2013 Ram 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ram 1500 has 1565 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 19.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge ram 1500. the contact stated that the tires were cupping. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, who stated that the tie rod was defective. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 22,000.. ⚠️ 11 fire reports filed.

11 fire reports 80 crash reports 39 injuries

1565

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

19.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

609 complaints

39%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUCKING NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION BOLT SEPARATED. THE DEFECTIVE BOLT WAS TIGHTENED INSTEAD OF REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 21 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

222 complaints

14%

• PLASTIC KEY ---CAN NOT REMOVE FROM SWITCH----WILL TURN OF ENGINE---BUT WILL NOT COME OUT OF KEY HOLE----HAVE TO LEAVE IN TRUCK---DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME----NEXT TIME DRIVEN MAY COME OUT AND THEN MAY NOT-----THIS SEEM LIKE NOT READING TRUCK SHIFT HANDLE IS NOT IN PARK-----YOU CAN LEAVE IN TRUCK
• THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. FOUR TIMES I ENCOUNTERED THE DISPLAY OF THE MESSAGE VEHICLE NOT IN PARK WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A VERY CONFUSING AND DANGEROUS MESSAGE SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO A DOOR NOT BEING FULLY CLOSED. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 11TH. THE MANAGER APPEARE
• OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE SENSOR INACCURATELY READS TEMPERATURE (USUAL 8-12 DEGREES LESS THAN ACTUAL AMBIENT TEMPERATURE) THIS AFFECTS SEVERAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLES FEATURES (AUTO HEATED SEATS AND STEERING WHEEL ALSO VENTED SEATS). *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“PLASTIC KEY ---CAN NOT REMOVE FROM SWITCH----WILL TURN OF ENGINE---BUT WILL NOT COME OUT OF KEY HOLE----HAVE TO LEAVE IN TRUCK---DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME----NEXT TIME DRIVEN MAY COME OUT AND THEN MAY NOT-----THIS SEEM LIKE NOT READING TRUCK SHIFT HANDLE IS NOT IN PARK-----YOU CAN LEAVE IN TRUCK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

130 complaints

• STARTED HAVING ODOR IN CAB MAKING ME DIZZY AND SICK. GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FOR NEXT 900 MILE. I BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AND FACTORY TOLD HIM TO RUN IT FOR 2 DAYS. TWO DAYS LATER I GOT IT BACK LESS A HALF A TANK OF GAS. PROBLEM SEEM TO BE SOLVED. TWO DAY LATER SAME THING GOT SICK AND COMPLAINT WAS T
• WHEN WE PURCHASED THE RAM 1500/V6 ENGINE PICKUP TRUCK NEW IN APRIL 2013, JOHNSON DODGE, BUDD LAKE, NJ, IT DID NOT HESITATE AND RAN WELL. OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS IT SLOWLY DEVELOPED AN SIGNIFICANT, ONE SECOND PLUS, HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP. THE SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] AT
• WHEN USING THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER A TOXIC SMELL FILLS THE CAB CAUSING METALLIC TASTE AND OCCUPANTS TO HAVE A HEADACHE. THE FACTORY SAYS THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE EVEN APPLIED A STAR CASE NUMBER [XXX] WITH A RELEASE DATE OF 10/24/2013. THEY SAY THAT THE ISSUE IS BOTHERSOME BU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“STARTED HAVING ODOR IN CAB MAKING ME DIZZY AND SICK. GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FOR NEXT 900 MILE. I BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AND FACTORY TOLD HIM TO RUN IT FOR 2 DAYS. TWO DAYS LATER I GOT IT BACK LESS A HALF A TANK OF GAS. PROBLEM SEEM TO BE SOLVED. TWO DAY LATER SAME THING GOT SICK AND COMPLAINT WAS T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

94 complaints

• ACCELERATING FROM STOP LIGHT AND AT 35 MPH A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD FROM THE PASSENGER DASH AREA. I THOUGHT I SAW SOME POWDERY DUST AFTERWARD. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. THEY DID A DRB COMPUTER TEST AND ROAD TEST. NOTHING FOUND. ALSO THERE WERE NO DASH WARNING LI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON THREE SEPARATE OCC
• THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE CENTER SAID TO GET AIRBAG SERVICED. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO FRIENDSHIP DODGE IN BRISTOL TN 37620 TO GET REPAIRS ON THE AIRBAG. THEY DID REPAIR THE AIRBAG, BUT THE SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE KEPT COMING ON AND OFF. NOW IT IS STAYING ON ALL THE TIME. I TOOK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 21 crashes

“ACCELERATING FROM STOP LIGHT AND AT 35 MPH A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD FROM THE PASSENGER DASH AREA. I THOUGHT I SAW SOME POWDERY DUST AFTERWARD. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. THEY DID A DRB COMPUTER TEST AND ROAD TEST. NOTHING FOUND. ALSO THERE WERE NO DASH WARNING LI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

85 complaints

• AFTER DRIVING ON SNOW AND SLUSHY ROADS I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO THE REVERSE OR PARK POSITION. I COULDN'T EVEN MOVE THE SELECTOR INTO THOSE POSITIONS. *TR
• THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. FOUR TIMES I ENCOUNTERED THE DISPLAY OF THE MESSAGE VEHICLE NOT IN PARK WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A VERY CONFUSING AND DANGEROUS MESSAGE SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO A DOOR NOT BEING FULLY CLOSED. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 11TH. THE MANAGER APPEARE
• IT HAS SNOWED HARD ENOUGH HERE IN VIRGINIA THIS YEAR TO LEAVE SNOW ON THE ROADS. THREE TIMES NOW SINCE BUYING MY 2013 RAM 1500 WITH PENTASTAR ENGINE IN DECEMBER 2012 I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND REMOVE THE KEY. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT HELP ME. IT SOUNDS RIDICULES T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 17 crashes

“AFTER DRIVING ON SNOW AND SLUSHY ROADS I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO THE REVERSE OR PARK POSITION. I COULDN'T EVEN MOVE THE SELECTOR INTO THOSE POSITIONS. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1565 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: PLASTIC KEY ---CAN NOT REMOVE FROM SWITCH----WILL TURN OF ENGINE---BUT WILL NOT COME OUT OF KEY HOLE----HAVE TO LEAVE IN TRUCK---DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME----NEXT TIME DRIVEN MAY COME OUT AND THEN MAY NOT-----THIS SEEM LIKE NOT READING TRUCK SHIFT HANDLE IS NOT IN PARK-----YOU CAN LEAVE IN TRUCK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: STARTED HAVING ODOR IN CAB MAKING ME DIZZY AND SICK. GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FOR NEXT 900 MILE. I BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AND FACTORY TOLD HIM TO RUN IT FOR 2 DAYS. TWO DAYS LATER I GOT IT BACK LESS A HALF A TANK OF GAS. PROBLEM SEEM TO BE SOLVED. TWO DAY LATER SAME THING GOT SICK AND COMPLAINT WAS T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: ACCELERATING FROM STOP LIGHT AND AT 35 MPH A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD FROM THE PASSENGER DASH AREA. I THOUGHT I SAW SOME POWDERY DUST AFTERWARD. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. THEY DID A DRB COMPUTER TEST AND ROAD TEST. NOTHING FOUND. ALSO THERE WERE NO DASH WARNING LI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)