U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Ram 2500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

178 owner complaints analyzed

14 distinct recall campaigns

39,700 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 144 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 43 of 178 complaints (24.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	24	13.5%
Steering behavior	23	12.9%
Electrical and battery issues	14	7.9%
Transmission and shifting	10	5.6%
Engine operation	5	2.8%
Fuel system concerns	3	1.7%

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.

Engine

Electrical System

Steering

Suspension

Unknown Or Other

Fuel/Propulsion System

Power Train

Vehicle Speed Control

Engine: 43; Electrical System: 41; Steering: 31; Suspension: 23; Unknown Or Other: 23; Fuel/Propulsion System: 22; Power Train: 21; Vehicle Speed Control: 13

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 51; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 3

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (51). 34 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

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2013: 2; 2014: 19; 2015: 41; 2016: 20; 2017: 20; 2018: 29; 2019: 19; 2020: 11; 2021: 8; 2022: 2; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 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 10556820 · 2013-12-20 (December 20, 2013)

I JUST PURCHASED THIS TRUCK LESS THAN 1 WEEK AGO; BRAND NEW. I WAS SLOWLY APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION (STOP SIGN) WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME; WAITING TO TURN. THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STARTED SURGING/LURCHING FORWARD FOR A PERIOD OF 5-10 SECONDS; NEARLY HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PLACED THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES SO AS NOT TO HIT ANOTHER CAR AND PREVENT AND ACCIDENT. THE "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL" MESSAGE CAME UP ON MY DASH DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, BUT SOON (30 SECONDS) WENT AWAY. I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPE…

Owner-reported narrative. 205 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556820 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10579558 · 2014-04-14 (April 14, 2014)

WELL THE FIRST TIME I GOT DIESEL IT LEAKED ALL OVER THE GROUND SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME IT IS DOING WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. IT NEED FUEL SO I FILLED IT UP AGAIN AND DROVE WERE I NEEDED TO GO I LOOKED AND DIESEL WAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE REAR SPRING, BRAKES AND WHEEL SO I WENT BACK TO DEALER THEY GAVE ME A FUEL CAP AS THE 2013 DID NOT HAVE A FUEL CAP. THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AS WHEN YOU FILL UP WITH FUEL IT PUTS 2 TO 5 CUPS OF FUEL ON THE GROUND! TO ME THIS IS SEVERAL HAZARDOUS / CONTAMINATION/ DANGERS IT IS A…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579558 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10572743 · 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)

LEFT HOUSE DRIVING EAST ON 8200S WHEN APPROX 5200 W I LOST STEERING AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT, HITTING A STREET LIGHT AND SKIDDING ALONG A CONCRETE FENCE. I STOPPED, EXITED VEHICLE AND TWO MEN THAT WITNESSED COME UP AND SAID YOUR STEERING ARM BROKE, AT THE TIME I WAS IN SHOCK AND ATTRIBUTED THEM SAYING ARM BEING BROKE WAS RESULT OF ACCIDENT BUT THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, I ASSUME THEY ALSO CALLED POLICE AS I NEVER MADE THE CALL AND OFFICER SHOWED UP ON SCENE. THE NEXT DAY I MET WITH AUTO BODY SHOP AND THEY WAS AS IN SHOCK A…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572743 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10614844 · 2014-07-20 (July 20, 2014)

WHEN DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS THE TRUCK WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD AS IF THE DRIVER WERE DRUNK. THE STEERING ASSY. HAS SO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL THE DRIVER IS CONSTANTLY HAVING TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH TO STAY IN THE CENTER OF THE LANE. THE REAL PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU ARE TOWING A TRAILER BY HITCH OR 5TH WHEEL, THE ADDED NORMAL SWAY OF THE TRAILER MULTIPLY'S THE UNSAFE FEEL AT THE STEERING WHEEL AND ON THE ROAD AS THE DRIVER IS HAVING TO WORK THE WHEEL IN TO KEEP THE TRUCK IN ITS OWN LANE. DODGE HAS REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR…

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10614844 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10545095 · 2013-09-24 (September 24, 2013)

A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK I NOTICED ONE OF THE CEILING COURTESY / MAP LIGHTS WAS NOT WORKING AND THE NEXT TIME IT CAME ON IT WOULD BE ON AT HALF POWER. IT EITHER DOESN'T COME ON OR COMES ON AT HALF POWER. I VISITED THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THEM TO TRY AND LOCATE A NEW MAP LIGHT. THE DEALER AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND THE NEEDED PARTS AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO TELL ME. I HAVE CONTACTED RAM CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES AS WELL AS THE BBB OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. RAM CUSTOMER…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10545095 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10680492 · 2015-02-02 (February 2, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DIESEL GASOLINE WAS SPILLED FROM THE VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL FUEL HEATER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680492 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10651579 · 2014-10-31 (October 31, 2014)

THERE APPEARS TO BE TWO POSSIBLY RELATED ISSUES WITH REGARD TO THE POWERTRAIN. THE FIRST ISSUE IS SOME SORT OF BACKLASH IN THE DRIVE TRAIN WHEN ACCELERATING TO 30-35 MPH AND THEN LETTING OFF THE GAS. THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO SHIFT GEARS BEFORE THE TORQUE CONVERTER UNLOCKS. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LAG IN RESPONSE BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE PEDAL BOTH IN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ISSUE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. BOTH OF THESE RELATE TO THE BCM AND THE ELECTRONIC THRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10651579 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10652328 · 2014-11-04 (November 4, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN FOURTH GEAR. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD SOMETIMES ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10652328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10853085 · 2016-04-02 (April 2, 2016)

TRUCK STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. OVER THE PAST 18 MONTH NOT A FUEL FILTER ISSUE.

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10853085 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10929228 · 2016-12-06 (December 6, 2016)

2013 DODGE RAM 2500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TORQUE CONVERTER DRAINS FLUID BACK INTO TRANSMISSION WHEN PARKED OVER NIGHT OR LONGER AT VARIOUS RATES, ENGINE STALLS, GEAR SHIFTER ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MINIMUM DRAIN BACK WAS 1/2 QUART ABOVE FULL IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED SOFT ENGAGEMENT OF THE GEAR SELECTED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED THE WORST EXPERIENCE WAS WHEN THE TRUCK WAS FACING UP HILL ON A SLIGHT GRADE AND THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN DRIVE. WITH A LIGHT THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND THE BRAKES HA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10929228 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10744472 · 2015-07-28 (July 28, 2015)

ON 01/14/2015 I WENT TO FUEL UP AT GAS STATION THE GAS GAUGE WAS SHOWING EMPTY. I STARTED TO PUT FUEL IN MY TRUCK AND IT SPILLED OUT ALL OVER THE TRUCK AND GROUND. I TRIED TO PUT FUEL IN IT AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE TRUCK TOOK ONLY $1.72 IN FUEL. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED THEY RAN TEST ON IT. REPAIR THE CHECK BALL IN TANK WAS STICKING. THEY ORDERED A HOLE NEW TANK AND REPLACED TANK TRANSFER FUEL PUMP ALSO INSTALLED A NEW FILLER NECK, FLAPPER WAS STICKING ALSO AND REPLACED …

Owner-reported narrative. 5,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 10744472 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10839600 · 2016-03-03 (March 3, 2016)

MY 2013 RAM 2500 HAS A CRACKED FUEL FILLER NECK DUE TO A POOR DESIGN, BEING A WEAK PLASTIC MATERIAL. THE PLASTIC NECK HAS CRACKED BY THE FUEL PUMP NOZZLE SEATING DOWN ON IT AND PLASTIC FROM THE NECK HAS GONE DOWN INTO MY FUEL TANK CONTAMINATING THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSING A POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM CLOG AND SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO CONCERNED THAT FUEL MAY POSSIBLY DRIP DOWN THE EXTERIOR OF THE FUEL NECK ASSEMBLY. THE INDECENT OCCURRED WHILE FILLING AT A FUEL STATION, VEHICLE WAS STOPPED NOT RUNNING. INSERTED FUEL PUMP NOZZLE, TOP OFF FILLER …

Owner-reported narrative. 17,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10839600 at NHTSA ↗