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2012 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup: problems, recalls and fuel economy
NHTSA has 698 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup[1]. The biggest groups are the electrical system and the engine[2][3].
Most reported problems
Owners filed complaints across many parts of this pickup. Here are the groups that come up most.
- Electrical System. 175 complaints[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe odd dash behavior, wipers that run on their own, a horn that cuts out and corroded trailer wiring.
- Engine. 170 complaints[3]. Owners describe shaking and noise at low speeds, throttle warnings, a loose pump mount and a broken part near the exhaust. One story tells of a truck fire parked at night.
- Power Train. 92 complaints[6]. Owners describe a thud after stopping, a transmission that will not downshift, lost acceleration and trouble getting into park in snow.
- Fuel/Propulsion System. 92 complaints[7]. Owners describe stalling in traffic, hard starting and warning lights on the dash. Some wrote about waiting on parts for a recall repair.
- Air Bags. 80 complaints[8]. This group stands out for safety, with 16 crashes and 19 injuries named in it[8].
- Unknown Or Other. 67 complaints[9]. These reports do not fit a clear part group.
- Brakes. 51 complaints[10].
- Steering. 47 complaints[11].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2012 Ram 1500 Pickup is necessarily included.
- Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting (18V160), March 2018. About 218,617 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[12]
- Equipment (17V824), December 2017. About 61,791 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Column Shift (17V821), December 2017. About 1,482,874 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, reduced braking, the car rolling away. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[14]
- Air Bags › Frontal (15V459), July 2015. About 1,059,444 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[15]
- Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit (13V038), February 2013. About 278,674 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[16]
- Equipment › Other › Labels (12V192), May 2012. About 129 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[17]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD, 3.7L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive[5] | 14 / 20 / 16 | $4,200 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD, 5.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Midgrade, Rear-Wheel Drive[18] | 14 / 20 / 16 | $4,750 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD, 5.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Midgrade, 4-Wheel Drive[19] | 13 / 19 / 15 | $5,050 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD, 4.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Rear-Wheel Drive[20] | 14 / 20 / 16 | $4,200 |
| Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD, 4.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, 4-Wheel Drive[21] | 14 / 19 / 16 | $4,200 |
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
How 2012 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 213 | 0 |
| 1996 | 298 | 0 |
| 1997 | 361 | 0 |
| 1998 | 520 | 0 |
| 1999 | 610 | 0 |
| 2000 | 513 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1,112 | 2 |
| 2002 | 815 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1,171 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1,099 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1,172 | 4 |
| 2006 | 792 | 9 |
| 2007 | 517 | 4 |
| 2008 | 554 | 5 |
| 2009 | 670 | 2 |
| 2010 | 488 | 4 |
| 2011 | 689 | 4 |
| 2012 | 698 | 6 |
NHTSA's counts for the Ram 1500 Pickup show 698 complaints and 6 recalls for 2012[4]. Among the 18 model years listed, 11 have fewer complaints than 2012 and 6 have more[4]. The fewest complaints are for 1995 (213) and the most are for 2005 (1,172)[4]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2012 Ram 1500 Pickup?
The complaint record for this truck is broad, with 698 reports on file[1]. Electrical and engine issues lead the list[2][3]. Air bag reports are a smaller group, but they are tied to crashes and injuries[8]. Complaints are unverified and are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a guide to what to check. Recalls exist for this year, so check the Recalls section before you buy[4].
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500?
- Electrical system complaints lead with 175[2]. Engine complaints follow with 170[3].
- Does the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 have recalls?
- Yes. The by-year fact shows 6 recalls for 2012[4]. See the Recalls section for the list.
- Is the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 reliable?
- Owners filed 698 complaints with NHTSA[1]. These are unverified and not adjusted for sales. See the problems section for the groups.
- What gas mileage does the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 get?
- See the fuel economy section on this page for the official figures.
- Is 2012 the best year for the Dodge Ram 1500?
- See the by-year comparison section on this page to compare 2012 with other years.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup
Compare all model years of the Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup
Other Dodge models from 2012
Similar cars from 2012: pickup trucks
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 698 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup (32 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 27 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 175 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 7 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 170 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 83,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD, 3.7L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 20 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 92 complaints name the power train component group (5 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- 92 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 80 complaints name the air bags component group (16 crashes, 0 fires, 19 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 67 complaints name the unknown or other component group (3 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 74,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 51 complaints name the brakes component group (5 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 35,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 47 complaints name the steering component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,007). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 18V160, filed March 8, 2018: Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 17V824, filed December 21, 2017: Equipment. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 17V821, filed December 20, 2017: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Column Shift. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V459, filed July 22, 2015: Air Bags › Frontal. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 13V038, filed February 6, 2013: Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 12V192, filed May 2, 2012: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD, 5.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Midgrade, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 20 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD, 5.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Midgrade, 4-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 19 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Ram 1500 Pickup 2WD, 4.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 20 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Ram 1500 Pickup 4WD, 4.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, 4-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 19 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup with electric motor: rated 215 hp. www.epa.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup with electric motor: rated 345 hp. www.epa.gov