Ram›RAM 2500 Pickup›2012›5.7L V8/ram/ram-2500-pickup/2012/5-7l-v8/

DJ platform

2012 Ram RAM 2500 Pickup — 5.7L V8

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 RAM 2500 Pickup 5.7L V8. Covers both the standard and High Output 5.7L V8.

Body TRUCKEngine 5.7L V8

The 2012 Ram 2500 is a heavy-duty pickup riding on the DJ platform and equipped with a 5.7L V8, with factory maintenance calling for 7 quarts of 5W-20 API oil with filter. Owner-reported data for this model year shows 282 complaints, predominantly centered on the steering system, alongside five recalls, placing it among the more problematic entries in the 2500 lineup and signaling a need for careful inspection of steering components.

Model year2013 2012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity7 qt w/ filterOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque135 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 730 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05083285AA. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 94R · 730 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeCrew CabOEM · verified

Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	05083285AA alt 04884899AC
Engine air filter	68441763AA alt 53034051AB
Fuel filter	68065608AB
Battery	BA94R765AB alt BBH7F001AA
Front wiper blades	55277446AB
Serpentine belt	53041138AE alt 04593852AB
Thermostat	52028898AJ alt 68067109AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	226 in
Overall width	79.1 in
Overall height	74 in
Wheelbase	140.2 in
Curb weight	5060 lb
Track (front / rear)	69.3 / 68.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	57/43

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 7 qt w/ filter of 5W-20 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 155 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	5.5
Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	16.5-17.5
Brake Fluid	DOT 3 · SAE J1703
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	2 Pints,
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts	AT: 70 ft-lbs, MT: 55 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	21 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)	110.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	254.5 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	160.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	160.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	135 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	155 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	15.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	15.0-22.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Champion
Spark Plug Gap	0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	20.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.38 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	6.00 oz
Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.18-1.38 lbs
Oil Group	PAG

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	195 °F
Engine Compression	100
Engine Oil Pressure	25-110 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	3000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in
Exhaust Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Other	DUAL REAR WHEELS / SINGLE REAR WHEELS
Torque Caliper to Bracket	22 ft-lbs / 24 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	190 ft-lbs / 260 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Other	DUAL REAR WHEELS / SINGLE REAR WHEELS
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0009 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.338 in / 1.535 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

15 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	M12 bolts 1-10	25 ft. lbs
2	M12 bolts 1-10	40 ft. lbs
3	M12 bolts 1-10	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

1	Bolts 1-10	25 ft. lbs
2	Bolts 11-15	15 ft. lbs
3	Bolts 1-10	40 ft. lbs
4	Bolts 11-15	15 ft. lbs
5	Bolts 1-10	90 degrees
6	Bolts 11-15	25 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 8,000 mi; spark plugs every 32,000 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 8,000 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 24,000 mi	CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 32,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 96,000 mi	PCV Valve (inspect)
At 120,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified

Tool required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module

Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified

When needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2012 Ram RAM 2500 Pickup dominate in one area — the steering, 91 of 282 reports (32%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 5 recall campaigns target the steering, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 8 of the reports describe a crash and 12 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the steering pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

299

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

282

Owner complaints

8 involved a crash · 12 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 282 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering91

Electrical System33

Power Train21

Engine18

Fuel/Propulsion System9

Suspension9

Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System8

Tires6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V459000Air Bags:FrontalReported 22/07/2015

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2011, to October 7, 2014, and equipped with the Electronic Vehicle Information Center… Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, repair as necessary, and secure the steering wheel wiring harness. Additionally, protective caps will be added to the air…

17V821000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column ShiftReported 20/12/2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and… Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 299 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
S1203000003 REV.A	2026-06-26	Service Brakes	Trac-Rite Operation Diagnosis, Chatter, Shudder, Moving From A Stop And Turning
112906	2026-06-17	Engine	BEARING - CRANKSHAFT THRUST and KIT
112906	2026-06-17	Engine	BEARING - CRANKSHAFT THRUST and KIT
106241	2025-07-28	Electrical System	LAMP - DOME
104974	2025-06-12	Electrical System	LAMP - DOME

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RAM 2500 Pickup. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 94R battery Vehicles taking 7 qt w/ filter DJ-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 05083285AA Engine air filter 68441763AA Fuel filter 68065608AB Battery BA94R765AB

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 RAM 2500 Pickup 5.7L V8 take?

7 qt w/ filter of 5W-20 API MEETING CHRYSLER SPECIFICATION MS-6395, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 RAM 2500 Pickup have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.