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2013 Ram 3500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
40% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2013 Ram 3500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Better than 53% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2013 Ram 3500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 44 of 114 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Ram 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (40%), and the largest group is filed under engine (27). For comparison, the 2014 scores 39%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other Ram 3500 years
Of the 10 Ram 3500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (40%). The worst is the 2022 (74%), the best the 2018 (5%). By volume, the 2013 drew 114 complaints (44 drivetrain), against 202 for the 2014.
Ram 3500 years to avoid and best years →
2013 · 2014 3500 problems · 2015 3500 problems · 2016 3500 problems · 2017 3500 problems · 2018 3500 problems · 2019 3500 problems · 2020 3500 problems · 2021 3500 problems · 2022 3500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Ram 3500
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 44 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Ram 3500 engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2013 Ram 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 18 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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 trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission…
Risk: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2017 RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines that have Concentric-brand water pumps without a vent hole. These water pumps may leak coolant.
Risk: The leaking water pump can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pumps, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this…
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.
Risk: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of…
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks manufactured January 7, 2013, through March 6, 2013. The engine cover may trap an excessive amount of heat under the cover.
Risk: The excessive heat under the engine cover may result in an under hood fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing engine cover with one that is a different design, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed on May 31, 2013. A second letter was mailed to owners…
14 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Ram 3500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2013 Ram 3500
Does the 2013 Ram 3500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 44 of 114 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Ram 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (40%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Ram 3500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Ram 3500 is steering: 37 of 114 complaints (32%) name it, followed by engine (27) and suspension (18). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 40% of the relevant total.
Is the 2013 Ram 3500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 40% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is better than 53% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Ram 3500 years we score, it ranks 5th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Ram 3500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2013 Ram 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 18 in total: 17V821000 (power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift), 17V562000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel), 14V635000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ram 3500 years are better?
Among the Ram 3500 years we track, the 2018 (5%), the 2017 (17%) and the 2016 (33%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (40%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ram-3500
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.