Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. The side step detached from the vehicle's driver side of the vehicle while the contact was attempting to enter the vehicle. The bolts that were attaching the component had completely rusted through causing the failure. As a result, the contact sustained a injured knee during their fall. Medical attention was not sought. The dealer was contacted but had not inspected the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed that there was no recall. There was a warranty related repair however the vehicle was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.
I'm currently having the Recall no.18V160000 problem on my 2012 ram 1500 slt 4.7 but since the vin number on my truck doesn't show this recall, the dealer doesn't want to fix it. My truck currently has the front fuel tank strap frame "T-Slot" bracket broken.
When moving vehicle after fueling, truck was stopped, put in park and driver opened the door to exit the vehicle. The truck unexpectedly began moving backward and the driver was knocked to the ground by the door. The door caught the door on the fuel pump guard post, bending the door back beyond 90 degrees and bending the hinge, and causing irreparable damage to the door and fender, and also caused damage to a car fueling at the pump when it struck it. The door does not open or close properly.
I was driving down a county road, another vehicle ran a stop sign in front of me I swerved and the vehicle went airborne off the road and impacted head on to other side of the drainage ditch off the road. My airbag was not deployed and my head impacted the steering wheel.
When my vehicle went for inspection this year a hole and corrosion was discovered on the right side by the rear wheel in the cross member that connects the right and left frame rails. The fuel tank mounting strap connects to the same cross member of the left side front strap. I called a dealership to see what they could do. They said corrosion warrenty was out. My wife called Dodge to see what they could do and was told the same thing. This isn't the first issue with corrosion we have had. The hood had to be replaced. Then we have had leaks in the cab and other issues. The truck is only a 2012 and is not used for construction or abused. This is my daily driver and I take care of it very well. Including having it detailed multiple times. This looks like it is a spot that water gets in and lays there and has no weeping hole to let it drain out. …
I was driving my sons 2012 Ram 1500 4x4 crew cab with less than 20K on the odometer back from texas to north carolina. I fell asleep at the wheel and we ran into a portable tow behind highway construction sign, bounced off a guard rail and then rolled several times down the freeway embankment on I-20 in tuscaloosa alabama. Not one of the 6 airbags in the vehicle deployed. Luckily my son and his two daughters escaped practically injury free, with only minor abrasions, however I took a beating to the head and am still out of work 1 month later due to head/concussion injury. None of the side curtain airbags, side impact or frontal impact airbags deployed. I do have pictures of the truck, which was totaled, to validate this. I also have a copy of the police report stating none of the airbags deployed. What should I do? And who else should I contact?
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that a bracket was rusted around the fuel tank. The fuel tank was basically an inch off the ground while driving home on a 500 mile road trip. The contact noticed this because the bracket dragged on the ground and caused sparks. The vehicle was towed on a flatbed to lester glenn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat (1199 nj-37 w, toms river, nj 08755, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the front and rear straps needed to be replaced at the cost of $1,600. The manufacturer was notified and provided a case number. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not covered under a recall because the vehicle was made overseas and shipped to Canada. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Vehicle was parked in the driveway. Upon washing the cab with a lower pressure garden hose a large hole formed in the back corner of the cab. Upon closer inspection it appears to be rusted from the inside out. I check the other side of the cab and see that the paint is badly bubbled up indicating rust under the paint on that side as well. The clear coat was still intact in both places. I would've expected to cab to outlast the windshield wipers, but that's not the case. This truck looks show room floor new and has never even been to the salt belt.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while in park, a passenger attempted to enter the vehicle but the front passenger's side step loosened making it difficult for the passenger to enter the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000.
The body is rotting underneath the bracket that holds the gas tank rotted right out and gas tank fell tied up with rachet strap right now and the side steps rotted right out. Don't think this should happen with 2012 its only four years old called dealership they said nothing they can do not under warranty
Body complaints in other Ram 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the body & structure of the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500, 3% of the model year's 698 complaints. The component named most often is body (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 7 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.