Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 40-60 mph, on several occasions after driving over a bump in the roadway, the vehicle loss steering and braking functionality before the vehicle loss motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the wireless ignition node module was faulty. The mechanic retrieved a fault code. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V200000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was 216,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 2500. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start intermittently. The contact also stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.
While driving, my dodge shut off and it was hard to control my vehicle and come to a safe stop, out of the way of other motorists. Lost all power, as if I turned the key off while driving. Turns out that there is a weak/loss of connection in the WIN module. while the vehicle is running at idle, the truck will shut off as if I turned the key to the off position. This is dangerous and scary. There was no warning or heads up or any issues prior to this incident.
The switch to start the vehicle has to be pushed down and turned at the same time. Vehicle starts but shuts the engine down when the key returns sometimes. On one occasion vehicle shut down while driving.
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. …
Back in September 2017 I was at work at offutt air force base when I received several messages from the papillion fire department, the la vista police department, and my apartment staff had been desperately trying to get ahold of me to let me know that my Ram 2500, which I had not driven in over 10 days, had caught fire under the hood in its parking spot near my apartment building. My first thought after being completely blown away by the fact that a lightly used truck that hadn't even been driven could spontaneously catch itself on fire was that thank goodness the truck was parked outside and not in my garage. When I got to my truck I saw that the fuse box was melted as well as all the wires leading to and from the fuse box. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while pulling a trailer, the vehicle started losing engine power. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road and there were flames coming from the hood of the vehicle. The contact did not disclose who extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact received NHTSA campaign number: 14V635000 (engine and engine cooling, fuel system, diesel). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the exhaust fractured causing the emergency brake wiring and the ABS wiring to melt without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it diagnosed that the exhaust pipes ,the ABS, and the wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ram 2500. While driving 65 MPH, the contact detected a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to covert Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (8107 research blvd, austin, tx 78758, [phone]) where the contact was informed that the relay failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.
Vehicle was parked in driveway for 6.5hrs. Was unoccupied and not running. Key was not in vehicle. No accessories were plugged in. Flames suddenly erupted from under hood driver's area. Vehicle caught fire and is a total loss. I heard the horn sound prior to noticing the smoke and several times in the fire.
Electrical complaints in other Ram 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2012 Dodge Ram 2500?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the electrical system of the 2012 Dodge Ram 2500, 18% of the model year's 283 complaints. The component named most often is wiring (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2012 Dodge Ram 2500, though it has 4 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 2500 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 7 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system 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.