2013 Ram 3500 Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Cooling system
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  943%
• 25k–50k
  314%
• 50k–75k
  15%
• 75k–100k
  314%
• 100k–150k
  524%
• 150k+
  00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Ram 3500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ram 3500. While attempting to start the vehicle, the service engine indicator illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormal burning odor in and out of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to classic Chrysler Dodge Jeep (1102 walton drive, texarkana, tx 75503) where it was diagnosed that an unknown system was contaminated and needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

On dec. 15, 2014 I received a recall on my 2013 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel. The recall was for a inline fuel heater that May catch fire, it had no apparent fix, no parts, no instructions and no timeline as to when it would or could be fixed. I called the dealership and spoke to the service manager about my concerns, he told me that it was a remote possibility next to none, that the vehicle would catch fire. I asked him if I could park it inside and he said yes, and that the recall was just being sent out as a precaution. On the evening of jan 28th 2015 at approximately 0:920 pm smoke detectors alerted my dog and he woke me up. I woke my wife up yelling (fire) I panicked I took in a deep breath covered my mouth with my forearm, opened the personal entry door and stepped inside the garage not realizing how bad it was. …

My truck is a lemon. I've had over ten recalls and the problems just continue. Now my check engine light is on and the dealer told me my turbo actuator is not communicating with the turbo. They want to replace it at my cost of $3500. My truck only has 80K miles on it. I told them the turbo and everything still works fine!!!! Just the check engine light is on. They said eventually it will go bad. They said I can still drive it but that at any time it could go in to limp mode where it shuts down and only lets you drive 5mph. This sounds dangerous! Especially if I'm pulling a trailer. I asked how long before it goes bad and they say they have no idea!!! I don't have the money to replace a part that still works! This is obviously a faulty part that should be recalled. I've had 10 or more recalls with this vehicle already. Including a alternator that caught fire. …

I've had multiple recalls on this vehicle, my check engine light has been going off continually, I've had the water pump and catalyst converter replaced just to name a few, which to my luck my truck was still under warranty, now it's not. Again the check engine light goes on and off randomly, try to take it to the dealer to have diagnosed and I'm told they can do nothing about it until the light comes back on, I finally was able to get it to the dealer with the check engine light still on and now this time there were up to 5 items listed, the one that concerns me is the one regarding the turbo actuator not communicating. The dealer told me that I would have to replace it, this is going to cost me $3900 alone, my truck only has a little over 120000 miles on it, for this many things to be going wrong I am starting to thing I might have bought a lemon. …

Our Ram 3500 seems to have a wire chafing problem. On 26 June 2014 the truck locked in 4th gear. ECM was replaced in fairbanks at 16490 miles. On 18 July 2014 the same thing happened at 18481 miles, the dealer in soldotna ak found a chafed wire in the wiring loom. On 29 July 2014, the truck completely died, the ECM fuse was blown. The PCM was replaced. On 26 July 2015, the truck completely died again, ECM fuse was blown. Mileage was 31421. Prestige Dodge in longmont co replaced the ECM and then on the test drive the truck locked into 4th gear. They then replaced a portion of the wiring harness to correct a chafed wire. I was recently notified about another wire chafing problem with the airbags. I must wonder if somehow there is a wiring loom problem with this model truck. …

July 17, 2015 - while stationary, I started truck only to have all warning lights on the dash illuminate, wipers activate on their own, and radio unit power off. Eventually, all power was lost to the dash. Truck was towed to dealer for repair. Truck received new PCM and was returned to me. July 17, 2015 - later that evening, the truck was towed back to dealer for the same problem. Truck was in the service center for two months receiving a new wiring harness and new computers. September 16, 2015 - truck returned to me. October 13, 2015 - while driving on a city street the truck exhibited the same problem. Momentarily lost engine power and transmission functionality. Lost all power to dash including trailer brakes. The truck sat idling for approximately one hour while waiting for a tow truck. I have recorded video of the dash continuing to flicker and power up and down erratically. …

Truck loses power when accelerating from a dead stop. As the accelerator is depressed or feathered, the engine loses all power for 2-3 seconds leaving the driver helpless. If I allow the accelerator to return to idle position and then depress the accelerator again, the engine regains power and the vehicle accelerates. This is a very unsafe situation as I was towing a 12K pound trailer and was attempting to pull onto the highway. When the vehicle lost power, I was in jeopardy of being hit by oncoming traffic. This issue has occurred several times. I took the vehicle to the dealer but they were not able to duplicate the fault. I explained that this issue happened while the vehicle was under a load. The dealer never placed the vehicle under a load during their testing.

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ram 3500. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer (us one Chrysler/Jeep in sanford, south dakota) where it was diagnosed that the upstream nitrous sensor failed and needed replacement. In January of 2017, the vehicle was taken to autonation Chrysler Jeep/Ram in albany, georgia because the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The rear nitrous sensor was replaced under warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired again. The approximate failure mileage was 59,510.

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving at various speeds, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted after numerous attempts. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted without being prompted. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ram 3500. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the def fluid injector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred and the vehicle was repaired twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Related recalls

Engine complaints in other 3500 years