YearToAvoid

2013 Ram 3500 Fuel System Problems

Owners filed 20 Fuel System complaints for the 2013 Ram 3500, 18% of that year's 114 total complaints, including 2 fires and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure was 8,606. NHTSA lists no recall tied directly to this Fuel System complaint category for this model year.

Fuel System complaints
20
18% of 114
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
8,606 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a strong diesel fuel odor entering the cabin, sometimes tied to the fresh air control setting or cold weather below 50 degrees.
  • Multiple owners describe a delayed throttle response, often called a "dead pedal," lasting several seconds when merging or accelerating from a stop.
  • Some owners report the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) system throwing warning messages, with the vehicle set to drop to 5 mph within 200 miles if unaddressed.
  • One owner reported unusually high DEF consumption while towing, far above what they considered normal.
  • One owner mentioned a recall (campaign 14V635000) covering engine cooling and diesel fuel system, but said replacement parts were unavailable for an extended period.

When 2013 Ram 3500 fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 22, 2014, latest Apr 26, 2020.

2013 Ram 3500 fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2014Jul 2014Sep 2014Jan 2015Sep 2015Nov 2015Jun 2018
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2014 to Apr 2020; peak Aug 2014 (4).

Fuel System recalls for the 2013 Ram 3500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Fuel System complaints by 3500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201320 (18%)
  2. 201422 (11%)
  3. 20156 (4%)
  4. 20167 (5%)
  5. 20179 (3%)
  6. 20187 (1%)
  7. 201950 (37%)
  8. 202057 (49%)
  9. 20215 (8%)
  10. 202214 (7%)
  11. 20231 (6%)
  12. 20243 (7%)
  13. 20251 (2%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2013 Ram 3500 have?
NHTSA lists 20 Fuel System complaints for the 2013 Ram 3500, which is 18% of the 114 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Ram 3500 fuel system?
The JSON data provided lists no related recalls tied specifically to this Fuel System complaint category, though one owner referenced a separate campaign covering engine cooling and diesel fuel system.
At what mileage do 2013 Ram 3500 fuel system problems usually appear?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 8,606 at the time of failure for Fuel System complaints on the 2013 Ram 3500.
Were there any fires linked to 2013 Ram 3500 fuel system complaints?
NHTSA records show 2 fires and 1 injury among the complaints filed in this problem area for the 2013 Ram 3500.
What specific fuel system symptoms do owners describe?
Owners describe diesel fuel odor in the cabin, delayed throttle response often called a dead pedal, DEF system warnings threatening a speed limit, and high DEF consumption while towing.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.