What 282 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ram 2500 Mega Cab

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.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. A DETERMINATION WAS NOT MADE AS TO WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A FRACTURED VERTEBRAE, MODERATE BRUISING, AND SEVERE SWELLING. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. *DT *TR *TT CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG DEPLOYED. UPDATED 12/03/18*JB

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WE TOOK OUR TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A BRAKE RECALL. AFTER THE RECALL WAS FIXED, MY DAD WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY TRUCK WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND BLINKING. IT WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE AND WAS HAVING A HARD TIME ACCELERATING. HE GOT THE TRUCK TO MY HOUSE. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE MECHANIC A FEW MILES FROM MY HOUSE AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES. WHENEVER I WOULD SLOW DOWN THE TRUCK WOULD START SHAKING. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO ACCELERATE AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN AS I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD ACTUALLY GO. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE STUCK IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY BLINKING AND BEEPING. AFTER A TOW TRUCK TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THE CAM SHAFT AND LIFTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, THERE WERE MANY FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE IN 2011 AND 2012 DODGE RAM TRUCKS. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT THERE WERE ANY ISSUES WITH THE TRUCK BEFORE IT HAPPENED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

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HEARD CLUNKING NOISE WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN REVERSE/DRIVE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. NOW IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE NOISE IS SO LOUD I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. IT ONLY HAS 65000 MILES BUT IT IS OVER ON TIME BY ONE YEAR. SOUNDS LIKE IT IS FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AREA.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE CONTACT USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LANDERS CHEVROLET OF NORMAN (1221 ED NOBLE PKWY, NORMAN, OK 73072, 405-321-7021), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL), 15V459000 (AIR BAGS) ,AND 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (LARRY H. MILLER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM BOISE, 222 S AUTO DRIVE, BOISE, ID 83709) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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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.

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WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY AT A SPEED APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRUCK FLASHED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT A COUPLE TIMES AND CHIMED, THEN I LOST ALL POWER. THE POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED, AND I HAD TO MANUALLY GUIDE THE TRUCK OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A PRIVATE DRIVE AND CALL FOR A TOW. I WAS TOLD BY A SHOP THAT THE VALVE SEAT OF CYLINDER 1 FAILED AND BROKE APART INSIDE THE CYLINDER AND DAMAGED THE CYLINDER WHILE ALLOWING OIL INTO THE CYLINDER AS WELL. I AM TOLD THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I AM WAITING FOR THE SHOP'S DIAGNOSIS DOCUMENTATION.

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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.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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WIN IGNITION MODULAR SUDDENLY WENT BAD. CAN GO OUT WHEN DRIVING. DOES NOT ALLOW KEY TO BE REMOVED. CAN DRAIN BATTERIES (FOUND THIS OUT AFTER REPLACING BOTH BATTERIES). FORTUNATELY, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, BUT LEFT ME STRANDED.

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MY WIFE WAS GETTING INTO THE TRUCK AND STEPPED ON THE STEP BOARD AND THE BOARD FELL OFF THE TRUCK. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM,BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE I WAS OUT O WARRANTY. LUCKILY ME DID NOT GET HURT. TWICE A WEEK I PICKUP AN ELDERLY LADY THAT USES A WALKER, IF SHE HAD STEP ON IT SHE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT BADLY

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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

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (CHARLIE'S DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM IN MAUMEE, OH, (419) 893-0241) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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VEHICLES TRANSMISSION WILL DEFAULT INTO 4TH GEAR. AT 75 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, MY TRUCK BEGAN LURCHING AND THE RPM FLUCTUATED THEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED ON ITS OWN AND WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 4TH GEAR. I LIMPED THE TRUCK TO MY DESTINATION, AND CONTACTED RAM CUSTOMER CARE WHO PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH MY LOCAL DEALER. STILL WAITING ON THE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION CHECKED. NOTE THAT I COULD NOT MANUALLY SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION UP OR DOWN EITHER. I WAS STUCK IN 4TH GEAR, AT 75MPH.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (RUGE'S CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM, 6882 U.S. 9, RHINEBECK, NY 12572, (845) 876-1057) CONFIRMED PART UNAVAILABILITY AND WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY WHEN THE PART WOULD BE SUPPLIED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD VERIFY WHEN THE PART WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE CONTACT BEING UNABLE TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR IN ANYWAY WHICH CAUSED ME TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE . THE TRUCK WAS PARKED WHEN THE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND THEN WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK IT . YES IT WAS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE BUT ALSO A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE IF I WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR IF THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE I WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY AND SAFELY MANNER . MY MAJOR CONCERN WAS BLANTANTLY OVER LOOKED BY DODGE AND I WAS TOLD IT AN INCONVENIENCE AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH LIFE SAFETY.

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THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT START AND STAY RUNNING WITHOUT HOLDING THE IGNITION

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THERE WAS NO ESTIMATED DATE AS TO WHEN THE REMEDY WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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THE BREAK TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK LOCKING PIN ON VEHICLE MAY BECOME STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND TO ANY GEAR POSITION WITHOUT DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND/OR WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION - DEALERSHIP WON'T HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE RECALL UNTIL "PROBABLY AROUND SUMMER TIME," ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (RYAN CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP, 1212 2ND ST W, WILLISTON, ND 58801), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MODEL YEAR FOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 RAM 2500 CUMMINS DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70-75 MPH. THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY MULTIPLE VIOLENT SOUNDS COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE JUST BELOW MY FEET. THE FLOOR BOARD BELOW MY FEET WAS PUSHED UPWARD NEARLY 1 FOOT FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS SLAMMING INTO THE CAB UNTIL I COULD GET PULLED OVER. THE DRIVETRAIN NEARLY PENETRATED INTO THE CAB. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER. AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE TRUCK THE TRANSFER CASE HAD EXPLODED LEAVING METAL COMPONENTS ALL OVER THE INTERSTATE. THE EXPLOSION HAS CAUSED FROM EARLY ESTIMATES 15-25K IN DAMAGES. THE TRANSFER CASE, TRANSMISSION, DRIVESHAFTS, BRAKE LINES, WIRING HARNESSES, EMISSIONS COMPONENTS AMONG OTHER PARTS ARE COMPLETELY RUINED. THE TRUCK MAY BE TOTALED. THE TRUCK IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND CHRYSLER ISN'T BEING VERY HELPFUL. THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE NEXT TIME.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC MOTORS INC (120 S MAIN ST, RICHFIELD, UT 84701) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

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BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2017 I WAS AT WORK AT OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE WHEN I RECEIVED SEVERAL MESSAGES FROM THE PAPILLION FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE LA VISTA POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND MY APARTMENT STAFF HAD BEEN DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY RAM 2500, WHICH I HAD NOT DRIVEN IN OVER 10 DAYS, HAD CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD IN ITS PARKING SPOT NEAR MY APARTMENT BUILDING. MY FIRST THOUGHT AFTER BEING COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY BY THE FACT THAT A LIGHTLY USED TRUCK THAT HADN'T EVEN BEEN DRIVEN COULD SPONTANEOUSLY CATCH ITSELF ON FIRE WAS THAT THANK GOODNESS THE TRUCK WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND NOT IN MY GARAGE. WHEN I GOT TO MY TRUCK I SAW THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS MELTED AS WELL AS ALL THE WIRES LEADING TO AND FROM THE FUSE BOX. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL RAM DEALERSHIP AND I CONTACTED RAM AND CHRYSLER SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS WHO REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY DETAILS OTHER THAN THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

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