2013 RAM 1500 Visibility Problems

I bought it in 2018 & 1 month later no radio, gps, backup any of the stereo system worked. The only thing that worked was volume. I took it in & they charged me $125 diagnosis & was gonna be over $600 for new system. I never got it fixed. In 2022 with only 122000 miles it had to go in the shop for an engine overhaul because of the problem with missing on 5th cylinder. I have never owned a Dodge Ram before & never will again. I have had nothing but problems with it. I made phone calls & wrote emails & the closest I got to a recall is 2014 was the cutoff year & mine is 2013. I did back into a dumpster because the backup camera doesn’t work in January of 2020. I had insurance with White’s Insurance out of Purdy but I don’t have the paperwork anymore.

NHTSA ID

11549400

Incident

Jan 14, 2020

All instruments and control of window wipers stopped responding to their switches. Wipers will not turn off, no horn, no working switches on steering wheel, communication to abs system, trailer brakes, data from abs not being received. Dash cluster flashes out for about 10 seconds while driving not knowing if the vehicle is still running while on the highway or freeway. Everything is pointing to the steering wheel clock spring. All replaced but still no controls or horn or ability to run vehicle safely on the roads. Will not pass inspection from this issue.

NHTSA ID

11539647

Incident

May 6, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the defroster was engaged but failed to respond or perform as designed. The contact rolled down the windows due to the loss of visibility of the roadway. Additionally, the vehicle lost heating system functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that he recalibrated the defroster actuator; however, the failure persisted, and the vehicle would only blow cold air. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V177000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 206,500.

NHTSA ID

11499331

Incident

Sep 29, 2022

Mileage

206,500 mi

The heat works on the passenger side but not the drivers side. This makes it impossible to see on cold days because the defrost will not work. It is in the shop now. They have changed actuators, blend doors, heater core and still can't find the issue. When checking the internet, I see that this is a common problem with Dodge, Ram, Chrysler vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11440050

Incident

Jan 20, 2021

THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING. DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER THE HEATER CORE STARTED LEAKING AND MY WINDOWS INSTANTLY FOGGED OVER NOT ALLOWING ME TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD OR SIDE WINDOWS. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO CLEAR MY WINDOWS. AFTER THAT I NOTICED THAT I HAD LITTLE TO NO HEAT IN THE TRUCK AND STARTED TO SMELL THE ANTIFREEZE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK. CALLED DEALER THEY QUOTED $1200-1500 FOR REPAIR. I ASKED IF THEY HAD ISSUES WITH THAT HAPPENING AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET 2-3 TRUCKS EVERY WINTER. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE BY A INDEPENDENT SHOP WHICH WAS CHEAPER. ALSO HAVE A CO WORK WITH SAME TRUCK YEAR AND A WEEK AFTER MINE WENT SO DID HIS.

NHTSA ID

11308870

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

HEAT BLOWS OUT OF THE PASSENGERS SIDE VENTS AND DEFROSTER BUT NOT THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS CREATES VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AS THE WIND SHIELD FOGS EASILY AND FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA ID

11277541

Incident

Oct 30, 2019

Mileage

132,000 mi

DEFROST DOES NOT WORK, IT IS CURRENTLY BLOWING COLD AIR. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE ON COLD MORNINGS. I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT TWICE PULLING OUT OF MY ROAD. I'VE TAKEN IT TO 2 SHOPS BOTH GAVE ME 2 DIFFERENT EXPENSIVE ANSWERS BUT BOTH SAY IT'S A COMMON ISSUE. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND IT IS IN FACT A COMMON ISSUE, AND NO ONE HAS A DEFINITE FIX. SO I CAN SPEND $1500 TO 'MAYBE FIX THE ISSUE, OR SPEND $2300 AND REPLACE THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

11265319

Incident

Sep 30, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi

NO HEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE COMING FROM ANY VENTS. VISIBILITY AFFECTED IN COLD WEATHER. FIRST NOTICED AROUND OCTOBER 22, 2018 WHEN HEATER WAS TURNED ON WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CONTINUED WHEN IN TOWN AND STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11164030

Incident

Oct 22, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

NO HEAT ON DRIVERS SIDE

NHTSA ID

11154374

Incident

Nov 5, 2018

Mileage

91 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON A RAINY DAY WITH WIPERS ON, SUDDENLY THEY FREEZE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND DO NOT RESPOND TO ON/OFF OR THE DIFFERENT LEVELS, THEY SIT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER ROUGHLY 10 MINUTES I TURN THEM ON TO FULL SPEED AND THEY WORK, BUT THE HOMING POSITION NOW HAS THEM SITTING STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN (THINK OF SCHOOL BUS), INSTEAD OF LAYING DOWN PER USUAL. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND FORUMS ALL AROUND HAVE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, SOME WORSE SOME NOT. THE WIPERS FREEZING COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAD INCLEMENT WEATHER BEEN AN ISSUE OR THE RAIN WAS COMING DOWN HARDER DECREASING VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID

11044836

Incident

Nov 9, 2017

Mileage

84,500 mi

NON OF THE GAUGES WORK IN THE STEERING COLUMN INCLUDING GAS RPM AND SPEED. THE WIPERS RUN NON STOP AND CAN'T BE TURNED OFF. BLINKERS DON'T WHICH IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WE HAVE HAD IT INTO THE MECHANIC AND THE COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG. HUGE BILL NO ANSWERS USELESS VAN. THE GAGE SAYS NO BUS. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

10986090

Incident

Apr 4, 2017

MY MULTI-FUNCTION DISPLAY ON MY 2013 RAM 1500 HAS GONE BLANK. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY DEVICE BECAUSE I HAVE LOST THE USE OF MY BACKUP CAMERA WHICH IS INVALUABLE ON THIS LARGE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALREADY BUMPED INTO SMALL OBJECTS WHILE IN REVERSE, WHICH I WOULD NOT OF IF MY DISPLAY WAS WORKING. AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I HAVE NARROWLY ADVERTED A MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE DISPLAY ALSO SHOWS OTHER NON-CRITICAL FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS THE RADIO AND NAVIGATION, BUT I AM BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NTSB BECAUSE OF THE SO IMPORTANT BACK UP CAMERA THAT PROVIDES A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE, ENHANCING THE DRIVERS REARWARD VISIBILITY. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND TRIED RESETTING THE COMPUTER BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE DISPLAY UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A RIDICULOUS COST. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2013 RAM 1500. MY PERSONAL RESEARCH ONLINE CONFIRMS THIS THROUGHOUT THE MESSAGE BOARDS. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRAHEADQUARTERS.COM/BLOG/NEW-RAM-1500-OWNERS-REPORT-RADIO-PROBLEMS/ I AM REQUESTING THE NTSB TO LOOK INTO THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED, AND TO ORDER AN IMMEDIATE RECALL BY RAM TO FIX THIS CRITICAL SAFETY PROBLEM AND MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

10969749

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

BOUGHT THE PICKUP IN JANUARY 2016 ONE PREVIOUS OWNER EVERYTHING ORIGINAL THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR PIN NEEDS TIGHTENED CONSTANTLY BECAUSE THE LOW BEAM HIGH BEAM LOSES CONNECTION AND WON'T COME ON UNLESS YOU PULL HEADLIGHT AND TIGHTEN THE CONNECTOR PINS. IT HAPPENS AT VARIOUS TIMES IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS WHILE DRIVING IT WILL ALSO FLICKER ON AND OFF. PARKLIGHT WORKS FINE. I DON'T KNOW ACTUAL DATE BECAUSE IT IS SO FREQUENTLY SO THE DATE IS AN ESTIMATE. THE SPEED VARIES ALSO FIRST TIME I WAS AT 65 ON FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10937772

Incident

May 14, 2015

Mileage

58,000 mi

WIPERS ARE ON WITH TRUCK OFF HAD TO PULL FUSE.

NHTSA ID

10908201

Incident

Sep 19, 2016

Mileage

97,000 mi

I STARTED NOTICING MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERING FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOW THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ARE BOTH OUT. I ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE BULBS AND REALIZED THEY WERE FINE. THE DAY AFTER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON BY THEMSELVES AND NOW MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WONT ROLL DOWN. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS MY (TIPM) TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE AND IT WILL COST AROUND $800 OR MORE TO REPLACE. SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO PAY THIS MUCH MONEY FOR A FAULTY PART AND FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT, IM LUCKY TO HAVE THE LITTLE PROBLEMS I DO. REPORTS OF PEOPLES VEHICLES STALLING, NOT STARTING, AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING, ETC.. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL? PEOPLES LIVES COULD BE AT RISK.

NHTSA ID

10715315

Incident

Apr 18, 2015

Mileage

40,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY WHENEVER THE REAR WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,741.

NHTSA ID

10713618

Incident

Mar 10, 2015

Mileage

36,741 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY DOG STEPPED ON THE WINDOW BUTTON WHICH I THOUGHT WAS IN THE LOCK POSITION AND THE WINDOW OPENED. I NOW KNOW THE WINDOW IN THE FRONT DOES NOT LOCK, BUT THIS CERTAINLY DISTRACTED ME THE ROAD PUTTING ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I NOW KEEP HIM IN THE BACK BUT IT IS STILL A PROBLEM WHEN KIDS ARE IN THE CAR AND I HAVE TO LOOK TWO WAYS AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583689

Incident

Apr 19, 2014

Mileage

14,500 mi

INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR NEEDS TO BE READJUSTED DAILY. -- FIRST COMPLAINING TO DEALER WAS 1-24-13, 2665 MILES. DEALER ORDERED MIRROR AND REPLACED ON 1-31-13. NEW MIRROR HAD SAME PROBLEM. SECOND COMPLAINING 2-26-13, 3799 MILES. CHRYSLER RESPONSE: KNOWN ISSUE BY CHRYSLER -- "REARVIEW MIRROR LOSES ADJUSTMENT AFTER A FEW DAYS. INSPECTED MIRROR. CHECKED FOR APPLICABLE TSB'S. TECH TIPS AND STAR ONLINE CASES. CHRYSLER RESPONDED TO REQUESTS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BUT OFFERED NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. SUGGESTING THAT HARSH/ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS MAY AFFECT THE MIRROR'S ABILITY TO RETAIN ITS ADJUSTMENT. THIS IS CONSIDERED A NORMAL CONDITION AND NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR IT SHOULD BE MADE." I INFORMED THE LOCAL DEALER THAT WAS AN UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE. THIRD COMPLAINT 5-16-13, 8974 MILES. DEALER RESPONSE: "INSPECTED MIRROR FOR DEFECTS. ROAD TESTED. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. NO UPDATED PARTS AVAILABLE." INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR PROVIDES VISIBILITY THAT THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS DO NOT, PARTICULARLY IN REDUCED VISIBILITY WHEN OUTSIDE MIRRORS ARE FOGGED, FROSTY, OR ICY. MADE A 2,775 MILE TRIP FROM MARYLAND TO THE MICHIGAN UPPER PENINSULA AND MIRROR HAD TO BE ADJUSTED A FEW TIMES DAILY ON THE DRIVE UP AND BACK. MADE A 2,050 MILE TRIP FROM MARYLAND TO FLORIDA AND MIRROR HAD TO BE ADJUSTED A FEW TIMES DAILY ON THE DRIVE DOWN AND BACK. THIS ISSUE BECOMES A HAZARD WHEN THE DRIVER FINALLY REALIZES THEY ARE MOVING THEIR HEAD TO GET A SAFE VIEW IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR. REARVIEW MIRRORS ARE A BASIC SAFETY FEATURE OF ALL MOTOR VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THEY NEED TO BE RELIABLE. A DRIVER NOT REALIZING THIS MIRROR IS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT UNTIL HAVING TO CRANE THEIR HEAD TO GET A SAFE VIEW IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS QUITE DISTRACTING. DRIVER DISTRACTIONS WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. A VEHICLE TRAVELING 70 MPH IS GOING 102+ FEET PER SECOND - ANY DISTRACTION IS HAZARDOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532137

Incident

Jan 24, 2013

Mileage

2,665 mi