2013 Ram 1500 Reliability
The 2013 Ram 1500 has 1,283 owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Compared with other 1500 model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the 1500's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,283
NHTSA owner complaints
12
Recall campaigns
72
Complaints citing a crash
10
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Ram 1500 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 643 | 50% |
| Electrical system | 228 | 18% |
| Engine | 123 | 10% |
| Air bags | 94 | 7% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 86 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 79 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 50 | 4% |
| Suspension | 44 | 3% |
2013 Ram 1500 recalls
12 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V128000 | Apr 3, 2013 | Parking brake | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 vehicles manufactured December 17, 2012, through January 22, 2013. The parking brake cable equalizer was set incorrectly and may not hold the vehicle on a 20% grade. Thus, these… |
| 13V177000 | May 7, 2013 | Engine & cooling | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 RAM 1500 trucks manufactured manufactured June 25, 2012, through December 12, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the coolant bypass valve may stick in a position that does not allow coolant to… |
| 13V237000 | Jun 4, 2013 | Exterior lighting — turn signal | Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks manufactured September 9, 2012, through March 5, 2013 and equipped with optional premium tail lamps. In the affected vehicles, the turn signal indicator may not flash at a double… |
| 13V287000 | Jul 2, 2013 | Stability control | Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 RAM 1500 4x4 trucks manufactured June 26, 2012, through February 5, 2013. Due to a software issue with the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) module, the ESC system may be disabled when the vehicle is started. |
| 13V610000 | Dec 6, 2013 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chrysler 300 AWD, Dodge Charger AWD, and Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 vehicles equipped with ZF all wheel drive ("AWD") 8HP45 transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission output shaft may… |
| 15V459000 | Jul 22, 2015 | Air bags — frontal | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2011, to October 7, 2014, and equipped with the Electronic Vehicle Information Center option. The affected vehicles have a… |
| 15V460000 | Jul 22, 2015 | Seat belts | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks manufactured June 20, 2012, to January 26, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the side impact sensor calibrations may be overly sensitive, and as a result, the side… |
| 15V461000 | Jul 23, 2015 | Equipment — electrical / radio/tape deck/cd etc. | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500, 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger, 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Dodge Durango, and 2013-2015 Dodge Viper… |
| 16E041000 | May 16, 2016 | Equipment | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling aftermarket Mopar Canvas Seat Covers for certain 2012-2016 RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. These Mopar canvas seat covers were sold through Chrysler dealerships beginning October 15, 2015. The seat covers can impede the… |
| 17V302000 | May 9, 2017 | Air bags | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and 2014-2016 Ram 3500 vehicles. Certain driving conditions, such as driving off-road or debris striking the vehicle may cause the roll rate sensor to trigger a fault within… |
| 17V821000 | Dec 20, 2017 | Powertrain / transmission — 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… |
| 19V347000 | May 9, 2019 | Latches, locks & linkages — tailgate / latch | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with an 8 foot bed and a power locking tailgate. Chrysler is also recalling all 2013-2014 and 2018 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks built before April 1,… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby 1500 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year 1500 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 689 | 4 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2012 | 698 | 7 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2013 (this page) | 1,283 | 12 | Steering | Caution |
| 2014 | 1,781 | 17 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1,461 | 18 | Steering | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2013 Ram 1500 on the used market
- 152 of 1,167 2013 Ram 1500 listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2013 Ram 1500
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 12 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Ram 1500 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Ram 1500 reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Ram 1500 reliable?
The 2013 Ram 1500 has 1,283 owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Compared with other 1500 model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the 1500's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 Ram 1500 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Ram 1500 are steering (643), electrical system (228), engine (123), air bags (94). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Ram 1500 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ram 1500, including 13V128000 (parking brake) and 13V177000 (engine & cooling). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Ram 1500 compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 698 complaints and 7 recalls (solid); the 2014 has 1,781 complaints and 17 recalls (avoid). The 2013 has 1,283 complaints and 12 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Ram 1500?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ram 1500 research
Other Ram 1500 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 1500, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.