2018 Ram 1500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (81) · Electrical System (72) · Fuel/Propulsion System (70)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ram 1500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
213 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (15)
Air Bags:side/Window:curtain:inflator 2025-09-11 · campaign 25V592000 · 1,761 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:side/Window:curtain:inflator 2025-01-16 · campaign 25V010000 · 6,066 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2023-06-08 · campaign 23V411000 · 80,629 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 3, 2023. Some owner notification letters were mailed October 31, 2023. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated July 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 66A. This recall is an exp
Fuel System, Diesel:delivery:fuel Pump 2022-06-09 · campaign 22V406000 · 138,645 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.
Risk: Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022. Owner notification letters for were mailed for Jeep Grand Cherokee owners starting January 11, 2024. Owner notification letters for Ram 1500 owners were mailed March 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLS's number for this recall is
Air Bags:side/Window:curtain:inflator 2021-08-12 · campaign 21V632000 · 212,373 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Ram 1500 Classic, 2015-2016 Ram 3500, and Ram 2500 vehicles, and 2016 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating less than 10,000 lbs. The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the SABIC assemblies, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on October 4, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 26, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y55.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel 2020-08-13 · campaign 20V475000 · 58,016 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ram 1500 and 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion by reading the camshaft position signal in the event that the crankshaft position signal is lost, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-2002. FCA US's number for this recall is W58.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 2019-10-24 · campaign 19V757000 · 107,980 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic Pickup trucks equipped with 3.0L Eco Diesel engines. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold.
Risk: Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EGR cooler, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and, as necessary, replace the intake manifold. The recall began April 16, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB1.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:tailgate:latch 2019-05-09 · campaign 19V347000 · 1,103,209 vehicles
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 f
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.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:driveline:driveshaft 2019-04-25 · campaign 19V324000 · 10,160 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Ram 1500 pickup trucks. The rear driveshaft may have an incomplete weld fusion between the tube and tube yoke, which may lead to weld cracking or the driveshaft fracturing.
Risk: A fractured rear driveshaft could detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, or it may result in a loss of drive power, both of which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. The FCA US recall number is V48.
Power Train:axle Assembly 2018-08-23 · campaign 18V556000 · 4,171 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 RAM 1500 trucks. The rear differential may have been insufficiently filled, possibly resulting in its failure.
Risk: If the rear axle assembly fails, it can cause a loss of drive or the rear wheels may lock up. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axle oil level. Rear axles with an insufficient amount of oil will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began September 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U88.
Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood 2018-08-09 · campaign 18V524000 · 12,779 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall o
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2018-06-14 · campaign 18V398000 · 1,837 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:software 2018-05-17 · campaign 18V332000 · 4,815,661 vehicles
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 c
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.
Fix: 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 transmissi
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2018-05-01 · campaign 18V280000 · 71 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
Risk: If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U43.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2018-02-08 · campaign 18V100000 · 180,462 vehicles
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
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (498)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2026-09-30 · S2621000004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the customer may complain about a popping noise, grinding noise, or an intermittent no reverse or forward transmission engagement. the tech may find damaged and/or worn transmission output shaft splines (850re transmission only)
Structure:body 2026-06-26 · S2208000045 REV.D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
backup camera poor image quality inspection
Structure:body 2026-06-12 · S1623000028 Rev. K · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
outside power fold rearview mirror noise or loose at pivot. mirror contacts door window glass in the folded position.
Structure:body 2026-06-05 · S1623000028 REV.J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
outside power fold rearview mirror noise or loose at pivot. mirror contacts door window glass in the folded position.
Structure:body 2026-05-29 · S1623000028 REV.I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
outside power fold rearview mirror noise or loose at pivot. mirror contacts door window glass in the folded position.
Structure:body 2026-04-30 · S2623000032 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
squeak or squawk noise coming from either side door of the vehicle, it could be just one door or more. the noise can be present in either the upper or the lower hinge.
Showing the 6 most recent of 498 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-21 · Suspension“the abs, brake, and traction-control warning lights on my 2018 ram 1500 rebel first appeared in june 2026 and are currently illuminated. during abrupt braking, the rear of the truck can slide sideways, making it difficult to maintain control. in june 2026, i was traveling approximately 50 mph when another vehicle pulled out in front of me. i appli…”
2026-10-21 · Steering“1. the electronic power steering system on my 2018 dodge ram began malfunctioning intermittently, with the power steering going in and out, before eventually failing completely. i was informed that due to the design of the system, the entire rack-and-pinion assembly must be replaced because of the design. 2. the intermittent steering failure progr…”
2026-10-17 · Steering“i have a 2018 ram 1500 express my electricinic power steering is binding and causing my truck to jerk when i correct it while driving. i have noticed that there are recalls for the same issue on previous years(2015-2017) and on years after (2019-2021) models. please investigate why 2018 isnt showing an open or active recall.…”
2026-10-12 · Steering“san antonio tx was driving this morning in a light mist had my son in the truck the vehicle ahead of me came to an abrupt stop and i had to hit my brakes pretty hard and without the abs working properly i am impacted by the abs controller failure however, i was surprise at how few have files formal nthsa complaints on a serious issue that appears…”
2026-10-09 · Steering“the electronic power steering (eps) assembly on my 2018 ram 1500 classic sport suffered a sudden and complete internal electrical failure (diagnostic trouble code c2217). i was out of town in [xxx], and the morning i was checking out of my hotel, the steering completely locked up and would not operate at all upon startup. because the failure occu…”
2026-09-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i am filing a formal complaint regarding a failed recall remedy and subsequent consequential damage creating a severe fire hazard on my 2018 ram 1500 ecodiesel.in april, the official z46 high-pressure fuel pump (hpfp) recall repair was completed on my vehicle. within one month of the repair, the check engine light illuminated. i returned the vehicl…”
2026-09-17 · Fuel System, Diesel:fuel Injection System · 150,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ram 1500. the contact stated that the vehicle was initially taken to the dealer to be repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 23v411000 (engine and engine cooling). after retrieving the vehicle, while driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed back to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the inje…”
2026-09-11 · Steering“after driving through a heavy downpour, power steering cut out intermittently. the next day, it became full inoperable. repair shop initially suggested letting the controls "dry out". when that was unsuccessful, the shop suggested taking it to a dealer, stating that the entire rack and pinion assembly needs to be replaced. i took it to a dealer, a…”
2026-09-04 · Vehicle Speed Control“xxx, [xxx] east bound ~ 9:30 pm, , pulling a tandem-axle boat and trailer ~ 6000# gvw , the truck slowed suddenly, in traffic ~ 62 mph. i contacted cjdr dealers in [xxx], and [xxx], and both stated there was no recall, warranty, or goodwill repair, available for my truck. [xxx] told me the same, when i called. i took the truck to an independent die…”
2026-09-04 · Seat Belts · 60,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ram 1500. the contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's side seat belt failed to latch. the dealer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired. the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. the contact referenced an unknown recall; …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.