10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,186 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Ram 2500 electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Ram 2500:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Ram 2500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #39

Oct 032022

2500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Front passenger door and both rear door locks operate intermittently.. Doors will unlock with key fob or either front door buttons or front door handles; but they will intermittently lock with key fob or front door buttons or while in drive. Doors not locking keep child safety locks from engaging and children being able to exit vehicle without being in park. Also, prevents vehicle from being securely locked and protecting from theft of items. Truck been to dealership and told of problem they checked but could only get it to replicate issue 2 times and found nothing causing the problem. I have also found multiple Ram forums with a lot of people with same issue. There haven't been any warning lamps or messages before or during issues. The problem is intermittently and has last anywhere from a couple of days to several months at a time.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #38

May 042021

2500

  • miles
My alternator randomly for the past couple of years randomly surges voltage and the dealership has tried contacting for the recall but told me I have to make a report for s68 campaign for alternator fix

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #37

Aug 112017

2500

  • 24,000 miles
The last time my truck was in for recall was in 2016. They did not fix it then and have not fixed any recall since, but they clam that there is only one recall open as of date. None of the recalls have been repaired. This is being pencel whiped.

- Rifle, CO, USA

problem #36

Oct 212020

2500

  • 58,241 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Door locks not operating properly with key fob, door panel control or keyless touch entry mechanisms. Started as intermittent issue but is now hard failure...problem manifests with following symptom: Using any lock/unlock mode only the drivers door and tailgate lock/unlock, whereas the front passenger door and two rear doors do not lock or unlock with any available mechanism...additionally, the front passenger door and two rear doors do not lock with the speed actuated locking mechanism either. This is a significant safety issue and has been brought up in several owners forums.

- Prescott Valley, AZ, USA

problem #35

Oct 252019

2500

  • 79,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V739000 (electrical system). The recall was repaired by westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram (516-333-2666, located at 111 bond St, westbury, NY 11590) in February of 2018. In October of 2019, while driving approximately 15 mph, an odor of smoke was detected. The vehicle was pulled over and the contact saw smoke underneath the hood. The battery indicator was also illuminated. The contact disconnected the battery and the vehicle stopped smoking. The vehicle was towed to the same dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator burned. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they would send an investigator. The contact was not called back. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

- Smithtown, NY, USA

problem #34

Jul 262019

2500

  • 96,000 miles
Body mount control (BCM). Which controls the door locks has a high rate of failure including my truck. Drivers door locks when you hit the lock on the key fob. But the passenger, and both back doors do not due to a faulty body mount control (BCM). Have seen lots of people reporting same symptoms and failures on 2013 Ram trucks. Vehicle was stationary

- Geneva, OH, USA

problem #33

Jul 052019

2500

  • 86,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driver side and tail gate are the only items that will lock using key fob or door lock switch

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #32

Apr 042019

2500

  • 89,000 miles
Backup camera scrambles and goes out intermittently when backing up, and rear passenger taillight posting out in system messages on startup and stored messages but is not out.

- Cherokee, NC, USA

problem #31

Dec 232018

2500

  • 50 miles
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.

- Bartlesville, OK, USA

problem #30

Oct 202018

2500

  • 100,000 miles
Faulty body control module (BCM) door locks randomly work making it a safety issue.

- Justin, TX, USA

problem #29

Aug 122014

2500

  • 1,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Door locks sometimes lock when the locked button is pressed. Does not matter if it's the lock button on the truck, the auto lock once you go above 10mph, or the lock button on the remote. Since the doors do not lock, kids may be able to exit the vehicle at speed and get hurt!

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #28

Aug 222016

2500

  • 64,000 miles
Dead pedal issue when accelerating then momentarily letting of throttle and reapplying throttle, there's a 2-3 second delayed response. I've taken it to the dealer and they don't seem to know what's causing it.

- Hawthorne, CA, USA

problem #27

Jul 132018

2500

  • 112,450 miles
Wipers running with key and wiper switch off. Went to go to work and walked outside to find wipers running in low. Disconnect battery to stop. Waited 5 days, as soon as I connected, they started up. Pulled fuse and they stopped, haven't used truck since.

- Springfield, OH, USA

problem #26

Feb 252018

2500

  • 28,000 miles
2 months after recall was performed for the scr catalyst failure in the Ram 2500 2013 truck, the def system has undergone a complete failure and no longer functions. The truck in currently in a mileage count down that can not be stopped until repaired by the dealer. The vehicle will be undrivable once the countdown reaches zero. The system underwent complete failure while driving at highway speeds in the rain. The fuse for the scr feed has been replaced twice since the issue first appeared and each time it has happened during wet conditions. No standing bodies of water were crossed and no rivers were forded. The vehicle did not have any of these problems prior to the recall and could be driven in wet weather without worry. The vehicle is now a major safety hazard and continues to have recalls made to it that have no solution. There are two outstanding recalls on the vehicle that have no presented solution or date for repair.

- Keansburg, NJ, USA

problem #25

Jan 192018

2500

  • 135,000 miles
Brake shift interlock is malfunctioning. Vehicle shifts out of park without depressing brake pedal.

- Columbus, IN, USA

problem #24

Nov 262017

2500

  • 150,000 miles
Truck has been hard to start since I bought it then it wouldn't start at all. Dealer said it was wiring harness cost was $1500 for parts and labor and that didn't fix it now they say it's the computer is fried which is going to be $2500 parts

- Lepanto, AR, USA

problem #23

Nov 022017

2500

  • 115,000 miles
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.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #22

Aug 012017

2500

  • 51,000 miles
Body control module. Electrical fault doesn't allow the ability to lock the door. To lock the door you must manually lock the door. Safety issue having to manually walk around to each door to lock it in unsafe locations.

- Jupiter, FL, USA

problem #21

Dec 232016

2500

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle had a rapid alternator failure due to diode thermal fatigue. In addition, the vehicle shut off due to an underhood electrical fire. A police report was not filed. The contact extinguished the fire. The vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 16V739000 (electrical system) for the same failure. The dealer diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Middletown, DE, USA

problem #20

Nov 022016

2500

  • 64,300 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 2500. While driving 35 mph, the alternator caught fire. The fire department was not called and no reports were filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 16V739000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,300.

- Steamboat Springs, CO, USA

Read the next 19 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?