Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 51 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 51, in the owner's own words
The switch to start the vehicle has to be pushed down and turned at the same time. Vehicle starts but shuts the engine down when the key returns sometimes. On one occasion vehicle shut down while driving.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 2500. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start intermittently. The contact also stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.
While driving, my dodge shut off and it was hard to control my vehicle and come to a safe stop, out of the way of other motorists. Lost all power, as if I turned the key off while driving. Turns out that there is a weak/loss of connection in the WIN module. while the vehicle is running at idle, the truck will shut off as if I turned the key to the off position. This is dangerous and scary. There was no warning or heads up or any issues prior to this incident.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-60 mph, on several occasions after driving over a bump in the roadway, the vehicle loss steering and braking functionality before the vehicle loss motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the wireless ignition node module was faulty. The mechanic retrieved a fault code. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V200000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was 216,000.
WHILE IN DRIVE, WENT OVER SPEED BUMP AND VEHICLE TURNED OFF. INTERMITTENT IGNITION PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE TO WHERE NOW VEHICLE NOW TURNS OFF / QUITS.
2012 RAM 2500 WITH DEFECTIVE WIN MODULE WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES. ENGINE CAN SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IF THE KEY FOB WAS TOUCHED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
ON NOV 23 2019, WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK IT SUDDENLY DIED. I PULLED OVER AND STARTED IT AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES THAT DAY ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY. SINCE THEN IT HAS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE ISSUE HAPPENING WHILE IN MOTION AND ALSO WHILE STATIONARY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT I'M NOT ALONE WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS WITH A LOT OF OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE IGNITION MODULE, WIN. CLEARLY THIS ISN'T A COUPLE ISOLATED INCIDENTS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY RAM. I WOULD FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A FAULTY WIN THAT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS AN ISSUE AND MODIFIED IN NEWER VEHICLES WOULDN'T BE A SAFETY RECALL. FROM WHAT I GATHER THIS PARTICULAR WIN IS ABLE TO GET DIRTY ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THUS CAUSING A FAILURE IN THE CONNECTION AND RAM KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
MY IGNITION SWITCH FAILED YESTERDAY (7/10/2019) WHILE DRIVING,I WAS DOING 50 MPH IN A MODERATE CURVE WHEN IT FAILED LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER STEERING OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES I SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON WHICH PUT ME INTO A 180 DEGREE SPIN WINDING UP IN THE OTHER LANE FACING WHERE I CAME FROM WHEN THE SWITCH FAILED IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE SHUT THE TRUCK OFF!!!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME AND PARK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY CABLES WERE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE WIRES, WHICH CAUSED THE SMOKE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V739000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED ALLEN SAMUELS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM WACO (LOCATED AT 201 W LOOP 340, WACO, TX 76712, (254) 848-6200) AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD INDEPENDENTLY TURN OFF ONCE THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP OR A POTHOLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TEAM ONE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF GADSDEN (1149 1ST AVE, GADSDEN, AL 35901, (256) 543-9583) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET DOING 40MPH WHEN I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD AND MY TRUCK JUST TURNED OFF SAYING ON THE MESSAGE CENTER SCREEN KEY IN IGNITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES NOW SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK. I HAVE SPOKE TO MY LOCAL DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE WEB, AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT RAM KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AT HAND AND HAS MADE A 2ND GENERATION WIN MODULE AND COST OF THE PART IS ROUGHLY $500 PLUS NEW KEY FOB AND PROGRAMING. BUT FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THIS IS NOT A ROAD SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN MADE A RECALL. I AM IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING AND MY TRUCK STOPS RUNNING AND I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN DOING 60MPH AND WELL THERE GOES POWER STEERING AND BREAKS DEATH WILL HAPPEN AT SOME POINT. VERY DISTURBED MOPAR FAN.
THE KEY IGNITION SWITCH CRANK UP AND THEN DIES ABOUT 5 TIME THE S RUN GOOD LIKE YOU THINK GO TO PULL OUT ON THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK DIES BECAUSE OF THE KEY SWITCH ALMOST DIED BECAUSE OF IT LUCKY THE TRUCK DRIVER SAW ME SITTING IN THE ROAD
AIRBAG LIGHT ON; AIRBAG INOP. RECALL THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO BE EFFECT THE 2013 MODELS ALSO EFFECT THE 2012 MODELS.
WIN MODULE SHUT MY TRUCK OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY 4 TIMES IN 2 DAYS. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN MY 4 CHILDREN ARE IN THE VEHICLE.
R03 (REPLACES L25) WIRELESS IGNITION NODE (WIN) MODULE WIN MODULE FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE ENGINE AND POWER SHUTS OFF TO THE VEHICLE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE SAME SITUATION ON MULTIPLE OTHER DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE SAME WIN MODULE PART/PART# AS MY 2012 RAM. 'THE WIRELESS IGNITION NODE (WIN) MODULE ON THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE UNINTENTIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE FREQUENCY OPERATED BUTTON IGNITION KEY, OR FOBIK, FROM THE 'ON' TO THE 'ACCESSORY' POSITION WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ENGINE SHUT OFF AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.' HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/RCL/2016/RCMN-16V240-9929.PDF
WIN MODULE. THE WIN MODULE IN MY TRUCK IS FAILING. THIS CAUSES INTERMITTENT NO START AND ALSO THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING WHILE IN MOTION. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WITH A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND HAS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY INTO TRAFFIC. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB FOR THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT HAD TO MOVE THE KEY SLOWLY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRIEGER'S MOTOR SALES CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1756 W US HWY 30, VALPARAISO, IN 46385, 219-462-4117) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. *DT *JB
IGNITION SWITCH-WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY WIFE AND SMALL CHILDREN, MY TRUCK SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT STARTED, BUT SHUT BACK OFF. I NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FEELING LOOSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 OR 6 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO DAYS. I GOT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY TRUCK SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN AND I AM IN AN INTERSECTION? I HAVE BEEN A FIREFIGHTER FOR 10 YEARS NOW, I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE UNNECESSARY MVA'S HAPPEN DUE TO FAULTY PARTS. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED ASAP!!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COVERT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (8107 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78758, (512) 730-3300) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RELAY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
TRUCK WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES WILL START BACK UP A SECOND LATER, SOMETIMES NEED TO BRING IT TO A FULL STOP, TO RESTART THE TRUCK. IT WILL DO IT AT RANDOM NO MATTER WEATHER TYPE OF DRIVING, IT WILL JUST DO IT.
MY VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START IT. THE VEHICLE WOULD EITHER TURN OVER AND DIE IMMEDIATELY, OR NOT EVEN TURN OVER AT ALL. THIS WOULD HAPPEN A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT, AND IT HAPPENED EVERY TIME I WENT TO START IT. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE TIPM RELAY WAS SHORTING OUT CAUSING THE CURRENT TO THE FUEL PUMP TO BE CUT OFF, PREVENTING FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE. THEY REPLACED THE RELAY AND I WENT ABOUT MY DAY, AFTER A STEEP COST FOR THE REPAIR. HOWEVER, AS I LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I FOUND A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE FOR THE SAME YEAR MODEL VEHICLES, ONLY THEY WERE DODGE CARAVANS AND DODGE DURANGOS. MY VEHICLE IS MANUFACTURED BY THIS SAME COMPANY AS THE CARAVAN AND THE DURANGO, IT IS THE SAME YEAR MODEL THAT WAS AFFECTED ON THESE OTHER VEHICLES, BUT FOR SOME REASON THERE WAS NO SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I AM JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS, AND ALSO TO VOICE MY COMPLAINT ABOUT THE INITIAL ISSUE AT HAND TO HOPEFULLY BRING THIS TO LIGHT.
WHEN I USE THE DRIVER SIDE SUNVISOR AND FLIP IT DOWN TO BLOCK THE SUN, IT SHORTS OUT THE ELECTRIC OVETHEAD LIGHTS. I FLIP IT BACK UP AND AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAITING SOMETIME IT COMES BACK ON INTIL I FLIP IT AGAIN . HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY OR MOVING. HAS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES NOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE "KEY NOT RECOGNIZED" DISPLAYED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY BE STARTED. AFTER FINALLY STARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (RED BLUFF DODGE, CHRYSLER, JEEP, RAM, 545 ADOBE RD, RED BLUFF, CA 96080) WHERE THE WIN MODULE AND BRAKE CONTROLLER WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. *TT UPDATED 9/24/18*JB
THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT START AND STAY RUNNING WITHOUT HOLDING THE IGNITION
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .