10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,111 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Ram 1500 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2013 Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 6)

problem #101

Aug 102018

1500

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

As I was parking my vehicle I heard a click sound. Immediately after the airbag light illuminated also horn/radio/cruise control stopped working. Very unsafe. Not fare for a defect like this to happen. After reading forums online this is a known problem that fca has not looked into.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #100

Feb 012016

1500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,561 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that strong exhaust fumes encompassed the interior and exterior of the vehicle. The dealer (peterson Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, 5801 E gate blvd, nampa, id 83687, (208) 475-3000) diagnosed that the exhaust manifold had an internal failure, which was leaking fluid into the engine compartment due to the bolts shearing off. The dealer replaced the exhaust manifold and the bolts on the front passenger side; however, the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the exhaust manifold needed to be replaced on the driver's side and the bolts. The manufacturer provided no remedy other than replacing the same parts. The failure mileage was not available. * the first failure was the passenger side exhaust manifold began ticking. Tamera, the Chrysler adjuster did not tell me this was under a customer help at the time of the repair of I sould have brought the above her attention then. I heard only a tick on the passenger side and they said the other side was fine. In less than 1000 miles and around 30 days the other side started ticking. In researching this problem it appears that Chrysler has allowed this to allowed this to continue unchecked since 2009, but it is hard to tell as they have done some changes in the engine for fuel economy sake, but it appears to be an ongoing problem. I have had some exhaust odors, but it has not seemed to have caused health problems at this point. My son has a 2003 diesel that has the same problem, but is long out of warranty. Updated 11/1/2018

- Nampa, ID, USA

problem #99

Jul 272018

1500

  • 120,400 miles
Controls (cruise, gear up/down) on steering wheel non-operable. Dealer diagnostics say clockspring (pn 68110740ae) is bad.

- Richmond, KY, USA

problem #98

Mar 202018

1500

  • 100,088 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving on hwy 45 mph, engine shut down no warnings. Towed to shop. Wiring harness laying on engine, melted the wirers causing it to short out.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #97

Jan 112018

1500

  • 81,000 miles
Dashboard from time to time will go completely out for a few seconds and reboot while driving. During this time no dashboard information is available. It is hard to reproduce because it happens randomly.

- Coeur D Alene, ID, USA

problem #96

Dec 012017

1500

  • 38,000 miles
There is a electrical connector under the dash that comes loose.. the truck shuts down with no control. Will not start cant get out of park to be towed.. total lockout. Dealer charged 150 bucks to "fix it" happened again a month later.

- Hastings, MN, USA

problem #95

Dec 292017

1500

  • 49,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Periodically when turning my steering wheel the dash and radio screen turn off and re-boot. When making a turn, left or right, every display and gauge on the dash and the radio/ back up camera screen all shut off and re-boot as if you have just put the key in and turned the ignition to the on position. I have no information for roughly 15 to 30 seconds.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #94

Nov 082017

1500

  • 120,000 miles
My instrument cluster in my truck will shut off and restart 1 to 2 times while driving all the gauges go down and can't tell anything till it turns back on also it will intermittently flicker from the backlighting making gage visibility hard

- Inver Grove Heights, MN, USA

problem #93

Sep 082017

1500

  • 94,400 miles
Eps failure - an indicator light that is not in the manual mind you, suddenly appeared and the power steering completely stopped working. Occasionally the light will cut off and it will work again for a short time then cut back on. This is very dangerous so the truck is undrivable. There was a recall for this on some 2015 and 16 models but not 2013. I ask that mine be included. To service this will cost $2300.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #92

Aug 072014

1500 8-cyl

  • miles
2013 Dodge Ram 1500. Consumer writes in regards to transmission shifts hard, tire balance issues, clock, ignition malfunction and other mechanic problems. The consumer stated the clock and ignition switch were repaired. The upper ball joints failed. The dealer offered to assist with repairs for the tires, but the consumer declined. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for repairs made, to be advised about warranties, and a replacement vehicle. Updated 10/10/2017

- Ellenwood, GA, USA

problem #91

Aug 152017

1500

  • 59,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

All steering wheel electrical function not working, including horn, air can not deploy, vehicle had this issue when new and clock spring and wiring was replaced 3 years ago, then recall was done for air bag and now the same problem. Last week almost involved in accident and could not use horn to alert other driver. Cruise control functions also do not operate, I am afraid to let wife drive with kids since air bag will not function if accident happens.

- Lake Grove, NY, USA

problem #90

Sep 082016

1500

  • miles
Service airbag system. Service electronic braking system. Service pwer steering. Service electronic trottle conteol. Service power steering. These came up wore throng it on to leave for the day. That happened 2 times. Truck had to be towed. Upload to software was done. 2 days later the A/C fan went out. It was replaced but still turned off antway. Dealer stayed radio need to be replaced. 5 wks latter - it's beyond installed. Dealer stayed software upload had nothing to do with radio mess up. I beg to differ. Radio controls alot of stuff critical to the function of the truck. It's happened several times for over 8 months. It's been in the shop more than I've driven.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #89

Sep 192017

1500

  • 76,000 miles
On 3 separate occasions, while driving and attempting to stop, the engine stalls. A message displays to "put the vehicle in park, to start", but lost power to everything else. Twice it allowed me to start from park, the 3rd time it would not start. I put it in park, had my foot on the brake, but it did nothing. I shut if off completely, then turned it back on and it started. Additionally, while parked, the driver's side door would not unlock with the keyfob. All other doors unlocked, not the driver's door. I tried several times locking/unlocking, I had to open the rear door and manually pull the lock knob. One other time, while sitting still, the driver's door unlocked itself, when my roommate pulled on the door handle, the door opened and the alarm went off. On another occasion, I was trying to back into my parking space, I went to pull up to straighten out, and the vehicle would not go into drive. I had to shift into park, then back to drive to make it work.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #88

Sep 102017

1500

  • 95,000 miles
Randomly instrument cluster will go blank. Sometimes check ABS system, sometimes check transmission shifter, service trailer brake. This has happened for the last4 months. I can not figure any pattern when it happens.speedometer and RPM guages will sometimes stop[ working and the other guages will work

- Elkhorn City, KY, USA

problem #87

Jul 032017

1500 8-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. While driving approximately 25 mph, the caution indicator illuminated and, after driving for a while, the ESC warning indicator also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dallas Dodge Chrysler Jeep dealer (located at 11550 lyndon B johnson fwy, dallas, tx 75238) where diagnostic testing was recommended, but the contact declined. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The failure was not diagnosed and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 85,000....updated 10/11/17

- Mesquite, TX, USA

problem #86

Aug 012017

1500

  • 72,000 miles
While driving the vehicle at any speed the instrument cluster and radio goes completely out. The systems reboots (instrument cluster) itself as if its is being started up for. This problem is an reoccurring problem and will happen at any time without warning causing everything to go blank.

- Evans, GA, USA

problem #85

Jan 012016

1500

  • 45,000 miles
Head lights cut out do to connectors over heating. Doors locks do not operate at times. In motion or not.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #84

Jul 032017

1500

  • miles
Just out of "Dodge warranty" my 3rd brake light took in water. This resulted in a blown 3rd brake light bulb and now leaking of water into my back window and down into the side behind the cover in my truck. This is while stationary and in motion. Risk of mold and 3rd brake light now not working. The back window is solid never damaged or replaced. The third brake light cover was never taken off or replaced. All manufacturer responsibly and they will not take responsibility for it due to out of Dodge warranty. This truck is a 2013 Dodge Ram with 41,000 miles on it. Never in a accident or any problems except Dodge recalls.

- Lower Burrell, PA, USA

problem #83

Apr 042017

1500

  • miles
Non of the gauges work in the steering column including gas RPM and speed. The wipers run non stop and can't be turned off. Blinkers don't which is dangerous to drive. We have had it into the mechanic and the could not find what was wrong. Huge bill no answers useless van. The gage says no bus. This happens all the time.

- Monona, IA, USA

problem #82

Feb 162017

1500

  • 29,000 miles
I first noticed that, while in drive, the transmission would shift to 4th gear and could not be changed. I could shift from park to reverse but when I tried to go to drive it would go to 4th gear. Then, 2 days ago, I began to notice other problems that appeared to be computer related. When I turned the ruck off there would be a ticking noise in the engine. I checked and it appeared to be the A/C/ compressor. Then it stopped when I unlocked the truck doors. Then I noticed what seemed to be the fuel pump ticking as if calling for fuel. Once again, the engine was off and, once again, it stopped. The next morning my battery was dead. I tried to jump it with no luck so I purchased E new battery. Now when I try to start it, the starter makes all kind of crazy noises and it won't start.

- Brackenridge, PA, USA

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