2018 Ram 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,565 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
52,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 498 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,824 of 2,565 complaints (71.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2,310 | 90.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 134 | 5.2% |
| Steering behavior | 72 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 34 | 1.3% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 0.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 1824 |
| Electrical System | 466 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 397 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 325 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 152 |
| Unknown Or Other | 103 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 90 |
| Steering | 82 |
Service Brakes: 1,824; Electrical System: 466; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 397; Vehicle Speed Control: 325; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 152; Unknown Or Other: 103; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 90; Steering: 82
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 100 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 131 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 111 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 72 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 62 |
| 150,000 and above | 22 |
Under 25,000: 100; 25,000 to 49,999: 131; 50,000 to 74,999: 111; 75,000 to 99,999: 72; 100,000 to 149,999: 62; 150,000 and above: 22
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (131). 2,067 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2020 | 30 |
| 2021 | 60 |
| 2022 | 170 |
| 2023 | 899 |
| 2024 | 714 |
| 2025 | 330 |
| 2026 | 323 |
2018: 7; 2019: 32; 2020: 30; 2021: 60; 2022: 170; 2023: 899; 2024: 714; 2025: 330; 2026: 323
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2,310 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 134 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 72 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11112394 · 2018-07-19 (July 19, 2018)
UPON MAXIMUM EMERGENCY BRAKING AT ANY SPEED, THE TRUCK STOPS AS IF THE BRAKES WHERE WET, IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP WHEN TOWING A UNLOADED 16 FOOT UTILITY TRAILER DOWN HILL IT JUST KEEPS ON GOING UNTIL YOU REACH BOTTOM. TAKEN TO DODGE DEALERSHIP THEY SAY IT'S NORMAL BUT THEY SAY OTHER TRUCKS LIKE CHEVY 2500 CAN STOP A TRAIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 359 miles reported. Look up ODI 11112394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11131951 · 2018-09-27 (September 27, 2018)
2018 RAM 2500 HD DIESEL 13000 MILES, 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR REQUIRING PUMPING ACTION TO STOP VEHICLE. OTHER OCCASIONS PEDAL FEELS SPONGY. NO SERVICE AVAILABLE. ONE DEALER WAS 4 WEEKS OUT SCHEDULING TWO OTHER ARE 1-2 WEEKS SCHEDULING. VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED FOR DROP OFF OCTOBER 4TH 2018
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11389366 · 2021-01-22 (January 22, 2021)
WHEN I AM DRIVING I WILL RANDOMLY GET A WARNING "SERVICE AIRBAG SYSTEM" AND THEN IT WILL TURN OFF RANDOMLY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND SPEAKING TO A DEALERSHIP THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE WIRING UNDER THE SEAT. THE DEALER DIDN'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS WOULD STILL WORK WHEN THE WARNING WAS PRESENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11389366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11418837 · 2021-05-28 (May 28, 2021)
Traveling West on I10 Mobile, AL it was raining and the ABS and TCS system lights started flashing along with a waring bell. this was repeating about once every 10-15 seconds. The road was in the process of being resurfaced and was rough. Return home to make an appointment with the dealer and was told five days was first available. Used a bi-directional scan tool to verify the fault as a ABS motor connection fault. Purchased the OEM hydraulic control unit installed and corrected the problem. After replacement the bad unit dc motor was found to …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11418837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11190457 · 2019-03-21 (March 21, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REARVIEW CAMERA SCREEN TURNED BLACK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, "ERROR" WOULD DISPLAY OCCASIONALLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP (7740 NE LOOP 820, FORT WORTH, TX 76180, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMERA NEEDED AN UPDATE. THE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED FIVE TIMES, BUT FAILED EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11190457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11193638 · 2019-04-03 (April 3, 2019)
I WAS RECENTLY NOTIFIED OF SAFETY RECALL V06 / NHTSA 19V-021 DRAG LINK FOR MY 2018 RAM 2500. I'M WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROPOSED REPAIR: "...THE (JAM) NUTS WILL BE WELDED TO THE ADJUSTER SLEEVE." THIS SOLUTION APPEARS TO SIMPLY MASK THE PROBLEM OF THE ADJUSTER SLEEVE'S THREADS BEING STRIPPED OUT AND THE DRAG LINK BECOMING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE'S STEERING CONTROLS, AND QUITE POSSIBLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE SUBJECT COMPONENT IS RELATED TO MANEUVERING LARGE VEHICLES THAT OFTEN CARRY OR PULL LARGE LOADS, AND THUS VITAL FOR PUBLIC SAFET…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11193638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11109920 · 2018-07-06 (July 6, 2018)
OUR DODGE RAM 6.7 2500 2018, CASE, HARVEST EDITOR CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASE, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY TOWING. AT TIME OF PURCHASE IT HAD 555 MILES ON IT, AND WE'D ONLY DRIVEN IT 3 TIME PRIOR TO THIS. WE WERE DRIVING BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT. THE TRUCK STARTING LOOSING POWER, WE SAW A LITTLE SMOKE IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. AS WE SLOWED THE SMOKE INCREASED. UPON LIFTING THE HOOD, TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SQUATTING OUT ACROSS THE ENGINE PORING ON THE GROUND, FLAMES WERE MOVING ALONG THE BACK OF THE FIRE WALL. WE PUT THE FIRE OUT OUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,592 miles reported. Look up ODI 11109920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113644 · 2018-07-25 (July 25, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 2500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND ROLLED DOWN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY INTO A POND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CAVENAUGH CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE, 118 E POPLAR ST, WALNUT RIDGE, AR 72476, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS BY THE MANUFACTURER FIELD INSPECTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11329615 · 2020-06-18 (June 18, 2020)
TRUCK LOSES POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT 10X HARDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE MAKING TIGHT TURNS VERY DIFFICULT. LACK OF BRAKING POWER. TRUCK HAS A VERY EVIDENT AERATION NOISE EVERY TIME STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED AT ANY TIME. TRUCKS POWER STEERING FLUID HAS FALLEN BELOW MINIMUM THREE TIMES IN THE VEHICLES LIFE. TRUCK IS AT 27,000 MILES. ISSUE BEGAN AROUND 15,000 MILES. BUBBLES IN POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. POWER STEERING PUMP SMELLS LIKE IT'S BURNING UP. POWER STEERING PUMP AND HYDRO BOOST ARE FAILING AND HAS AIRFLOW PASSING TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11424963 · 2021-07-15 (July 15, 2021)
truck engine failure at 120,920 miles. 6.4 hemi in a 2500 ram truck. this is the 3rd truck that has engine failure at approx 120,000 miles and reports of bearing metal in the block. seems that there is an issue with the engine parts that are not lasting and resulting in engine failure while in operation. loss of power and power.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11424963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11162625 · 2018-12-20 (December 20, 2018)
NEW VEHICLE WITH 57 MILES ON ODOMETER DIED WHILE PARKED IDLING. TRIED RESTARTING VEHICLE, RAW FUEL RUNNING OUT OF TAIL-PIPE. TOWED TO I5 DODGE FOR DIAGNOSIS. FOUND PCM BAD. #7 INJECTOR BEING HELD OPEN CONSTANTLY. PCM REPLACED AFTER 1 WEEK WAIT FOR RELEASE FROM NATIONAL BACK-ORDER. VEHICLE REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE.
Owner-reported narrative. 57 miles reported. Look up ODI 11162625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11554708 · 2023-11-12 (November 12, 2023)
Anti=Lock Brake System- Hydraulic Control Unit. I bought this truck new. HCU has already been replaced once while truck was under warranty. Unit has failed again. I have been driving and trailering with a faulted ABS system since 10/22. Been to dealer for repair. No replacement units available.????? And it is constantly ding donging on/off as it faults. Can not trade it in with the fault. 70k$$$ truck! They should buy it back if they cant provide a solution or parts. And they expect me to pay for it if it is repaired a second time. Said 1s…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11554708 at NHTSA ↗