2012 Ram 1500: Camshaft issue and lifter lock up
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2012 1500 report: camshaft issue and lifter lock up. CarComplaints.com lists 22 owner complaints, average mileage 119,250 miles.
NHTSA has 170 owner complaints for the 2012 1500 in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11744333 (filed 06/15/2026): “Unknown the engine is bad. costing me $2500 that i don't have. the lifter needs fixing and probably other things as well. i need help.…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11731758 (filed 04/17/2026): “My 2012 dodge developed an engine issue at 129,000 miles. the issue was rough idling and no acceleration. i took it to a dodge dealer. they diagnosed it as a chronic cam issue with this generation chrysler hemi engine. i had the cam and replaced at waldorf dod…”
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: replace camshaft and lifters (15 reports) replace engine with remanufactored one (2 reports) replace engine (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 $5,260 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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