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2012 Ram 2500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
35% of relevant owner complaints on the 2012 Ram 2500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2012 Ram 2500 have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 94 of 283 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Ram 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%), and the largest group is filed under engine (44). For comparison, the 2011 scores 20% and the 2013 scores 42%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Ram 2500 years
Of the 13 Ram 2500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (35%). The worst is the 2021 (53%), the best the 2018 (4%). By volume, the 2012 drew 283 complaints (94 drivetrain), against 298 for the 2011 and 178 for the 2013.
Ram 2500 years to avoid and best years →
2011 2500 problems · 2012 · 2013 2500 problems · 2014 2500 problems · 2015 2500 problems · 2016 2500 problems · 2017 2500 problems · 2018 2500 problems · 2019 2500 problems · 2020 2500 problems · 2021 2500 problems · 2022 2500 problems · 2023 2500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Ram 2500
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Ram 2500 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 94 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Ram 2500 engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Ram 2500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission…
Risk: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer…
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.
Risk: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Ram 2500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Ram 2500 have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 94 of 283 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Ram 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Ram 2500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Ram 2500 is steering: 109 of 283 complaints (39%) name it, followed by electrical system (51) and engine (44). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 35% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Ram 2500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 35% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Ram 2500 years we score, it ranks 4th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Ram 2500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Ram 2500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 17V821000 (power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift), 14V635000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ram 2500 years are better?
Among the Ram 2500 years we track, the 2018 (4%), the 2017 (12%) and the 2011 (20%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (35%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ram-2500
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.