2013 Ram C/V TRADESMAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
19,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting
1
25.0%
Braking behavior
1
25.0%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Electrical System
1
Engine
1
Power Train
1
Service Brakes
1
Unknown Or Other
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Electrical System
1
Engine
1
Power Train
1
Service Brakes
1
Unknown Or Other
1
Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2013
1
2018
2
2019
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2013
1
2018
2
2019
1
2013: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
I HAVE A 2013 DODGE RAM TRADESMAN THAT WAS BUILT DEC 12, 2012. LAST 8 OF THE VIN ARE DG509430, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE SAYS AC BYPASS VALVE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL: RAM RECALL # N25, NHTSA COMPLAINT# 13V177000. NOW THE SERVICE DEPT AT DODGE AND THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAYS MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL. I WANT TO KNOW WHY, IS THIS JUST A COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THE TRUCK HAS 39000 MILES ON IT
WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSMISSION AREA DOES A HARD JERK FORWARD FROM 1-2 GEAR. WHEN DOING A HARD STOP ALSO DOES A HARD LUNGE FORWARD WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSE A COUPLE ACCIDENTS. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I EXPERIENCE THE TRUCK DOING THIS.
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V283000 · Air Bags | Electrical System
Reported: 2013-07-02 (July 2, 2013)
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, and RAM C/V Tradesman vehicles manufactured May 10, 2012, through June 7, 2013. A software error may result in the opposite side airbags deploying from the collision point (a left side impact would deploy the right side airbags and vice versa).
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the wrong side airbags could deploy leaving the occupant with no airbag protection at the point of impact, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the occupant restraint control module, free of charge. The recall began during September 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N44.
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ram C/V Tradesman cargo vans, equipped with two front bucket seats and no rear seating, manufactured July 25, 2012, to August 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, road hazards such as potholes may cause the front passenger side curtain and/or seat air bags to deploy unexpectedly.
Consequence: Inadvertent air bag deployment can increase the risk of crash or injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the software in the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P51.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
50.0%Usable mileage2 / 4 records
100.0%Valid incident date4 / 4 records
100.0%Valid filing date4 / 4 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 4 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2013
2014
2015
Engine
125.0%ODI 11082700 · 39,000 mi
I HAVE A 2013 DODGE RAM TRADESMAN THAT WAS BUILT DEC 12, 2012. LAST 8 OF THE VIN ARE DG509430, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE SAYS AC BYPASS VALVE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL: RAM RECALL # N25, NHTSA COMPLAINT# 13V177000. NOW THE SERVICE DEPT AT DODGE AND THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAYS MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL. I WANT TO KNOW WHY, IS THIS JUST A COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THE TRUCK HAS 39000 MILES ON IT
THIS IS A FLEET VEHICLE USED FOR SECURITY SYSTEMS INSTALLATION. IN JUNE OF 2016 DRIVER NOTICED LARGE POOL OF ENGINE OIL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE PARKED TRUCK. THE TOP OF THE ENGINE HAD OIL POOLED UNDER MANIFOLD AND THE LEAK APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. CLEANED THE ENGINE AND REPLACED THE SENSOR. THE TRUCK HAD 45,612 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AT THIS TIME. OIL LEAKAGE DETECTED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE BUT ORIGIN OF LEAK COULDN'T BE FOUND. ON 24 JANUARY 2019 THE TECHNICIAN WHO OPERATES THIS VEHICLE CAME OUT TO GO TO WORK AND NOTICED …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 RAM C/V TRADESMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED TO FUNCTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE FAN WOULD RUN; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO HEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DEFROSTER FOR THE REARVIEW MIRROR WOULD STOP, THE HEATER WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEATER CONTROL BUTTON FAILED. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE FIVE DIFFERENT SETTINGS FOR THE CONTROL SETTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK TWO TO SEVEN MINUTES UNTIL THE HEAT STARTED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. WHILE DRIVING, IT ALSO T…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 RAM C/V TRADESMAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED TO FUNCTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE FAN WOULD RUN; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO HEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DEFROSTER FOR THE REARVIEW MIRROR WOULD STOP, THE HEATER WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEATER CONTROL BUTTON FAILED. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE FIVE DIFFERENT SETTINGS FOR THE CONTROL SETTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK TWO TO SEVEN MINUTES UNTIL THE HEAT STARTED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. WHILE DRIVING, IT ALSO T…
THE FUEL SENSOR FAILED AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A POOR PRODUCT, ACCORDING TO WEB SEARCHES THAT I HAVE COMPLETED. THE GAS GAUGE GOES OFF AND ON LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT A CLEAR IDEA OF THE STATUS OF THE FUEL. IN THE CASE OF CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE IN THE WINTER, THIS IS DANGEROUS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 RAM C/V TRADESMAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. BOTH PASSENGERS REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V528000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT OUT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. T…
WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSMISSION AREA DOES A HARD JERK FORWARD FROM 1-2 GEAR. WHEN DOING A HARD STOP ALSO DOES A HARD LUNGE FORWARD WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSE A COUPLE ACCIDENTS. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I EXPERIENCE THE TRUCK DOING THIS.
THE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ACTIVATED YET THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING OR INVOLVED IN A FRONT OR REAR ACCIDENT TO CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 RAM C/V TRADESMAN. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V541000 (STEERING), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS, BUT THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING TRACK BAR NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 05/1…
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Engine
Too few reports for a range
39,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 11082700 · 39,000 mi
I HAVE A 2013 DODGE RAM TRADESMAN THAT WAS BUILT DEC 12, 2012. LAST 8 OF THE VIN ARE DG509430, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE SAYS AC BYPASS VALVE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL: RAM RECALL # N25, NHTSA COMPLAINT# 13V177000. NOW THE SERVICE DEPT AT DODGE AND THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAYS MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL. I WANT TO KNOW WHY, IS THIS JUST A COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THE TRUCK HAS 39000 MILES ON IT
I HAVE A 2013 DODGE RAM TRADESMAN THAT WAS BUILT DEC 12, 2012. LAST 8 OF THE VIN ARE DG509430, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE SAYS AC BYPASS VALVE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL: RAM RECALL # N25, NHTSA COMPLAINT# 13V177000. NOW THE SERVICE DEPT AT DODGE AND THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAYS MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL. I WANT TO KNOW WHY, IS THIS JUST A COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THE TRUCK HAS 39000 MILES ON IT
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2014: 3 complaints · 2015: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2014
0
1
3
2015
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2014
7
0
0
2015
1
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Electrical System
Engine
Power Train
Service Brakes
Unknown Or Other
Electrical System
—
0
0
0
0
Engine
0
—
0
0
1ODI 11082700 · 39,000 mi
I HAVE A 2013 DODGE RAM TRADESMAN THAT WAS BUILT DEC 12, 2012. LAST 8 OF THE VIN ARE DG509430, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE SAYS AC BYPASS VALVE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL: RAM RECALL # N25, NHTSA COMPLAINT# 13V177000. NOW THE SERVICE DEPT AT DODGE AND THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAYS MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL. I WANT TO KNOW WHY, IS THIS JUST A COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THE TRUCK HAS 39000 MILES ON IT
I HAVE A 2013 DODGE RAM TRADESMAN THAT WAS BUILT DEC 12, 2012. LAST 8 OF THE VIN ARE DG509430, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE SAYS AC BYPASS VALVE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL: RAM RECALL # N25, NHTSA COMPLAINT# 13V177000. NOW THE SERVICE DEPT AT DODGE AND THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAYS MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL. I WANT TO KNOW WHY, IS THIS JUST A COINCIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THE TRUCK HAS 39000 MILES ON IT
WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSMISSION AREA DOES A HARD JERK FORWARD FROM 1-2 GEAR. WHEN DOING A HARD STOP ALSO DOES A HARD LUNGE FORWARD WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSE A COUPLE ACCIDENTS. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I EXPERIENCE THE TRUCK DOING THIS.