2013 RAM 1500 buying guide

A data-driven checklist for buying a used 2013 RAM 1500, built from 1,259 owner complaints, 11 recall campaigns, 526 service bulletins and federal safety records — not opinions.

Know before you buy

11 recall campaigns affect this model year. Check each one and confirm the repairs were done — recall work is free at any authorized dealer.
Main problem areas: steering (623), electrical system (226), engine (123), air bags (94), power train (86).
Symptoms owners describe: steering problems (159), loss of power (103), stalling (40), check engine light (36), rust / corrosion (25), airbag warning light (20). Test-drive with these in mind.
Reported incident mileage: among 588 complaints with a usable odometer reading, half were filed between 27,703 and 100,116 miles (median 63,485). This describes when owners reported problems — it does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop one.
4 federal investigations have named this model year — read what they cover.
Crash-test rating: 4/5 stars overall from NHTSA. Full safety record.
Fuel economy: 15–20 MPG combined (EPA; engines: 5.7L 8-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl).

When problems get reported

Reported incident mileage among 588 complaints with usable odometer readings.

under 20k		107
20–40k		91
40–60k		75
60–80k		94
80–100k		64
100–150k		104
150k+		53

Before you hand over money

Run the VIN through our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact build.
Check open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall that was never fixed is a free repair you can claim.
Get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the problem areas listed above.

This guide is generated from official NHTSA, EPA and FARS records. Complaints are unverified owner reports and raw counts are not adjusted for sales volume.