2012 Dodge Ram 4500

The 2012 Ram 4500 has 5 recalls, the most serious including a wheel stud that can break and allow a wheel to separate from the vehicle, a failing alternator that can stall the truck without warning or start an engine fire, and a steering wheel wiring harness that can wear through and trigger an unexpected airbag deployment.

The wheel issue stems from incorrect torque specifications in the owner's and service manuals, which can lead to over-tightened lug nuts and a broken stud. The alternator concern adds a second dimension: if the 220-amp unit shorts rather than simply failing, it raises a fire risk on top of the stall risk. On the restraint side, the airbag concern only affects trucks equipped with the Electronic Vehicle Information Center option, where wiring routed near the driver airbag retainer spring can abrade over time and cause the bag to deploy without a crash occurring.

There are also two other concerns. The column shifter on this truck can be moved out of park without the brake pedal being pressed or a key in the ignition, which means the vehicle can roll away unexpectedly if left unattended. Finally, certain trucks came from the factory equipped with Kidde fire extinguishers, either the plastic-handle or push-button Pindicator type, that may fail to discharge properly, leaving the extinguisher ineffective when it is actually needed.