2013 Ram 3500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ram 3500 has 182 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: driving on i890 near campbell road exit east bound and i hit a bump in the road. the truck steering began violently vibrating and turning left to right and i lost steering control. the truck stopped wobbling when i slowed down to 30 mph. this is the second time this truck has done this. the last ti. ⚠️ 10 fire reports filed.

10 fire reports 5 crash reports 6 injuries

182

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

37 complaints

20%

• DRIVING ON I890 NEAR CAMPBELL ROAD EXIT EAST BOUND AND I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE TRUCK STEERING BEGAN VIOLENTLY VIBRATING AND TURNING LEFT TO RIGHT AND I LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE TRUCK STOPPED WOBBLING WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO 30 MPH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS TRUCK HAS DONE THIS. THE LAST TI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE RIGHT AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
• SOMETIMES PROBLEM IT STARED WITH A LIGHT VIBRATION WHICH I IGNORED ALWAYS ON A LEFT SWEEPING CORNER ALWAYS BETWEEN 50-65MPH AND AFTER HITTING SOMETHING SMALL ON THE ROAD EVEN THE CENTER LINE BUT AUGUST 7 AFTER HITTING COW MANURE IT STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND ENDED UP OFF THE ROAD WITH NO DAMAG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“DRIVING ON I890 NEAR CAMPBELL ROAD EXIT EAST BOUND AND I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE TRUCK STEERING BEGAN VIOLENTLY VIBRATING AND TURNING LEFT TO RIGHT AND I LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE TRUCK STOPPED WOBBLING WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO 30 MPH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS TRUCK HAS DONE THIS. THE LAST TI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

29 complaints

16%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXHAUST FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT A HOSE CLAMP BECAME LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRE
• THE GAS PEDAL IS OCCASIONALLY UNRESPONSIVE, AND WILL NOT MAKE THE TRUCK ACCELERATE LIKE IT SHOULD. IT CAUSES A DEFINITE "PAUSE" IN THE ACCELERATION OF THE TRUCK, ALTHOUGH IT IS ONLY NOTICEABLE ONCE THE TRUCK IS ALREADY MOVING. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU LET OFF THE PEDAL, AND THEN REAPPLY IT, P
• WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN PRESSING AGAIN, (LIKE MERGING OR A ROLLING STOP) THERE IS A LAG OF 1-2 SECONDS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. RAM SAYS THAT IS NORMAL. THIS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED. THANKS *TR

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXHAUST FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT A HOSE CLAMP BECAME LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

20 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, SHE SMELLED AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR OF DIESEL FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONLY WHEN THE FRESH AIR CONTROL SETTING WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AU
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR OF DIESEL FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE ODOR WAS PRESENT WHEN THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 50 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT. THE
• WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN PRESSING AGAIN, (LIKE MERGING OR A ROLLING STOP) THERE IS A LAG OF 1-2 SECONDS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. RAM SAYS THAT IS NORMAL. THIS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED. THANKS *TR

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, SHE SMELLED AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR OF DIESEL FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONLY WHEN THE FRESH AIR CONTROL SETTING WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

18 complaints

10%

• TRUCK BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE, REDUCING ABILITY TO STEER. SHAKING DID NOT SUBSIDE UNTIL VEHICLE SPEED REDUCED TO 25MPH. DEALERSHIP STATED COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AS THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES SHOWING. THIS HAS RECURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES, EACH TIME THE SHAKING INCREASINGLY VIOLENT, AN
• HAD BEEN NOTICING A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE A VERY SLIGHT VIBRATION AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING 35MPH OR GREATER. THIS ISSUE HAS CONTINUED FOR MONTHS WITH SEVERAL VISIT TO DEALERSHIP WHO HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE
• STARTING IN JULY 2014 MY 2013 RAM 3500 HAS HAD DEATH WOBBLE AT LEAST 6-7 TIMES. GOING DOWN INTERSTATE AROUND 65-75 MPH IF THE RIGHT TIRE HITS A POT HOLE THE FRONT END STARTS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. IN ORDER TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP I HAVE TO COME DOWN ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD ALMOST TO A COMPLETE ST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TRUCK BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE, REDUCING ABILITY TO STEER. SHAKING DID NOT SUBSIDE UNTIL VEHICLE SPEED REDUCED TO 25MPH. DEALERSHIP STATED COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AS THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES SHOWING. THIS HAS RECURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES, EACH TIME THE SHAKING INCREASINGLY VIOLENT, AN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

• OUR NEW 2013 RAM TRUCK (SIX WEEKS) HAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND IN THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK SWITCH AND MODULE (PART # 68110866AA & 68155771AF) THAT ARE LOCKING THE DOORS BY THEMSELVES. DEALER ASSURES ME THAT THERE IS "ZERO" CHANCE OF A FIRE OCCURRING EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS
• WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN PRESSING AGAIN, (LIKE MERGING OR A ROLLING STOP) THERE IS A LAG OF 1-2 SECONDS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. RAM SAYS THAT IS NORMAL. THIS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED. THANKS *TR
• "DEAD PEDAL" STARTED OUT FROM A STOP LIGHT AND WAS STARTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WITH A 8000 POUND TRAILER GOT TO ABOUT 5 MPH SOMEONE PULLED OUT AND WANTED TO COME STRAIGHT THREW THE LIGHT FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION I WAS GOING ! I LET OFF THE THROTTLE THEN DECIDED I HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO MAKE IT AND

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

“OUR NEW 2013 RAM TRUCK (SIX WEEKS) HAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND IN THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK SWITCH AND MODULE (PART # 68110866AA & 68155771AF) THAT ARE LOCKING THE DOORS BY THEMSELVES. DEALER ASSURES ME THAT THERE IS "ZERO" CHANCE OF A FIRE OCCURRING EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THIS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 182 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: DRIVING ON I890 NEAR CAMPBELL ROAD EXIT EAST BOUND AND I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE TRUCK STEERING BEGAN VIOLENTLY VIBRATING AND TURNING LEFT TO RIGHT AND I LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE TRUCK STOPPED WOBBLING WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO 30 MPH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS TRUCK HAS DONE THIS. THE LAST TI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXHAUST FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT A HOSE CLAMP BECAME LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, SHE SMELLED AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR OF DIESEL FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONLY WHEN THE FRESH AIR CONTROL SETTING WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TRUCK BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE, REDUCING ABILITY TO STEER. SHAKING DID NOT SUBSIDE UNTIL VEHICLE SPEED REDUCED TO 25MPH. DEALERSHIP STATED COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AS THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES SHOWING. THIS HAS RECURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES, EACH TIME THE SHAKING INCREASINGLY VIOLENT, AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)