What are the most common RAM 1500 problems?
According to Au7o's analysis of 5,411+ owner reports, the 2012 RAM 1500 has 12 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) Failure, HEMI Lifter/Camshaft Failure, TIPM Internal Fuel Pump Relay Failure (Crank-No-Start, Stalling, Fuel Pump Runs With Key Off). Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the RAM 1500 reliable?
The 2012 RAM 1500 has 12 known issues documented across 5,411+ owner reports. 3 issues are rated critical: TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) Failure and HEMI Lifter/Camshaft Failure and TIPM Internal Fuel Pump Relay Failure (Crank-No-Start, Stalling, Fuel Pump Runs With Key Off). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common RAM 1500 problems?
Repair costs for known RAM 1500 issues range from $50 to $5,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) Failure, typically costs $50-$1,200 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2009-2016 RAM 1500 TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) Failure?
The TIPM controls most electrical functions and commonly fails, causing erratic behavior. The fuel pump relay inside the TIPM is particularly prone to failure, resulting in no-start conditions. Horn honking randomly, headlights flickering, and wipers activating on their own are c… Repairs typically run $50-$1,200. Severity: high.
What is the 2009-2019 RAM 1500 HEMI Lifter/Camshaft Failure?
The 5.7L HEMI engine with Multi-Displacement System (MDS) can experience premature lifter and camshaft wear. The MDS deactivation lifters are prone to failure, causing ticking, misfires, and in severe cases, camshaft lobe damage. This issue has led to class action lawsuits. Repairs typically run $200-$5,500. Severity: high.
What is the 2011-2018 RAM 1500 TIPM Internal Fuel Pump Relay Failure (Crank-No-Start, Stalling, Fuel Pump Runs With Key Off)?
The Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) contains a fuel-pump relay soldered to its circuit board. When it fails it cuts power to the fuel pump, causing a crank-no-start that mimics running out of gas, or a sudden stall while driving; sometimes the pump keeps running with the k… Repairs typically run $100-$1,200. Severity: high.
What is the 2009-2019 RAM 1500 Exhaust Manifold Bolt Breakage?
The exhaust manifold bolts on HEMI engines are prone to breaking due to heat cycling. Broken bolts cause exhaust leaks, ticking noise on cold start, and potential exhaust smell in cabin. The rear bolts on both sides are most commonly affected. Repairs typically run $100-$700. Severity: medium.
What is the 2009-2018 RAM 1500 Broken Exhaust Manifold Bolts on the 5.7L HEMI Leak Air Into the Bank 2 Sensor?
The 5.7L HEMI's exhaust manifold bolts, particularly the rearmost ones on each head, are a well-documented failure item. Repeated heat cycling stretches and eventually snaps them, and once a bolt lets go the manifold lifts off the head just enough to open a gap at that port. On t… Repairs typically run $500-$1,800. Severity: medium.
What is the 2009-2018 RAM 1500 Front Wheel Bearing / Hub Assembly Failure (Humming/Growling Noise, ABS Light)?
4th-gen Ram 1500 front wheel bearing/hub assemblies wear out relatively early (some as low as ~50k miles), producing a humming or growling noise that rises with speed and changes with steering load. Because the wheel-speed sensor is integrated into the hub, a failing bearing freq… Repairs typically run $200-$600. Severity: medium.
What is the 2009-2023 RAM 1500 Rear Axle Pinion Seal Leak and Differential Whine on Accel/Decel?
Ram 1500 rear (and sometimes front) differential pinion seals weep gear oil at the pinion flange, leaving residue on the driveshaft yoke and a wet spot at the front of the diff. The leak itself is minor, but improper repair is the bigger problem: if the pinion nut is not torqued… Repairs typically run $200-$1,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2009-2024 RAM 1500 5.7L HEMI Broken Exhaust Manifold Bolts / Manifold Leak (Sharp Cold-Start Tick That Fades)?
The 5.7L HEMI's factory exhaust manifold bolts/studs snap from repeated heat cycling, and the cast manifolds can warp or crack. The classic tell is a sharp tapping/ticking on cold start that quiets as the engine warms and the manifold expands to partially reseal the leak. Nearly… Repairs typically run $300-$1,200. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2023 RAM 1500 5.7L HEMI Water Pump Leak From Weep Hole and Shaft Seal?
The mechanical, belt-driven water pump on the Ram 1500 is a long-standing weak point across Chrysler products. The shaft seal and bearing wear, and coolant begins seeping from the weep hole at the bottom of the pump. Failures are reported across a wide mileage range, from as low… Repairs typically run $250-$700. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2021 RAM 1500 P0420/P0430 Catalytic Converter Inefficiency on 5.7L HEMI?
Ram 1500 5.7L HEMI trucks commonly throw P0420 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold, Bank 1) and P0430 (Bank 2). On these engines the most frequent true cause is not a worn catalyst but an exhaust leak — a cracked exhaust manifold or broken manifold bolts (the same source… Repairs typically run $250-$2,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2023 RAM 1500 Transfer Case Shift Motor / Actuator Failure ('Service 4WD', Won't Engage 4-High or 4-Low)?
4WD-equipped Ram 1500 trucks use an electric shift motor (encoder/gear motor) bolted to the BorgWarner transfer case to move between 2WD, 4WD-Auto, 4-High and 4-Low. The motor's internal plastic gears wear or strip, and water/road-salt intrusion corrodes the connector and motor w… Repairs typically run $300-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2009-2022 RAM 1500 HVAC Blend Door Actuator Failure (Clicking, One Side Hot/One Cold)?
The plastic-geared HVAC blend-door actuators behind the dash strip their gears over time, producing a repetitive clicking or knocking from behind the glove box or center dash and temperature control problems such as one side blowing hot while the other blows cold, or no heat/AC o… Repairs typically run $150-$450. Severity: low.
