2012 Dodge RAM 1500 Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

163Engine complaints

23.5%Of all 694 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM167 · 24.1%

ENGINE163 · 23.5%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM92 · 13.3%

POWER TRAIN89 · 12.8%

AIR BAGS80 · 11.5%

Share of the 694 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 overview page.

What owners report

“AT ABOUT 18000 MILES ON VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY STALLED. THROTTLE BODY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, RPM DROPPED TO ALMOST ZERO. PUMPING GAS PEDAL HAD NO…”NHTSA complaint 10733679 — filed 07/13/2015

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) HOWEVER…”NHTSA complaint 10717147 — filed 05/18/2015

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL); HOWEVER…”NHTSA complaint 10714623 — filed 05/05/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500: 163 of 694 complaints on file (23.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 have in total?

694 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 32 involved a crash, 9 involved a fire, 27 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.