2018 Ram 4500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes, Hydraulic (4) · Service Brakes (3) · Wheels (1)
Safety recalls (7)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2024-11-27 · campaign 24V896000 · 317,630 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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.
Wheels:lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs 2021-05-27 · campaign 21V398000 · 447,985 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2021 RAM 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. Incorrect information in the Service and Owner's Manuals may cause the flanged lug nuts to be over-tightened, which could result in a broken wheel stud and possible wheel separation.
Risk: Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the torque specification in the owner's manual and other published service documents. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle's wheel studs, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y36 owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y26 owner notification letters were mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's numbers for
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights 2019-03-26 · campaign 19V236000 · 36 vehicles
Defect: Excellance, Inc. (Excellance) is recalling certain 2018 Ambulances and Emergency Vehicles built on Ford E-350, E-450, F-650, F-550 4x4, Chevrolet G4500, G4500 Diesel, C3500, G3500, Freightliner M2, International 4300, and Dodge 4500 chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Excellance has notified owners, instructing them to contact Whelen to have the brake lights replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2019. Owners may contact Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331 or Execellance at 1-256-772-9321.
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2018-05-01 · campaign 18V277000 · 2,457 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 RAM 4500 and 5500 cab chassis trucks. The primary and secondary brake hoses located between the brake master cylinder and the hydraulic control unit may have been manufactured without anti-corrosion plating on the ferrules, which can allow the ferrules to corrode.
Risk: If the ferrules corrode, the brake fluid may leak and cause a loss of braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake hoses and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U41.
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.
Equipment 2017-12-21 · campaign 17V824000 · 61,791 vehicles
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 v
Risk: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (374)
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.
Engine 2026-09-21 · 9100923 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
air cleaner - none instruction to dealers while ordering the pn# 68137142ad. 1. if the air cleaner assembly is functional and only the maf sensor has failed, the dealer should order and replace only the maf sensor(68002441ac). 2. if the air cleaner assembly has failed and the maf sensor remains func
Engine 2026-07-29 · 113744 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
sensor - turbocharger speed
Engine 2026-07-29 · 113742 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
sensor - turbocharger speed
Service Brakes 2026-06-26 · S1203000003 REV.A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
trac-rite operation diagnosis, chatter, shudder, moving from a stop and turning
Structure:body 2026-06-26 · S2208000045 REV.D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
backup camera poor image quality inspection
Engine 2026-06-17 · 112906 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
bearing - crankshaft thrust and kit
Showing the 6 most recent of 374 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-27 · Service Brakes“the vehicle has an active recall open on it (confirmed by local dealership, nhtsa webform, and directly with ram/stellantis) that was opened in 2024 and currently has no remedy available. the vehicles brake hcu fails causing loss of abs/brake control, this unit has actively began alerting of intermittent abs failures while in operation. we have p…”
2026-01-20 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 50,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ram 4500. 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 message to "check abs" was displayed with an abnormal beeping sound. the local dealer…”
2026-01-13 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2018 ram 4500. 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 local dealer was not contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufac…”
2026-01-07 · Service Brakes“nov 27,2024 manufacturer recall numberc4b nhtsa recall number24v-896 recall status recall incomplete, remedy not yet available still no repair for defective parts. over years. …”
2025-10-30 · Steering“see attached document for complaint.…”
2025-06-27 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2018 ram 4500. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated, before the vehicle lost motive power. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the turbo had failed, and there were 39 diagnostic trouble codes retrieved. the dealer…”
2025-05-16 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 31,885 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ram 4500. 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 while depressing the brake pe…”
2024-09-09 · Service Brakes“the anti-lock brake(abs) & electronic stability control(esc) warning lights will come on and off during normally driving conditions. when the esc light comes on the cruise control is non functioning. if the cruise control is set when the warning light is off, the cruise will disengage when it comes on.…”
2020-10-08 · Wheels · 165,000 mi“4x4 drive shaft failed. while traveling on interstate the front drive shaft broke at the u-joint. i've only used the 4 wheel drive option 2-3 times and the transfer was in 2h at time of failure. front aluminum wheels fractured. both front wheels got hairline cracks. one at about 145k miles and the other at about 160k. 90% of miles are highw…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.