Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Ram 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 2500. The contact stated while the vehicle was turned off and in park(P), the vehicle shifted into reverse after the contact's son bumped into the column shifter. As a result, the vehicle rolled down hill coming to a complete stop after striking a fence post. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V821000 (Power Train); the VIN was included, but the vehicle had already been repaired. A Police report was not filed. No injury was reported. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance but informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been repaired under recall in 2019. The failure mileage was 116,000.
Over time the transmission cooling line to the radiator was rubbing against another part in the engine compartment resulting in a hole in the line and eventually catastrophic failure of the line. This caused transmission fluid to be sprayed around the engine compartment and the roadway creating an environmental issue. This could cause loss of power, fire and damage to the environment. Online other users of same make model and year have reported the same issue.
I was driving in the fast lane with no unusual noises or vibrations. All of my gauges were normal. All of a sudden, my pickup truck started shaking violently, and there was a clanging banging noise or sensation. I immediately put my blinker on and headed for the right side of the freeway. As I attempted to brake to slow down, it felt like I was losing power, , the truck was still shaking so I tightly grasped the wheel and cranked it over to the right side of the roadway, off of the pavement altogether. As soon as I was able to stop, I turned the key off. There was already smoke rising from the right front corner of the truck, then flames appeared. I grabbed what valuables I could and escaped the vehicle and called 911. By the time the fire department arrived, my pickup truck, a 2013 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel with barely 130,000 miles on it was totally gutted by the fire. …
On April 21, 2018, I pulled my 2013 Ram 2500 4x4 out of my barn to go shopping. There was about 3 to 4 inches of snow on the ground. I put the truck into park and got out to close the barn door. After about 2 steps away from the driver's door, the truck started to roll. I turned around a tried to get to the controls to stop the truck. I was knocked down by the truck and run over by the drivers side tire and wheel. I sustained injuries to my left leg. I have found the shifter can indicate the vehicle is in park when in fact the shifter is sitting on the detent between park and reverse. I reported this issue to Fiat Chrysler automobiles (FCA). FCA issued a recall over unintended rolling of their trucks. FCA knows there is an issue yet they want to sweep it under the carpet. …
2013 Ram 2500 - on June 1, 2016 I was placing car seats into the truck. The keys were in my pocket and not running. My 3 year son was sitting in the front seat while I secured the car seats. My son grabbed the gear shifter and the truck went into gear rolling down a 25' embankment and striking a tree at the bottom. Upon a post accident inspection, I found that the vehicle would shifting into and out of park with no key in the ignition and without depressing the brake. The incident was reported to my local Dodge dealer as they had conducted 2 safety recalls in the weeks previous, one of which involved wiring in the steering column. I was informed by the local dealer that the shift interlock system that is designed to keep a vehicle from going into gear without the brake depressed had failed and that the recalls they had conducted did not involve the shift interlock system. …
Driver performed a pre-use walk around inspection on vehicle and observed no damage. Driver proceeded on to destination. Driver merged on to hwy 70 east and accelerated to the posted speed limit of 75mph and set the cruise control. With no other vehicles around the driver, on or around mile marker 184, the vehicle started to make a loud grinding sound and violently vibrated. The driver pressed the break to disengage the cruise control and looked at the center floorboard to investigate the problem when all at once the floorboard exploded sending shrapnel and debris upward. Flames were coming up from the floorboard immediately filled the cab with smoke. At the same time as the explosion occurred, both the driver side and passenger airbags deployed. With the airbags deployed and smoke filling the cab, the driver had zero visibility while the vehicle was still in motion. …
My 2013 Ram 2500 turbo diesel has experienced a failure of the turbo unit. Upon researching this, I found that this has been a documented problem with the cummins holset turbo. From 2007 - current this part has been failing causing the vehicle to limp home at 15mph without warning. Fortunately I was just leaving a parking lot and merging into traffic at 40mph when my vehicle began to stall, and I was able to pull of the road without incident. Why hasn't this been reported as a safety issue. I live in colorado where the speed is 75mph. What if this happened while I was on my way home via the interstate? I regularly take my vehicle in for oil & fluid changes along with the dealers 20 point inspection. No problem was ever presented to me. Apparently, the turbo gets a soot build up and the dealers don't address this known failure. …
I was traveling along I-25 about 75-80 MPH when the steering got extremely tight so I started to slow down and when I did so I found out there was little to no brakes. Once I coasted to the edge of the interstate the truck started to overheat really fast so I shut it off. I opened the hood and examined the motor and found that the water pump shaft had snapped off because the water pump failed. When it happened my truck lost everything that is turned off of the serpintine belt which includes power steering pump all hydraulic system for my master cylinder and cooling system. There was no warning that the pump was going to fail and at 75 MPH it was amazing that nothing catastrophic happened with no steering or brakes. I have researched and found there is a recall for the water pump on my truck but it doesnt mention anything about it failing like mine did with 40,000 miles on it.
From a stop, the vehicle will not accelerate properly. When depressing the gas pedal it takes a few seconds for the vehicle to respond. When letting off the gas, the throttle does not respond for about two seconds. There is a severe response in the throttle from when depressing the gas pedal to when the vehicle actually starts to move. This has almost caused several accidents because I am trying to switch lanes or accelerate and it just sits there for a few seconds. This is going to kill people especially ones unfamiliar with driving the vehicle. This needs to be addressed immediately. This same problem exists in all Ram 2500 and 3500 with the turbo diesel motor from years 2011-2016. As I have driven the vehicle for the past three years it has become increasingly worse. The delay in throttle response has gotten longer.
Starting at about 15,000 miles, rear main seal developed a leak. The seal was replaced, leaked again and replaced by a seal and sleeve. Seal and sleeve leaked upon installation but were coated with rtv to stop leak at about 16,800 miles. At about 17,600 miles vehicle exhibited leak again. Have been informed now by Ram service dealerships that the vehicle is supposed to have seepage of fluids from engine seals and are not an issue unless the fluid is pouring out on the ground and covering the vehicle. I currently use the vehicle to travel to public and private campground involving sensitive environmental areas. As explained, the vehicle is now banned from being operated in those areas due to designed leaking of fluids from the vehicle. Ram customer department has been advised and am awaiting a response.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018.
NHTSA investigations
Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 RAM pickup trucks.The subject vehicle models include 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with a column mounted shift lever.The failures…
Transmission complaints in other 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Ram 2500?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2013 Ram 2500, 12% of the model year's 178 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › park/neutral start interlock switch (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Ram 2500 transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 17V-821 (column shift, Dec 20, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Ram 2500 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 2 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.