2013 Ram 1500 Complaint Log

THE RAM TRUCKS USE A LOGIC CIRCUIT TO CONTROL ALL ELECTRONICS. THE HORN IN THESE VEHICLES ALSO USES THIS LOGIC CIRCUIT, INSTEAD OF USING THE TRADITIONAL DIRECT CONNECT OR RELAY CONFIGURATION THAT MOST CARS/TRUCKS USE. BECAUSE OF THIS LOGIC CIRCUIT, THERE IS AN APPROXIMATE 1 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN THE TIME THE HORN IS DEPRESSED UNTIL THE HORN ACTUALLY SOUNDS. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN FOR SERVICE THIS WEEK AND THE DEALER INDICATES THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TRUCK. THIS IS DANGEROUS. BY THE TIME THE HORN SOUNDS, AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THIS DOES NOT JUST AFFECT MY TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE RAM OWNERS FORUM , WITH SOME PEOPLE HAVING LONGER OR SHORTER DELAYS. A QUICK TAP OF THE HORN YIELDS NO SOUND, BECAUSE YOU MUST PRESS ON THE HORN FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE THE HORN SOUNDS. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS ON 2013 DODGE RAM 1500 LARAMIE ARE GETTING A LOT OF MOISTURE/CONDENSATION IN BOTH OF THEM. I HAD THEM REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP BUT MY NEW PAIR ARE DOING THE SAME. I HAVE SEEN ON OTHER SIMILAR TRUCKS LIKE MINE WITH SAME ISSUE. THIS IS CAUSING MY LIGHTS TO LOOK DIMMER INSTEAD OF BRIGHTENING UP THE ROAD. I HAVE THE PROJECTOR STYLE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND LOWERING THE FOUR CORNER SUSPENSION SYSTEM TO ENTRY/EXIT MODE, AN EXTREMELY LOUD PUSSST (LIKE DISCONNECTING AN AIR TOOL FROM AN COMPRESSED AIR TANK). THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER/PASSENGER TO JUMP AND AND PETS TO BOLT INTO THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SEAT. MY CONCERN IS THIS MAY HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT A HIGH RATE SPEED AND CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BECOME DISTRACTED AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL POSTS TO FORUMS FROM JEEP OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SMILILAR ISSUES IN THEIR CHRYSLER MADE VEHICLES WITH AIR SUSPENSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT AND THE ANTI-SKID WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE MILES AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCKS BECAME UNLOCK INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RADIO WOULD ALSO POWER ON AND OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,859.

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGED THE BRAKES BUT THE CALIPERS LOCKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CALIPERS, ROTORS, BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,260 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,790. PM

LED HEADLIGHTS GET CONDENSATION CAUSING REDUCED BRIGHTNESS AND VISIBILITY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE NEW ONES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT CONDENSATION WAS NORMAL, AND THAT WAS HOW THE LIGHT WAS DESIGNED. *TR

IT HAS SNOWED HARD ENOUGH HERE IN VIRGINIA THIS YEAR TO LEAVE SNOW ON THE ROADS. THREE TIMES NOW SINCE BUYING MY 2013 RAM 1500 WITH PENTASTAR ENGINE IN DECEMBER 2012 I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND REMOVE THE KEY. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT HELP ME. IT SOUNDS RIDICULES TO SAY THAT "WHEN IT SNOWS I CAN?T DRIVE MY FULL SIZE RAM 1500 THAT SHOULD BE FULLY CAPABLE IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS". AS I UNDERSTAND IT WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW OR SLUSH SNOW IS THROWN AT THE TRANSMISSION, THIS RESULTS IN SNOW PACKING AROUND THE SHIFT LINKAGE. THE RESULT IS VERY CLEAR, YOU CAN?T PUT YOUR TRUCK IN PARK AND REMOVE THE KEY. IF YOU DON?T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT OR ABILITY TO CRAWL UNDER YOUR TRUCK AND MELT THE SNOW THEN THE ONLY OTHER CHOICE IS TO SIT THERE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING UNTIL THE SNOW MELTS. UNFORTUNATELY IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH MUD, WELL MUD DOES NOT MELT. *TR

THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. FOUR TIMES I ENCOUNTERED THE DISPLAY OF THE MESSAGE VEHICLE NOT IN PARK WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A VERY CONFUSING AND DANGEROUS MESSAGE SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO A DOOR NOT BEING FULLY CLOSED. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 11TH. THE MANAGER APPEARED TO BE AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS MESSAGE AND SAID HE WILL REPORT IT TO AN ENGINEER WHEN HE VISITS THE DEALERSHIP. THE REASON FOR REPORTING THIS IS I AM NOT SURE THIS PROBLEM WILL BE CORRECTED FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE SENSOR INACCURATELY READS TEMPERATURE (USUAL 8-12 DEGREES LESS THAN ACTUAL AMBIENT TEMPERATURE) THIS AFFECTS SEVERAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLES FEATURES (AUTO HEATED SEATS AND STEERING WHEEL ALSO VENTED SEATS). *TR

AFTER DRIVING ON SNOW AND SLUSHY ROADS I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO THE REVERSE OR PARK POSITION. I COULDN'T EVEN MOVE THE SELECTOR INTO THOSE POSITIONS. *TR

INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR NEEDS TO BE READJUSTED DAILY. -- FIRST COMPLAINING TO DEALER WAS 1-24-13, 2665 MILES. DEALER ORDERED MIRROR AND REPLACED ON 1-31-13. NEW MIRROR HAD SAME PROBLEM. SECOND COMPLAINING 2-26-13, 3799 MILES. CHRYSLER RESPONSE: KNOWN ISSUE BY CHRYSLER -- "REARVIEW MIRROR LOSES ADJUSTMENT AFTER A FEW DAYS. INSPECTED MIRROR. CHECKED FOR APPLICABLE TSB'S. TECH TIPS AND STAR ONLINE CASES. CHRYSLER RESPONDED TO REQUESTS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BUT OFFERED NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. SUGGESTING THAT HARSH/ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS MAY AFFECT THE MIRROR'S ABILITY TO RETAIN ITS ADJUSTMENT. THIS IS CONSIDERED A NORMAL CONDITION AND NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR IT SHOULD BE MADE." I INFORMED THE LOCAL DEALER THAT WAS AN UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE. THIRD COMPLAINT 5-16-13, 8974 MILES. DEALER RESPONSE: "INSPECTED MIRROR FOR DEFECTS. ROAD TESTED. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. NO UPDATED PARTS AVAILABLE." INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR PROVIDES VISIBILITY THAT THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS DO NOT, PARTICULARLY IN REDUCED VISIBILITY WHEN OUTSIDE MIRRORS ARE FOGGED, FROSTY, OR ICY. MADE A 2,775 MILE TRIP FROM MARYLAND TO THE MICHIGAN UPPER PENINSULA AND MIRROR HAD TO BE ADJUSTED A FEW TIMES DAILY ON THE DRIVE UP AND BACK. MADE A 2,050 MILE TRIP FROM MARYLAND TO FLORIDA AND MIRROR HAD TO BE ADJUSTED A FEW TIMES DAILY ON THE DRIVE DOWN AND BACK. THIS ISSUE BECOMES A HAZARD WHEN THE DRIVER FINALLY REALIZES THEY ARE MOVING THEIR HEAD TO GET A SAFE VIEW IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR. REARVIEW MIRRORS ARE A BASIC SAFETY FEATURE OF ALL MOTOR VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THEY NEED TO BE RELIABLE. A DRIVER NOT REALIZING THIS MIRROR IS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT UNTIL HAVING TO CRANE THEIR HEAD TO GET A SAFE VIEW IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS QUITE DISTRACTING. DRIVER DISTRACTIONS WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. A VEHICLE TRAVELING 70 MPH IS GOING 102+ FEET PER SECOND - ANY DISTRACTION IS HAZARDOUS. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 RAM 1500 IN NOVEMBER OF 2013. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2,500 MILES I STARTED EXPERIENCING A STRONG (PROPANE / PETROLEUM TYPE OF SMELL) ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS AND OUTSIDE THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THIS HAS CAUSED ME (AND MY FAMILY) TO EXPERIENCE HEADACHES AND NAUSEA AFTER DRIVING / RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. MY DEALERSHIP CONTACTED STAR FOR A SOLUTION, BUT STAR DID NOT RESPOND. FINALLY THE DEALERSHIP INSTRUCTED ME TO BRING IT IN TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. THE DEALERSHIP FLUSHED THE COOLANT SYSTEM NUMEROUS TIMES AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN / SMELLED ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE, AND THAT TWO OF THEIR TECHNICIANS ACQUIRED HEADACHES FROM THE SMELL. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE SMELL WAS DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM, BUT DIDN'T NOT WHAT IT WAS OR WHAT WAS CAUSING IT. UNFORTUNATELY IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THE COOLANT FLUSH RESOLVED THE ISSUE AS IT STILL SMELLS. SUBSEQUENTLY, I CONTACTED RAM CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. THEY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM AND PROVIDED ME WITH A CASE NUMBER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS.MY MAIN CONCERN IS RELATED TO THE TOXICITY OF THIS SMELL. WHAT IS CAUSING IT AND ARE THE VAPORS HARMFUL? IF THIS SMELL IS CAUSING HEADACHES AND NAUSEA, WHAT TYPE OF SHORT OR POTENTIALLY LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS DOES THIS PRESENT? MEANWHILE, I?M STILL DRIVING THE TRUCK BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DRIVE. MY SECONDARY CONCERN IS RELATED TO THE DISPOSITION OF THE TRUCK. CAN RAM FIX IT SATISFACTORILY AND WHEN WILL IT BE RESOLVED. AGAIN, I?M STILL DRIVING THE TRUCK. *TR

MY 2013 DODGE RAM 1500 ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HAS NEARLY ALLOWED ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE HORN BEING DELAYED. I COMPLAINED AND TOOK IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DODGE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WORKS AS DESIGNED. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A FLAW IN THEIR DESIGN. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME THING. THE HORN CONTROL ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OPERATES THROUGH THE COMPUTER AND THAT IS WHAT IS SAID TO BE CAUSING THE DELAY. THE DELAYED HORN IN MY VEHICLE HAS NEARLY ALLOWED ACCIDENTS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BY CONSEQUENTLY CAUSING A DELAYED RESPONSE FROM THE DRIVERS OF OTHER VEHICLES. DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE ARE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!! *TR

SAFETY DEFECT: Database Classification Failure - 2013 Ram Vehicles Vehicle: 2013 Ram 1500, VIN: [ENTER VIN ABOVE] Owner: [ENTER NAME ABOVE] Email: [ENTER EMAIL ABOVE] Phone: [ENTER PHONE ABOVE] Defect Description: The 2013 model year Ram vehicles suffer from a systematic database classification failure that prevents normal ownership operations and creates safety hazards. Due to the Dodge-to-Ram brand transition in 2013, these vehicles are not properly recognized in automotive databases used by: • Auto parts retailers (O'Reilly's, AutoZone, etc.) • Insurance companies and quote systems • Tire retailers and service centers • Emergency roadside assistance systems • Government vehicle registration systems Safety Implications: • Inability to quickly procure critical replacement parts during emergencies • Delays in obtaining proper insurance coverage • Emergency service complications due to vehicle misidentification • Forced manual workarounds that increase human error risk Consumer Impact: Vehicle owners are forced to spend excessive time and resources (phone calls, manual lookups, repeated explanations) to perform basic vehicle ownership functions. This constitutes an operational defect that prevents normal commercial transactions. Requested Action: NHTSA should require Stellantis to issue a recall to correct the database classification error across all automotive systems, or provide alternative identification mechanisms that ensure proper vehicle recognition. Root Cause: Stellantis' failure to properly coordinate database updates during the 2013 Dodge Ram to Ram transition, leaving vehicles in a "database orphan" state.

While driving my power steering all of a sudden went out due to the electric power steering. I was lucky I didn’t have a load and I was traveling alone. Other people may not be as lucky as me. I don’t want anyone else to experience that

PLASTIC KEY ---CAN NOT REMOVE FROM SWITCH----WILL TURN OF ENGINE---BUT WILL NOT COME OUT OF KEY HOLE----HAVE TO LEAVE IN TRUCK---DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME----NEXT TIME DRIVEN MAY COME OUT AND THEN MAY NOT-----THIS SEEM LIKE NOT READING TRUCK SHIFT HANDLE IS NOT IN PARK-----YOU CAN LEAVE IN TRUCK AND LOCK BUT DASH LIGHTS DO NOT TIME OFF---HAVE TAKEN DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT FIX-----THIS COULD LEAD TO A LOT OF THINGS---THEFT, ECT. ECT. ECT. NEED SOMETHING DONE. *TR

WHEN THE VEHICLE DRIVES AT THE SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 TO 40 MPH THE VEHICLE IS SLUGGISH. I'M WORRIED IN A PARTICULAR SITUATION WHEN I MAY NEED THE GET AND GO THIS ISSUE COULD COMPROMISE MY LIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE. I'VE BROUGHT IT 2 SEPARATE DODGE DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPT. SAYS THE COMPUTER MODULE IS GOING FROM 4 TO 8 CYLINDER. THIS DELAY COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE GOING DOWN HILL AT 30MPH, STEPPED ON BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED AND REVVED WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE CAUSING A SURGE. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. ADDITIONALLY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ROUGHLY AND SOMETIMES WHILE IN REVERSE IS ACTUALLY IN PARK. *TR

MY TRUCK WILL NOT START, IT WON'T EVEN TURN ON.IT CONTINUOUSLY SAYS CHECK THE FUEL CAP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL TURN ON BUT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT (BEFORE IT STARTED TO ACT UP). EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE THE BATTERIES DEAD AND WE KNOW IT WON'T TURN ON IT'S STILL MAKING A LOUD LIKE CLICKING OR KNOCKING NOISE. IT WILL STOP FOR A MINUTE AND THEN START AGAIN. I'VE NEVER HEARD A CAR DO THAT BEFORE SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S NORMAL. MY CLICKER KEY WON'T EVEN WORK TO LOCK OR UNLOCK OR EVEN SET THE PANIC OFF.