Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
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).
**Subject: URGENT VEHICLE SAFETY CONCERN - Steering Failure, Track Bar Bracket/Frame Damage, and Risk to Family Safety - 2012 Ram 2500** To Ram Customer Care and the Vehicle Safety Team, I am requesting immediate attention to a serious safety concern involving my 2012 Ram 2500 4 4 with the 6.7L Cummins diesel engine. This is not simply a complaint about suspension performance or the cost of repairing an older truck. My concern is the history of steering and suspension failures that could put the driver, passengers, children, and other road users at risk. The factory drag link broke in half while I was driving down a steep hill. That was a frightening and dangerous experience. The truck also had problems while it was still at stock suspension height. I believed the stock suspension was responsible, which is why I later installed an aftermarket lift. …
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.
Well for starters the air bag light come. Took it back they said nothing wrong had a bottle under seat.OK whatever than time goes on air bag light still on.take it back.they replace the air bag brain so im told. Lights off for about a couple weeks.then comes back on. Im so tried of dealing with this. And then I have problems with the tires which got rotated like there supposed too. They wore out on the inside. I was told by one place it need a front end alignment. So I proceed to get one and they had told me my camber alignment bolt was bent and it need to be dealt with a the dealer, because it could be a defect. So I took it to the dealer and the said they did the alignment and it was fixed.I hope so never got it checked again. I dont hold my breathe for that. Then my suspension leans to the rightside just a little but nothings wrongs so im told by the dealer. …
Took truck to coppus motors tiffin,ohio on 4/21/2015 due to front left of vehicle making excessive road noise and wanted to know if it was from the tire, or something wrong with front end. Dealership said they checked bearings and suspension and all checked OK. Was told by Chrysler to have a certified dealership for Goodyear check tires, at that time they advised me, the front end must be out of alignment.took truck to independant front end alignment business, to have alignment checked after purchasing new tires. Toe and camber were both out and were adjusted. After 3 wks. Time, front end alignment was out again. Same business, realigned again. 2wks later took to coppus motors and it was out of alignment again, dealership aligned it. 3wks later took back to coppus motors as requested by dealership to check alignment and it was out again. …
Lower control arm broke in half driving straight through a parking lot, causing partial separation of front passenger wheel and hub assembly from vehicle and loss of vehicle control as well as sudden deceleration. Resulting in complete damage to brake line, upper control arm, drive shaft, steering rack, steering column(broken internal steering shaft), airbag and steering wheel controls clockspring, passenger fender, bumper assembly, as well as second degree burns to forearms from the resulting steering wheel backlash. This occurred at appx 10mph. An acquaintance qualified to have an opinion on the cause looked at photos of the parts grain structure at break, concluded casting error of cast aluminum control arm. …
My vehicle is covered under the settlement imposed against Fiat Chrysler to offer buyback option to owner based on purchase price minus reasonable depreciation. However, my dealer, Fiat Chrysler, buyback hotlines, and everyone I have contacted are passing the buck and no one seems to know anything about this buyback program. I have been working on this for 18 months. I am about to go meet with a service dept. Manager this morning, after receiving more ignorance and "I don't know anything about it's" yesterday. Frustrating. There are steering issues, electrical issues, and power train concerns., and if someone gets hurt in the meantime while I am having to navigate this mess, I will own Fiat Chrysler, NHTSA, and will take over the buyback number and turn it into a pizza delivery call center. Thank you
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact heard a loud banging noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The driver coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed that the rear axle detached independently. The driver was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear axle pinion nut detached and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer stated that they did not go by carfax information, and the vehicle was from Canada and could not serviced. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
My Ram 1500 while traveling at highway speeds, 60 MPH and above, handles fine until I hit a bump in the road which causes the truck to vibrate terribly and it looses control and requires to take the foot off the accelerator to get the truck under control. It vibrates out of it's lane and if extremly dangerous. I thought it was tires so I never complained but after putting new tires on my truck and the dangerous vibration would still occur after hittling a bump in the road, I searched on line and found that other people with Ram trucks have been having this problem for years. Is Dodge doing anything about this terrible problem?
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ram 1500. While driving various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear axle pinon nut was loose and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also taken to byers Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (465 s hamilton rd, columbus, oh) where the failure was confirmed; however, the dealer refused to perform the repair per NHTSA campaign number: 13V038000 (suspension) because the VIN was excluded from a recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 102,126.
Vehicle starting shaking a lot and over a month period it wore out my front two tires, I had to replace both tires (alignment / balance was conducted). The 2 new tires were placed on the back and now the old back tires are in front and they're starting to wear out as well and the front of the vehicle starting to shake. Not sure if the suspension is bad, the vehicle was never involved in any accident or anything has been hit. The truck is immaculate condition other than the front suspension is shaking.
Suspension complaints in other Ram 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the suspension of the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500, 3% of the model year's 698 complaints. The component named most often is rear (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension 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 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles, and 39% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to suspension 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.