2012 Dodge RAM 1500 Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500, 13% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 65,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “chrysler jeep” (8% of reports).
- 92power train complaints
- 65,500median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 62%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Chrysler jeep: mentioned in 7 of 92 complaints (8%)
- Manifold bolts: mentioned in 5 of 92 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 58 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 92 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Dodge RAM 1500 power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 RAM 1500 | 92 | 13% | 65,500 |
| 2011 RAM 1500 | 176 | 26% | 44,000 |
| 2010 RAM 1500 | 229 | 47% | 60,000 |
| 2009 RAM 1500 | 231 | 34% | 69,000 |
| 2008 RAM 1500 | 73 | 13% | 84,459 |
| 2007 RAM 1500 | 61 | 12% | 63,500 |
| 2006 RAM 1500 | 100 | 13% | 89,500 |
| 2005 RAM 1500 | 593 | 51% | 110,967 |
| 2004 RAM 1500 | 181 | 16% | 120,678 |
| 2003 RAM 1500 | 125 | 11% | 74,000 |
| 2002 RAM 1500 | 99 | 12% | 82,500 |
| 2001 RAM 1500 | 95 | 9% | 57,570 |
| 2000 RAM 1500 | 45 | 9% | 60,000 |
| 1999 RAM 1500 | 59 | 10% | 70,000 |
| 1998 RAM 1500 | 85 | 16% | 90,000 |
| 1997 RAM 1500 | 56 | 16% | 70,001 |
| 1996 RAM 1500 | 52 | 17% | 106,000 |
| 1995 RAM 1500 | 30 | 14% | 86,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
Risk: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.
Power train:driveline:differential unit
Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through September 30, 2011; model year 2009 Chrysler Aspen trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008; and model year 2009 Dodge Durango trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008. The rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized pinion spline that can allow relative motion between the nut and companion flange.
Risk: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
Fix: On November 7, 2013 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N08.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Dodge RAM 1500s have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 92 owner complaints about power train for the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 (13% of the 698 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 power train?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 65,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500?
The most frequent phrase is “chrysler jeep”, in 7 of 92 complaints, followed by “manifold bolts” (5).
Other 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 problems
See all 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 problems or power train problems across all RAM 1500 years.