What 694 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad Cab

The truck was sitting at home in the driveway (untouched) for 3 days. Suddenly smoke began to appear from under the hood and within minutes, the engine compartment burst into flames. Because of the fire, smoke and water damage, the vehicle was considered a total loss by the insurance company. The fire marshal advised that the fire started in the vicinity of the passenger side starter battery. It is thought the fire originated from the battery or the grid heater relay that is very near the passenger side battery. The fire also damaged a nearby RV that experienced smoke and heat damage. It was a very intense fire. There were no open recalls on this vehicle and no recent maintenance work performed.

NHTSA ODI 11629492

Fuse box caught on fire while driving

NHTSA ODI 11571361

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 ODI 11567227

Abs speed sensor not working causing the abs traction control and 4x4 not to work, also cruise control also won't work, truck spun out due to no abs and was stranded in winter condition not being able to use 4x4

NHTSA ODI 11504449

2012 DODGE RAM 1500 EXPRESS 2WD / 2 DOOR TRUCK. ON MARCH 21, 2018 AT 9:00 AM, I HAD A FIRE IN THE CENTER OF MY STEERING WHEEL BY MY AIRBAG. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY ENTIRE ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL ONLY COVER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A ASSEMBLY AND MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES NOW MADE IN MEXICO BY INEXPERIENCE AND INCOMPETENT PEOPLE WORKING AT CHRYSLERS NEW MANUFACTURING PLANT FOR CHEAP FOREIGN SLAVE LABOR IN MEXICO. THE ENTIRE WIRE HARNESS FROM MY STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO MY ENGINE THROUGH THE FIRE WALL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED NOW COSTING ME WELL OVER $2200.00. THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS IS NOW A LOT THINNER WIRES AND NOT PROTECTED FROM COMING INTO HEAT OR CONTACT AND WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE ENGINE AREA. MY MAIN ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS IN MY TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE ON ME ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2018 AT 9:00 AM. I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THIS ISSUE TO YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11081190

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER (POWER STEERING, ANTI LOCK BRAKES, AND SEATBELT FUNCTION) DUE TO A BAG IGNITION SWITCH. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I NOTICED ALL MY DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND MY VEHICLE HAD COMPLETELY POWERED OFF LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER STEERING AND NO ANTI LOCK BRAKES. LUCKILY I WAS ON STRAIGHT ENOUGH ROAD TO ONLY RUN OFF THE ROAD ONCE I SLOWED DOWN. IAFTER HITTING A DITCH I NOTICED MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING ME TO SLIGHTLY BUMP MY HEAD. I WASN'T HURT BUT THIS HAS TO BE A ISSUE. IT HAS WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THEN BUT DID THE SAME THING ON A LATER DATE WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11004996

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE, THE FAN FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING FAILED TO DEACTIVATE. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO DEACTIVATE THE FAN. THE BATTERY WAS RECONNECTED AND THE RELAY SWITCH WAS BURNED AND MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI 10871921

ON JULY 8, 2014 MY 2012 RAM 1500 CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS LAST OPERATED ON THE EVENING OF JULY 7, 2014. AT APPROXIMATELY NOON ON JULY 8, 2014 WHILE WORKING ON MY COMPUTER INSIDE MY HOUSE I DETECTED THE ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. I ASSUME IT WAS INITIALLY ORIGINATING FROM INSIDE MY HOUSE. AFTER INVESTIGATING I WALKED OUTSIDE AND FOUND THAT THE INTERIOR OF MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. I PUT OUT THE FIRE AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO RESPONDED TO ENSURE THAT THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY OUT. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY IN ADDITION TO THE LOCAL DEALER, JEFF D'AMBORSIO AUTO GROUP, I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO IN TURN CONTACTED HIS REGIONAL MANAGER FOR GUIDANCE. I RECEIVED A LETTER DATE JULY 10, 2014 FROM THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CLAIMS RESOLUTION GROUP ADVISING THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING MY FILE. I WAS CONTACTED BY THE RESOLUTION GROUP AND ADVISED THE FILE WAS BEING TURNED OVER TO A GROUP, ISG, FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN RESOLUTION. CHRYSLER ARRANGED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED ON JULY 12, 2014 TO THE JEFF D' AMBROSIO DEALERSHIP WHERE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHRYSLER WAS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THAT INSPECTION TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY, JULY 15TH. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY FIRE INVESTIGATOR ORIGINATED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL AND RESULTED IN TOTAL DAMAGES OF $23,000 WHICH THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SETTLED A CLAIM BY PAYING OFF THE LOAN BALANCE OF $19,500 AND SUBMITTED A CHECK TO ME FOR THE EXCESS TO COVER THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY I AM NOT PROVIDED RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP BY THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHRYSLER. THE CASE NUMBER ASSIGNED BY CHRYSLER [XXX]. AS OF TODAY, AUGUST 13 I HAVE NO RESOLUTION DIRECTLY FROM CHRYSLER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621930