RAM · Known Issues
2013 RAM 1500 Problems: 25 Known Issues
2013 model year · 8,287+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2013 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2013 model year · 8,287+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2013 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 8,287+ owner reports, the 2013 RAM 1500 has 25 documented known issues, with 7 rated critical. The most serious are TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) Failure ($50-$1,200 repair), HEMI Lifter/Camshaft Failure ($200-$5,500 repair), TIPM Internal Fuel Pump Relay Failure (Crank-No-Start, Stalling, Fuel Pump Runs With Key Off) ($100-$1,200 repair), Internal Transmission Oil Cooler Failure Mixing Coolant and ATF ('Strawberry Milkshake') ($400-$5,000 repair), Power Tailgate Unlatches and Opens While Driving (Recall), 4-Corner Air Suspension Compressor Failure / Won't Raise or Lower (Ride Height Faults, Winter Collapse) ($600-$2,500 repair) and 3.6L Pentastar Rocker Arm Roller Bearing Failure Wiping Camshaft ('Pentastar Tick', Misfire) ($1,800-$4,000 repair). The most commonly reported issue is ZF 8-Speed Transmission Problems with 2,876 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $30 to $6,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with a trailer reverse steering module (TRSCM). The rearview camera image may not display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 1500 pickup trucks. The Trailer Reverse Steering Control Module (TRSCM) may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
AIR BAGS
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Ram 1500 vehicles. The driver's side air bag may not be connected properly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019, 2021-2024 Ram 1500 vehicles. Due to a software malfunction, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module may disable the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 1500 and 2023 Ram 2500 vehicles. The trailer reverse steering control module (TRSCM) may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
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According to Au7o's analysis of 8,287+ owner reports, the 2013 RAM 1500 has 25 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) Failure, HEMI Lifter/Camshaft Failure, TIPM Internal Fuel Pump Relay Failure (Crank-No-Start, Stalling, Fuel Pump Runs With Key Off). Of these, 7 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2013 RAM 1500 has 25 known issues documented across 8,287+ owner reports. 7 issues are rated critical: TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) Failure and HEMI Lifter/Camshaft Failure and TIPM Internal Fuel Pump Relay Failure (Crank-No-Start, Stalling, Fuel Pump Runs With Key Off) and Internal Transmission Oil Cooler Failure Mixing Coolant and ATF ('Strawberry Milkshake') and Power Tailgate Unlatches and Opens While Driving (Recall) and 4-Corner Air Suspension Compressor Failure / Won't Raise or Lower (Ride Height Faults, Winter Collapse) and 3.6L Pentastar Rocker Arm Roller Bearing Failure Wiping Camshaft ('Pentastar Tick', Misfire). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known RAM 1500 issues range from $30 to $6,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) Failure, typically costs $50-$1,200 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The TIPM controls most electrical functions and commonly fails, causing erratic behavior. The fuel pump relay inside the TIPM is particularly prone to failure, resulting in no-start conditions. Horn honking randomly, headlights flickering, and wipers activating on their own are c… Repairs typically run $50-$1,200. Severity: high.
The 5.7L HEMI engine with Multi-Displacement System (MDS) can experience premature lifter and camshaft wear. The MDS deactivation lifters are prone to failure, causing ticking, misfires, and in severe cases, camshaft lobe damage. This issue has led to class action lawsuits. Repairs typically run $200-$5,500. Severity: high.
The Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) contains a fuel-pump relay soldered to its circuit board. When it fails it cuts power to the fuel pump, causing a crank-no-start that mimics running out of gas, or a sudden stall while driving; sometimes the pump keeps running with the k… Repairs typically run $100-$1,200. Severity: high.
The Ram 1500's transmission thermal-management/oil-cooler unit is the only place where engine coolant and automatic transmission fluid pass close together. When this cooler ruptures internally, coolant and ATF cross-contaminate, producing a pink 'strawberry milkshake' in both the… Repairs typically run $400-$5,000. Severity: high.
Three NHTSA campaigns establish two VIN-bounded mechanisms under this frozen identity. NHTSA 18V486 / FCA U74 and 19V347 / FCA V44 cover specified 2013-2018 RAM 1500 bed, build-date and power-locking-tailgate configurations in which a tailgate-actuator limiter tab may fracture an… Severity: high.
Trucks optioned with the 4-corner air suspension commonly develop compressor strain and failure, air-line leaks, failed air dryer letting moisture in, and ride-height sensor faults. Symptoms include the compressor running excessively, the truck sitting low or refusing to change h… Repairs typically run $600-$2,500. Severity: high.
On the 3.6L Pentastar V6, the needle bearings inside the roller rocker arms fail, letting the rocker go loose and hammer/score the camshaft lobe. This produces a distinct top-end tick ('Pentastar tick') and, if left, camshaft damage and misfires. It is a widely reported failure a… Repairs typically run $1,800-$4,000. Severity: high.
The ZF 8HP 8-speed automatic transmission can experience harsh shifting, hesitation, and jerky behavior. Some units have failed prematurely. Early model years (2013-2016) seem most affected. Multiple TSBs have been issued for software updates. Repairs typically run $150-$6,500. Severity: medium.
The exhaust manifold bolts on HEMI engines are prone to breaking due to heat cycling. Broken bolts cause exhaust leaks, ticking noise on cold start, and potential exhaust smell in cabin. The rear bolts on both sides are most commonly affected. Repairs typically run $100-$700. Severity: medium.
The 5.7L HEMI's exhaust manifold bolts, particularly the rearmost ones on each head, are a well-documented failure item. Repeated heat cycling stretches and eventually snaps them, and once a bolt lets go the manifold lifts off the head just enough to open a gap at that port. On t… Repairs typically run $500-$1,800. Severity: medium.
4th-gen Ram 1500 front wheel bearing/hub assemblies wear out relatively early (some as low as ~50k miles), producing a humming or growling noise that rises with speed and changes with steering load. Because the wheel-speed sensor is integrated into the hub, a failing bearing freq… Repairs typically run $200-$600. Severity: medium.
RAM 1500s equipped with the optional 4-corner air suspension (common on Laramie, Longhorn, Limited, Rebel) suffer recurring failures. The most common is air-bag micro-leaks (usually a rear bag) that make the compressor run continuously to keep up; the overworked compressor draws… Repairs typically run $800-$3,300. Severity: medium.
The 5.7L HEMI uses cast-iron exhaust manifolds bolted to aluminum cylinder heads. The dissimilar thermal expansion rates repeatedly stress the manifold-to-head fasteners, and the rearmost bolts (commonly cylinders 7 and 8) shear off. This produces a sharp 'tick' or exhaust tickin… Repairs typically run $400-$1,500. Severity: medium.
On the RAM 1500, P0011 is overwhelmingly a Variable Valve Timing (VVT) fault on the 5.7L Hemi, and secondarily on the 3.6L Pentastar V6. The Hemi uses a single central cam phaser fed oil pressure through one oil control valve (the VVT solenoid, mounted at the front of the engine… Repairs typically run $150-$3,200. Severity: medium.
FCA US LLC recalled 2013-2015 RAM 1500 pickups equipped with radios that carry software vulnerabilities capable of letting a third party reach certain networked vehicle control systems. NHTSA classifies this as a crash risk: if the vulnerability is exploited, vehicle systems can… Severity: medium.
The 8-speed (ZF 8HP70 / TorqueFlite) develops a torque-converter clutch shudder felt as a vibration/judder around 30-50 mph light throttle, along with harsh downshifts, drive-engagement slam, and occasional limp mode (stuck in one gear with CEL). Root causes are degraded/aged tra… Repairs typically run $300-$3,500. Severity: medium.
Ram 1500 rear (and sometimes front) differential pinion seals weep gear oil at the pinion flange, leaving residue on the driveshaft yoke and a wet spot at the front of the diff. The leak itself is minor, but improper repair is the bigger problem: if the pinion nut is not torqued… Repairs typically run $200-$1,500. Severity: medium.
The 5.7L HEMI's factory exhaust manifold bolts/studs snap from repeated heat cycling, and the cast manifolds can warp or crack. The classic tell is a sharp tapping/ticking on cold start that quiets as the engine warms and the manifold expands to partially reseal the leak. Nearly… Repairs typically run $300-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The mechanical, belt-driven water pump on the Ram 1500 is a long-standing weak point across Chrysler products. The shaft seal and bearing wear, and coolant begins seeping from the weep hole at the bottom of the pump. Failures are reported across a wide mileage range, from as low… Repairs typically run $250-$700. Severity: medium.
The front-mounted A/C condenser on 4th- and 5th-gen Ram 1500 trucks develops refrigerant leaks from corrosion and tiny pinholes, sometimes because units were not built to specification. Once refrigerant escapes, the system blows warm and the compressor can stop cooling or shut do… Repairs typically run $500-$1,200. Severity: medium.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.