2013 RAM 1500 Electrical System Problems
208 NHTSA complaints on file
All Electrical System Complaints — Page 5
MY 2013 DODGE RAM 1500 ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HAS NEARLY ALLOWED ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE HORN BEING DELAYED. I COMPLAINED AND TOOK IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DODGE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WORKS AS DESIGNED. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A FLAW IN THEIR DESIGN. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME THING. THE HORN CONTROL ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OPERATES THROUGH THE COMPUTER AND THAT IS WHAT IS SAID TO BE CAUSING THE DELAY. THE DELAYED HORN IN MY VEHICLE HAS NEARLY ALLOWED ACCIDENTS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BY CONSEQUENTLY CAUSING A DELAYED RESPONSE FROM THE DRIVERS OF OTHER VEHICLES. DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE ARE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!! *TR
ON ABOUT 3JUL13, MY WIFE AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE RUNNING LIGHTS FOR OUR TRAVEL TRAILER WEREN'T WORKING. ALL OTHER LIGHTS WERE WORKING, SO WE CONTINUED DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. ON RETURNING HOME, I FOUND OUT THAT THE TRAILER LIGHTS WORKED WHEN HOOKED UP TO A BATTERY, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THE APPROPRIATE PRONG IN THE WIRING HARNESS EVEN THOUGH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON THE TRUCK FUNCTIONED. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE A FUSE HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE TRUCK. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN TOLD ME HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS TRUCK IF: - THE TRAILER WAS PLUGGED IN WHEN THE TRUCK WAS STARTED - THE LIGHTS HAD BEEN LEFT ON "AUTO" OR THE RADIO WAS LEFT ON. THIS PRESENTS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD IF I'M PULLING A TRAILER AT NIGHT AND FORGET TO TURN MY LIGHTS OFF AUTO...
MY TRUCK HAVE BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES. 3 TIMES FOR OVERHEATING 2 TIMES FOR A COMPUTER PROBLEM IT SHUT OFF STUFF LIKE HEADLIGHTS TURN SIGNALS RADIO DASH GAUGES WINDOWS AND LOCK SO WHEN THAT'S DONE IT SHUTS THE TRUCK OFF AND IT STOP WERE ITS AT AND DON'T COME BACK ON AT ALL UNTIL AN HOUR LATTER I HAVE OWN THIS TRUCK FOR 5 MONTH AND I CAN SEEM TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE SHOP. *TR
LED HEADLIGHTS GET CONDENSATION CAUSING REDUCED BRIGHTNESS AND VISIBILITY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE NEW ONES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT CONDENSATION WAS NORMAL, AND THAT WAS HOW THE LIGHT WAS DESIGNED. *TR
THE RAM TRUCKS USE A LOGIC CIRCUIT TO CONTROL ALL ELECTRONICS. THE HORN IN THESE VEHICLES ALSO USES THIS LOGIC CIRCUIT, INSTEAD OF USING THE TRADITIONAL DIRECT CONNECT OR RELAY CONFIGURATION THAT MOST CARS/TRUCKS USE. BECAUSE OF THIS LOGIC CIRCUIT, THERE IS AN APPROXIMATE 1 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN THE TIME THE HORN IS DEPRESSED UNTIL THE HORN ACTUALLY SOUNDS. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN FOR SERVICE THIS WEEK AND THE DEALER INDICATES THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TRUCK. THIS IS DANGEROUS. BY THE TIME THE HORN SOUNDS, AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THIS DOES NOT JUST AFFECT MY TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE RAM OWNERS FORUM , WITH SOME PEOPLE HAVING LONGER OR SHORTER DELAYS. A QUICK TAP OF THE HORN YIELDS NO SOUND, BECAUSE YOU MUST PRESS ON THE HORN FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE THE HORN SOUNDS. *TR
OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE SENSOR INACCURATELY READS TEMPERATURE (USUAL 8-12 DEGREES LESS THAN ACTUAL AMBIENT TEMPERATURE) THIS AFFECTS SEVERAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLES FEATURES (AUTO HEATED SEATS AND STEERING WHEEL ALSO VENTED SEATS). *TR
THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. FOUR TIMES I ENCOUNTERED THE DISPLAY OF THE MESSAGE VEHICLE NOT IN PARK WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A VERY CONFUSING AND DANGEROUS MESSAGE SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO A DOOR NOT BEING FULLY CLOSED. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 11TH. THE MANAGER APPEARED TO BE AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS MESSAGE AND SAID HE WILL REPORT IT TO AN ENGINEER WHEN HE VISITS THE DEALERSHIP. THE REASON FOR REPORTING THIS IS I AM NOT SURE THIS PROBLEM WILL BE CORRECTED FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR
PLASTIC KEY ---CAN NOT REMOVE FROM SWITCH----WILL TURN OF ENGINE---BUT WILL NOT COME OUT OF KEY HOLE----HAVE TO LEAVE IN TRUCK---DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME----NEXT TIME DRIVEN MAY COME OUT AND THEN MAY NOT-----THIS SEEM LIKE NOT READING TRUCK SHIFT HANDLE IS NOT IN PARK-----YOU CAN LEAVE IN TRUCK AND LOCK BUT DASH LIGHTS DO NOT TIME OFF---HAVE TAKEN DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT FIX-----THIS COULD LEAD TO A LOT OF THINGS---THEFT, ECT. ECT. ECT. NEED SOMETHING DONE. *TR
Other 2013 RAM 1500 Problem Areas
Steering
569 complaints
Engine
120 complaints
Air Bags
92 complaints
Power Train
80 complaints
Service Brakes
63 complaints
Unknown Or Other
48 complaints
Suspension
43 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
35 complaints
Structurebody
34 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
33 complaints
Exterior Lighting
28 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
17 complaints
Seat Belts
15 complaints
Visibilitywiper
14 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
12 complaints
Wheels
12 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
8 complaints
Seats
6 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
5 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking
5 complaints
Latcheslockslinkages
5 complaints
Steeringrack And Pinion
5 complaints
Structure
5 complaints
Tires
5 complaints
Equipment
3 complaints
Equipmentelectricalradiotape Deckcd Etc
3 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlights
3 complaints
Latcheslockslinkagestailgatelatch
3 complaints
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
2 complaints
Electrical Systemignitionswitch
2 complaints
Electrical Systeminstrument Panelspeedometerodometer
2 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe
2 complaints
Lane Departure Assist
2 complaints
Service Brakes Airantilockabs Warning Light
2 complaints
Steeringelectric Power Assist System
2 complaints
Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module
1 complaint
Electrical Systemhorn
1 complaint
Electrical Systemstarter Assembly
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingbrake Lights
1 complaint
Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assemblymounting
1 complaint
Interior Lighting
1 complaint
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
1 complaint
Power Trainaxle Assembly
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slipabs Warning Light
1 complaint
Steeringhydraulic Power Assistpower Steering Fluid
1 complaint
Steeringlinkagestie Rod Assembly
1 complaint
Steeringsteering Control Module
1 complaint
Structurebodydoor
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontspringsair Suspension System
1 complaint
Tirestreadbelt
1 complaint
Traction Control System
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
1 complaint
Visibility
1 complaint
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac System
1 complaint
Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls
1 complaint
Visibilityrearview Mirrorsdevices
1 complaint