The new Dodge Ram equipped with cummins diesel experience a dead pedal, or pedal delay when pressing the gas pedal 3/4 to full throttle. This poses a serious risk when needing to get out of the way, or move the vehicle under emergency circumstances. This happens under all conditions: stopped, rolling, under acceleration etc. If you push the pedal too far the truck will not respond to operator…
2013 RAM 3500 electrical problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
3fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 13 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 RAM 3500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a dangerous fuel heater fire hazard with one documented incident where the vehicle caught fire in a garage. The fuel heater was recalled without parts or repair timeline in place. Alternators are catching fire under the hood, in at least two documented cases with low battery warnings preceding the failure. One owner had the alternator inspected rather than replaced per the S68 recall and the unit later ignited.
Throttle response is severely delayed—1.5 to 2 seconds when pressing the pedal hard, dangerous for merging and emergency maneuvers. TSB 18-041-15 addresses it only partially, and the manufacturer attributes it to turbo lag despite owner evidence otherwise.
Electrical failures are widespread. Wiring harnesses chafe in the loom, causing repeated ECM and PCM failures that kill the engine while towing. Door lock modules short internally, locking doors on their own with parts perpetually backordered. Body control modules fail, disabling rear child safety locks. Headlight wiring harnesses degrade. ABS and traction control lights illuminate sporadically from rear sensor issues. Trailer brake control modules cannot deliver adequate voltage to stop trailers safely. Batteries drain continuously despite multiple replacements.
Same RAM 3500 electrical reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Fuel heater fire
Inline fuel heater ignites, originating fire under the hood. Fire investigator from Chrysler confirmed origin at fuel heater. Vehicle caught fire while parked in garage, resulting in property damage and owner burn injury.
When: January 28, 2015; recall issued December 15, 2014
Symptoms owners cite: smoke from under hood; red flames shooting from under truck; extreme heat generation
Repairs/costs cited: Recall issued with no parts, instructions, or timeline provided at time of complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall for inline fuel heater fire risk; dealership claimed remote possibility and approved indoor parking
Throttle response delay (dead pedal)
Engine does not respond to full throttle input for 1.5-2 seconds. Occurs when pressing gas pedal 3/4 to full throttle under all conditions. Owner reports this is not turbo lag but a genuine throttle control delay.
When: Ongoing issue during ownership
Symptoms owners cite: pedal delay when pressing gas 3/4 to full throttle; 1.5-2 second lag before acceleration pickup; no response to full pedal depression
Repairs/costs cited: TSB 18-041-15 addresses issue partially but does not fully resolve it
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 18-041-15; manufacturer claims issue is turbo lag
Wire chafing causing ECM/PCM failure
Chafed wiring in loom causes repeated ECM and PCM failures, resulting in loss of power while towing and transmission locking in 4th gear. Multiple failures and repairs over 12-month period.
When: June 2014 at 16,490 miles; recurring through July 2015 at 31,421 miles
Symptoms owners cite: transmission locks in 4th gear; truck completely dies; check engine light; loss of power while towing
Codes mentioned: ECM fuse blown
Repairs/costs cited: ECM replaced twice (June 2014, July 2014); PCM replaced July 2014; wiring harness portion replaced July 2015; all repairs at dealer
Door lock module electrical short
Electrical short to ground in driver's door lock switch and module causes doors to lock themselves. Parts placed on national backorder with no repair timeline. Owner concerned about fire risk from short circuit.
When: Within six weeks of purchase (2013 model year)
Symptoms owners cite: doors lock by themselves
Repairs/costs cited: Parts (68110866AA and 68155771AF) on national backorder; no repair available
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claimed zero chance of fire despite electrical short
Headlight wiring harness failure
Passenger side then both low and high beam headlights fail to illuminate. Initial headlight assembly replacement did not resolve issue; wiring harness diagnosed as failed but vehicle not repaired.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: passenger side low and high beam headlamps fail to illuminate; both sides low and high beam headlamps fail
Repairs/costs cited: Headlight assembly replaced first; wiring harness replacement needed but not completed
ABS and traction control warning lights with rear sensor issue
ABS warning light, traction control warning light, and check engine light illuminate sporadically. 'ABS brakes needs servicing' message also appears. Rear sensor bumper diagnosed as cause.
When: 2,432 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminates sporadically; traction control warning light illuminates sporadically; check engine warning light illuminates sporadically; 'ABS brakes needs servicing' warning message
Repairs/costs cited: Rear sensor bumper replaced
Alternator fire
Alternator catches fire. Low battery warning illuminated, then burning plastic smell detected. Smoke poured from alternator. Alternator had been inspected rather than replaced per recall bulletin three months prior.
When: May 23, 2019; 62,000 miles (second case); vehicle did not specify mileage
Symptoms owners cite: low battery indication; burning plastic smell; smoke pouring from alternator
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator inspected under S68 recall instead of replaced; owner disconnected batteries to prevent further damage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: S68 recall bulletin for alternator inspection
Integrated trailer brake control inadequate voltage
Trailer brake control module fails to provide adequate voltage and amperage to safely stop heavy trailers. Brakes function correctly when trailer connected to different vehicle, confirming module defect.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: inadequate voltage to trailer brakes; inadequate amperage to trailer brakes; trailer brakes fail to provide safe stopping
Body control module malfunction affecting door locks
Faulty body control module causes only driver's electric door locks to engage, rendering rear child safety locks inoperable. Owner notes this appears to be common problem on this model.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: only driver electric door locks lock; child safety locks inoperable
Battery parasitic drain
Excessive battery drain requires frequent recharging cycles. Owner has replaced battery multiple times over 4-year ownership period; new batteries last only 2 months before drain causes discharge.
When: Ongoing over 4-year ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: battery dies after 2 months; requires truck startup every other day to prevent discharge
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple battery replacements needed
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving various speeds, the passenger side low beam and high beam head lamps failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the passenger side headlight assembly was replaced, but the failure recurred. The contact mentioned that the driver and passenger side low beam and high beam head lamps failed to illuminate. The vehicle was…
Our Ram 3500 seems to have a wire chafing problem. On 26 june 2014 the truck locked in 4th gear. ECM was replaced in fairbanks at 16490 miles. On 18 july 2014 the same thing happened at 18481 miles, the dealer in soldotna ak found a chafed wire in the wiring loom. On 29 july 2014, the truck completely died, the ECM fuse was blown. The PCM was replaced. On 26 july 2015, the truck completely…
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 RAM 3500?
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 electrical problem on the 2013 RAM 3500?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 6,500 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 31,421. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,500; a quarter make it past 50,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/3500.
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.