LIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 RAM 1500 suspension problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 RAM 1500 have filed 36 NHTSA complaints about the suspension, typically surfacing around 73,000 miles at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
36
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 1500 (this page) | 36 |
| 2014 1500 | 92 |
| 2015 1500 | 50 |
| 2016 1500 | 62 |
| 2017 1500 | 41 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 36 suspension complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Air Suspension Inoperative And Or Compressor Freeze Up Or Sticking In Cold Weather.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Air Suspension Inoperative And Or Compressor Freeze Up Or Sticking In Cold Weather.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Air Suspension Inoperative And Or Compressor Freeze Up Or Sticking In Cold Weather.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Air Suspension Components Star Parts Catalog has been updated to show individual service parts for the compressor assembly. This will allow service technicians to repair the root cause without over repairing the system. Replace only the part deemed failed by the diagnostics performed. Individual parts include: - Compressor - Valve block - Individual hoses - Temp sensor - Shield - Air line clips NOTE: in most situations when a new compressor is needed, the compressor as a separate part is the correct repair, and the assembly would not be required.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Ram 1500's air suspension is the dominant complaint thread here—35 narratives, and 20+ are straight-up air suspension failures. Owners describe the truck dropping to frame bumpers without warning, both at highway speed and while parked. Cold temperatures below 30°F trigger compressor freeze-ups; the system loses pressure mid-drive, and steering gets twitchy. One owner's compressor cracked internally and dumped all nitrogen. Another was working under the truck when it collapsed. Multiple owners say they've been back to the dealer four, five, even six times, replacing the compressor, valve block, air springs, pump & manifold, and full modules—and the failures keep coming back.
A handful of separate structural failures round out the picture: a lower control arm snapped at the ball joint (casting defect confirmed by the dealer), both rear axles seized on one truck, and front wheel bearings grinding out early at 80,000 miles. One truck pulled hard left at 55 mph; the owner replaced tires four times and got the alignment done twice—feathering on the passenger-side tire keeps reappearing. Another has a persistent 100,000-mile-old vibration that survived three tire sets and 15+ balance jobs. Cold weather, towing, highway miles—none of it changes the outcome.
Same RAM 1500 suspension reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Air suspension system failure and collapse
The air suspension system loses pressure and the vehicle drops to frame bumpers or bump stops, rendering the truck unsafe and difficult to control. This occurs both while driving (often at highway speeds above 60 mph) and while stationary. Multiple owners report the front end or rear end dropping unexpectedly, sometimes after aero mode engagement or without warning. Owners report the truck becomes nearly undrivable on frame with tires rubbing and loss of steering control.
When: Occurs between 28,000 and 108,000 miles; multiple reports spanning several years. Cold weather appears to trigger failures.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle drops to frame bumpers or bump stops; Loss of ride height without warning; Difficult steering and vehicle control; Message displayed: 'SERVICE AIR SUSPENSION IMMEDIATELY'; Vehicle pulls to one side; Front end lowers while driving at highway speeds; Rear suspension sags overnight or while parked; Violent hopping when hitting bumps after collapse
Codes mentioned: SERVICE AIR SUSPENSION IMMEDIATELY message, AIR SUSPENSION COOLING DOWN message
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacement of air compressor, valve block, air lines, left front air spring, pump & manifold assembly, rear suspension air bag, and full air suspension module. Repairs have not resolved issues; failures recur after dealer service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer has indicated newer model years received updated compressor and components that resolved the issue. Some owners report lack of warranty coverage once out of warranty period.
Air suspension compressor failure in cold weather
Air suspension pump/compressor freezes or fails when temperatures drop below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, causing loss of suspension pressure and system shutdown. The system dumps pressure while driving, making the truck unsafe to control. Compressor reportedly cracks internally, releasing nitrogen pressure.
When: Triggers at temperatures below 30°F; reported at mileage ranging from 67,000 to 108,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Air suspension failure during cold weather; System pressure loss while driving; Truck difficult to control in winter conditions; Compressor freezes and seizes; Service light appears in cold weather then may clear in warmer conditions; Vehicle won't exit entry/exit mode in freezing conditions; Engine hesitates to turn over; Repeated fuse blows during cold weather
Codes mentioned: SERVICE AIR SUSPENSION IMMEDIATELY
Repairs/costs cited: Compressor replacement attempted; owners report cost of $3,800 for full system correction. Warranty denial cited because compressor failure classified as non-drivetrain.
Suspension alignment issues and tire wear
Front end is out of alignment from purchase; even after dealer alignment performed to factory specifications, excessive tire wear persists on passenger side (feathering on outside of tire). Problem repeats across multiple tire sets and rotations. Multiple owners in same neighborhood report identical wear pattern, suggesting systemic design or manufacturing issue.
When: Present from purchase; feathering noticed at 700 miles on new tires after alignment; progressive wear through 22,530 miles and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Feathering on outside edge of right front tire; Rapid and excessive tire wear despite repeated balancing; Front end out of alignment from factory; Vehicle pulls to one side (left); Wear persists after tire rotation; New tires showing wear at 700 miles
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple tire replacements (at least 4 sets); repeated alignments (at least 4 times) to factory specifications; road force balancing performed over 15 times without resolution. Tires replaced at 22,530 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge notified and assigned customer care agent; dealership in process of 4th alignment; manufacturer has not acknowledged systemic problem despite multiple trucks in same area showing identical symptoms.
Suspension stiffness and handling degradation
Ride becomes excessively stiff at speeds above 35 mph and lacks damping; vehicle exhibits floating sensation in corners. Owner suspects sensor or regulator valve controlling air suspension pressure at various speeds is malfunctioning. Dealer unable to locate fault codes despite acknowledging rough ride.
When: Occurs at 76,000 miles with noticeable change 1,000 miles prior
Symptoms owners cite: Very stiff ride at all speeds above 35 mph; Floating sensation when cornering; Rough ride quality; Vehicle feels over-pressurized in air bags
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer changed shocks, idler arms, rubber suspension bushings but issue persists; no fault codes found
Air spring and suspension module failures
Individual air springs (front passenger side, rear passenger side, driver side) fail and deflate, causing that corner of the vehicle to sag. Rear passenger side suspension reported to fail repeatedly. Air suspension module also requires replacement. Failures result in uneven vehicle height and handling issues.
When: Reported at 73,000 miles with multiple recurrences; failures reported within weeks of purchase on used truck
Symptoms owners cite: Rear passenger side leans down; One corner of vehicle lower than others; Vehicle height imbalance; Air spring deflates while driving or parked; Driver side at least 3 inches lower than passenger side
Repairs/costs cited: Rear passenger side suspension air bag replaced; air suspension module replaced; failures recurred on same truck after repair. Left front air spring and pump & manifold assembly replaced on another vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no further assistance provided after initial repair.
Loud pneumatic release sound from air suspension
When lowering vehicle to entry/exit mode, an extremely loud hissing/release sound (like disconnecting compressed air tool) occurs, startling occupants and pets. Owner concerned this may occur at highway speed and cause driver distraction or accident.
When: While vehicle in park, lowering suspension to entry/exit mode
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely loud pneumatic release/hissing sound; Sound described as 'PUSSST'; Startles driver and passengers
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Similar issues reported on Jeep and other Chrysler vehicles with air suspension
Lower control arm casting defect and failure
Right lower control arm broke in half at ball joint attachment point. Inspection revealed manufacturing (casting) defect that compromised part integrity. Control arm failed during slow-speed backing maneuver with loud bang; resulted in right front tire breaking away from vehicle.
When: During slow-speed backing in driveway
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang from front of vehicle; Right front tire separated from vehicle; Right lower control arm broken in half at ball joint
Repairs/costs cited: Right lower control arm replaced; part returned to Chrysler for evaluation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Part returned to Chrysler for factory evaluation due to confirmed manufacturing defect
Front wheel bearing failure
Front wheel bearings fail prematurely; bearing exhibits excessive play and produces rattling/grinding noise during driving. Reported on left front bearing with significant radial movement.
When: At 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive side-to-side movement in wheel bearing; Grinding or rattling noise from wheel area while driving; Loose feeling in front end
Rear axle seizure and failure
Rear axle seizes or locks up while driving at highway speed. One owner reported both rear axles failed; another reported rear axle seized in 4WD, causing loss of rear wheel control and forcing vehicle to median. Failures result in complete loss of vehicle control and accidents.
When: At 41,000 miles and 99,618 miles; one seizure at highway speed in winter conditions (8°F, light snow)
Symptoms owners cite: Rear axle seizes or locks up while driving; Loss of rear wheel control; Vehicle becomes uncontrollable; Rear wheels locked in drive condition
Repairs/costs cited: Both rear axles replaced with rebuilt parts at cost of $4,063.91
Persistent vibration in drive train
Constant vibration starting at 40 mph and continuing to 75+ mph. Vibration has persisted for approximately 100,000 miles (vehicle has 122,000 total miles). Owner has replaced all four tires three times and had them balanced over 15 times, including road force testing 5 times, without resolution. Tire shops and dealers confirm tires and rims are not the cause.
When: Started around 22,000 miles; persists to current 122,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Constant vibration between 40-75+ mph; Vibration felt throughout vehicle; Severe enough to be annoying and concerning for overall truck condition
Repairs/costs cited: Three complete tire replacements; over 15 road force balancing sessions; road force testing performed 5 times; tire shops and dealers unable to isolate cause
Synthesized from 36 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had suspension trouble with your 2013 RAM 1500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2013 RAM 1500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 36 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 41,000 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 73,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 41,000; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/RAM/1500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.