NHTSA has 2,606 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Ram 2500, received from 2018 to 2026. The most-reported system is service brakes (2,345 complaints, 90%), followed by electrical system (476) and speed control (342). Owners reported 39 crashes, 5 fires, 12 injuries and 1 death. Median mileage at failure: 52,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2023, with 899 received that year. 9 safety recalls cover this model year.
2,606NHTSA complaints
9safety recalls
39crashes reported
5fires reported
12injuries
1deaths
Quick answers
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Ram 2500?
Owners report service brakes problems most often: 2,345 of 2,606 NHTSA complaints (90%), followed by electrical system (476) and speed control (342).
How many recalls does the 2018 Ram 2500 have?
NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls for the 2018 Ram 2500. The most recent is 25V592000 (air bags, 2025-09-11).
At what mileage do 2018 Ram 2500 problems happen?
The median mileage at failure is 52,000 miles, across 517 complaints that reported mileage.
Have owners reported crashes or fires in the 2018 Ram 2500?
Yes. Owners reported 39 crashes, 5 fires, 12 injuries and 1 death in NHTSA complaints.
Problems by system
System
Complaints
Share
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Median miles
Service brakes
2,345
90%
26
1
2
59,000
Electrical system
476
18%
7
0
0
37,000
Speed control
342
13%
2
0
0
50,750
Forward collision avoidance
225
9%
1
0
0
29,950
Unknown or other
103
4%
2
0
3
750
Steering
87
3%
6
0
5
22,000
Power train
75
3%
2
1
0
30,000
Engine
42
2%
2
3
0
65,000
Suspension
21
1%
2
0
0
53,000
Wheels
14
1%
0
0
0
62,000
Air bags
11
<1%
4
0
5
43,000
Backover prevention
11
<1%
0
0
0
21,621
Fuel system
11
<1%
0
0
0
14,800
Traction control
11
<1%
1
0
0
55,000
Electronic stability control
9
<1%
0
0
0
60,000
Visibility and wipers
8
<1%
0
0
0
80,000
Exterior lighting
5
<1%
0
0
0
–
Structure
5
<1%
0
0
0
5,400
Tires
5
<1%
0
0
0
73,207
Equipment
3
<1%
0
0
0
29,000
Lane departure
2
<1%
0
0
0
–
A complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Defect: 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 fail.
Risk: 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.
19V347000 · Latches, locks and linkages · 2019-05-09
Defect: 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 locking tailgate. On August 29, 2019 Chrysler expanded the recall to include an additional 693,128 model year 2013-2014 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate actuator limiter tab may fracture and cause the tailgate to unlatch and open while driving.
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.
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.
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Defect: 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, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: 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.
Defect: 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 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit…
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.
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.
Defect: 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 Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
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 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.
Defect: 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 may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable.…
Risk: 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.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the parts were not yet…
Service brakes · NHTSA complaint 11771651, received 2026-10-16
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…
Service brakes · NHTSA complaint 11771231, received 2026-10-14
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…
Electrical system · NHTSA complaint 11769551, received 2026-10-07
Odometer Fraud. The contact intended to purchase a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. The advertised mileage was 130,200; however, a Carfax report displayed a mileage rollback, and the ECU listed the mileage at 200,220.
Electrical system · NHTSA complaint 11766047, received 2026-09-22
This recall has been in effect for almost two years. I have been affected for the past year with almost constant warning alarms distracting my attention to drive. The Chrysler Mechanic did diagnose that my ABS system has failed but t hat a remedy was, and still is not available. In the meantime I…
Speed control · NHTSA complaint 11765195, received 2026-09-18
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds with cruise control engaged, there was an abnormal dinging sound coming from the vehicle, and the cruise control disengaged. The vehicle started coasting. The driver reset the cruise control. The ABS message…
Speed control · NHTSA complaint 11764685, received 2026-09-16
Other Ram 2500 model years
2009 · 5 complaints
2013 · 178 complaints
2014 · 344 complaints
2015 · 215 complaints
2016 · 258 complaints
2017 · 698 complaints
2019 · 193 complaints
2020 · 162 complaints
2021 · 108 complaints
2022 · 181 complaints
2023 · 49 complaints
2024 · 59 complaints
2025 · 65 complaints
2026 · 29 complaints
Source
Built from the NHTSA complaints flat file and the NHTSA recalls flat files, data as of 2026-10-22. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular models collect more of them.