2013 RAM 2500 Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE NORTH OF NEW YORK CITY, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE ROAD WAS DRY, SUNNY CONDITIONS AND MODERATE TRAFFIC TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED AND THE FIRST AFTER PERFORMING WORK ABOUT 2 THOUSAND MILES EARLIER. THE WORK INCLUDED, REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS AFTER DEALER DISCOVERED POSSIBLE STICKY NOT FROZEN LEFT FRONT CALIPER. REPLACING LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALL FOUND TO BE IN TOLERANCE BUT DEALER CONVINCED WARRANTY COMPANY THAT THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED. 4 WHEEL COMPUTER ALIGNMENT. FRONT END APPEARED TO BE IN NEAR NEW CONDITION AS THE ORIGINAL MILEAGE WAS JUST OVER 30K. THE TRUCK HAD NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS FOR OUT OF BALANCE WHEELS OR TIRES, SHOCKS, SPRINGS OR STEERING STABILIZER. THERE WAS NEVER EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING. THE WARRANTY COVERED APPROXIMATELY $1100 OF THE TOTAL THAT WAS OVER $2300. THE CONDITION REOCCURRED LESS THAN 2000 MILES AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE SIZE OF COMPONENTS USED IN THE CONTROL ARMS. THE CONTROL ARMS FAIL TO STABILIZE THE FRONT END AFTER HITTING A BUMP ON ONE SIDE. THE ARMS ACTUALLY ACT AS SPRINGS COUNTERACTING FORCES WHICH CAUSE THE FRONT AXLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY UNTIL VEHICLE SPEED DROPS TO BELOW 20 MILES AN HOUR AS THE ENERGY DISSIPATES. CHRYSLER, SPECIFICALLY THE LOCAL DEALERS HAVE SUGGESTED UNEVEN TIRE PRESSURES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS REPLACED EARLIER. THIS PROBLEM IS INHERENT TO THIS VEHICLE'S DESIGN AND THE USE OF LESS THAN REQUIRED SIZE OF COMPONENTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A RAPID ALTERNATOR FAILURE DUE TO DIODE THERMAL FATIGUE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF DUE TO AN UNDERHOOD ELECTRICAL FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V739000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

2013 DODGE RAM 2500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TORQUE CONVERTER DRAINS FLUID BACK INTO TRANSMISSION WHEN PARKED OVER NIGHT OR LONGER AT VARIOUS RATES, ENGINE STALLS, GEAR SHIFTER ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MINIMUM DRAIN BACK WAS 1/2 QUART ABOVE FULL IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED SOFT ENGAGEMENT OF THE GEAR SELECTED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED THE WORST EXPERIENCE WAS WHEN THE TRUCK WAS FACING UP HILL ON A SLIGHT GRADE AND THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN DRIVE. WITH A LIGHT THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO ANY SPEED, EXCEPT IN FIRST GEAR WITH OR WITHOUT THE EXHAUST BRAKE ON, WHEN THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO 900-1000 RPM THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND NOT THE NEXT LOWER GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FREE WHEELED ESPECIALLY PICKING UP SPEED GOING DOWN HILL. *JB UPDATED 12/13/2017 *LN UPDATED 7/12/18*JB *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED AND NO REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V739000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,300.

DRIVING ON THE MA ROUTE 128 S HIGHWAY AROUND 65-70 MPH, I HIT A POTHOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRAVEL LANE. THE TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AS DESCRIBED WITH A DEATH WOBBLE. THE VIOLENT SHAKING DID NOT STOP AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW THROUGH ABOUT 35-40 MPH. IT FELT AS IF ALL 4 TIRES BLEW SIMULTANEOUSLY. NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED ONCE STOPPED. THIS TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 33900 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE STEERING FEELS OTHERWISE TIGHT AND RESPONSIVE, THE TIRES AND WHEELS ARE STOCK AND ARE WEARING EVENLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF OPERATOR, OCCUPANTS AND OTHER DRIVERS NEAR AN UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE. THE INTERNET SOURCES ARE WIDELY AWARE OF THE CONDITION WITH NO CLEAR SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. MANY PEOPLE IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT INCLUDING SHOCKS, BALL JOINTS, STEERING BOXES, TIE RODS AND ENDS AND STEERING DAMPERS AND UNBALANCED TIRES. SOME CONSUMERS INDICATE THAT EVEN WITH ENTIRE FRONT ENDS BEING REPLACED THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THIS INDICATES A DESIGN PROBLEM TO ME.

VERY COMMON IGNITION ISSUES! RAM IGNITIONS WITH THE KEY FOB THAT YOU PLACE IN DASH GOES OUT CAUSEING NO STARTS. IF YOU GOOGLE 2013 RAM IGNITIONS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SHOW UP. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FREE OF CHARGE! NEED TO GO BACK TO A ACTUAL KEY!

STARTING AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES, REAR MAIN SEAL DEVELOPED A LEAK. THE SEAL WAS REPLACED, LEAKED AGAIN AND REPLACED BY A SEAL AND SLEEVE. SEAL AND SLEEVE LEAKED UPON INSTALLATION BUT WERE COATED WITH RTV TO STOP LEAK AT ABOUT 16,800 MILES. AT ABOUT 17,600 MILES VEHICLE EXHIBITED LEAK AGAIN. HAVE BEEN INFORMED NOW BY RAM SERVICE DEALERSHIPS THAT THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SEEPAGE OF FLUIDS FROM ENGINE SEALS AND ARE NOT AN ISSUE UNLESS THE FLUID IS POURING OUT ON THE GROUND AND COVERING THE VEHICLE. I CURRENTLY USE THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CAMPGROUND INVOLVING SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS. AS EXPLAINED, THE VEHICLE IS NOW BANNED FROM BEING OPERATED IN THOSE AREAS DUE TO DESIGNED LEAKING OF FLUIDS FROM THE VEHICLE. RAM CUSTOMER DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ADVISED AND AM AWAITING A RESPONSE.

FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS, THE THROTTLE DOES NOT RESPOND FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS. THERE IS A SEVERE RESPONSE IN THE THROTTLE FROM WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO WHEN THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY STARTS TO MOVE. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO SWITCH LANES OR ACCELERATE AND IT JUST SITS THERE FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS IS GOING TO KILL PEOPLE ESPECIALLY ONES UNFAMILIAR WITH DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THIS SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL RAM 2500 AND 3500 WITH THE TURBO DIESEL MOTOR FROM YEARS 2011-2016. AS I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY WORSE. THE DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE HAS GOTTEN LONGER.

WIPERS FUNCTION WHEN NOT TURNED ON, LIGHTS FLICKER ON & OFF WHEN ON HIGH BEAM, HIGH BEAMS WON'T COME ON AT ALL, TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR GOES ON & OFF WHILE DRIVING, RADIO DISPLAY WILL NOT TURN ON & WE ARE UNABLE TO CHANGE RADIO STATIONS, A/C WILL NOT BLOW AT SELECTED SPEED, TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN TURNED ON. ALL ABOVE WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING, HIGHWAY & CITY TRAVELS.

2013 RAM 2500 - ON JUNE 1, 2016 I WAS PLACING CAR SEATS INTO THE TRUCK. THE KEYS WERE IN MY POCKET AND NOT RUNNING. MY 3 YEAR SON WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT WHILE I SECURED THE CAR SEATS. MY SON GRABBED THE GEAR SHIFTER AND THE TRUCK WENT INTO GEAR ROLLING DOWN A 25' EMBANKMENT AND STRIKING A TREE AT THE BOTTOM. UPON A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER AS THEY HAD CONDUCTED 2 SAFETY RECALLS IN THE WEEKS PREVIOUS, ONE OF WHICH INVOLVED WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS INFORMED BY THE LOCAL DEALER THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP A VEHICLE FROM GOING INTO GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE DEPRESSED HAD FAILED AND THAT THE RECALLS THEY HAD CONDUCTED DID NOT INVOLVE THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM. I WAS ADVISED BY THE LOCAL DEALER TO CONTACT FIAT CHRYSLER (FCA). FCA SENT OUT A SAFETY INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. ON 6-7-2016 MARIA PADEA WITH A 3RD PARTY INSPECTION FIRM HIRED BY FCA INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER. I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BE PRESENT DURING THE INSPECTION. ON JUNE 15, 2016 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FCA STATING "..WE ARE NOT LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING RESPONSIBILITY" AND "...THEREFORE WE MUST RESPECTFULLY DECLINE ANY ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT. UPON RECEIVING THE LETTER, I CONTACTED FCA AND REQUESTED A COPY OF THE INSPECTION REPORT. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL ON 07-11-2016 STATING "THE INSPECTION REPORT AND DOCUMENTATION YOU HAVE REQUESTED ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY. AS SUCH, WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THEM. SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT OUR HANDLING, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENGAGE YOUR OWN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER.