2013 Ram 3500 Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 17 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Ram 3500, 15% of its 114 total complaints, including 3 fires and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure is 27,710. Three related recalls cover alternators, headlamp shutters, and tail lamp/turn signal software.
- Electrical System complaints
- 17
- 15% of 114
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 27,711 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Alternator overheats or smokes, sometimes catching fire shortly after a low-battery warning appears, even after a claimed recall inspection.
- Door lock switch or module develops an electrical short, causing doors to lock on their own.
- Dash warning lights (ABS, traction control, check engine) illuminate sporadically along with false brake-service messages.
- Full dash power loss occurs while parked, with wipers activating on their own and the radio shutting off, requiring PCM replacement.
- Chafed wiring in the wiring loom causes the transmission to lock in a gear or the truck to stall completely, sometimes needing repeated ECM/PCM replacement.
- Headlight assemblies fail to illuminate on one side, recurring even after dealer replacement of the headlight assembly.
When 2013 Ram 3500 electrical complaints were filed
First complaint May 13, 2014, latest Aug 22, 2025.
Electrical System recalls for the 2013 Ram 3500
- 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 3500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical problems on the 2013 Ram 3500?
- NHTSA lists 17 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Ram 3500, which is 15% of all 114 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2013 Ram 3500 electrical system?
- Yes. NHTSA lists three Electrical System recalls: campaign 16V739000 for alternator replacement, 13V240000 for premium headlamp shutter reconfiguration, and 13V237000 for tail lamp/turn signal software reprogramming.
- At what mileage do electrical failures typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure among reported Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Ram 3500 is 27,710 miles.
- Did the electrical issues cause any fires or injuries?
- NHTSA records show 3 fires and 1 injury linked to Electrical System complaints on the 2013 Ram 3500, with no crashes reported.