Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was alerted today November 2025 that the fuel tank bracket support strap was unable to be reattached to the frame due to a rusted frame body where it was supposed to attach to. Luckily, it didn't come completely off and allow the fuel tank to drop to the ground while I was driving with my 2 young children in the truck causing a massive fatal accident. I spoke with the dealership regarding any recalls/coverage for this item and was made aware that they was an extended unlimited mileage warranty on this particular item that just expired in April 2025. Here we are just a few months past that and I've been alerted to the same issue, but am being told that it cannot and will not be covered as the warranty has expired. I escalated to RAM corporate customer care and was told the same thing, that they would not cover the issue and no manager would call me back at all. …
Hello, I'm filing a complaint against the Dothan, AL Ram dealership due to recalls that were never performed. I bought the truck on 7/12/2021 from a third party. I noticed this particular Ram had 12 recalls so I took it in to the Dothan, AL Dodge dealership to have them repaired. They had the truck for 2 weeks and nothing was repaired. Nothing at all. I lost 2 back pack blowers because of the faulty tailgate latch. I had to take the tailgate from my 02 Ram off and put it on the 2013. That's just one incident, there are quite a few and I've spent countless amount of money and time fixing this truck because of the recalls that were never performed. I need an Inspector to see this, it's ridiculous. When I took the truck in for the recalls it had 101,000 miles, a cold air intake, and different features. …
The vehicle failed PA state inspection for corroded frame where the front fuel tank strap broke free from a slot into the frame. Who knows when it popped free. There is now only one rear strap holding the gas tank in up under the vehicle. This could have resulted in a full gas tank just dropping right out of the vehicle. Contacted ram dealer where i got the truck from. First they said ok, we will fix it and ordered the parts. Will call when these are in and ready to be installed. Called back 2 weeks or so later and they denied any recall notice, issue or ordering any parts. Huge safety flaw that could result in fatal accident either by having the fuel tank fall out of the vehicle or being in an accident and it falling out bursting into flames.
I took my truck in for inspection to sell it. My auto technician said that my frame by the passenger side, rear was completely rusted and cracked and unsafe to drive. I called Dodge on 11/14/24 and they opened a case # [redacted]. They told me to take it to the dealership. I took it to 5 Corners in Cedarburg, WI and had them do an inspection where they also took photos and said that the truck was unsafe. They bounced back to Dodge and now Dodge bounced it back to the dealership. No one will respond and it has been 1 months with an unsafe vehicle. There were no indications of problems and had I not taken it in, what might've happened? I have an unsafe vehicle.
Several times I came back to my truck and the locking tailgate was in the down position even though I had left it up and checked it. I was several miles back a dirt road on a secure base were nobody came near it. If this happens with a load or my trailer attached it could damage the gate or cause the load to fall out. I have inspected it but found no misalignment and this just started in 11-12/2022. The vehicle has only 15k miles on it and I'm the original owner. The truck is also a model with the Rambox sides so the tailgate is different to others. I heard that 2014 and up Rams had a recall and was wondering if the 13 should have been affected? Thanks,,
On multiple occasions I have had the tailgate come open/fail to close. Other year Rams have a recall and I believe this year should be included. I have installed a gas shock to help slow it and hold in place. The front brakes have had issues with sticking or not releasing after applying them. I have replaced the unit and does the same thing so I like others believe it might be the brake hose collapsing then releasing especially on the air ride suspension models. In stop and go traffic they will pull or get extremely hot and I'm worried it might melt the tire bead or worse.
Front welded frame mounting point for gas tank "Tee-Strap" rusted through causing front of gas tank to sag from frame and only be supported by remaining rear gas tank strap. The actual T-strap is structurally sound, it is the the frame mount that rusted through that allowed the Tee-Strap to pull through the mount. It appears that the design of the mounting point allowed moisture and road grit to become trapped in the bottom of the mount causing the rust breakthrough. The car has low mileage for it's age (97k) and has been kept in a garage.
Gas tank front strap came out causing the tank to almost touch the ground. After looking into this further I saw serious corrosion in the main frame of the truck that caused the strap to fall off and release the gas tank. It appears this was recalled on this model and then switched to just the 08-2012 models.
SAFETY DEFECT: Database Classification Failure - 2013 Ram Vehicles Vehicle: 2013 Ram 1500, VIN: [ENTER VIN ABOVE] Owner: [ENTER NAME ABOVE] Email: [ENTER EMAIL ABOVE] Phone: [ENTER PHONE ABOVE] Defect Description: The 2013 model year Ram vehicles suffer from a systematic database classification failure that prevents normal ownership operations and creates safety hazards. Due to the Dodge-to-Ram brand transition in 2013, these vehicles are not properly recognized in automotive databases used by: Auto parts retailers (O'Reilly's, AutoZone, etc.) Insurance companies and quote systems Tire retailers and service centers Emergency roadside assistance systems Government vehicle registration systems Safety Implications: Inability to quickly procure critical replacement parts during emergencies Delays in obtaining proper insurance coverage Emergency service complications due to vehicle …
Recently I was involved in a car accident with my 2013 Dodge Ram 1500. I was struct by a car at approximately 35 MPH and hit directly on the drivers side,(t-boned) the truck is equipped with side air bags and front air bags,which never deployed. The accident brought extensive damages to the truck and injuries to my wife and I. I reported the non deployment to Dodge in which case a special inspector was sent out to thomas Dodge where he ran diagnostics of the airbags computer. No fault signals were found. Dodge response to the investigation was ! Impact was not sufficient to merit air bag deployment!. Department of transportation safety says the bag is inflated at a certain crash threshold, usually corresponding to a speed of the impacting vehicle of more than 15-20 km/h. …
Body complaints in other 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2013 Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the body & structure of the 2013 Ram 1500, 3% of the model year's 1,279 complaints. The component named most often is body (34 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Ram 1500 body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2013 Ram 1500, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Ram 1500 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 37,000 miles, and 26% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 2 fires and 5 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.