WIN) malfunctioned while driving and randomly shut the engine off. The component is available for inspection. -The vehicle immediately loses power and power steering. At high speeds or an intersection could cause a crash. -Research online has indicated that these are known to cause issues after a period of time where the contacts wear out. -The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. -There were no warning lamps or messages. The only other symptoms of the problem prior was an immediate shutdown of the engine after starting at random instances.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was alerted by another driver that the fuel tank had detached and was on the ground. Additionally, there was a fuel odor detected. The low fuel warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and inspected the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the front fuel tank strap and fuel tank was the ground, causing a fuel leak. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank bracket and fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V160000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
Warning light on air bags stays lit will not go out according the other trucks of the same year and make where I worked this light does this on most of them it has been on for over a year
Truck switched off, immediately switched back on, all dash lights flashed, transmission was in manual mode and showed in 6 gear. This happened four times within a 2 week period while turning slightly to the right and under light acceleration. My truck has been in a reputable repair shop for over a week and the technicians can't find out what's wrong. No computer codes were recorded.
The engine is "Ticking". Ticks real bad when first started cold. After it warms up the ticking diminishes. Vehicle has just over 50,000 miles on it
The fuel strap frame bracket failure has occured on my vehicle and i'm wondering why it was not covered under the recall? ref: Safety Recall U04 / NHTSA 18V-160 Frame Bracket
When using iPhone through Bluetooth connect it stops working and then freezes. You have to shut the vehicle off wait for a few minutes and then turn vehicle back on. When I say it freezes it makes the whole radio unusable.
The exhaust manifold bolts have broken off inside the block 3 times in 7 years. I have fixed them every time. Most recently, I was advised by service manager at Lithia Chrysler Dodge that 4 manifold bolts were broken and the repair cost $1490. This is a very common issue that needs a recall.
Engine "tick" - exhaust bolts are broken and according to dealer cylinder head needs to be extracted
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start after multiple attempts. Additionally, the vehicle had lost motive power and stalled several times while driving at various speeds. The electronic throttle control system warning light was illuminated. The contact had replaced the fuel pump and TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) himself; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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