RoadVitals

2012 Dodge Ram 2500 Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jan 4, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 283 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 8 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.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Jan 4, 2026

My passenger headlights keeps going in and out. The wiring harness has been replaced twice and it still does it. My check engine light keeps coming on for the evap system even though its been replaced.

NHTSA ID
11708616
Incident
Jan 3, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 20, 2017

MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE BULB IS GOOD. THE WIRING HARNESS INSIDE OF THE HOUSING HAS BEEN CHANGED AND DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. IT WILL WORK FOR A MONTH OR SO THEN NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID
11024557
Incident
Sep 15, 2017
Mileage
83,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 26, 2016

BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE MOST SERIOUS, WHILE DRIVING AFTER DARK, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATOR GOES ON INTERMITTENTLY. RADIO GOES DEAD. REPLACED HEADLIGHT BULBS AND HAD TIPM FLASHED BUT OCCURRED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10937470
Incident
Dec 13, 2016
Mileage
101,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 31, 2016

THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF IN THE DARK FOR NO REASON. I WAS DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD WITH NO STREET LIGHTS. I WAS COMING INTO A TURN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. IT WAS PITCH BLACK AND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS IN THE AUTO FEATURE. I QUICKLY REACHED AND TURN THEM ON MANUALLY. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. IF I WASN'T ON A ROAD I NORMALLY TRAVEL I WOULD HAVE WRECKED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10920199
Incident
Oct 24, 2016
Mileage
60,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 17, 2015

WHEN I TRIED TO SWITCH MY HEADLIGHTS FROM DIM TO BRIGHT, THEY WOULDN'T STAY IN BRIGHT. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE BRIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. WHEN I SIGNALLED TO TURN LEFT, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. WHEN I SIGNALLED RIGHT, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. WHEN I STOPPED AND SET THE PARKING BRAKE, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. SEEMS LIKE MY TRUCK HAS A GHOST ONBOARD!

NHTSA ID
10749303
Incident
Aug 16, 2015
Mileage
55,834 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 18, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING AT DUSK AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGED. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE MANUALLY ENGAGED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE THREE BRAKE STOP LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TWICE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE WITHIN THE FUSE BOX AND THE CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10717130
Incident
Apr 9, 2014
Mileage
20,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 9, 2013

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT ADEQUATE TO SEE SAFELY AT NIGHT. THE LIGHTS DO NOT SHINE FORWARD OF THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT IS AHEAD AT NIGHT, SUCH AS CURVES IN THE ROAD. ALSO, THE LIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO SEE WHEN MAKING A HARD TURN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THEY DO NOT PROVIDE ANY LIGHT AT ALL WHEN TURNING. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND STICK MY HEAD OUT TO SCAN FOR OBSTACLES AS BEST AS I CAN ON DIMLY LIT ROADWAYS. I CAN USE MY HIGH BEAM LIGHTS IN TRAFFIC AND NEVER GET FLASHED BY OTHER DRIVERS DUE TO MY LIGHTS BLINDING THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10555346
Incident
Dec 3, 2012
Mileage
40,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 21, 2013

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS MODEL DODGE RAM (2500 SLT MEGA CAB) DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION AT NIGHT. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ADJUSTED PROPERLY FOR ALIGNMENT BY THE DEALER BUT THE BULBS JUST DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT AHEAD OR TO THE SIDE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER CAN ONLY "CHECK THE CONNECTORS FOR PROPER INSTALLATION" UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A RESPONSE FROM CHRYSLER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10553257
Incident
Dec 1, 2012
Mileage
500 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .