Car · Ram problems

2018 Ram 1500 problems

667 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ram 1500. The most reported area is electrical system (24% of them). NHTSA also lists 275 service bulletins and 15 recall campaigns.

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 25. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 667 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Electrical system159 · 24%
• Engine and engine cooling153 · 23%
• Fuel system140 · 21%
• Other or unknown92 · 14%
• Steering90 · 13%
• Power train (transmission and drive)60 · 9%
• Service brakes48 · 7%
• Speed control and throttle31 · 5%

15 smaller areas not shown (147 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 275 repair bulletins from Ram for the 2018 Ram 1500. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

1. S2621000004Received October 7, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement.

2. S2208000045 REV.DReceived July 2, 2026

   Body and structure

   Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection.

3. S1623000028 Rev. KReceived June 18, 2026

   Body and structure

   Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot.

4. S2623000032Received May 6, 2026

   Body and structure

   Squeak Or Squawk Noise Coming From Either Side Door Of The Vehicle, It Could Be Just One Door Or More.

5. S2621000003 REV.AReceived March 18, 2026

   Power train (transmission and drive)

   The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission models: 845RE, 8HP45, 850RE, 8HP50, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP75-PHEV, 8HP75-LCV, 8HP90, 8HP95.

6. S1408000384 REV.JReceived March 13, 2026

   Electrical system

   Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes...

7. 109724Received January 28, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   Water Pump & Chain Case Cover.

8. 9100743Received December 17, 2025

   Fuel system

   If Safety Recall Z46 has not been completed, order 68235275AB.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns for the 2018 Ram 1500. Recall repairs are free at a Ram dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 18V524000August 9, 2018

   Electrical system

   The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.

2. 18V332000May 17, 2018

   Electrical system

   If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning...

3. 23V411000June 8, 2023

   Engine and engine cooling

   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.

See all 15 recalls for the 2018 Ram 1500, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your 1500 will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

This model year has an engine recall in NHTSA's data. Before you pay for an engine repair, check the recalls and ask the dealer about warranty extensions for your VIN. Those repairs can be free.

Start with a diagnosis

• Diagnostic scan (check engine light)$55 to $250

Electrical system 159 complaints · 24%

• Battery replacement$150 to $470
• Alternator replacement$360 to $930
• Starter replacement$280 to $740
• Battery cable replacement$100 to $340

Engine and engine cooling 153 complaints · 23%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Fuel system 140 complaints · 21%

• Fuel pump replacement$370 to $1,075
• Fuel injector replacement (one injector)$170 to $820
• EVAP purge valve replacement$80 to $240
• Gas cap replacement$5 to $95

Steering 90 complaints · 13%

• Tie rod end replacement (one side)$130 to $380
• Wheel alignment (four-wheel)$85 to $250

Check a quote you got

Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

By VIN By year, make and model

VIN (17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield or the driver door jamb)

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Look up this VIN

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2018 Ram 1500: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Ram 1500?

Of the 667 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ram 1500, 159 (24%) name electrical system, and 153 (23%) name engine and engine cooling. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2018 Ram 1500 reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 25 of the 667 complaints as involving a crash and 8 as involving a fire. They also reported 25 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2018 Ram 1500 have?

NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns for the 2018 Ram 1500. Recall repairs are free at a Ram dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 275 repair bulletins for the 2018 Ram 1500.

More

• 2025 1500 problems
• 2023 1500 problems
• 2022 1500 problems
• 2021 1500 problems
• 2020 1500 problems
• 2019 1500 problems
• 2017 1500 problems
• 2016 1500 problems
• 2015 1500 problems
• 2014 1500 problems
• 2013 1500 problems
• 2012 1500 problems
• 2011 1500 problems
• 2010 1500 problems
• 2018 recalls
• All Ram recalls
• Ram problems by model
• Check-engine codes

Sources

• NHTSA complaint and technical service bulletin files, checked October 29, 2026
• NHTSA recalls

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.