My truck was backed into my driveway, parked overnight, and would not respond to key fob. I tried second fob, also had no response. I manually opened door and truck would not respond in any way. I call road side assistance. Tow truck jumped battery, which allowed truck to start, but promptly died once cables were removed. Tow truck towed vehicle to dodge dealership for assessment. Initial diagnoses was failed alternator. However, once alternator was replaced, several other issues arose, immediately. The pdc and cable, battery as well as wiper motor, among other items in line, were also damaged. Smoke instantly filled engine compartment. The mechanic stated that it appeared that voltage had been backfed thus causing extensive damage not noted earlier. The dealership thinks that if they submitt additional repair requests to mopar, beyond alternator failure, that this will result in non payment by my extended, lifetime warranty package I purchased with vehicle. I have the damaged pdc but was not allowed to keep other items. I also have photos of items replaced. My insurance company stated that this pdc issue to be a known issue with this make and model. I've had electrical problems since august, beginning with transmission celanoid as well as failure to recognize key fob. Other issues since, which also appear to be electrical issues, have resulted in numerous days off work, $100 deductibles being paid, and frustrating hours on the phone with insurance companies, both mine and the tow truck.
2013 Ram 1500 electrical complaints
Page 5 of 9: complaints 101 to 130 of 228, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My 2013 ram will lock the doors randomly, with no one in it or near it. Its happened many times, now I have to leave a window down if im just unloading the back, or carry a spare key. I've been working in the yard, keys not even on me, and I hear "click" and all the doors are locked. This is a safety hazard as I could get locked out somewhere. I live in deep woods, there are no neighbors to have a conflicting key, so to speak. I have almost been locked out several times, but have either had a spare key, or left the window down while pumping gas, etc. This happens with the motor off, no one in the car, key fob may be in my pocket or 100 yards away in the house in a drawer. Happened again yesterday, truck hadnt even been driven, I was out shoveling snow and I hear "click", all locked up again.
Electric door locks work intermittently on the four door of the cab. It is not a door actuator issue as the doors lock and unlock in an unusual pattern. It appears to be related to a control module. This door lock and unlock issue could interfere with child safety locks as I see it. There are multiple reports of this issue with other owners as evidenced with online searches.
My vehicle has been giving trouble for the past 3 months, with the electrical panel going off while driving on streets and highways, not being able to control speed or brakes, windshield wipers coming on randomly, signals not working, false alarms for washer fluid, radio and bluetooth shutting down and car shutting down and not starting altogether. I've taken it to 3 different shops and mechanics, who all had a hard time diagnosing and fixing the problems. I've had to spent a lot of money on tow trucks and repairs, and am not convinced the issues are adequately repaired. I also firmly believe this is and should be a recall issue. The previous section would not let me choose all the issues but I've had problems with air bag, brakes, elec. Stability control, electrical, engine, fuel/propulsion system, lighting, power train, speed control, steering, suspension, visibility/wiper and wheels.
None of controls on steering column are working. First the cruise control stopped.. Replaced the fuse it looked burnt out. Did not solve. Then radio controls quit along with left side dash controls. While driving the cruise was not working. The radio while driving and the left side dash controls worked while sitting g I. Driveway but when I moved they froze.
My entire dash, radio and all electronics in truck shut down while driving. I can still drive the truck as the engine, steering and braking still works. The dash cycles like I have just turned the turn on. I haven't been able to catch this on video as it happens and scares me so I keep watching the road. I have taken it to the dealer and they can't replicated it. I haven't been able to pin down why it happens yet it seems to be happening more oftent. Now my dash lights are starting to flicker and flash. This is very very distracting especially at night. I have video of this happening.
Interior door lock/unlock button located on interior drivers door panel will not function, I.e. Will not lock, unlock the doors. Key fob will lock/unlock doors, but not door panel buttons at any time, moving or stationary. Window function buttons were not working, but have started working on their own. But the inability to lock or unlock the doors seems like a huge safety factor. They did work initially, suddenly stopped working recently.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle's doors began to lock and unlock independently and the engine started independently. The contact took the vehicle to elder chrysler dodge jeep ram (1798 tx-31 bus, athens, tx 75751, (903) 677-2292) and paid $300 to have the key fob replaced and programmed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000. *bf
Dashboard from time to time will go completely out for a few seconds and reboot while driving. During this time no dashboard information is available. It is hard to reproduce because it happens randomly.
There is a spring in the steering colum that allows the air bags, volume control, cruise control, heated steering wheel, and anything else located on the steering wheel to work. It broke not covered under warranty should be a recall safety issue.
Door locks won't close with key fob or inside switch. Locks stay open while driving. Door looks only lock manually. Stationary and while moving.
Instrument cluster flickers and causes driver to be distracted posing a risk for accident and/or injury. This started out as a sporadic issue, but now seems to be a constant situation. When I get into my vehicle, even before starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster flickers. It used to resolve itself rather quickly once the vehicle was turned on, but now it is not uncommon to drive the vehicle for several miles before the issue stops. There are a significant number of threads online about the issue and appears this is a defect in the manufacturing or design of the instrument cluster that should warrant a recall. I have video of the issue, but unfortunately can't upload the video to this site.
Child door looks and auto door locks not working. Either by in interior switches or key fob. Some or all door will not lock without manually pressing down the manual door locks. Common problem found when searched on ram forums dealer replaced body control module and new key fobs.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ram 1500. The contact stated that the push button start function failed to work properly. As a result, the vehicle was unable to start due to the intermittent failure. The alternator and battery were checked by an independent mechanic and the contact. Steve landers chrysler dodge jeep ram (501‑404‑2738, located at 401 colonel glenn plaza loop, little rock, ar 72210) diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000.
First experienced malfunction of the rear driver's side automatic door lock not cycling with the other locks. I had to manually operate the lock by reaching around from the front door. This went on for about a month, then the drivers door lock started doing the same thing. Doing some research online in ram forums, there were several other people with the same complaint and issues. Other people had went through the painstaking process of paying the dealer to trouble shoot and replace various other parts until the issue was traced to the body control module (bcm, part number 68200252af for my model). When I called my local service department, they explained that part was on back order with no eta. Vehicle was stationary, happens whether using the key fob, or door handle controls, or inside console buttons.
As I was driving to work this morning I had my cruse control set at 65mph. I reached the normal point in which I turn the cruse control off every morning due to an approaching intersection and the cruse control buttons on the steering wheel would not function. I hit the brake peddle and the cruse still would not shut off. I was able to get out of the turn lane and proceed through the intersection, which was luckily green, and shifted the vehicle into neutral and shut if off. Upon starting the vehicle back up the cruse control buttons will not function. I tried again this afternoon and they are working just fine. Ever since the wire harness was replaced a few years ago there have been issues with the volume controls for the radio but this is the first time I have had any issue with the cruse control. What if this would have happened at a busy intersection with a red light?
Cruse control stop working also driver door master switch stop working except the 2 back windows
Keyfob does not work properly. It opens the truck on its own and keeps trying to open all time when keyfob is near.
The fob key will not go to the off position. The farthest left it goes is to accesory.the key is stuck in the ignition I can still start it and drive it but have to disconnect the battery at night so as to not drain the battery.
As of yet, there has not been an accident happen. However, I just finished a 15 mile drive and my airbag light and the message "service airbag system" has come on and off 6 times at random. In doing my own research, if the clockspring in the wheel which connects the airbag loses connection it will cause that fault possibly leading to an airbag failure to deploy in the event of an accident. This happened both while moving and also while stationary.
All 4 door locks on my truck do not work properly when using the key fob as well the power locks inside the vehicle . They either do not lock or unlock. It rotates locking one door and other is open, sometimes 3 doors lock and 1 open, and it changes every time it's used . There are public forums where many other people experience the same issue until they replace the bcm module. Ive experienced great difficultly with the dealerships ability to properly diagnose the issue. They advised me to replace all 4 actuators, never addressing the public forums that discusssed this exact issue. Seems like the dealers are making money on these problems and not correcting the issue. The truck had only 24,000 miles on it when the issue started. This should not be happening. This is a major safety issue many others have complained of the same issue.
Dash goes blank then comes back on.. Now is ticking when it does.. Happens when driving normally
When parking I get error 'vehicle not in park' and engine will not shut off. Seems stuck and until you put it in reverse, then drive, then park multiple times it will allow you to shut the engine off. Everytime I try and park and I am stationary for the past month.
As I'm driving, all of the electrical components on my dash shut down and then come back on one at a time within a minute. My understanding is that the problem is related to the gauge cluster and after a little searching on the internet, it is a well-known issue with the 2013 rams. The problem has been happening randomly since I bought the truck in 2015 and can not be replicated on command. Sometimes I can go a couple of months with no problem; at other times, it occurs 2-3 times a week. So far, it hasn't affected the operation of my truck, but this is a huge safety risk should they decide not to come back on at some point.
As I was parking my vehicle I heard a click sound. Immediately after the airbag light illuminated also horn/radio/cruise control stopped working. Very unsafe. Not fare for a defect like this to happen. After reading forums online this is a known problem that fca has not looked into.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ram 1500. The contact stated that strong exhaust fumes encompassed the interior and exterior of the vehicle. The dealer (peterson dodge chrysler jeep ram, 5801 e gate blvd, nampa, id 83687, (208) 475-3000) diagnosed that the exhaust manifold had an internal failure, which was leaking fluid into the engine compartment due to the bolts shearing off. The dealer replaced the exhaust manifold and the bolts on the front passenger side; however, the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the exhaust manifold needed to be replaced on the driver's side and the bolts. The manufacturer provided no remedy other than replacing the same parts. The failure mileage was not available. **tr the first failure was the passenger side exhaust manifold began ticking. Tamera , the chrysler adjuster did not tell me this was under a customer help at the time of the repair of I sould have brought the above her attention then. I heard only a tick on the passenger side and they said the other side was fine. In less than 1000 miles and around 30 days the other side started ticking. In researching this problem it appears that chrysler has allowed this to allowed this to continue unchecked since 2009, but it is hard to tell as they have done some changes in the engine for fuel economy sake, but it appears to be an ongoing problem. I have had some exhaust odors, but it has not seemed to have caused health problems at this point. My son has a 2003 diesel that has the same problem, but is long out of warranty. Updated 11/1/2018
Controls (cruise, gear up/down) on steering wheel non-operable. Dealer diagnostics say clockspring (pn 68110740ae) is bad.
Driving on hwy 45 MPH, engine shut down no warnings. Towed to shop. Wiring harness laying on engine, melted the wirers causing it to short out.
Dashboard from time to time will go completely out for a few seconds and reboot while driving. During this time no dashboard information is available. It is hard to reproduce because it happens randomly.
There is a electrical connector under the dash that comes loose.. The truck shuts down with no control. Will not start cant get out of park to be towed.. Total lockout. Dealer charged 150 bucks to "fix it" happened again a month later .*bf
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2013 Ram 1500?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history