2012 Ram 2500: Cam shaft failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2012 2500 report: cam shaft failure. CarComplaints.com lists 4 owner complaints, average mileage 159,450 miles.
NHTSA has 51 owner complaints for the 2012 2500 in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11740399 (filed 05/27/2026): “We purchased our 2012 dodge ram heavy duty with tow package new. at just over 152000 miles, the engine started knocking while on vacation. we were not towing at the time. we put in injector cleaner to try and help the knocking. during our vacation, we were on …”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11532307 (filed 07/14/2023): “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…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: new or rebuilt engine (2 reports) replace lifters and camshaft (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $4,170 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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