U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Ram 1500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,270 owner complaints analyzed

11 distinct recall campaigns

62,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 607 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 624 of 1,270 complaints (49.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	649	51.1%
Braking behavior	124	9.8%
Electrical and battery issues	90	7.1%
Engine operation	75	5.9%
Transmission and shifting	45	3.5%
Fuel system concerns	43	3.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering

624

Electrical System

219

Engine

123

Air Bags

Power Train

Service Brakes

Unknown Or Other

Suspension

Steering: 624; Electrical System: 219; Engine: 123; Air Bags: 93; Power Train: 84; Service Brakes: 69; Unknown Or Other: 50; Suspension: 44

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

150

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

113

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

105

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 150; 25,000 to 49,999: 97; 50,000 to 74,999: 113; 75,000 to 99,999: 88; 100,000 to 149,999: 105; 150,000 and above: 54

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (150). 663 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

107

2020

2021

2022

2023

176

2024

224

2025

146

2026

2013: 36; 2014: 58; 2015: 81; 2016: 68; 2017: 51; 2018: 70; 2019: 107; 2020: 71; 2021: 42; 2022: 55; 2023: 176; 2024: 224; 2025: 146; 2026: 85

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 649 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 124 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 90 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10503328 · 2013-03-17 (March 17, 2013)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10541793 · 2013-09-04 (September 4, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD ACTIVATE ONLY WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE LOGO THAT WAS AFFIXED IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,900.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10541793 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10511205 · 2013-05-08 (May 8, 2013)

WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED YELLOW. IT REQUIRED MEDIUM BRAKING EFFORT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT ACTIVATED ITSELF AND MOVER ~ 2 INCHES FORWARD WHICH IN TURN ENDED UP APPLYING FAR MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THAN WAS INTENDED. COULD HAVE CAUSED A VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO HIT MY TRUCK. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO VEHICLE BEHIND ME AT THE TIME. I IMMEDIATELY CHECK THE PLACEMENT OF THE SEAT BELT TO SEE IF IT COULD HAVE ACTIVATED THE POWER SEAT SWITCH. THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT NEAR THE POWER SEAT SWITCH. …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511205 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10535708 · 2013-08-16 (August 16, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SERVICE ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34.

Owner-reported narrative. 34 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535708 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10532713 · 2013-07-30 (July 30, 2013)

ON ABOUT 3JUL13, MY WIFE AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE RUNNING LIGHTS FOR OUR TRAVEL TRAILER WEREN'T WORKING. ALL OTHER LIGHTS WERE WORKING, SO WE CONTINUED DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. ON RETURNING HOME, I FOUND OUT THAT THE TRAILER LIGHTS WORKED WHEN HOOKED UP TO A BATTERY, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THE APPROPRIATE PRONG IN THE WIRING HARNESS EVEN THOUGH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE TRUCK FUNCTIONED. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE A FUSE HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE TRUCK. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN TOLD ME HE HAD THE SAME PR…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532713 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10547649 · 2013-10-11 (October 11, 2013)

30JULY2013 TRUCK WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP DUE TO NOT STARTING AND LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED IGNITION. 14SEPT2013 BACK TO DEALERSHIP WITH SAME SYMPTOMS. SHOWS KEY IN IGNITION WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO LOCK DOORS, RADIO STAYS ON, DASHBOARD LIGHTS STAY ON, DO NOT NEED KEY WITH CHIP TO START TRUCK. BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND FIXED IGNITION. 1OCT2013 BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR SAME IGNITION ISSUE. DEALERSHIP OPENED CASE STAR CASE WITH CHRYSLER. TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT WHEN KEY WAS NOT PUT IN COMPLETELY STRAIGHT IT LOCKS A TUMBLER CAUSING …

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547649 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10548102 · 2013-10-16 (October 16, 2013)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN TO EXIT HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY AFTER BEING RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS AND PANIC ALARM WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TEST DRIVEN, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548102 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10683190 · 2015-02-13 (February 13, 2015)

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 OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683190 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10499848 · 2013-02-24 (February 24, 2013)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 612 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499848 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10504384 · 2013-03-25 (March 25, 2013)

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 TO SAY THAT "WHEN IT SNOWS I CAN?T DRIVE MY FULL SIZE RAM 1500 THAT SHOULD BE FULLY CAPABLE IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS". AS I UNDERSTAND IT WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW OR SLUSH SNOW IS THROWN AT THE TRANSMISSION, THIS RESULTS IN SNOW PACKING AROUND THE SHIFT…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,004 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504384 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10534172 · 2013-08-07 (August 7, 2013)

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, LIGHTNING BOLT LIGHT AND SERVICE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ERROR MESSAGE COMES ON APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MILES AFTER REFUELING. TRUCK GOES INTO LIMP MODE THEN CLEARS ITSELF AFTER STARTING 4 OR 5 TIMES OVER THE PERIOD OF A DAY OR TWO. DEALER CAN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW. DEALER HAS UPDATED SOFTWARE, REPLACED GAS TANK, REPLACED GAS CAP, AND REPLACED TPS. SAME ISSUE IS STILL HAPPENING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534172 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10578894 · 2014-04-10 (April 10, 2014)

SEVERE SHAKING AT HIGHWAYS SPEED,APPEARED TO BE A WHEEL OR ENGINE PROBLEM SO PARKED THE VEHICLE AND MADE APPOINTMENT TO DEALER, REVEALED THAT THE ONE STRAP HOLDING THE FUEL TANK WAS OFF AND THE OTHER WAS SO LOOSE AS TO MAKE THE TANK ERRATICALLY WITH A CHANCE OF FALLING OFF. INCREDIBLE THAT A PERSON SPENDS ALMOST $60,000 AND YOU GET A VEHICLE WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY CREATE A HAZARD SUCH AS THIS! WHAT ELSE IS COMING? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 490 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578894 at NHTSA ↗