2018 RAM 2500 Problems: Brakes (2,596 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2018 RAM 2500 is Brakes (60% of 2,596 owner reports). There are 10 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Brakes — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 2,596 complaints · 10 recalls
What problems show up on the 2018 RAM 2500?
1,560 of 2,596 filings named Brakes (60% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Electrical (277 reports).
There are 10 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Steering, Transmission / driveline, Electrical, Rear camera / backup safety, Brakes, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2017 has 694 reports on file; this year has 2,596. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Brakes 1,560 complaints · 60.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 39
- Fires 5
- Injuries 12
- Deaths 1
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 1,560 | 60.1% | 17 crashes · 1 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 277 | 10.7% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 254 | 9.8% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) | 192 | 7.4% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 63 | 2.4% | 5 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 55 | 2.1% | 2 crashes · 1 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 28 | 1.1% | 2 crashes · 3 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 16 | 0.6% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) | 8 | 0.3% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 792 | 30.5% | 13 crashes · 1 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 19V347000 was reported 150 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 24V896000 was reported 2,323 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 25V010000 was reported 1,742 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 25V592000 was reported 1,980 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 40 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 97 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 193 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 180 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 258 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 267 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 230 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 146 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 203 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 134 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 58 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 68 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 97 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 106 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 142 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 93 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 118 | |
| 2026-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V824000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V100000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V332000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V398000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18E096000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V021000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V347000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V896000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 25V010000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 25V592000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE18016 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA19004 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE22012 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ25003 |
Safety Recalls (10)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Steering, Transmission / driveline, Electrical, Rear camera / backup safety, Brakes, and Airbags.
-
Recall campaign 17V824000
Safety recall 17V824000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is T82.
-
Recall campaign 18E096000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- The weakened connection may result in a fractured steering drag link, causing a loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Streetcar will notify owners and dealers will inspect and install a new steering knuckle, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact AEV customer service at 1-248-926-0256, extension 500.
-
Recall campaign 18V100000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will update the Body Control Module software. Dealers will also test the BTSI operation, replacing the solenoid as necessary. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U11.
-
Recall campaign 18V332000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
-
Recall campaign 18V398000
Rear camera / backup safety
- Report date
- Component:
- Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
- Consequence:
- A loss of image in the rearview camera while backing up can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview mirror, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U56.
-
Recall campaign 19V021000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- A drag link separation can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will check the steering linkage jam nut tightness, replacing the drag link assembly or welding the nut to the adjuster sleeve, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V06.
-
Recall campaign 19V347000
Safety recall 19V347000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- If the tailgate opens while the vehicle is being driven, cargo may fall out the vehicle and create a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy:
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repair the tailgate latch, free of charge. The recall began May 23, 2019. Chrysler is expected to notify owners of the expanded population on October 18, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's number for this recall is V44. Note: 2015-2017 MY Ram 1500 pickup trucks with truck beds other than 8 foot, are currently covered under NHTSA recall 18V-486 for this issue.
-
Recall campaign 24V896000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- A loss of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, or traction control can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will replace the brake HCU, or replace the HCU motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning January 9, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is C4B.
-
Recall campaign 25V010000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's numbers for this recall are 05C, 09C, and 10C.
-
Recall campaign 25V592000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's numbers for this recall are 83C, 91C, and 92C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 18, 2025.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Showing 5 of 2,596 complaints · page 1 of 104
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated with a steady continuous audible chime coming from the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 41,400.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The truck is under recall C4b for the ABS / Traction control system, which also disables the cruise control. I have called several times and had the vehicle into local dealerships and was told there is still no fix. I asked about trading in the truck and the dealers offered me way below KBB value stating they don't want the truck because of the recall. I ask Ram to help me out and they said there is nothing they can do. 3 times now in over the almost 2 years this truck has been under recall C4B the truck has only engaged the rear brakes during a panic stop causing me to almost crash. I talked with Ram recall department and that told me to stop driving the truck, I told them it was my only transportation. They then told me it's up to a dealership if they want to give me a rental until the fix becomes available, of course the dealers do not. I am frustrated and at wits end, the truck constantly dings at me turning the ABS light on and off all day everyday. I have had no use of my cruise control for almost 2 years, and can not pull trailers like I intended to do with the truck becuase the companies will not pass the truck in their inspections because of the ABS / Traction control lights being on. The lights have been coming on since about December of 2024, and stayed on since Febuary of 2025.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated and the cruise control became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was associated with the recall. The contact was referred to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone and advised the contact to repair the vehicle, and a reimbursement would be provided when parts became available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V021000 (STEERING); however, after taking the vehicle to a dealer for a tire replacement, the contact was informed by the dealer that the wheels could not be aligned because the drag link assembly failed to meet manufacturer specifications, and that the entire assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I have 2018 Ram 2500 Diesel that has the ABS Recall and my abs system is not working, No cruise control and No traction control. I have contacted multible dealers multible times and I'm told there is no fix for this problem. I don't understand how they can continue to engineer and build trucks that apparently don't have this problem but can't engineer a fix for this Safety Issue. My problem was first reported to the dealer (1/15/2021) 5 years ago. I bought this truck New to pull a thirty foot gooseneck trailer to haul 18000 pounds of farm equipment for my business. This truck is currently unsafe and really unusable in a safe manner for me and other drivers on the highway. It would appear Ram either has incapable engineers or has just stuck their head in the sand and hope the problem goes away. I currently have an unsable truck that I cannot trade due to a safety issue and Ram can't fix it. What can be done to give Ram a time line to correct the issue? I believe you would agree they have had plenty of time to reengineer the fix. There is 371,000 Ram trucks with this problem, Please help Us owners and the general public on the highways. 371000 potiential deaths due to this problem.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2018 RAM 2500?
Owners named Brakes most often — 1,560 of 2,596 reports (60%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2018 RAM 2500?
NHTSA lists 10 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Steering, Transmission / driveline, Electrical, Rear camera / backup safety, Brakes, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2018 RAM 2500?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.