2013 Ram 2500 Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 45 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Ram 2500, 25% of all 178 complaints filed for the year. Median mileage at failure was 30,000. Three related recalls cover the alternator, headlamp shutters, and tail lamp turn signal software, and owners reported 3 fires and 1 crash tied to this system.
- Electrical System complaints
- 45
- 25% of 178
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 30,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Alternators reportedly overheated or failed rapidly due to diode thermal fatigue, in some cases catching fire under the hood while driving.
- Owners describe sudden electrical shutdowns where the main display and warning lights flickered and the engine lost power, sometimes leaving the truck stranded.
- Interior electronics such as courtesy/map lights and Bluetooth phone systems were reported to malfunction, running at reduced power or dropping out intermittently.
- Some owners reported alternators previously repaired under a recall failed again in the same way, including one truck excluded from that recall.
- One owner reported airbags failing to deploy and the electrical system not shutting down during a low-speed collision.
When 2013 Ram 2500 electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Sep 24, 2013, latest Nov 9, 2023.
Electrical System recalls for the 2013 Ram 2500
- NHTSA 16V739000Oct 13, 2016Electrical System74,811 vehicles
Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Police vehicles, 2007-2013 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2013 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2013 RAM 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a 220 amp alternator that may suddenly fail.
Risk: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the alternator with a revised alternator, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S68.
- NHTSA 13V240000Jun 4, 2013Electrical System1,069 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks manufactured January 7, 2013, through February 28, 2013 and equipped with optional premium headlamps. The headlamp shutters may function improperly when in high-beam mode. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: Improper headlight shutter function during high beam use may reduce the drivers visibility and possibly blind oncoming traffic. Either condition may increase the risk of crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reconfigure the Central Body Controller, free of charge. The recall began July 30, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N33.
- NHTSA 13V237000Jun 4, 2013Electrical System17,411 vehicles
Exterior lighting:turn signal
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks manufactured September 9, 2012, through March 5, 2013 and equipped with optional premium tail lamps. In the affected vehicles, the turn signal indicator may not flash at a double rate to give a notification to the driver of a turn signal malfunction. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: 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.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Central Body Controller software, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N35.
Electrical System complaints by 2500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical system complaints does the 2013 Ram 2500 have?
- NHTSA lists 45 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Ram 2500, making up 25% of all 178 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2013 Ram 2500 electrical system?
- Yes. Recall 16V739000 covers alternator replacement, and recalls 13V240000 and 13V237000 address headlamp shutter and tail lamp turn signal software issues through the Central Body Controller.
- At what mileage do 2013 Ram 2500 electrical problems typically appear?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for electrical system complaints on this year is 30,000 miles.
- Did the 2013 Ram 2500 electrical issues cause any fires or crashes?
- NHTSA data for this year's Electrical System complaints show 3 fires, 1 crash, and 1 injury.