From Dodge RAM to RAM, Stellantis has taken good care of the popular pickup truck that ranks among one of the best in its class at present. With some tasteful upgrades for the 2013 MY, the RAM 1500 still carries the niggle-prone nature like a few other vehicles from the stable of FCA. The 2013 RAM 1500 Crew Cab faces 12 recalls along with 614 complaints to date while seeing a couple of investigations as well. The recalls cover some of the key aspects of the truck such as the braking system issues, airbag deployment issues, and radio software issues. The investigations were initiated for the vehicle rollaway problem and the software security vulnerability problem among which, the former hasn’t been closed yet. Coming to the complaints, the truck faces plenty of reports about its faulty power steering system, powertrain faults, airbag faults, and structural faults. However, the number of complaints is limited to a small number of units only since the truck has already clocked a massive sales figure of 355,673 units. In its class, the 2013 RAM 1500 Crew Cab rivals the Ford F-150 SuperCrew, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab, and the GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab.
RAM 1500 Crew Cab user complaints and problems
Engine problems
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Sudden engine stall: Sudden stalling of the engine issue affected several models of the 2013 RAM 1500. The owners experienced the failures while driving at various speeds such as at parking speeds or at highway speeds.
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Oil leakage: Multiple cases of oil leakage have been reported against the 2013 RAM 1500. The owners reported that the oil leakages occurred mainly through oil filters. In some cases, the oil filters leaked even though they were not changed or serviced.
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Hesitant acceleration: The hesitant acceleration issue, reported by the affected owners was mainly due to a control module error. According to the dealerships, the hesitations occurred due to the engine shifting from 4-cylinder to 8-cylinder while accelerating or decelerating.
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Cooling system leakage: A lot of 2013 RAM 1500 models faced cooling system leakage. As a result, the engines overheated and the leaked fluid posed a potential fire hazard too along with sending odor inside the cabin through the ventilation system.
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Exhaust leakage: Several owners have experienced exhaust gas leakage inside the cabin while driving. The prime reason for the problem was broken exhaust manifold bolts which caused the manifolds to become loose or break off, leaking toxic exhaust gasses inside the cabin.
Safety problems
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Airbag failure: Several owners of the 2013 RAM 1500 complained about a complete airbag failure during a crash. Due to crashes, the occupants and the owners of the vehicles suffered injuries as well.
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Parking brake failure: The parking brake failures did affect several 2013 RAM 1500 models. According to the reports from the owners, while they parked their trucks using the emergency or parking brake system, the vehicles rolled away after some time.
Miscellaneous problems
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Power steering failure: A lot of models of the 2013 RAM 1500 faced power steering failures. While the owners started their trucks for driving, the power steering system failed. In some cases, the failures occurred intermittently, and restarting the trucks several times solved the problem temporarily.
2013 RAM 1500 Crew Cab recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
April 3, 2013 |
13V128000 |
Parking Brake Cable may allow Truck to Roll |
If the parking brake fails to operate as designed, the vehicle could roll when parked, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reset the parking brake cable equalizer if required, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. |
|
2 |
May 7, 2013 |
13V177000 |
Restricted Coolant Flow/FMVSS 103 |
Without a properly working windshield defrosting system, a buildup of moisture or ice could limit the driver's ability to see, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect coolant valves along with an updated calibration, free of charge. The recall began on June 25, 2013. |
|
3 |
June 4, 2013 |
13V237000 |
No Warning of Turn Signal Malfunction/FMVSS 108 |
Without a warning that the turn signal is malfunctioning, the driver would continue to use the vehicle, unaware that other drivers on the road are not being notified that the vehicle is turning, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Central Body Controller software, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2013. |
|
4 |
July 2, 2013 |
13V287000 |
Electronic Stability Control may be Disabled |
A disabled ESC system may result in loss of directional control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the ESC module software, free of charge. The recall began on September 11, 2013. |
|
5 |
December 6, 2013 |
13V610000 |
Transmission Output Shaft may Fracture |
The transmission output shaft fracture could result in a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park'. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the transmissions, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 31, 2014. |
|
6 |
July 22, 2015 |
15V460000 |
Inadvertent Side Airbag Deployment |
Airbags deploying unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the Occupant Restraint Control module calibration, free of charge. The recall began on September 8, 2015. |
|
7 |
July 22, 2015 |
15V459000 |
Inadvertent Driver Airbag Deployment |
This abrasion may result in an electrical short that could cause the driver's airbag to unexpectedly deploy. Inadvertent deployment of the airbag may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, repair as necessary, and secure the steering wheel wiring harness. Additionally, protective caps will be added to the airbag retainer spring ends. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on September 18, 2015. |
|
8 |
July 23, 2015 |
15V461000 |
Radio Software Security Vulnerabilities |
Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify and mail affected owners a USB drive that includes a software update that eliminates the vulnerability, free of charge. Optionally, owners may take their vehicle to a Chrysler dealer for immediate installation. In an effort to mitigate the effects of this security vulnerability, Chrysler has had the wireless service provider close the open cellular connection to the vehicle that provided unauthorized access to the vehicle network. This measure may not have been implemented on all vehicles and does not address access by other means that will be remedied by the software update. The recall began on August 25, 2015. |
|
9 |
May 16, 2016 |
16E041000 |
Seat Cover Affects Airbag Deployment |
If the seat cover impedes the airbag deployment, the seat thorax airbags may not provide adequate protection in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of an injury. |
Chrysler will notify owners to remove the front seat covers and return them for a full refund. The recall began on July 1, 2016. |
|
10 |
May 9, 2017 |
17V302000 |
Side Curtain Airbags may not Deploy in a Rollover |
If the rollover side curtain airbags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a crash that necessitates activation of these safety systems. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the ORC software, free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2017. |
|
11 |
December 20, 2017 |
17V821000 |
Vehicle May Rollaway |
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. |
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 on February 26, 2018. |
|
12 |
May 9, 2019 |
19V347000 |
Tailgate May Open Unexpectedly |
If the tailgate opens while the vehicle is being driven, cargo may fall out of the vehicle and create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the tailgate latch, free of charge. The recall began on May 23, 2019. Chrysler is expected to notify owners of the expanded population on October 18, 2019. |
Should you buy a used RAM 1500 Crew Cab?
The RAM 1500 is an extremely value-for-money truck in its segment and focuses on comfort and driving aesthetics as compared to its peers. Moreover, it offers an impressive set of features both in terms of technology and convenience as well. Even though the truck gets a lesser number of optional powertrains to choose from, the existing and the standard ones are adequate enough for all kinds of light to heavy-duty works along with towing duties too. In terms of reliability too, the truck fares decently but the brand does put in the effort to rectify the faults which are evident from the number of recalls. While opting for a used example of the RAM 1500, do perform an in-depth inspection for the common issues with the truck such as the power steering failures, powertrain failures, and airbag issues.
