Owner complaint record
2018 Ram 2500 Problems and Recalls: What Owners Report
This page shows the problems 2018 Ram 2500 owners reported to NHTSA, the federal agency that tracks car safety: 2,547 complaints sorted by system, the mileage they started at, the check engine codes owners named, and the recalls to check before you buy.
NHTSA owner complaintsChecked Oct 3, 20262,547 complaintsFederal file of Aug 25, 2026
Model year2018
- 202561No page yet
- 202454No page yet
- 202348No page yet
- 2022176No page yet
- 2021105No page yet
- 2020162No page yet
- 2019190No page yet
- 20182,547
- 2017680No page yet
- 2016256No page yet
- 2015214No page yet
- 2014341No page yet
- 2013178No page yet
+275% vs 2017, most of any 2500 year
1,817 complaints, 71% of the total
half of the braking system reports that give a mileage came before this
7 mention an injury, 5 a fire
The braking system leads the 2018 Ram 2500 record at 71%, with electrical system next at 18%. Of the braking system reports that give a mileage, half came before 33,500 miles. The costliest part on our cost list is the aBS hydraulic unit, $257 for the part alone.
It's a count of reports, not a failure rate. Use it to decide what to inspect before buying, not to grade the car.
Seven in ten complaints name the brakes, and almost all of them describe the ABS warning light. Ram recalled certain 2017 and 2018 2500 pickups for an ABS hydraulic control unit that can fail and take the ABS, stability control and traction control with it.
2018 Ram 2500 overview
The 2018 Ram 2500 came with a 5.7-liter V8, a 6.4-liter V8 or a 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel six.
Owners filed 4 times as many complaints about the 2018 as the 2017 (680), and the braking system leads both years. The 2019 drew 190, with fuel and power delivery named most.
- Power
- 383 hp at 5,600 rpm
- Torque
- 400 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed automatic
- Fuel
- Gasoline, 89 octane recommended
- Injection
- Multiport
EPA publishes no fuel economy for this truck
- Power
- 410 hp at 5,600 rpm
- Torque
- 429 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed automatic
- Fuel
- Regular gasoline
- Injection
- Multiport
EPA publishes no fuel economy for this truck
AUTOMATIC
- Power
- 370 hp at 2,800 rpm
- Torque
- 800 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed automatic
- Fuel
- Ultra-low sulfur diesel
- Injection
- High-pressure common rail
EPA publishes no fuel economy for this truck
MANUAL
- Power
- 350 hp at 2,800 rpm
- Torque
- 660 lb-ft at 1,400 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed manual
- Fuel
- Ultra-low sulfur diesel
- Injection
- High-pressure common rail
EPA publishes no fuel economy for this truck
Power, torque, gearboxes and fuel from FCA's 2018 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Specifications (Wayback copy), read 2 Oct 2026; EPA publishes no fuel economy for this truck.
Is the 2018 Ram 2500 reliable?
Owners filed more complaints about the 2018 Ram 2500 than about any other 2500 year, and most of them are about the braking system. The four checks below are what the federal record can say; none of them is a reliability score.
- 1stCompared with other 2500 years2,547 complaints, the most of 13 model years (next is 2017 with 680).By model year
- 71%The system named mostBraking system, in 1,817 complaints. Half of the braking system reports that give a mileage came before 33,500 miles.Problems by system
- 10Recalls10 recall campaigns cover the 2018 Ram 2500.Recalls
- 37Crashes, injuries, fires37 complaints mention a crash, 7 an injury and 5 a fire.
A complaint count is not a failure rate: the record doesn't say how many were sold, so a popular year draws more reports.
2018 Ram 2500 problems by system
Every complaint to NHTSA names the part of the car that gave the owner trouble, such as the engine or the steering. The cards below sort the 2,547 complaints about the 2018 Ram 2500 that way, largest first: open one to read what owners wrote, when it usually starts, and what to check.
Braking system71%1,817 complaintsABS warning light
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What owners describe
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 2500 can stop a train.
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 scheduled for drop off october 4th 2018
ILOKFLTXRead 4 more owner reports+4
When I back up my truck the brake pads chatter while backing. But started when the truck had around 7000 miles on it. I have had it to the dealer and they stated the first visit that that is a normal thing that happens. I took it in a second time because it gift worse and they stated it was the material the pads are made of but have no fix for the problem.
There is a service the electronic braking system. There is only 13,900 miles on the vehicle. I have seen forums that this a major issue that keeps happening.
I was driving down us 19/27. The road was wet and a deer ran out in frount of me. When I applied brakes my tires locked up and I skidded of the road. My abs light stays on and every time I take to the dealer to have it fixed they tell me they can not get parts. The truck has been doing this since I first bought it. At first it was intermitten but now the abs light stays
Abs control module and hydraulic control unit failure. Vehicle information center shows service abs and electronic braking system, abs mil and traction control flashes on dash. Dealer stated abs control module and hcu failed.
When it starts
Usually starts around 33,500 miles. Half of owners reported it between 13,225 and 63,750.
What to do
Watch the dash at start-up and on the test drive for the ABS light.
Our guideABS Light On: What It Means and Is It Safe to Drive?Electrical system18%466 complaintsABS and warning lights
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What owners describe
Loss of communications between several modules. Errors are tpms loss of commo at all 4 sensors, not able to lock doors loss of key fob communications causeing engine to turn off. Stationary or moving on any road or speed. These began when the vehicle was first purchased oct 2018.
Sporadically vehicle will not start. Dashboard lights flashing, display toggles through warnings, idle needle and speedometer needle moving while parked, vehicle not on. This has happened several times. Local dodge dealer is currently on 3rd visit to repair.
CAFLTXOHRead 4 more owner reports+4
When putting in reverse the backup camera display goes multi color blur.this was about 20k then corrected itself when put in reverses the next time. Didn't think much about it. Now at 42 k its doing it more often. Took it to the dealer and frank at vacaville dodge tells me its out of warranty, when I had already seen there was a recall on this problem. I will document and take pics next time it does it.
Hydraulic control unit was replaced july 2020 (abs traction control lights coming on meaning, no abs no traction no 4 wheel drive.) hydraulic control unit not working again. I have no abs, no traction, no 4 wheel drive, again. Chime going of constantly and dealership has had "part on order since jan 2023"
The abs / hcu electrical brake system has the senors blinging and want stop. Done had this truck in the shop 4 times fir this same problem it quits and starts back but now its on all the time.
Service electronic brake system and abs light intermittently comes on drive down the road or when stopping. Has been happening for the past 3 weeks now.
When it starts
Usually starts around 34,000 miles. Half of owners reported it between 19,000 and 66,520.
What to do
Watch for warning lights, and check that the dash clears after start-up.
Hydraulic braking15%386 complaintsABS unit, warning lights
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What owners describe
See attached document for complaint. I have a low mileage ram 2500 tradesman pickup. Many months have elapsed since the original recall notice and I didn’t drive the truck for a time period. It now seems that the repair is taking an unreasonable amount of time. Your attention to this issue will be appreciated.
There is a failure in the brake system. Either the hcu or abs module has failed. The cost of repair is in the 1500.00 range. I have since learned that this was/is a problem with this year of vehicle and a class action was started. I'm looking reimbursement to the repair. Dodge should be covering a known safety issue. I haven't repaired it yet
KYRead 1 more owner reports+1
My 2018 ram 2500 is under recall for the abs. My abs light comes on and dings all the time. I'm planning a 2000 mile trip pulling my camper in july and when I took my truck to my dealer they said the parts aren't available for the 2500 only for certain model 3500. Since this is a safety issue ram should have a correction by now! I received my notification over a year ago!
When it starts
Usually starts around 60,000 miles. Half of owners reported it between 37,000 and 89,000.
What to do
Run the VIN for the ABS unit recall.
Our guideABS Light On: What It Means and Is It Safe to Drive?Throttle and speed control13%323 complaintsABS light with cruise problems
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What owners describe
I was driving down us 19/27. The road was wet and a deer ran out in frount of me. When I applied brakes my tires locked up and I skidded of the road. My abs light stays on and every time I take to the dealer to have it fixed they tell me they can not get parts. The truck has been doing this since I first bought it. At first it was intermitten but now the abs light stays
The service abs light come on, around 32,390 miles just out of the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty! The cruse control no longer works! The traction control light is on with the abs light! Beeps on and off and on and on very annoying!!! Had the truck scanned by my local mechanic. Antilock brakes c0020-01 abs pump motor control-general electric failure-stored. The truck is available upon request.
KYTXRead 2 more owner reports+2
Abs traction control braking issues and danger. Only has 24k miles garage kept
I have a 2018 ram 2500 with 24320 miles on it. The traction control light/ abs/ebs service lights come on when driving. The speed control goes off. I have seen on the ram forum that this is common on this and the 2017 years too. My question is if there are several 100 people with the same problem. Why have you not issued a recall. This will get someon killed if they are not careful.
When it starts
Not enough mileage reports.
What to do
Try the cruise control and watch for the ABS light.
Automatic emergency braking6%152 complaintsWarnings with the ABS light
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What owners describe
There is a service the electronic braking system. There is only 13,900 miles on the vehicle. I have seen forums that this a major issue that keeps happening.
The service anti-lock brake system light keep coming on and off on dash, sometimes every few minutes then it could be days before it happens again. Diagnostics code reader is listing c0020-01 - abs pump motor control general electric failure
GAKYRead 2 more owner reports+2
Randomly my 2018 ram 2500 abs/traction control go out. It’ll happen for 10mins in an out. Sometimes not at all, and others all the time. When the abs and traction control like come on and off on the dash it causes the brakes to become spongy and harder to brake.
Abs and hcu module failure on a vehicle with less than 50,000 miles on it following all maintenance intervals and instructions. Results in traction control and automatic emergency braking not working as intended. Parts are backordered until january at the earliest, and will be over $1k after labor.
When it starts
Not enough mileage reports.
What to do
Watch the dash for collision-system warnings.
What repairs cost on the 2018 Ram 2500
Part prices for the problems 2018 2500 owners report most. They are shelf and mail-order prices for the part alone, so a shop bill adds labor and its own markup.
One listing, Mopar's own unit, for all three engines. Recall 24V896 replaces the hydraulic control unit, or its motor, free at the dealer; check the VIN first.
Check ABS unitsPrices on this page are our own research, not the store’s, and store prices change daily.
Prices read on RockAuto on Oct 2, 2026, for the parts listed as fitting this car; regular stock only, closeouts left out.
Check engine codes owners report
183 owners name C0020 (a generic OBD-II code) in their complaints, the code named most for this car.
Complaints whose text names the code, one count per complaint. Tap a code to read our guide; grey codes have no guide yet.
When problems show up on the odometer
Braking system complaints start earliest, typically around 33,500 miles. Hydraulic braking complaints start latest, around 60,000 miles.
Dot: typical mileage. Bar: the middle half of reports. From the mileage owners wrote on the form.
Ram 2500 complaints by model year
2018 has the most complaints of any 2500 year. The braking system is named most in 2 other 2500 years.
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2018 has the most complaints of any 2500 year. The braking system is named most in 2 other 2500 years.
When owners filed
Complaints about the 2018 Ram 2500 have kept arriving since 2018, with peaks in 2023 and 2024. A peak often follows a recall or a news story, not a new fault.
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2018 Ram 2500 recalls
10 recall campaigns cover the 2018 Ram 2500. A recall list is by model year; whether one car had the work done is in its VIN record.
2018 Ram 2500 crash tests and investigations
NHTSA crash tests rate the 2018 Ram 2500 four stars overall, the same for four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive. Its defect office has opened four investigations into three problems that cover this model year.
Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars: 5 is the safest result, 1 the least safe.
Frontal stars compare cars of about the same weight; side stars compare every vehicle. Rollover stars show how top-heavy the car is: NHTSA puts the 2018 Ram 2500’s chance of rolling over in a single-car crash at 16% to 24%.
Safety equipment NHTSA recommends
Federal investigations
Before you buy a used 2018 Ram 2500
These checks follow what 2018 Ram 2500 owners reported most: an ABS warning light that will not go out. Run the VIN before you pay, because this truck has an ABS unit recall.
- 1Watch the ABS light
The ABS warning light is the top complaint by a wide margin.
- 2Run the VIN for the ABS unit recall
Only the VIN shows whether the hydraulic control unit was replaced.
- 3Brake hard at low speed on gravel
The ABS should pulse without a warning light.
- 4Use the cruise control
Owners describe the ABS light with cruise problems.
- 5Scan for stored codes
An ABS code can be stored even when the light is off.
Oil and service for the 2018 Ram 2500
This is what Ram's manual and its diesel supplement say the 2018 Ram 2500 needs: which oil to use and how much, the fluids for the transmission and the cooling system, and when each job is due. The vehicle tracks oil wear itself and shows an oil change message, but Ram says never to go past a set number of miles or months.
- Engine oil
- 15W-40 above 0°F; 5W-40 synthetic below 0°F (API CJ-4)
- Oil capacity, with filter
- 12 US quarts
- Transmission fluid
- ATF+4 (six-speed 68RFE, 2500 pickups without PTO)
- Diesel exhaust fluid
- Mopar DEF, API certified to ISO 22241
- Transmission fluid
- ATF+4
- Coolant
- Mopar 10 Year/150,000 Mile Formula OAT
- Engine oil
- 0W-40 full synthetic
- Oil capacity, with filter
- 7 US quarts
- Transmission fluid
- ATF+4
- Coolant
- Mopar 10 Year/150,000 Mile Formula OAT
- Engine oil
- 5W-20
- Oil capacity, with filter
- 7 US quarts
- Transmission fluid
- ATF+4
- Coolant
- Mopar 10 Year/150,000 Mile Formula OAT
Service schedule
From the Ram 2018 1500/2500/3500 Owner's Manual and Ram 2018 Diesel Supplement, read Oct 2, 2026. Normal schedule.
Common questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ram 2500?
Owners name the braking system most (1,817 complaints), then electrical system (466) and hydraulic braking (386).
Is 2018 a good year for the Ram 2500?
The complaint record can't grade a car, but it shows what to check: the braking system complaints that lead this year, the mileage they start at, and whether the recall repairs were done.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Ram 2500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2018 Ram 2500: steering (2), latches/locks/linkages, back over prevention, electrical system, equipment, power train, brakes, airbags (2). A dealer can tell from the VIN whether one car got the repairs.
At what mileage do 2018 Ram 2500 problems start?
Braking system complaints start earliest, around 33,500 miles. Hydraulic braking complaints come later, around 60,000 miles.
Which 2500 years have the most and fewest complaints?
The 2018 and 2017 model years have the most in the file, and the 2023 and 2024 the fewest, though newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
What the complaint record can't tell you
Sources
Show all 5 sources
Owner quotes are changed from all capitals to normal case only. Counts by system and year cover vehicles with at least 10 complaints.