repaired · 2026 Q3
Curtain: inflator
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
2018 Ram 2500Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 2,610 owner complaints about the 2018 Ram 2500, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 9 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-896 the manufacturer reports only 17% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 5, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Ram 2500 has problems
2,610 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
1,842Service brakes16 crash/fire/injury
476Electrical system7 crash/fire/injury
466Service brakes, hydraulic11 crash/fire/injury
342Vehicle speed control2 crash/fire/injury
225Forward collision avoidance1 crash/fire/injury
87Steering
75Power train
59Service brakes, air
37Engine
12316 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 1842 | 16 |
| Electrical system | 476 | 7 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 466 | 11 |
| Vehicle speed control | 342 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 225 | 1 |
| Steering | 87 | 6 |
| Power train | 75 | 3 |
| Service brakes, air | 59 | 4 |
| Engine | 37 | 3 |
| 16 other systems | 123 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
9 recalls
2018 Ram 2500 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Curtain: inflator
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Risk. A loss of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, or traction control can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Tailgate: latch
Risk. 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.
Show 5 more recalls
repaired · 2020 Q3
Link: connection
Risk. A drag link separation can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of crash.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Sensing system: camera
Risk. A loss of image in the rearview camera while backing up can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Electrical system: software
Risk. If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2019 Q2
Equipment
Risk. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ram.
Mileage at failure
When do service brakes problems start?
34kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 28 service brakes complaints. 89% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 20% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
13under 30k miles25under 100k miles3100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Service brakes
119 owners mentioned a cost$1,300median
Middle half: $1,000 – $1,800
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other 2500 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 2500 median. How we score
'09'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2018 Ram 2500 safety ratings
2018 Ram 2500 Mega PU/EC 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 3 stars (23.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Ram 2500, and the recalls they led to.
- Steering loss due to linkage separationNo recall
- Steering loss due to linkage separationLed to recall 19V-021
- Loss of Brake PerformanceNo recall
- Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) FailureOpen
In owners' words
What 2500 owners report
Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I received a Safety Recall notice back in XXX for the HCU ABS component on my 2018 Ram 2500 (C4B/NHTSA 24V-896). Subsequently, the ABS component failed shortly after so I took the truck into CardinaleWay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Santa Rosa and they temporarily repaired the unit, but did not and have…
NHTSA recall number 24V-896 was marked as completed on my vehicle but I'm telling you the work was never done. It was marked as complete on 27 September (that's a Sunday) of this year. I called Stellantis recall department and they just say it's complete but can't tell me who actually did the work…
Vehicle Information: * Year/Make/Model: 2018 Ram 2500 Power Wagon * Affected Component: Electronic Stability Control / Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Electrical System * Associated Recall: FCA Recall C4B / NHTSA Campaign 24V-896 Description of the Safety Problem: The vehicle is completely disabled and…
Own a 2018 2500?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.