2013 Ram 1500 Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 165 engine complaints for the 2013 Ram 1500, 13% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 65,000. A related recall (13V177000) covers a coolant bypass valve that could stick and cause overheating.
- Engine complaints
- 165
- 13% of 1,276
- Crashes reported
- 11
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 65,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Engine stalls or dies suddenly at freeway speed with no warning, sometimes leading to loss of control.
- Check engine light comes on intermittently before the engine overheats, with smoke or coolant leaking from the front of the vehicle.
- In some cases the overheating episode is followed by the vehicle catching fire near the front end.
- Owners describe the engine misfiring on a specific cylinder, in one case leading to a full engine overhaul.
- Some reports describe unexpected acceleration or the truck moving on its own after being shifted into park, which owners tie to the engine/powertrain rather than the brakes.
When 2013 Ram 1500 engine complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 21, 2013, latest Jul 29, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2013 Ram 1500
- NHTSA 13V177000May 7, 2013Engine498 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013 RAM 1500 trucks manufactured manufactured June 25, 2012, through December 12, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the coolant bypass valve may stick in a position that does not allow coolant to flow into the heater core. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Vehicle Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Risk: Without a properly working windshield defrosting system, a buildup of mositure or ice could limit the driver's ability to see, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace replace the suspect coolant valves along with an updated calibration, free of charge. The recall began on June 25, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N25.
Engine complaints by 1500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does the 2013 Ram 1500 have?
- NHTSA lists 165 engine complaints for the 2013 Ram 1500, which is 13% of the 1,276 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there an engine recall on the 2013 Ram 1500?
- Yes. Recall 13V177000 covers a coolant bypass valve that could stick, reported in 2013, with dealers replacing the valve and updating calibration.
- At what mileage do 2013 Ram 1500 engine problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2013 Ram 1500 is 65,000 miles.
- Did the 2013 Ram 1500 engine problems cause crashes or fires?
- Among the engine-related complaints, NHTSA records 11 crashes, 3 fires, and 2 injuries.