Car · Ram problems

2018 Ram 3500 problems

808 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ram 3500. The most reported area is service brakes (83% of them). NHTSA also lists 257 service bulletins and 10 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: 6. Deaths: 1.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 808 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

• Service brakes668 · 83%
• Electrical system137 · 17%
• Speed control and throttle108 · 13%
• Forward collision avoidance60 · 7%
• Other or unknown37 · 5%
• Steering34 · 4%
• Wheels24 · 3%
• Power train (transmission and drive)23 · 3%

14 smaller areas not shown (71 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 257 repair bulletins from Ram for the 2018 Ram 3500. 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. 9100923Received September 30, 2026

   Electrical system

   AIR CLEANER - NONE Instruction to Dealers while ordering the PN# 68137142AD.

2. 113742Received August 6, 2026

   Electrical system

   Sensor - turbocharger speed.

3. 112906Received July 2, 2026

   Engine and engine cooling

   Bearing - crankshaft thrust and kit.

4. S1203000003 REV.AReceived July 2, 2026

   Service brakes

   Trac-Rite Operation Diagnosis, Chatter, Shudder, Moving From A Stop And Turning.

5. S2208000045 REV.DReceived July 2, 2026

   Body and structure

   Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection.

6. S1623000028 Rev. KReceived June 18, 2026

   Body and structure

   Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot.

7. 9100831Received June 16, 2026

   Body and structure

   For Dealer awareness, HD truck, eliminate 1 of 2 M8 Joints for Sidestep bracket to Body Attachment, Bolt and rivet (06102165AA, 06511062AA) per TCR # 402632, CN 80403-T18.

8. 08-208-26Received May 20, 2026

   Electrical system

   Radio Message "Power Surge On USB Detected" Customers may comment on the following:.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2018 Ram 3500. Recall repairs are free at a Ram dealer. The 3 to look at first:

1. 24V896000November 27, 2024

   Service brakes, hydraulic

   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.

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. 25V592000September 11, 2025

   Air bags

   The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.

See all 10 recalls for the 2018 Ram 3500, 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 3500 will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

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

Service brakes 668 complaints · 83%

• Brake pad replacement (front)$190 to $400
• Brake rotors and pads (front)$320 to $790
• Brake pad replacement (rear)$180 to $420
• Brake caliper replacement (one wheel)$240 to $590
• Brake fluid flush$75 to $180

Electrical system 137 complaints · 17%

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

Speed control and throttle 108 complaints · 13%

• Throttle body cleaning$75 to $180
• Throttle body replacement$290 to $900

Steering 34 complaints · 4%

• 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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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 3500: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Ram 3500?

Of the 808 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ram 3500, 668 (83%) name service brakes, and 137 (17%) name electrical system. 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 3500 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 16 of the 808 complaints as involving a crash and 2 as involving a fire. They also reported 6 injuries and 1 death. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2018 Ram 3500 have?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2018 Ram 3500. 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 257 repair bulletins for the 2018 Ram 3500.

More

• 2017 3500 problems
• 2014 3500 problems
• 2012 3500 problems
• 2011 3500 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.