Buyer Research

2013 Ram 3500 (6.7L Cummins) — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $26,000–$42,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.

Kestrel Take

The one-ton Cummins, and the year the Aisin automatic became available on high-output trucks — the strongest factory drivetrain in the class. Buy the Aisin over the 68RFE, budget for the emissions system, and watch the front end. The engine will outlast everything.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11

NHTSA holds 114 owner complaints for the 2013 Ram 3500 (6.7L Cummins), across 18 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 32% of them are about one thing — steering. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.

18 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Not written up yet: the fuel system (20 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2013 Ram 3500 (6.7L Cummins)

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Emissions system (DPF, EGR, DEF) cloggingHigh — wallet impact

Soot accumulation clogs the DPF and EGR, causing derates and expensive replacements, especially with short-trip use.

Repair cost (estimate): $2,000-$5,000

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (29).

68RFE automatic weakness (non-Aisin trucks)Medium

The standard automatic is the weak link when towing heavy or tuned. The Aisin AS69RC is dramatically stronger.

Repair cost (estimate): $3,500-$6,500

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Front-end wear and death wobbleHigh — wallet impact

Solid front axle oscillation from worn steering components.

Repair cost (estimate): $600-$2,500

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under steering (37), the transmission and drivetrain (11).

Turbo VGT stickingMedium

Soot binds the variable vanes, causing underboost.

Repair cost (estimate): $1,200-$2,800

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (29).

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Death wobble
✗Slipping 68RFE under load
✗Emissions deleted with no documentation
✗City-only history on a DPF diesel

Good Signs

✓Aisin automatic transmission
✓Emissions serviced or highway-use history
✓Front end rebuilt
✓Complete records

Found a specific Ram 3500 (6.7L Cummins)?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2013 Ram 3500 (6.7L Cummins) in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.