What breaks most · 2008 to 2012 model years
Dodge Ram 5500 problems by year
Owners have filed 88 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Dodge Ram 5500 across model years 2008 to 2012. Three years stand out: 2012 for steering complaints, 2011 for steering complaints and 2008 for steering complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2012, 2011, 2008
- Complaints on file
- 882008 to 2012, all trims
- Worst year
- 201240 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 29 fires · 2 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 46kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 19Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 0 | 3 | Steering (16) | |
| 7 | 1 | 3 | Steering (5) | |
| 22 | 1 | 4 | Steering (11) | |
| 40 | 0 | 9 | Steering (21) |
What fails on the 2012 Dodge Ram 5500
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 53% |
21 | 0 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 23% |
9 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 18% |
7 | 0 | Shop all electrical system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 8% |
3 | 0 | Shop all engine parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 5% |
2 | 0 | Shop all suspension parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 5% |
2 | 0 | Shop all body and structure parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 5% |
2 | 0 | Shop all fuel system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Air bags | 5% |
2 | 0 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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2012 ram 5500. Consumer writes in regards to diesel fuel heater electrical connector recall parts not available to complete recall notice. *smd the consumer also received recall # 13v527000. Updated 04/11/16.*jb
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Left side tie rod end broke off and fell to the ground. This occurred in our parking lot as the truck pulled in at the end of the day. Thankfully it didn't happen while he was driving. This is a huge safety hazard!!!
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I was informed of a safety recall on my dodge 5500 truck. The recall is identified as k28 left tie rod end. The dealer, perkins dodge, colorado springs, colorado refused to make the repair.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Dodge Ram 5500 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2012, 2011, 2008 carry the most filings on the Dodge Ram 5500. The 2012 alone has 40 complaints, led by steering.
What is the most common Dodge Ram 5500 problem?
On the 2012 model year, the most-reported component is steering with 21 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Dodge Ram 5500 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Dodge Ram 5500 complaints that include mileage is about 46,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.