2012 Dodge 1500 Powertrain (other) Problems

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

NHTSA ID

11733543

Incident

Apr 23, 2026

Mileage

146,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11729012

Incident

Apr 3, 2026

Mileage

165,353 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11722768

Incident

Mar 8, 2026

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

NHTSA ID

11706813

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was an abnormally loud howling and winding sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The sound had progressed over time. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the rear axle pin was faulty and might have caused the wheels to lock up. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11699801

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

Differential making scraping sound, points to the pinion gear having a problem.

NHTSA ID

11693828

Incident

Sep 17, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11613040

Incident

Jul 16, 2024

Mileage

310,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11612812

Incident

Jul 8, 2024

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

NHTSA ID

11611338

Incident

Jan 2, 2024

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 contact had been smelling a burnt plastic smell when using the heater/defroster. The failure mileage was approximately 95,700. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11567227

Incident

Jan 23, 2024

Mileage

95,700 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11528889

Incident

Jun 22, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact stated he depressed the brake pedal desperately and shifted the vehicle into park and then restarted the vehicle and the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the fuse box was replaced, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the ignition module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11510886

Incident

Jan 6, 2023

Mileage

115,000 mi

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V821000 (Power Train) and confirmed having the recalled component. The contact made a local dealer aware; however, he was informed the vehicle was unable to be serviced under the recall and advised to contact the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired, and the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware and confirmed the vehicle was unable to be serviced under the recall and the contact was advised to file a complaint with NHTSA. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11500106

Incident

Dec 1, 2022

While operating the vehicle at highway speed the vehicle shut off causing total loss of power. This happened on a road with speeds at 55 mph. It also occured while pulling into my driveway at a low speed, and i have had 3 occurences of the vehicle power "surging" at varied speeds. I had the fuel pump replaced, which did not remedy the problem. After hearing my fuel pump running with the vehicle shut off, i did some further research and found that the TIPM (toatally integrated power module) is the culprit and has been found to cause several other electrical system issues. Loss of power in a low speed scenario, such as turning left from one roadway to an intersecting road can cause the vehicle to be stranded in the middle of the road and place the stranded vehicle in the line of incoming traffic posing a serious risk for injury or death from a "T-Bone" motor vehicle crash.

NHTSA ID

11481687

Incident

Aug 27, 2022

My 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 has 67,700 miles and about 30 days ago developed a "tick" coming from the engine. After doing a google research, it appears that 2012 Dodge Ram's with the 5.7 HEMI can develop a "tick" ranging from failed manifold bolts to camshaft failure. My Ram has always been very well cared for and is a low mile vehicle for its age. I found no factory recall on this issue, so I will take it into a local Dodge dealer for diagnosis and repair.

NHTSA ID

11471493

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

THE TRUCK STALLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 60 MILES PER HOUR ALMOST GOT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT. NO STEERING OR BRAKES. (COULD BE DEADLY). THIS ALSO HAPPENED AGAIN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THRU AN INTERSECTION. WAS TOLD IT IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUSE BOX TIPM TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE

NHTSA ID

11430497

Incident

Jul 29, 2021

I hear a ticking noise coming from the engine . From doing some research I see that it could be a lifter roller needle bearing failure is often the cause of the Hemi Tick. However, the Hemi also has issue with exhaust manifold leaks, which at times can make it hard to differentiate and diagnose between an internal tick (The "Hemi Tick") and a simple exhaust leak.

NHTSA ID

11425339

Incident

May 20, 2021

Truck won't go into park then it locks. I reset it with the pin stop and it happens again (t-79) ? A week ago it had trouble sticking in reverse

NHTSA ID

11423293

Incident

Jul 2, 2021

WHEN MOVING VEHICLE AFTER FUELING, TRUCK WAS STOPPED, PUT IN PARK AND DRIVER OPENED THE DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY BEGAN MOVING BACKWARD AND THE DRIVER WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND BY THE DOOR. THE DOOR CAUGHT THE DOOR ON THE FUEL PUMP GUARD POST, BENDING THE DOOR BACK BEYOND 90 DEGREES AND BENDING THE HINGE, AND CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE DOOR AND FENDER, AND ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO A CAR FUELING AT THE PUMP WHEN IT STRUCK IT. THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

11405265

Incident

Mar 28, 2021

Mileage

136,000 mi

THE SERVICE 4WD LIGHT COMES ON AND THE TRUCK MAKES A WEIRD NOISE AND IT HAS THE RIGHT FLUID IN THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE DIFFERENTIALS ARE ALL GOOD BUT WHENEVER THE FULL SERVICE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT COMES ON THE TRUCK MAKES UP FUNNY GRINDING IN A RED UP ON THE INTERNET AND NOBODY KNOWS WHY AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM I AM.

NHTSA ID

11338488

Incident

May 28, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

I AM GETTING A LOUD HUMMING VIBRATION NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE A TURBO ISSUE WITH THE HEMI COMING EITHER FROM MY TRANSMISSION OR REAR AXEL AT HIGH AND LOW SPEED. IT'S MORE NOTICEABLE AT 65 TO 75 MPH HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO BILL BRYAN IN FLORIDA AND THEY WHERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES EXPERIENCING LOST OF POWER. ONGOING ISSUE WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN .

NHTSA ID

11331903

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

IN THE MORNING WHILE STARTING TRUCK NO PROBLEM, ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING ON STREET THE TRUCK JUST TURNED OFF. IT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE ON 3 OTHER OCCASIONS BUT THE FIRST ONE WAS FAR APART THEN THE OTHER 2 IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. WHEN I GOT ON THE FREEWAY I NOTICED A HAD TO PUSH HARDER ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GAIN SPEED BUT IT FELT LIKE IT WAS HARD TO PRESS ON AND I WASN'T GETTING TO THE SPEED (60MPH) SO I JUST TOOK IT SLOWLY TO GAIN SPEED. THAT LASTED ABOUT A WEEK. THE FOLLOWING WEEK AFTER TRYING TO GAIN SPEED AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING REALLY BAD SO I LET GO OF THE GAS PEDAL AND TOOK IT SLOW AGAIN. SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TO GET A BASIC TUNE UP SINCE I HAD JUST GOTTEN AN OIL CHANGE HE WOULD JUST DO SPARK PLUGS ON3/5/20 TO SEE IF IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER EXPLAINING TO HIM WHAT IT WAS DOING HE TOLD ME RIGHT AWAY THAT IT'S PROBABLY THE CAMSHAFT AND HYDRAULIC LIFTERS WORN OUT WITH MY TRUCK MILEAGE OF 108,000 IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE BECAUSE I ALWAYS MAKE SURE MY TRUCK IS UP TO DATE WITH EVERYTHING. BY THIS TIME NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD TURNED ON. SO I DROVE IT ANOTHER WEEK AND HALF WITH THE SAME ISSUES; FINALLY ON 3/16/20 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND I TOOK IT TO GET IT CHECKED AT AUTOZONE AND OREILYS AND BOTH COMPUTER FINDING WERE CODE P0385 WHICH IS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 5 WHICH IS HYDRAULIC LIFTER, CAMSHAFT, AND POSSIBLE IGNITION COIL GONE BAD. I DECIDED TO NOT USE MY TRUCK UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHICH I DID ON 03/24/20. HIS FINDING WERE THE WORN OUT CAMSHAFT AND HYDRAULIC LIFTER ON CYLINDER 5. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND OF COURSE THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT STARTS WITH TRUCKS FROM 2011 AND SOME WITH ONLY OF 58,000 MILES. THIS IS VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR WHEN YOU EXPECT A TRUCK TO LAST A LONG TIME ESPECIALLY IF YOU TAKE CARE OF IT.

NHTSA ID

11319944

Incident

Feb 24, 2020

Mileage

1,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT 70MPH AND MY TRUCK SUDDENLY WENT INTO 4TH MANUAL GEAR FROM AUTOMATIC. WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A SLOPE, THE TRUCK ROLLED BACK AND REVVED UP VERY HIGH, AND ROLLED BACKWARDS, ALMOST HITTING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO AUTOMATIC DRIVE. WHEN I GOT HOME I SHUT MY TRUCK OFF FOR ABOUT 10MIN.S. I RESTARTED IT AND IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE, ONLY THE 4TH MANUAL GEAR WOULD DISPLAY WHEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE. AFTER FURTHER INTERNET RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THE MODE THAT IT WAS IN WAS CALLED "LIMP MODE". AFTER DURING FURTHER RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE FOR MY BRAND OF TRUCK. I THINK THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY BY THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

11318701

Incident

Mar 13, 2020

Mileage

125,643 mi

I HAD NOTICED THAT MY TRUCK WAS RIDING ROUGH. I TOOK IT IN TO THE GARAGE WHERE IT DOES GET SERVICED AND FOUND OUT THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE AXLE SHAFT, AXLE BEARING, AXLE SEAL, BRAKE CALIPER,BRAKE ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT LOOKED LIKE THE ENTIRE SIDE HAD BEEN SET ON FIRE. GARAGE TOLD ME THEY WERE GLAD I BROUGHT IT IN WHEN I DID BECAUSE I WAS ABOUT TO LOSE ALL CONTROL AND WOULD HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11301437

Incident

May 25, 2018

Mileage

205,892 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FILLBACK CHRYSLER JEEP (1702 ELM ST, BOSCOBEL, WI) WHERE THE WHEELS WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED AND THE DRIVESHAFT WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *LN*JB

NHTSA ID

11269093

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi