10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,514 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Ram 1500 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #99

Jun 222019

1500

  • 73,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2012 Dodge Ram 1500 sport 5.7 hemi 73000 miles and without warning while driving the valve spring breaks did not even generate a check engine light come to find out that several other Ram hemi owners have had the sam issue and Dodge apparently is aware of this and will not!!!!!!!!!!!! stand behind their product so I will never!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! own or recommend to anyone I know to own one of these P.O.S. Ram not worth the money or the trouble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dodge should be sued and they should be ashamed of the thier lack of customer care!!!!!!!!!!!! I contacted the Dodge hq and was told that I would receive a follow-up phone call within 24 hrs got nothing again they don't care

- Scotch Plains, NJ, USA

problem #98

May 052019

1500

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. While driving at any speed, the vehicle shook, the engine made abnormal noises, and the check engine indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the lifters in the engine cylinder needed to be replaced. The contact called village motors at 330-674-2055 (located at 784 wooster rd, millersburg, oh 44654) where it was determined that there was no recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was provided a fake phone number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

- Shreze, OH, USA

problem #97

Apr 182019

1500

  • miles
I bought 2012 Ram 1500 in August 2018, I make payment. This past April vibration and hesitation got worse, I had plugs replaced, didn't help. Found out that lifters needed replaced and camshaft. I spent $217 on plug replacement and additional $4500 to replace lifters camshaft. Engine light comes on now it's saying vaporation leak. I have read that thousands and thousands of customers have had this problem and no recall from Chrysler. This is my first Dodge, this will be my last Dodge unless I get compensation from Chrysler. I know this truck is not under warranty, but Chrysler has to know that this is a problem with the hemi, I was told at a dealer this was common in hemi, no one told me that when I brought I still owe on this truck, plus I'm out $4667 that I can't get back if I traded, only had 8 months when this happened. This doesn't include the the vap problem on the cost.

- Ellijay, GA, USA

problem #96

May 232019

1500

  • 79,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I started to have trouble with the truck as it would not start in the mornings when I was trying to go to work. I replaced the fuel pump and it did not solve the problem. Shortly after that, my battery would be dead most mornings. I replaced the battery, but still the problems continued. The truck started to lose power while I was driving so I took it to a mechanic. He told me that the tipm was faulty and needed to be replaced. I had to take it to the dealership I purchased it from to have it fixed. I have driven the truck less that 7000 miles since I purchased it. After speaking with fca, they say that they won't do anything to help out because the truck is out of warranty. I want to know why a recall was never put in place and enacted because I have seen thousands of complaints from people having the same problems. I would like to know why I'm having to pay $1794.03 out of pocket for the faults of the manufacturer pf the vehicle.

- Lewisville, TX, USA

problem #95

Mar 082019

1500

  • 35 miles
Cam and lifter failure under 90,000miles on it had for about a year bought from Dodge dealership they said there was no warranty or extended warranty coverage on it this is prime example of a lemon for the lemon law this is apparently a common issue on these engines with a repair cost of 4400 dollars or more this is unacceptable also the dealership has had my truck more than 3 months because they can't get the camshaft or lifters because of issues with them and are on backorder which means they have been putting in faulty parts into the engines

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #94

May 202019

1500

  • 136,000 miles
2012 Ram 1500 - cranked my Ram truck one morning and the engine had a knock with a tapping sound, turn off check the oil level which was ok! started the engine and only heard like a mainifold leak. After driving a few miles, I notice that the truck was shaky during take-off or climbing a hill. Drop truck off at my mechanic for a tune-up and later that day my mechanic notified me the tune-up wasn't the problem. He remove the cams/lifters to #5 lifter and that lifter wasn't moving like 1,3 & 7. "is was like the lug on the cam were wore out."

- Mcgehee, AR, USA

problem #93

May 152019

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Exhaust studs broke took to shop for repair got back still exhaust leak took back had to replace driver side maniford was told by Dodge dealer shop that new design studs was available cause of the problem Dodge had with studs breaking paid over $1200 for this work

- Madison, GA, USA

problem #92

May 012019

1500

  • 83,000 miles
Truck shuts down on occasions when you step on the brakes?

- Penitas, TX, USA

problem #91

May 132019

1500

  • 155,580 miles
2012 Dodge Ram sport loses power and has an annoying ticking sound with it.. ticking is constant and so is power loss. This happened two days ago.. truck has 155,620 miles on it. Happened as I was getting on the the interstate..

- Easton, PA, USA

problem #90

Apr 142019

1500

  • 77,000 miles
Serious exhaust leak. Also, exhaust is leaking into the cabin. My 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 truck has 77,000 miles. I noticed a ticking noise coming from under the hood and a terrible smell inside the truck. I realized the vehicle has an exhaust leak. The leak is coming from the exhaust manifold on the passenger side. A mechanic friend of mine who works at a shop in gainesville fl told me his shop has repaired 125 of the same trucks in 2.5 yrs who have the same problem. The problem is the manifold bolts are failing/breaking which causes an exhaust leak which in turn causes the manifold to warp. My truck has now had the same failure and is currently at my local dealership. My truck was in motion on a city street. In my opinion this exhaust leak is a serious problem just like Ford recently had with their police vehicles.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #89

Aug 082017

1500

  • 99,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle makes a loud ticking noice at startup on the passenger side of the engine. Vehicle is stationary. Ticking noise stops around five minutes after the vehicle warms up.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #88

Jul 152018

1500

  • 78,000 miles
The exhaust manifold leaks due to broken bolts adhering manifold to engine. The problem is wide spread and a known problem with this vehicle, it is possibly allowing exhaust gas into passenger compartment due to leak from poor design, costing consumer more than 1000$ to fix both sides of manifold.

- Golden, CO, USA

problem #87

Feb 022019

1500

  • 160,000 miles
My check engine light came on while driving apprx 65 on the free way. I checked the code P0305. Slight sputter at first. Now low power below 30mph and major jump into gear higher than 30mph. Almost as if skipping a gear. Mechanic diagnosed it as a cam failure causing a misfire, possibly from evidence of spring seizure.

- Petaluma, CA, USA

problem #86

Feb 112019

1500

  • 97,000 miles
My Ram 1500 had valve springs break. It has a tick in the engine and the mechanic said it was a lifter. He said 2012 Ram always get bad lifters, also the front seats the way they are shaped, when getting in or out the edges are rubbed and my leather is torn. The lifter is a major issue. I'll never by another Ram again because of it. My truck sounds awful. I have 97000 mile it's 2012, looks beautiful, and sounds like a beater. It ticks when I start it and sounds worse when I drive. When my springs broke I was driving 70 on the intetstate.. the lifter issue came first, not sure if it caused the springs to break.

- Morrison, IL, USA

problem #85

Mar 012019

1500

  • 80,000 miles
The lifters have failed and there is only around 80,000 miles on vehicle. After doing research I have found that this is a very common problem for the hemi engines that have the mds system. I should not have to pay thousands of dollars to have it fixed when this is a very well known problem and design flaw

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #84

May 012018

1500

  • 70,000 miles
Exhaust manifold bolts are broke off in the block!!!!!

- Wind Gap, PA, USA

problem #83

Feb 272019

1500

  • 56,402 miles
While operating my truck in normal usage, the truck began to loss power, shake violently, and emit a knocking/clacking sound. The truck displayed a mil code P0304 for a misfire, one that was caused by defective, negligently engineered powertrain components. Camshaft and valve lifter failures are known issues on this vehicle across multiple model years. The moment when they manifest can cause driver distraction at the least, loss of vehicle control at worst. Fca should be compelled to issue a recall to cover repairs/reimburse those who have suffered vehicle failure. The parts alone will cost nearly $1800, with labor costs expected to at least double that.

- Centennial, CO, USA

problem #82

Feb 042019

1500

  • 94,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted and was able to drive normally. In addition, when making turns, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to autonation Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of katy (located at 21777 katy fwy, katy, tx 77450, (281) 715-6920) where it was diagnosed that cylinder number three was misfiring from the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lifter in the engine and camshaft failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000. The VIN was not available.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #81

Feb 072019

1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. While making a right turn, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact powered off the engine while in traffic. The vehicle was restarted and was able to drive normally. On another occasion, the vehicle failed to start and a clicking noise was heard. Also, the message "no fuse" appeared. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were contacted, could not duplicate problem. They said it is the tipm computer. Second incident occurred exactly the same as 1st incident (took to mechanic) told him truck stalled again making right turn at light, almost hit another car. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000. Consumer stated codes indicate major computer issues. Replaced battery, alternator maintenance to fuel tank, etc. Vehicle dies while driving. Dealer wants to replace fuel pump and computer tipm.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #80

Nov 052018

1500

  • 58,653 miles
Vehicle fails to start in the morning. Once it is started, it runs fine. It will restart if not left more that 4 hours. It is parked in a garage at night and the temprature never gets below freezing.

- Tappahannock, VA, USA

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