2013 Ram 2500 Electrical Problems

Your door locks don't engage consistently, and the child safety locks aren't working reliably—a safety concern when children are in the truck. You've already replaced the door lock actuators without success. The issue appears to be with the body control module that manages all interior electrical functions; using a diagnostic scan tool to clear fault codes temporarily fixes the problem for about 5-6 engine starts, but the issue returns. The replacement part (68200252AG) is no longer available from Mopar with no superseding part number, despite this being the 6th revision of the component. A permanent fix may require body control module replacement or reprogramming by a Dodge dealer.

Your front passenger door and both rear door locks aren't working reliably — they'll unlock with the key fob or door buttons, but then won't lock again consistently, even while you're driving. This prevents the child safety locks from working properly, which means children could open doors while the vehicle is moving, and it also leaves your truck vulnerable to theft since you can't always secure the doors. The dealership checked the truck but couldn't consistently reproduce the problem to identify the cause.

Your truck had a recall service appointment in 2016, but the dealer did not complete the repair then and has not fixed any recalls since. The dealer claims only one recall is currently open, but you believe multiple recalls remain unrepaired. You suspect the work is being documented as complete without actually being done. Contact the dealer or manufacturer to verify which recalls have been properly completed on your vehicle.

Your door locks aren't working properly on the passenger and rear doors. Whether you use the key fob, door panel buttons, or keyless touch entry, only your driver's door and tailgate will lock or unlock — the front passenger door and both rear doors won't respond to any locking method. This means those doors can't be secured, even when you're driving.

Your truck's ABS and traction control systems are displaying error messages, especially after hitting bumps or when wheels spin in wet weather. The dealership confirmed this is a known issue but hasn't provided a fix, and you're concerned about replacing the wrong part since you're out of warranty. The repair will likely involve diagnosing which component in the ABS/traction control system is triggering the false error code, possibly the wheel speed sensor or control module.

Your alternator has been randomly surging voltage for the past couple of years. The dealership tried to contact you about a recall (S68 campaign) for an alternator fix, but you need to file a report to complete the recall process.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V739000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED BY WESTBURY JEEP CHRYSLER DODGE RAM (516-333-2666, LOCATED AT 111 BOND ST, WESTBURY, NY 11590) IN FEBRUARY OF 2018. IN OCTOBER OF 2019, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AN ODOR OF SMOKE WAS DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT SAW SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE BATTERY INDICATOR WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR BURNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN INVESTIGATOR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

BODY MOUNT CONTROL (BCM) . WHICH CONTROLS THE DOOR LOCKS HAS A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE INCLUDING MY TRUCK. DRIVERS DOOR LOCKS WHEN YOU HIT THE LOCK ON THE KEY FOB. BUT THE PASSENGER, AND BOTH BACK DOORS DO NOT DUE TO A FAULTY BODY MOUNT CONTROL (BCM). HAVE SEEN LOTS OF PEOPLE REPORTING SAME SYMPTOMS AND FAILURES ON 2013 RAM TRUCKS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY

DRIVER SIDE AND TAIL GATE ARE THE ONLY ITEMS THAT WILL LOCK USING KEY FOB OR DOOR LOCK SWITCH

BACKUP CAMERA SCRAMBLES AND GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BACKING UP, AND REAR PASSENGER TAILLIGHT POSTING OUT IN SYSTEM MESSAGES ON STARTUP AND STORED MESSAGES BUT IS NOT OUT.

WHILE DRIVING ALTERNATOR STARTED SMELLING AND RAPID CHANGES IN VOLTAGE. WHEN STOPPED AND OPENED HOOD ALTERNATOR WAS SMOKING AND STARTING TO CATCH ON FIRE. TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN ON CITY STREET AS WELL AS A HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP IN JULY TO CORRECT ALL RECALLS. THE DEALERSHIP DID ALL OTHER RECALLS OTHER THEN ALTERNATOR THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY COULD GET THE PARTS. IT IS NOW DECEMBER 23RD AND NO CALL WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENED.

FAULTY BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) DOOR LOCKS RANDOMLY WORK MAKING IT A SAFETY ISSUE.

DOOR LOCKS SOMETIMES LOCK WHEN THE LOCKED BUTTON IS PRESSED. DOES NOT MATTER IF IT'S THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE TRUCK, THE AUTO LOCK ONCE YOU GO ABOVE 10MPH, OR THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE REMOTE. SINCE THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK, KIDS MAY BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AT SPEED AND GET HURT!

DEAD PEDAL ISSUE WHEN ACCELERATING THEN MOMENTARILY LETTING OF THROTTLE AND REAPPLYING THROTTLE, THERE'S A 2-3 SECOND DELAYED RESPONSE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING IT.

WIPERS RUNNING WITH KEY AND WIPER SWITCH OFF. WENT TO GO TO WORK AND WALKED OUTSIDE TO FIND WIPERS RUNNING IN LOW. DISCONNECT BATTERY TO STOP. WAITED 5 DAYS, AS SOON AS I CONNECTED, THEY STARTED UP. PULLED FUSE AND THEY STOPPED, HAVEN'T USED TRUCK SINCE.

2 MONTHS AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED FOR THE SCR CATALYST FAILURE IN THE RAM 2500 2013 TRUCK, THE DEF SYSTEM HAS UNDERGONE A COMPLETE FAILURE AND NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. THE TRUCK IN CURRENTLY IN A MILEAGE COUNT DOWN THAT CAN NOT BE STOPPED UNTIL REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WILL BE UNDRIVABLE ONCE THE COUNTDOWN REACHES ZERO. THE SYSTEM UNDERWENT COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN THE RAIN. THE FUSE FOR THE SCR FEED HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE THE ISSUE FIRST APPEARED AND EACH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED DURING WET CONDITIONS. NO STANDING BODIES OF WATER WERE CROSSED AND NO RIVERS WERE FORDED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE RECALL AND COULD BE DRIVEN IN WET WEATHER WITHOUT WORRY. THE VEHICLE IS NOW A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND CONTINUES TO HAVE RECALLS MADE TO IT THAT HAVE NO SOLUTION. THERE ARE TWO OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE THAT HAVE NO PRESENTED SOLUTION OR DATE FOR REPAIR.

TRUCK HAS BEEN HARD TO START SINCE I BOUGHT IT THEN IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. DEALER SAID IT WAS WIRING HARNESS COST WAS $1500 FOR PARTS AND LABOR AND THAT DIDN'T FIX IT NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE COMPUTER IS FRIED WHICH IS GOING TO BE $2500 PARTS

ONLY MY TAILGATE AND DRIVER DOOR WILL LOCK. MY DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN I START TO DRIVE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOCK MY DOORS ONLY THE TAILGATE AND DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK.

BODY CONTROL MODULE. ELECTRICAL FAULT DOESN'T ALLOW THE ABILITY TO LOCK THE DOOR. TO LOCK THE DOOR YOU MUST MANUALLY LOCK THE DOOR. SAFETY ISSUE HAVING TO MANUALLY WALK AROUND TO EACH DOOR TO LOCK IT IN UNSAFE LOCATIONS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A RAPID ALTERNATOR FAILURE DUE TO DIODE THERMAL FATIGUE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF DUE TO AN UNDERHOOD ELECTRICAL FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V739000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED AND NO REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V739000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,300.

VERY COMMON IGNITION ISSUES! RAM IGNITIONS WITH THE KEY FOB THAT YOU PLACE IN DASH GOES OUT CAUSEING NO STARTS. IF YOU GOOGLE 2013 RAM IGNITIONS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SHOW UP. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FREE OF CHARGE! NEED TO GO BACK TO A ACTUAL KEY!

WIPERS FUNCTION WHEN NOT TURNED ON, LIGHTS FLICKER ON & OFF WHEN ON HIGH BEAM, HIGH BEAMS WON'T COME ON AT ALL, TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR GOES ON & OFF WHILE DRIVING, RADIO DISPLAY WILL NOT TURN ON & WE ARE UNABLE TO CHANGE RADIO STATIONS, A/C WILL NOT BLOW AT SELECTED SPEED, TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN TURNED ON. ALL ABOVE WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING, HIGHWAY & CITY TRAVELS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE PARKED, THE SERVICE TIRE PRESSURE, SRS AIR BAG, AND LOW COOLANT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE RADIO WOULD TURN ON AND OFF WITH THE VOLUME EXCESSIVELY LOUD. ALL THE LOCKS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DID NOT SHUT DOWN, AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V459000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER A DETERMINATION HAD NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED OR NOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM PAIN IN THE SHOULDER, KNEE, ANKLE, AND NECK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

TRUCK STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. OVER THE PAST 18 MONTH NOT A FUEL FILTER ISSUE.

FACTORY MOUNTED ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLER DOES NOT PUT OUT ENOUGH VOLTAGE AND CURRENT TO SAFELY STOP A HEAVY TRAILER. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V635000 (FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM), HOWEVER THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

ON SEPTEMBER 1,2015 AT 9:15 PM WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM NASHVILLE TN TO PA. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I NOTICED THE DEF GAUGE HADN'T MOVED . SO I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THINGS OUT AND MADE IT TO A GAS STATION AND BOUGHT SOME DEF AND TRYED TO FILL IT UP BUT THE DEF TANK SEAMED TO BE FILL. I TURNED THE TRUCK ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES TO SEE IF THAT WOULD MOVE THE GAUGE AND RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT BUT IT DIDN'T . THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON MOST OF THE TRIP BACK. THE NEXT MOURNING ON SEPT 2, 2015 I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO DEALER AND SHOW THEM THE PICTURES AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED . THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK ON THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I DROPPED THE TRUCK BACK OFF AT NAPLETON AT 9:00 AM ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2015.I AM WAITING TO HEAR BACK.

ON 02/19/2015 SERVICE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON ANOTHER PROBLEM AT SAME TIME WAS THE DEF SENSOR CONCERNING THE ADDITIVE THAT YOU HAVE TO ADD TO MIX WITH THE DIESEL FOR GOVERNMENT EMISSIONS . THEY HAD TO ORDER PART AND I HAD TO COME BACK AT ANOTHER TIME.

ON 02/19/2015 SERVICE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON THEY RAN TEST AND ORDERED PART HAD TO COME BACK IN ON MARCH 11, 2015 THEY REPLACED COOLANT BOTTLE AND COOLANT AND PURGE AIR FROM SYSTEM.

ON 02/19/2015 SERVICE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON THEY RAN TEST ON TRUCK AND HAD TO ORDER PART. HAD TO GO BACK ON MARCH 11, 2015 MILEAGE NOW WAS 6513 THEY REPLACED COOLANT BOTTLE AND COOLANT AND PURGE AIR FROM SYSTEM.

ON 05/26/2015 SERVICE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON TOOK TRUCK IN THEY RAN TEST HAD TO ORDER PART . HAD TO GO BACK IN THEY REPLACED SENSOR-NITROGEN OXIDE. DURING THIS VISIT AND OTHER VISITS MOLDING KEPT COMING APART FROM VEHICLE.

RECALL: P65/NHTSA 14V-635 : DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR: RECEIVED FIRST RECALL IN DECEMBER, 2014. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER (HADDAD DODGE, BAKERSFIELD, CA) AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AND WOULD CALL WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. AS OF 5-12-15, NO CALL AND NO REPAIR. RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE IN MAIL 5-10-15 FOR SAME SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS LISTED AS AN "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL". IF THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, THEN WHY HAS 5 MONTHS GONE BY WITH NO PARTS AND NOW A SECOND NOTICE SENT. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT DODGE CORPORATE/DEALERS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR GETTING THE PARTS AND MAKING THE REPAIR. I CONSIDER 5+ MONTHS AS AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. OTHERWISE, TAKE THE RED LABEL OFF THE FRONT OF THE NOTICE AND REMOVE THE WORD "IMPORTANT" FROM THE LABEL.

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK THE MAIN DISPLAY SHUTS DOWN, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS START FLICKERING, ENGINE STARTS TO SHUT DOWN, IF YOU TURN OF TRUCK COMPUTER WILL NOT LET IT START, STRANDED HAS DON'T THIS 5 TIMES NOW AND DEALER DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS I WAS HAULING BY 5-WHEEL FROM TRIP COULD HAVE BEEN AN MAJOR ACCIDENT, NO LIGHTS AT NIGHT SUDDENLY, NO CONTROL. *TR

CALIBRATION ISSUE WITH DEF ON DEF TANK. CURRENTLY DRIVE VEHICLE SINCE NEW WITH A PROGRAMMER BY MY SIDE DUE TO VEHICLE BEING A PIECE OF [XXX]. CORPORATE GREED!!!! 30 YEARS IN AUTOMOTIVE AND NOW GOING TO TOYOTA HA!! [XXX] NEED TO GET YOUR [XXX] TOGETHER. 53,000 DOLLAR TRUCK IS A PIECE OF [XXX] AND YOU DUMB [XXX] CANT EVEN TELL THE CUSTOMERS THAT YOU SCREWED UP AND HAVE A FIX. TO [XXX] WITH AMERICAN MADE IRON. AND ALL THE [XXX] THAT SAY THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BLUE TOOTH PHONE SYSTEM FAILED. RADIO WAS REPLACED. SIRIUS RADIO SIGNAL DROPS OUT, SHOWS :ACQUIRING SIGNAL:. WILL PLAY THEN DO IT AGAIN. DEALER, BRYANT CHRYSLER IS TRYING TO CONTACT CHRYSLER FOR A FIX. CHRYSLER ISN'T RESPONDING. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED THIS TRUCK LESS THAN 1 WEEK AGO; BRAND NEW. I WAS SLOWLY APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION (STOP SIGN) WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME; WAITING TO TURN. THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STARTED SURGING/LURCHING FORWARD FOR A PERIOD OF 5-10 SECONDS; NEARLY HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PLACED THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES SO AS NOT TO HIT ANOTHER CAR AND PREVENT AND ACCIDENT. THE "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL" MESSAGE CAME UP ON MY DASH DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, BUT SOON (30 SECONDS) WENT AWAY. I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND PLACE MYSELF AND OTHERS IN DANGER. I WILL BE VISITING A DEALERSHIP TO GET IT EVALUATED. AFTER AN INTERNET SEARCH, IT APPEARS THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM; CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR