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Ram 2500Model year report

2013 Ram 2500 Problems

Compared with other Ram 2500 years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

17/100 0.5× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
178filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
39,700miles, 144 complaints with mileage
Recalls
14campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2013 Ram 2500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 RAM 2500 most often describe violent front-end shaking after hitting a bump at highway speed, which many call "death wobble", along with diesel-related fuel and emissions faults and electrical gremlins such as door locks and warning lights. Complaints arrive at a wide range of mileages depending on the system: front-end shaking and fuel leaks often appear well under 50,000 miles, while transmission and interior electrical problems tend to show up later.

  1. Steering

    Front-end shaking after bumps ("death wobble")

    • 25 complaints (14%)
    • median 40,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (25 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2015–2020

    Owners describe the front end and steering wheel shaking violently after hitting a bump, pothole or bridge seam at highway speed, sometimes bad enough that the truck changes lanes or leaves the road. Many say the shaking only stops after slowing well below highway speed. Dealers commonly replaced ball joints, track bar, drag link or tie rod ends, and several owners report the problem returned later. Mostly reported between roughly 15,000 and 115,000 miles, typically at 55-70 mph over bumps or road seams.

    What to check: Drive the truck at highway speed over bumps and expansion joints before buying, and ask for records of ball joint, track bar and tie rod work. Check for play or clunking in the front end and uneven tire wear.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Had a death wobble in may of 2017. I was knocked off the road during a school camping trip at 60 miles an hour on a mountain pass. Luckily I managed to stop the vehicle before rolling over. Dealer fixed upper and lower ball joint and trac bar. The wobble is now back and I am deathly afraid to drive it. I live in the mountains of colorado and I use the truck to pull a large boat. If it happens on a mountain pass...I am dead!”

    NHTSA complaint #11079542, filed 2018-03, 31,000 miles

    “I am having what they call the death wobble when I drive over 65 MPH and hit a pot hole, the front end starts to shimmy up and down violently. I have to slow down quickly not to lose control of the vehicle. Also tends to vibrate badly on turns.”

    NHTSA complaint #10862608, filed 2016-05, 44,080 miles
  2. Electrical system

    Door locks and electrical faults

    • 25 complaints (14%)
    • median 61,620 mi at 5.0 yrs old (20 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2013–2023

    Owners report that only the driver door and tailgate lock or unlock, while other doors stay unlocked with the fob, door switch or speed-actuated locking, sometimes intermittently and later permanently. Others describe warning lights flickering, the main display shutting down, a backup camera cutting out, wipers running with the switch off, or key fobs that fail to start the truck. Dealers in several cases could not identify the cause. Spread across the sample from very low mileage up to about 120,000 miles, with lock problems often appearing after 40,000 miles.

    Recall 16V739000Recall 15V461000

    What to check: Test every door lock and unlock method, the backup camera, the wipers and the key fob start, and check whether the radio software and alternator recalls were completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Only my tailgate and driver door will lock. My doors will not lock automatically when I start to drive. When attempting to lock my doors only the tailgate and driver's door lock.”

    NHTSA complaint #11048461, filed 2017-11, 115,000 miles

    “Electric door locks have locked and unlocked by them self and sometimes won't lock at all you have to keep hitting the fob button off and on till they actually lock or the lock button on inside door . This happened once while driving in a straight road, the other time's just when trying to unlock to get in and when getting out to lock it up”

    NHTSA complaint #11402957, filed 2021-03, 42,000 miles
  3. Engine

    Delayed or lost throttle response

    • 17 complaints (10%)
    • median 18,800 mi at 1.9 yrs old (16 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2021

    Owners describe a delay of one to several seconds before the truck responds when the throttle is released and reapplied, or when accelerating from a stop or merging. Several say the truck felt unresponsive when pulling into traffic, and dealers often could not reproduce or diagnose the problem. Some attribute it to the electronic throttle and torque management programming. Mostly reported under about 35,000 miles, in normal driving when the throttle is let off and reapplied.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test drive at highway speed and deliberately lift off and reapply the throttle to feel for hesitation, and ask whether any engine calibration updates were applied.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “During normal driving when turning or changing lanes and trying to accelerate rapidly to merge into moving traffic, the truck will stop responding via accelerator completely. The traction control is on, but not active during this effect. Basically anytime I accelerate rapidly from a stop the truck does not respond and leaves me dead in the water.”

    NHTSA complaint #10605759, filed 2014-06, 14,600 miles

    “I recently merged onto the highway where I live and I let off the throttle very quickly and then got back into it and my truck didn't accelerate at all for a couple seconds. This has happened 10-15 times during the 3+years I've owned it but this incident almost caused a crash because letting off the gas pedal and then getting back on it cause me to continue slow even though I mashed the gas pedal. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10992867, filed 2017-06, 64,000 miles
  4. Fuel system

    Diesel fuel leaks and fuel smell

    • 8 complaints (4%)
    • median 17,920 mi at 2.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2022

    Owners describe a strong diesel smell, sometimes while idling in cold weather, and fuel leaking at the filler neck or around the fuel filter area. Some report fuel spilling on the ground, rear springs, brakes or wheels when filling up, and one dealer response was to supply a fuel cap that owners say did not stop the leak. Others report a cracked plastic filler neck and fuel contamination concerns. Reported from very low mileage, often under 20,000 miles, and sometimes while idling in cold conditions or during refuelling.

    Recall 14V635000

    What to check: Inspect the fuel filler neck and the area around the fuel filter for cracks, staining or a diesel smell, and check for drips after filling the tank. Ask whether the diesel fuel heater connector recall was completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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! …”

    NHTSA complaint #10579558, filed 2014-04, 400 miles

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10839600, filed 2016-03, 17,920 miles
  5. Engine

    DEF and emissions-related warning lights

    • 21 complaints (12%)
    • median 19,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (17 state mileage)
    • filed 2014–2026

    Owners describe the service or check engine light coming on in connection with the diesel exhaust fluid system, including a DEF gauge that did not move and a nitrogen oxide sensor that had to be ordered. Some report the same light returning after an earlier emissions-related repair, and in some cases the truck was left with a warning light for much of a trip. Mostly reported under about 25,000 miles, sometimes during highway driving.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for the emissions repair history and whether the diesel emissions warranty extension applies, and check that no warning light is on before and after a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On september 1,2015 at 9:15 pm while driving back from nashville tn to pa. The engine light came on and I noticed the def gauge hadn't moved . So I pulled over to check things out and made it to a gas station and bought some def and tryed to fill it up but the def tank seamed to be fill. I turned the truck on and off a few times to see if that would move the gauge and reset the engine light but it didn't . The engine light stayed on most of the trip back. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10762475, filed 2015-09, 12,248 miles

    “On 02/19/2015 service light kept coming on another problem at same time was the def sensor concerning the additive that you have to add to mix with the diesel for government emissions . They had to order part and I had to come back at another time.”

    NHTSA complaint #10744506, filed 2015-07, 6,142 miles

Buying note. Check the front end carefully at highway speed and ask for service records on ball joints, track bar and tie rods, since front-end shaking is the most frequently described complaint. Also confirm fuel and emissions system repairs and that open recalls and software updates were completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 178 consumer complaints for the 2013 Ram 2500. 144 of the complaints include a mileage, and 60% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 39,700 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 7 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns and 490 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 10 Ram 2500 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 17 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Engine cooling (5), Body and structure (5), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (5), Exterior lighting (4), Wheels (3), Electronic stability control (2), Seat belts (2), Interior lighting (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “Took my vehicle in to a scheduled appointment on 3/12/2016 at 10 am. Went back to the dealer on 3/16/2016 at 11:30 am due to not getting any return phone calls from the messages I left and found that nothing had been done. These recalls could be dangerous but san antonio chrysler dodge does not think so.”

NHTSA complaint #10850064, filed 2016-03, 43,000 miles

Electrical system: “While driving alternator started smelling and rapid changes in voltage. When stopped and opened hood alternator was smoking and starting to catch on fire. Truck was being driven on city street as well as a highway. I have taken the truck to dealership in july to correct all recalls. The dealership did all other recalls other then alternator they said they did not have the parts and would call me when they could get the parts. It is now december 23rd and no call when the issue happened.”

NHTSA complaint #11163318, filed 2018-12, 50 miles

Steering: “Steering became extremely loose. It became so loose that if I hit a bump I would end up in the next lane of traffic. The upper and lower ball joints, tie rod ends, and the entire steering linkage were replaced and the problem didnt get better. I had nearly 6 inches of play in the steering wheel. I'd appreciate if something was done for this so no more people have to go through this headache or safety issue.”

NHTSA complaint #11291867, filed 2019-12, 85,000 miles

Fuel system: “P65 recall on this vehicle - the notice indicates that parts are not available, but potential adverse affects include fire. We have not been driving it as a result, and chrysler is unable to give us a date for when parts will be available. While they did say that no adverse events of any kind have occurred this obviously does not satisfy my family.”

NHTSA complaint #10678234, filed 2015-01, 5,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

60% of the 144 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 15,000 and 79,000 miles.

19%0–1016%10–2524%25–5013%50–7513%75–10012%100–1502%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (144 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 39,700 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’1441’16’18’20’22’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2013 Ram 2500. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
2500 · regular cab 2WDnot rated———4 · 15.5% risk
2500 · extended cab 2WDnot rated———4 · 15.5% risk
2500 · crew cab 2WDnot rated———4 · 15.5% risk
2500 · regular cab 4WDnot rated———3 · 23.7% risk
2500 · crew cab 4WDnot rated———3 · 23.7% risk
2500 · extended cab 4WDnot rated———3 · 23.7% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Recalls and investigations

See all 14 recalls for the 2013 Ram 2500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 490 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 490 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ram 2500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026298688——Too new to compareToo new
2025662,4006——Too new to compareToo new
20245912,0005——Too new to compareToo new
20234923,50084—6 · FewerToo new
202218118,000124—59 · TypicalRising
202110834,00084—33 · FewerRising
202016210,500104—56 · TypicalFalling
20191938,72512——45 · TypicalFalling
20182,60752,00094—77 · MoreRising
201769846,500114—50 · TypicalRising
201625924,000124—51 · TypicalStable
201521535,000134—32 · FewerFalling
201434430,000144—57 · TypicalFalling
201317839,70014——17 · FewerFalling
20095161,0001———Not enough data

All Ram 2500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ram 2500?

Owners of the 2013 RAM 2500 most often describe violent front-end shaking after hitting a bump at highway speed, which many call "death wobble", along with diesel-related fuel and emissions faults and electrical gremlins such as door locks and warning lights. The issues reported most often: Front-end shaking after bumps ("death wobble"); Door locks and electrical faults; Delayed or lost throttle response.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013 Ram 2500 have?

NHTSA recorded 178 consumer complaints for the 2013 Ram 2500 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2013 Ram 2500 is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 43 complaints (24% of the total), followed by electrical system with 41.

Has the 2013 Ram 2500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2013 Ram 2500 reported?

Among the 144 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 39,700 miles and the middle half falls between 15,000 and 79,000 miles; 60% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.