Shaft on water pump sheared causing water pump to fail and serpentine belt to come off. Vehicle being driven on freeway at highway speeds. Serpentine belt failure results in loss of power steering and vacuum to power brakes. This in turn causes difficulty in vehicle control.
2013 RAM 3500 engine problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 17 engine complaints filed for the 2013 RAM 3500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Ram 3500 shows a pattern of engine electronics, sensor, and mechanical failures that dealers often cannot fully resolve. Buyers should expect turbo actuator communication codes, NOx sensor failures, water pump defects, and unexplained power loss, with repair costs ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars—and some recalls may still lack available parts.
Owners describe a cluster of distinct engine issues in 2013 Ram 3500 trucks across multiple failure modes. Turbo actuator communication failures show up repeatedly—check engine lights illuminate, dealers quote $3,500–$3,900 to replace non-functioning actuators, yet owners report the turbos still work. One owner experienced limp-mode engagement (5 mph governing).
Sensor failures are common: upstream and rear NOx sensors fail as early as 59,510 miles, and DEF fluid injectors fail and recur even after repair at 21,000 miles. Power loss during acceleration from a standstill occurs under load (trailer towing); the engine drops power for 2–3 seconds until the throttle is released and reapplied. Owners note dealers cannot reproduce the fault without a load applied.
Water pump defects appear repeatedly—one owner reports a sheared shaft on the freeway at highway speed, resulting in serpentine belt shedding and loss of power steering and brake assist. Another owner cites recall 17V562000 parts unavailable, with a dealer claiming FCA has 160 defective pumps on hand.
Engine stalling without warning occurs at highway speeds (65 mph), requiring multiple restart attempts. Contaminated unknown systems produce burning odors at startup. An engine spring valve broke catastrophically at 35 mph, totaling the engine ($15K replacement). Exhaust fumes enter the cab from a loose hose clamp that recurred after repair. Several owners report part unavailability for multiple recalls (14V635000, 17V562000), delaying repairs indefinitely.
Same RAM 3500 engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Turbo actuator communication loss
Electronic communication failure between turbo actuator and turbocharger; engine still operates but check engine light illuminates. Dealers warn of potential limp-mode engagement, though actuators remain mechanically functional at time of complaint.
When: 80,000–120,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Limp mode (5 mph speed governor) warning given by dealer; No drivability symptom reported by owner at time of complaint
Codes mentioned: Turbo actuator not communicating (specific code not stated)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer quoted $3,500–$3,900 for replacement; owner declined as part still functions
NOx sensor failure
Upstream and rear nitrogen oxide sensors fail, triggering check engine warnings. Failures occurred both early (59,510 miles) and later in vehicle life.
When: 59,510 miles (upstream); timeline not specified for rear sensor
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light illuminates
Codes mentioned: Upstream NOx sensor fault, Rear NOx sensor fault
Repairs/costs cited: Upstream and rear NOx sensors replaced at dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; repairs performed under warranty
Power loss during acceleration under load
Engine loses all power for 2–3 seconds when accelerator is depressed from a stop, particularly under trailer load. Power returns when throttle is released and reapplied. Dealer unable to reproduce the fault without load testing.
When: Mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Complete power loss for 2–3 seconds during acceleration from standstill; Occurs under load (12,000 lb trailer); Intermittent; multiple occurrences; Power returns after throttle release and reapplication
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose; no load testing performed during service attempt
Water pump failure—sheared shaft
Water pump internal shaft shears during highway operation, causing pump failure and serpentine belt ejection. Loss of belt drive results in loss of power steering and brake assist, creating steering and braking difficulty.
When: Mileage not stated; occurred at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Serpentine belt comes off; Loss of power steering; Loss of vacuum to power brakes; Difficulty controlling vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Catastrophic mechanical failure requiring belt and pump replacement
Water pump defect—parts unavailability for recall 17V562000
Recall 17V562000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) issued for water pump defect, but replacement parts unavailable. One dealer reported FCA has 160 replacement pumps on hand, all defective.
When: At time of recall notification
Symptoms owners cite: No failure experienced at time of complaint
Repairs/costs cited: Recall parts not available; dealer stated FCA has 160 defective pumps in inventory
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recall 17V562000; parts unavailable from manufacturer
DEF fluid injector failure
Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) DEF injector fails, illuminating check engine light. Failure recurred even after two dealer repairs.
When: 21,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates while driving at 65 mph
Codes mentioned: DEF injector fault
Repairs/costs cited: DEF injector replaced twice due to recurrence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Engine stalling without warning
Engine stalls unexpectedly at various speeds without warning. Vehicle restarts after multiple attempts, and engine restarts spontaneously without operator input.
When: Approximately 85,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unwarned stalling at various speeds; Requires multiple restart attempts; Spontaneous restart without operator action
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or taken to dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Contaminated engine system with burning odor
Unknown engine system becomes contaminated, producing abnormal burning odor inside and outside vehicle. Service engine indicator illuminates. Cause not specified in complaint.
When: Approximately 86,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Service engine indicator illuminates during start attempt; Abnormal burning odor in and out of vehicle
Codes mentioned: Unknown system contamination (specific code not stated)
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown system cleaned by dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Exhaust fumes entering cabin—loose hose clamp
Exhaust fumes enter the vehicle due to a loose hose clamp on the exhaust system. Failure recurred after dealer repair despite replacement of the clamp.
When: 500 miles initial failure; recurred by 17,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Exhaust fumes in cabin
Repairs/costs cited: Hose clamp replaced; failure recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; vehicle not repaired for recurrence
Catastrophic engine valve failure
Engine intake or exhaust valve spring broke while driving at normal speed, causing sudden catastrophic internal engine damage. Engine is a total loss requiring full replacement.
When: Mileage not stated; occurred at 35 mph on city street
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine operation; Catastrophic internal engine damage
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required; owner cost approximately $15,000
Recall parts unavailability—14V635000 and 17V562000
Multiple owners received recall notifications (14V635000 for fuel system/engine, 17V562000 for engine cooling) but replacement parts were not available from manufacturer. Timeline for part availability was not provided by dealer or manufacturer; some owners waited indefinitely.
When: At time of recall notification
Symptoms owners cite: No failure experienced; recall prophylactic
Repairs/costs cited: Recalls not completable; parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaigns 14V635000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Fuel System, Diesel) and 17V562000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); parts distribution disconnect reported
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2013 RAM 3500?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 37,650 and 115,000 miles, with the median around 85,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 37,650; a quarter make it past 115,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.