RAM 2500 · model year

2018 RAM 2500

3505 NHTSA complaints, 47 crash reports, and 10 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2018RAM2500 carries 3505 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 47 crashes, 4 fires, 15 injuries, and 2 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and 3/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2018 2500 is service brakes with 1725 filings, followed by electrical system (442) and vehicle speed control (307). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 10 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2018 2500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

3505
Complaints
47
Crashes
4
Fires
15
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

3505 filings

Crashes Reported

47 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: 3/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES1725
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM442
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL307
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC282
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING149
UNKNOWN OR OTHER97
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL89
STEERING76
POWER TRAIN62
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT54
ENGINE33
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT31
SUSPENSION19
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL14
WHEELS13

Recalls (10)

24V89600027/11/2024

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The hydraulic control unit (HCU) may fail, which can cause the anti-lock brake (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and traction control systems to fai

19V02100025/01/2019

STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Ram 3500 and 2014-2018 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab and Ram 2500 vehicles. The outboard steering linkage jam nut may loosen, allowing one end of the drag link to separate.

17V82400021/12/2017

EQUIPMENT

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers ma

18V33200017/05/2018

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler

18E09600016/10/2018

STEERING:LINKAGES

Streetcar ORV LLC (Streetcar) is recalling certain American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) 3" Dualsport aftermarket suspension kits, part numbers N0436000 and N0436001, sold for installation on 2013-2018 RAM 2500 and 3500HD trucks. Improper installation and machining of the original equipment steering k

25V01000016/01/2025

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Ram 3500, Ram 1500, 2016-2020 Ram 2500, and 2016 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.

18V39800014/06/2018

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey and RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The backup camera may experience a loss of image display while backing up. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111,

25V59200011/09/2025

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and Ram 3500 vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.

19V34700009/05/2019

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with an 8 foot bed and a power locking tailgate. Chrysler is also recalling all 2013-2014 and 2018 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks built before April 1, 2018 with a 6 or 8 foot bed and a power

18V10000008/02/2018

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 RAM 1500, 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Sh

Recent Complaints

20260219SERVICE BRAKES

This has been a recall for almost 2 yrs now and the dealer is saying no parts available. There are 1000s of RAM trucks driving around waiting for parts. A simple google search shows there are parts available on line. What is taking so long. This should have been resolved a year ago.

20260219VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

This has been a recall for almost 2 yrs now and the dealer is saying no parts available. There are 1000s of RAM trucks driving around waiting for parts. A simple google search shows there are parts available on line. What is taking so long. This should have been resolved a year ago.

20260219FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

This has been a recall for almost 2 yrs now and the dealer is saying no parts available. There are 1000s of RAM trucks driving around waiting for parts. A simple google search shows there are parts available on line. What is taking so long. This should have been resolved a year ago.

20260219SERVICE BRAKES

ABS system doesnt work. no update on recall c4b. have had this issue since 2023

20260219STEERING

ABS system doesnt work. no update on recall c4b. have had this issue since 2023

20260219SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the vehicle made an abnormal dinging sound. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and determined that the brake hydraulic control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. 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 vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, the dealer informed the contact that the remedy was not available and asked the contact to retrieve the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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 approximately 22,320.

Mileage: 22,320

20260219SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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 while driving in the rain at 60 MPH, the brakes failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle in front stopped suddenly, and the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to immediately stop. The contact veered to the side to avoid a crash. The traction control warning light illuminated, and the message "ABS Service Required" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had become worse. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and several audible alarms sounded. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Mileage: 30,000

20260219SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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 manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

20260219SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact called on behalf of the owner of 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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and confirmed that the part to do the recall repair was not available. 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. No assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 6,500.

Mileage: 6,500

20260218SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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 ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated, with an audible ding sound. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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 approximately 30,000.

Mileage: 30,000

20260217SERVICE BRAKES

Received a recall letter Jan 2024 concerning C4B/NHTSA24V-896. I have contacted the FCA recall assistance center several times since then. They say there is no parts available for this recall. Yet they have not seemed to have this problem with 2019-2026 models. They say I can have the HCU replaced at my own cost and they will reimburse me for the cost. But there is no guaranty it will fix the problem or how long it may last if it does. This causes me problems because why should I have to pay nd Waite on my money to be returned to me in 60 days. I am retired and on Social security and can only afford to put this on a credit and which I would have to pay interest on. It seems you or FCA has any intentions of coming up with a fix for this recall.

20260217VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Received a recall letter Jan 2024 concerning C4B/NHTSA24V-896. I have contacted the FCA recall assistance center several times since then. They say there is no parts available for this recall. Yet they have not seemed to have this problem with 2019-2026 models. They say I can have the HCU replaced at my own cost and they will reimburse me for the cost. But there is no guaranty it will fix the problem or how long it may last if it does. This causes me problems because why should I have to pay nd Waite on my money to be returned to me in 60 days. I am retired and on Social security and can only afford to put this on a credit and which I would have to pay interest on. It seems you or FCA has any intentions of coming up with a fix for this recall.

20260217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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 unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the ABS warning light illuminated with a constant alarm chime. When the warning light was active, the cruise control was inoperable. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer was only providing parts for the 3500-Series vehicles. The contact was informed that the vehicle could be repaired out-of-pocket. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 184,452.

Mileage: 184,452

20260217SERVICE BRAKES

Have had an open Recall since December 2024. To date 2/17/2026 I just confirmed that the dealer has no current repair options for the recall: The Warning light came on November 1,2024. Manufacturer Recall NumberC4B NHTSA Recall Number24V-896 Recall Status Recall Incomplete, remedy not yet available

20260213CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced the failure while driving approximately 40 MPH. The braking system had failed, causing the grandson to drive off the road and crash into a ditch. The vehicle was towed out of the ditch and driven home. No injuries were reported, and no police report was filed. Later, the grandson discovered that the front passenger side braking system had overheated and was concerned that the front tire had melted. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 153,000.

Mileage: 153,000

20260213SERVICE BRAKES

My 2018 Ram 2500 has an active safety recall for the ABS/EBS system that has been open for over two years with no remedy or parts available. The issue was first noticed in August of 2023. I contacted CDJR dealership on how to repair this issue. This is a serious safety defect that directly affects braking stability, trailer brake communication, and emergency handling. Because the ABS module and electronic brake system are malfunctioning, the truck cannot safely perform the heavy towing it was purchased for. When towing a large trailer, the trailer’s electronic braking system does not communicate with the truck, forcing the truck to absorb the full braking load. This has resulted in unstable braking, increased stopping distance, and unsafe emergency handling at highway speeds. The ABS fault also disables cruise control, which significantly increases driver fatigue on long-distance trips. I regularly travel 1,500 miles each way to Florida, and without cruise control I must maintain

20260213VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

My 2018 Ram 2500 has an active safety recall for the ABS/EBS system that has been open for over two years with no remedy or parts available. The issue was first noticed in August of 2023. I contacted CDJR dealership on how to repair this issue. This is a serious safety defect that directly affects braking stability, trailer brake communication, and emergency handling. Because the ABS module and electronic brake system are malfunctioning, the truck cannot safely perform the heavy towing it was purchased for. When towing a large trailer, the trailer’s electronic braking system does not communicate with the truck, forcing the truck to absorb the full braking load. This has resulted in unstable braking, increased stopping distance, and unsafe emergency handling at highway speeds. The ABS fault also disables cruise control, which significantly increases driver fatigue on long-distance trips. I regularly travel 1,500 miles each way to Florida, and without cruise control I must maintain

20260213SERVICE BRAKES

The warning lights have been on for months indicating the ABS is malfunctioning, we have had it to the dealership garage several times and they keep telling us we are on the list but the parts are not available even though it has been over a year. If they fail completely we will have no control over the braking system which can cause a vehicle crash. We have to limit the driving we do with our vehicle because of the danger that is involved. We have another issue for our vehicle: I contacted Chrysler twice with no response. and addressed it with our dealership and they have not helped. We have reported this issue to Chrysler about our 2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins diesel concerning the Particulate Matter Sensor. This has been ongoing for a year and Chrysler is aware of this problem and has issued recalls on them from 2019 and up. We need this matter to include the 2018's including ours as it has the same issue. Please help us to have this matter resolved.

20260213ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The warning lights have been on for months indicating the ABS is malfunctioning, we have had it to the dealership garage several times and they keep telling us we are on the list but the parts are not available even though it has been over a year. If they fail completely we will have no control over the braking system which can cause a vehicle crash. We have to limit the driving we do with our vehicle because of the danger that is involved. We have another issue for our vehicle: I contacted Chrysler twice with no response. and addressed it with our dealership and they have not helped. We have reported this issue to Chrysler about our 2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins diesel concerning the Particulate Matter Sensor. This has been ongoing for a year and Chrysler is aware of this problem and has issued recalls on them from 2019 and up. We need this matter to include the 2018's including ours as it has the same issue. Please help us to have this matter resolved.

20260213UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The warning lights have been on for months indicating the ABS is malfunctioning, we have had it to the dealership garage several times and they keep telling us we are on the list but the parts are not available even though it has been over a year. If they fail completely we will have no control over the braking system which can cause a vehicle crash. We have to limit the driving we do with our vehicle because of the danger that is involved. We have another issue for our vehicle: I contacted Chrysler twice with no response. and addressed it with our dealership and they have not helped. We have reported this issue to Chrysler about our 2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins diesel concerning the Particulate Matter Sensor. This has been ongoing for a year and Chrysler is aware of this problem and has issued recalls on them from 2019 and up. We need this matter to include the 2018's including ours as it has the same issue. Please help us to have this matter resolved.

Compare 2018RAM2500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2018 RAM 2500 have?
The 2018 RAM 2500 has 3505 NHTSA complaints, 47 crashes, 4 fires, 15 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 RAM 2500?
The 2018 RAM 2500 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of 3/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 RAM 2500?
Yes, the 2018 RAM 2500 has 10 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 RAM 2500?
The most-complained component for the 2018 RAM 2500 is SERVICE BRAKES with 1725 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2018 RAM 2500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2018 RAM 2500 has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.