2018 Ram 2500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Ram 2500 has 3660 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 13.4x the segment average of 273. The most common issue is brakes problems (61% of all complaints), specifically: 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 250. There are 10 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.
3660
Total Complaints
10
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
13.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
BRAKES
2233 complaints- • 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 250
- • 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
- • WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A STATE HIGHWAY THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS 10 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ~8000 MILES ON IT. THE ABS ACTIVATED WHILE NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE TOOK MUCH LONGER TO SLOW DOWN AND OR STOP.
“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 250”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2018 Ram 2500
Based on 570 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 52K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 30-60K miles range.
ELECTRICAL
STEERING
TRANSMISSION
OTHER
AIR BAGS
SUSPENSION
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (10)
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 knuckle may weaken the joint between the steering drag link and knuckle.
Risk: The weakened connection may result in a fractured steering drag link, causing a loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Streetcar will notify owners and dealers will inspect and install a new steering knuckle, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact AEV customer service at 1-248-926-0256, extension 500.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2018 Ram 2500
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Ram 2500 Service Intervals
5.7L HEMI: 8,000 mile oil intervals; EcoDiesel: shorter intervals for DEF and fuel filter. Towing usage requires severe service intervals.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Ram New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Ram. If you're buying a used 2018 2500, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ram dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Videos About the 2018 Ram 2500
Videos hosted on YouTube — embedded via official playerVideos are hosted on YouTube and embedded here via YouTube's official player. BestCarRank does not host or produce these videos. Watch counts and channel information are pulled from YouTube's public Data API.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 3660 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐BRAKES: 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 250
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE U-CONNECT SCREEN PERIODICALLY FAILED TO FUNCTION, WHICH IMPACTED THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE SOS FEATURE BUILT INTO THE REARVIEW MIRRORS. THE DEALER (FREMONT MOTOR, 6101 E 2ND ST, CASPER, WY 82609, 307-237-8491) SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC AP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 2500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM AND FIAT JOHNSON CITY (3700 BRISTOL HWY, JOHNSON CITY, T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: 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 CHRYSLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 10 recalls have been completed — free at any Ram dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ram 2500 — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 3660
- Recalls
- 10
- Fire reports
- 4
- Crash reports
- 50
- Injury reports
- 10
- Segment avg
- 273
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Ram 2500