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

TRUCK SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, WIGGLE KEY AND IT STARTS AND CONTINUES. *DSY

NHTSA ODI 11065007

TRANSFER CASE LITERALLY BLEW UP. CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO BUST IN TWO AND MULTIPLE PIECES TO SHOOT OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE LINES AND BRAKE USAGE, AS WELL AS PARTS BEING SENT INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED THIS IS THE MULTIPLE INCIDENT OF A TRANSFER CASE BLOWING UP ON DODGE RAM VEHICLES (WITH NO RECALL) AND THIS WAS BY FAR THE WORSE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO EVEN THE FRAME. TRUCK WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. NO ANCILLARY CONDITIONS, NORMAL DRIVING. TRUCK BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THEN BLEW UP SENDING PIECES INTO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND PIECES TO ENTER INTO THE CAB. *DSY

NHTSA ODI 11064713

WITH BRAKE PEDDLE DEPRESSED, WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11056246

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TIE ROD ON THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO GALEANA'S VAN DYKE DODGE (28400 VAN DYKE AVE, WARREN, MI 48093). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOE IN WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 11055965

WHILE TRAVELING S/B ON ROUTE 17 IN NEW JERSEY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH I HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER MY TRUCK AND THEN SUDDENLY MY FRONT WHEELS OF MY TRUCK LOCKED UP AND I SKIDDED TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE TRUCK WAS UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACK AND I HAD TO GET A TOW TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP ON ROUTE 4 IN NEW JERSEY. DODGE REPAIRED THE FRONT AXLE SAYING IT WAS A RECALL OF WHICH I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE, ALSO SURESKY DODGE IN GOSHEN, NEW YORK ALWAYS SERVICED MY VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2012, THEY NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF SUCH RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11048257

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LIFTERS DETACHED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE MISFIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR, THE SPARK PLUGS, AND COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11048021

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK SLAMMED ON BRAKES. I WAS ROUGHLY 30 FT BEHIND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL FELT SPONGY BEFORE GOING TO THE FLOOR. THE TIRES DID NOT LOCK UP, AND THE TRUCK SLOWED 20MPH IN ABOUT 30 FT. THE TRUCK MADE IMPACT WITH A CHEVROLET TAHOE AT 50 MPH. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT FAILED TO LOCK, THROWING MY KNEES INTO THE DASH. THE CHEVROLET TAHOE WAS TOTALED. THE CURRENT ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE RAM IS $5,448. THE BUMPER, DRIVER FENDER, GRILLE, AND HOOD WERE DAMAGED. UPON REMOVING THOSE ITEMS THE SHOP FOUND ALMOST EVERY BRACKET IN THE FRONT END HAD BEEN BROKEN AND THE FRAME HORNS BENT UPWARDS FROM THE COLLISION. THE IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK A RATCHET STRAP IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK, SENDING A LADDER THAT I WAS CARRYING INTO THE CAB CORNER, LEAVING A SOFTBALL SIZED DENT. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE INCIDENT AND THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONAL ON THE TRIP TO THE BODY SHOP, HOWEVER ANY ATTEMPT TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL RAPIDLY WOULD RESULT IN A SPONGY PEDAL. MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS 81,110. RAM WAS CONTACTED AND AFTER A WEEK OF BACK AND FORTH RAM AGREED TO SEND SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A FAULT IN THE TRUCK.

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SPEED ABOUT 20 MPH WITH NO THROTTLE, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. A FEW SECONDS LATER THE STEERING AND BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. IF THE STEERING AND BRAKES DID NOT START WORKING AGAIN THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER MOTORIST.THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE INNER RINGS ON THREE OF THE FOUR ALUMINUM WHEEL RIMS WERE CRACKED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400,000.

NHTSA ODI 11029873

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULLAHEY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (2520 GOLDEN HILL RD, PASO ROBLES, CA 93446 (805) 369-2400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRELESS IGNITION MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ASSIGNED CASE NUMBER: 32374095, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V200000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11024902

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 ODI 11024557

EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION..LESS THAN 10MPG, HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURE, POWER/PERFORMANCE WITH/ WITHOUT. MODERATE TOWING LOADS. HIGH TEMPERATURES ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATIONS IN EXCESS OF 4OOO FEET. FREQUENT ENGINE LIGHT APPEARANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11024714

AT APPRX.38,000 MI,ON A FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, RAN OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD THE TRUCK BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY, AS IF IT WAS GOING TO FLY APART.TOOK FOOT OF THE GAS, HIT THE BRAKES UNTIL SLOWED TO APPROX.. 40 MPH. I'M A SMALL FEMALE IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE OFF RAMP. THIS WAS NOT A NORMAL TIRE OUT OF BALANCE SITUATION.IF SO IT WOULD DO THAT CONSISTENTLY. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT OCCURRED WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT.HE'S DEFINITION IS LIKE A BUCKING BRONCO. WE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP LAKE NORMAN CHRYSLER DODGE. TOOK THE TRUCK IN WE THOROUGHLY EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE WRITER HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. HE WROTE IT UP AS A VERY BAD VIBRATION. THEIR FINDINGS WAS A STEERING STABALIZER AND REPLACED IT. MILEAGE WAS 42722. IT DOESN'T DO THIS WITH EVERY BUMP YOU HIT. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. NOW ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN TWICE. BOTH TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY 60 TO 65 MPH. WHEN YOU'RE ON A FREEWAY AND A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK IS BEHIND YOU, IT IS LIFE THREATENING TO TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND HIT THE BRAKES. THE TRUCK IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN THERE FOR 1 1/2 WEEKS. THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS CALLED THE DEATH WOBBLE AND DODGE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND HAS NEVER SOLVED THE PROBLEM.THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM ON THE DODGE RAM 2500 AND JEEP WRANGLERS. NORMALLY IT OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS 150,000 MILES ON IT OR BETTER WHEN PARTS HAVE WORN OUT, NOT AT 40,000.IF THE DEALER SAYS THAT ALL THE PARTS AND BUSHINGS ARE GOOD, IF SO, THEN THIS IS A DODGE RAM DESIGN FLAW. THERE ARE REPORTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET OF OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS. WE PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE AND NOW CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ODI 11022939

WHEN DRIVING MY TRUCK ON ANY KIND OF ROUGH ROAD OR HITTING A BUMP THE TRUCK WILL SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF I LOSE ALL POWER TO STEERING, POWER BRAKES AND ALL ELECTRIC COMPONENTS. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE WIN MODULE IS THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11021238

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND WAS SUCCESSFUL ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT. THE FAILURE RECURRED AT LEAST TWELVE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BRAD FRANCIS DODGE IN LOS LUNAS, NEW MEXICO), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,200.

NHTSA ODI 11016249

UPON PLACING MY SEATBELT ON I LOOKED AT THE SILVER PART THAT IS THE OUTER PORTIONS OF THE CONTROLS , RIGHT NEXT TO THE 4W DR BUTTON AND THERE WAS A CIRCULAR ACTUAL MELTED AREA, WHEN TOUCHED WAS ROUGH/BURNT, COULD SEE THE BLACK PLASTIC UNDERNEATH . NO OTHER AREAS NOTED. . TOOK TO DODGE, AND THEY STATE, AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK 4 DAYS , THEY STATEMENT AS TO CAUSE IS, " THAT IT IS A DIRECT SUN BURNED PORTION ZEROED IN THRU THE BACK WINDOW THAT HEATED IT UP, MELTED THE CIRCULAR AREA AND IS NOT UNDER WARRENTY. WE HAVE A MEGA CAB, ALL TINTED, WAS IN OUR DRIVEWAY WHICH IS COVERED W/TALL FIR TREES. WE HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 24 YRS. WE ARE AFRAID IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE AS DODGE WOULD NOT LOOK FOR THE CAUSE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & WE WHERE TAKING IT IN FOR ANOTHER AIR FLOW DETECTOR AS THIS HAS BEEN THE 3RD ONE REPLACED, R/T SMOG GAGETS. WE R BOTH RETIRED AND DO NOT TAKE ANY TRIPS, D/T MY AND MY HUSBANDS CONDITIONS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DICK HUVAERES DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TICKING IN THE MOTOR WAS DUE TO A FAULTY WATER PUMP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE BERLIN TOWNSHIP AND ELMONT FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SALVAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ODI 11012157

HAVE A SHAKE IN THE TRUCK! HAVE TAKEN IT IN MANY TIME TO BE FIXED! FOR FOUR YEARS HAVE HEARD IT NORMAL TO YOU WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. FINALLY AFTER 6 OR 7 DEALER ONE DECIDED IT WOULD OPEN IT UP. THE HOOKED IT UP TO THIS MACHINE THAT WOULD TELL THEM WERE IT'S COMING FROM. THEY TELL ME THE ONLY THING THEY CAN FIND IS A TRANS MOUNT. SO AFTER THAT THEY OPEN THE REAR END THEY HAD TO REBUILD IT. THEN THEY HAD TO PUT ALL NEW FROM REAR END UP TO THE ENGINE WHILE POWER TRAIN. IT STILL HAD A SHAKE! THEN THEY GOT AN OK TO OPEN THE ENGINE FROM CHRYSLER. SO THEY ADJUSTED THE VALUE LASH. O ALMOST FORGOT THE DEALER HAD MY TRUCK 7 MONTHS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SO WHEN I PICKED IT UP FROM SZOTT M-59 ON THURSDAY AT AROUND 7 PM AND BUY SATURDAY MORNING TRUCK IS ON FIRE IN DRIVE WAY AT ABOUT 9 AM. I DROVE IT ON FRIDAY ,I PARKED IT BY 4 PM . SO IT WAS OFF FOR ABOUT 17 HOURS OR SO. HAVE NO IDEA WHY THERE WAS A FIRE. REALLY WOULD LIKE TO NO WHAT HAPPEN. HEARING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ALTERNATOR. BUT WITH THE DEALER TAKING OF THE TOP OF THE MOTOR OFF TO READJUST THE VALVE LASH.I THINK THEY HAD TO TAKE OF THE WIRE HARNESS AND BATTERY CABLES TO WORK IN IT. WOULD LOVE TO FIND OUT WHAT WENT WRONG!!!!!!!!!! THE TRUCK WAS IN DRIVEWAY FACING SOUTH WIND WAS COMING FROM THE SOUTH. TEMP OUT SIDE WARM. TRUCK WAS SHUT OFF AROUND 4PM FRI. FIRE LOOKED LIKE IT STARTED ON DRIVER SIDE. LOOKED LIKE BATTERY AREA IS WERE THE FIRE STARTED DRIVER SIDE. I HAVE TO MUCH PAPER WORK TO SEND!!!!

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THE AIR BAG COVER IS COMING APART FROM THE 1'OCLOCK POSITION TO THE 8 O'CLOCK POISTION. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT $700 TO REPALCE THE AIRBAG WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE COVER. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A SAFETY ITEM THAT SHOULD STILL BE COVERED.

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WIRELESS KEY NODE STOPS WORKING. THUS THE TRUNK LOSES POWER AND SHUTS DOWN. THIS IS A VERY DANGERS CONDITION. HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. YOU CAN PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND IT RESTARTS ,DODGE KNOWS THE PROBLEM BUT HAS DONE NOT A THING TO FIX IT. AT $440.00 PLUS TO FIX IT I GUESS IT IS A MONEY MAKER.

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VEHICLE IGNITION- WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND YOU HIT A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD THE TRUCK WILL SHUT OFF. THIS WILL OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SPEEDS AS LOW AT 20MPH. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY, ONCE THE KEY IS TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE, ALL LOSS OF POWER TO THE DASH AND IGNITION SYSTEM. LASTLY IF THE REMOTE START IS USED AND THE KEY IT PUT INTO THE IGNITION AND TURNED TO THE ON POSITION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 10960086

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN LAND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HOME. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 10945704

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 ODI 10937470

THE SPRAY NOZZLES ON ALL DODGES ARE BREAKING WAY BEFORE THEY SHOULD. THE HARD PLASTIC NOZZLE BREAKS WHERE IT IS ATTACHED TO THE FLUID TUBE. THIS MAKES IT SO THE NOZZLE DOES NOT SPRAY THE WINDSHIELD TO CLEAN IT WITH THE WIPERS. MY TRUCK IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND BOTH NOZZLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THERE ARE MANY OTHER DODGE OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM, MANY VIDEOS TO SEE ON YOUTUBE.

NHTSA ODI 10929002

WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE IT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY TURN OFF, WHEELS LOCK UP, STEERING LOCKS UP, ENGINE STOPS COMPLETELY NO MATTER WHAT I AM DOING. AS OF LATE THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. AFTER RESEARCH WAS DONE, IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM THAT WILL CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. THIS TRUCK HAS DONE THIS ON THE INTERSTATE, HWY, AND CITY STREETS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS TIMES. THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE AND IS USED TO DRIVE MY 4 CHILDREN AROUND, AGES 17 TO 1YR OLD.

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