Problems · by component

2013 Ram 1500 exterior lighting problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Ram 1500 cite exterior lighting, 2% of all 1,282 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
31
2% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“DEFECTIVE headlamps. Excessive moisture builds up in housing effecting performance of lights in evening. Was stopped by DPS for having bad headlamps. Dealership says it normal, no its not. It's very unsafe to drive at night with moisture in lamps. Had it looked at or inspected by independent shop and DPS. My safety is at risk for you can't see at night with all the moisture in lamps. This is a common problem with Ram 1500 all over the internet.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2024Exterior lightingODI 11584982
“ABS system has failed and damaged the traction control module. Speedometer does not work and brake lights stay on constantly. Power steering assist does not work. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer and cannot get the parts to fix these issues.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2024Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11571435
“My side boxes do not open with key button and do not unlock with button on key and my bolts broke on exhaust manifold on drivers side and passenger side 4 bolts total”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2022Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11458000
“THE TRUCK ACTS LIKE IT WAS RESTARTED WHEN IM DRIVING DOWN ROAD . THE LIGHTS GO OUT ALL THE GAGES TURN OFF AND RESET ITS NOT A GOOD THING WHEN U ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THEN THE ONE TIME ON 01/09/2020 IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES THIS MONTH AN BE FOR THAT IT WOULD DO IT HERE AND THERE. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED IT THE DEALER HAD IT EVERY WEEK FOR 3 MONTHS BUT IT NEVER DID IT FOR THEM BUT THERE SHOULD BE SOME RECORDS OF ME HAVING IT IN THERE. IT WOULD HAPPEN AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS ANYWHERE FROM 30 MPH TO 60 MPH”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11388769
“FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED DASHBOARD AND RADIO LIGHTS WERE GLITCHING ON AND OFF THEN WARNING INDICATOR STATED MY REAR BRAKES LIGHTS WERE OUT THEN MY TURN SIGNALS,THEN IT STATED MY HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT BUT NONE OF THESE LIGHTS OR SIGNALS WERE OUT. A MONTH LATER MY TURN SIGNAL WAS BLINKING VERY FAST SO I CHECKED IT AND MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS OUT BUT THE INDICATOR DIDN'T INFORM ME I REPLACED BULB IT STARTED BACK WORKING THEN I NOTICED DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT MY HEADLIGHTS WEREN'T AS BRIGHT AS USUAL SO I CHECKED IT AND MY RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT SO I REPLACED THE BULB BUT IT DIDN'T LOOK BURNED OUT BUT I REPLACED IT ANY WAY WITH A NEW ONE IT DIDN'T COME BACK ON SO I PUT THE OLD BULB BACK IN THEN SEARCHED FOR THE FUSE EVEN CONTACTED DODGE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THAT DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE FUSE WAS LOCATED NEITHER SO THEN LIKE 3DAYS LATER THE HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON SO NOW TODAY 2MONTHS LATER MY SAME TURN SIGNAL AND HEADLIGHT WENT BACK OUT AGAIN DASHBOARD IS GLITCHING AGAIN AS WELL I CHANGED BULBS AGAIN STILL NO LIGHTS ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME DODGE RAM HAVE BEEN ASKING ME IF I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY LIGHTS LIKE THEY HAVE I STATED YES INDEED PEOPLE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11383296
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLAMPS AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHAPMAN LAS VEGAS DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (3175 E SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89104) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT CONDENSATION ENTERED THE HEADLAMPS CAUSING THE FAILURE TO THE LED LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED TSB: 23-105-18 AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, WAS INFORMED FROM THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE TSB HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.*LN*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2020Exterior lightingODI 11374878

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting: turn signal

Free remedy

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks manufactured September 9, 2012, through March 5, 2013 and equipped with optional premium tail lamps. In the affected vehicles, the turn signal indicator may not flash at a double rate to give a notification to the driver of a turn signal malfunction. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

Exterior lightingReported Jun 4, 2013NHTSA 13V237000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.