2018 Ram 3500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Ram 3500 has 1120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 14.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (57% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2018 ram 3500. while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle accelerated when the brake pedal was depressed. in addition, the hill assist warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was taken to lander mclarty dodge chrysler jeep ram (6533 university dr nw, huntsville, al) wh. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 18 crash reports 7 injuries

1120

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

14.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

634 complaints

57%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE HILL ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LANDER MCLARTY DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (6533 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL) WH
• INTEGRATED BRAKE SYSTEM FOR TOWING TRAILERS (ITBS) DOES NOT WORK. SAFETY HAZARD AS THE TRUCK CAN NOT STOP THE 150000 POUND 29T ARCTIC FOX 5TH WHEEL. AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS DODGE GAVE UP AND SAID THE ITBS WORKS AS DESIGNED. THE 5TH WHEEL WAS CERTIFIED THAT THE BRAKES WORK WITH OTHER TOW VEHICLES. NOT WIT
• THE BRAKES ARE VERY SOFT AND THE TRUCK LEANS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. DRIVERS SIDE REAR SITS 1 INCH LOWER AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE IS 1/2 LOWER THIS LEANING ISSUE CAUSES THE TRUCK TO HANDLE DIFFERENT WHEN TURNING RIGHT WHILE DRIVING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 9 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE HILL ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LANDER MCLARTY DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (6533 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL) WH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

132 complaints

12%

• TRUCK SHUDDERS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AND AGAIN FROM 2ND TO THIRD . SHUDDER HARD ENOUGH TO SEE TO DASH SHACK. SHIFTING SHUDDER HARD WHILE TOWING. BLUE TOOTH CUTS OUT WHILE STREAMING MUSIC
• INTEGRATED BRAKE SYSTEM FOR TOWING TRAILERS (ITBS) DOES NOT WORK. SAFETY HAZARD AS THE TRUCK CAN NOT STOP THE 150000 POUND 29T ARCTIC FOX 5TH WHEEL. AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS DODGE GAVE UP AND SAID THE ITBS WORKS AS DESIGNED. THE 5TH WHEEL WAS CERTIFIED THAT THE BRAKES WORK WITH OTHER TOW VEHICLES. NOT WIT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHIVELY MOTORS DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM OF SHIPPENSBURG (LOCATED AT 608 W KING ST, SHI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TRUCK SHUDDERS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AND AGAIN FROM 2ND TO THIRD . SHUDDER HARD ENOUGH TO SEE TO DASH SHACK. SHIFTING SHUDDER HARD WHILE TOWING. BLUE TOOTH CUTS OUT WHILE STREAMING MUSIC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

130 complaints

12%

• FRONT STEERING ARM COUPLERS CAME LOOSE
• CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISCONNECT. UPON REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT, THE SPEED INCREASED INCREMENTALLY WITH EACH ATTEMPT. HOLDING THE CANCEL BUTTON CAUSED THE UNIT TO APPEAR TO DISENGAGE, BUT RELEASING THE CANCEL BUTTON CAUSED THE UNIT TO REENGAGE AND ACCELERATE. NOW,
• CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENT FUNCTION...MAY NOT TURN ON, MAY NOT TURN OFF, MAY NOT DISCONNECT OR CANCEL AT SPEED, MAY NOT CANCEL AT SPEED WITH BRAKE PEDAL. BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN MARCH, 2020. NO PROBLEMS UNTIL JUNE 12, 2020, WHEN IT FAILED TO WORK CONSISTENTLY. DEALER WANTS $150 TO DIAGNOSE, EVEN THOUGH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“FRONT STEERING ARM COUPLERS CAME LOOSE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

44 complaints

• ABS and Traction control pump system electrical failure. Went to a Dodge Dealer and had the system read due to light coming on and off. Originally started around 38,000 miles on the truck. A code came up C0020-01. ABS pump motor control electrical failure. Researched on the net. Seems to be a big is
• ABS brake failure--per notes on repair order "ABS & traction lights on...SOP, Internal failure, test & replaced ABS HCM -- initially diagnosed & fixd was "control an 0803503, ?part #68143491-AA" completed under warrenty @24,238 miles 10/13/2020. ABS brake failure--per notes on service order "c/s A
• ABS Module Failure, This has been a re-occurring issue that nearly caused an accident. The abs and traction control lights come on intermittently and disables the ABS/traction control emergency braking system. The issue has existed for 2 months, the dealer tells me it needs a new control module whic

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ABS and Traction control pump system electrical failure. Went to a Dodge Dealer and had the system read due to light coming on and off. Originally started around 38,000 miles on the truck. A code came up C0020-01. ABS pump motor control electrical failure. Researched on the net. Seems to be a big is”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

37 complaints

• I HAVE A RECALL U40 NHTSA 18E-028 THAT I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL. THIS IS FOR A FAULTY MOPAR GOOSENECK BALL. ACCORDING TO OUR DEALER, HE AND I CHECKED ON YOUR SITE AND OUR VEHICLE HAS NO RECALLS. YET I HAVE THE NOTICE FROM FCA. THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE BALL BUT AT OUR EXPENSE SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE T
• DODGE RAM INTEGRATED BRAKE CONTROLLER FAULTY. TOWING 2015 29.5 T ARCTIC FOX 5TH WHEEL AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM WILL NOT STOP THE TRAILER. WHEN IDLE, WITHOUT USING TRUCK BRAKES, THE TRUCK AND TRAILER MOVE FORWARD, EVEN IF THE GAIN ON THE CONTROLLER IS MANUALLY SET TO 10. MANIPULATING THE GAIN MAKES NO
• MY 2018 3500 RAM HAS BEEN AT SHELOR MOTOR MILES 3 WEEKS WITH NO REAL ANSWER ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT! THEY STATED IT WAS THE TURBO THAT WAS DEFAULTED AND NOW IT'S THE COOLING AND C CONVERTER! THIS WAS A BRAND NEW TRUCK PAID IN FULL AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WITH 16K MILES ON IT NOW THAT HAS QUIT! TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I HAVE A RECALL U40 NHTSA 18E-028 THAT I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL. THIS IS FOR A FAULTY MOPAR GOOSENECK BALL. ACCORDING TO OUR DEALER, HE AND I CHECKED ON YOUR SITE AND OUR VEHICLE HAS NO RECALLS. YET I HAVE THE NOTICE FROM FCA. THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE BALL BUT AT OUR EXPENSE SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1120 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE HILL ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LANDER MCLARTY DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (6533 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL) WH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TRUCK SHUDDERS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AND AGAIN FROM 2ND TO THIRD . SHUDDER HARD ENOUGH TO SEE TO DASH SHACK. SHIFTING SHUDDER HARD WHILE TOWING. BLUE TOOTH CUTS OUT WHILE STREAMING MUSIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: FRONT STEERING ARM COUPLERS CAME LOOSE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: ABS and Traction control pump system electrical failure. Went to a Dodge Dealer and had the system read due to light coming on and off. Originally started around 38,000 miles on the truck. A code came up C0020-01. ABS pump motor control electrical failure. Researched on the net. Seems to be a big is
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)