YearToAvoid

2018 Ram 1500 Electrical System Problems

Owners filed 165 electrical system complaints for the 2018 Ram 1500, 25% of all complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 20,712 miles. Two related electrical recalls exist (18V524000 and 18V332000), and NHTSA logs 4 fires and 4 crashes tied to this area.

Electrical System complaints
165
25% of 661
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
6
Median mileage
20,712 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Dashboard lights and warning indicators flash or shut off unexpectedly while driving, sometimes accompanied by loss of brakes or steering feedback.
  • The backup camera or center console screen freezes, turns blue or black, and fails to reset even after the vehicle is restarted.
  • Some trucks caught fire, with owners pointing to a possible wiring harness or block heater failure as the source.
  • The vehicle stalls or loses power suddenly while driving, in some cases traced to fuel pump or fuel starvation issues linked to electrical faults.
  • The gear selector fails to engage properly, requiring owners to shift between park and drive multiple times before the truck moves.
  • Interior components like the dome light or heated seats overheat, with dealers citing built-in safety shutoffs to prevent wiring damage.

When 2018 Ram 1500 electrical complaints were filed

First complaint May 29, 2018, latest Sep 11, 2026.

2018 Ram 1500 electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter92018 Q22019 Q32021 Q12022 Q22023 Q32024 Q42026 Q1
165 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2021 Q4 (9).

Electrical System recalls for the 2018 Ram 1500

  1. NHTSA 18V524000Aug 9, 2018Electrical System12,779 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring:front underhood

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. 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.

    Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.

  2. NHTSA 18V332000May 17, 2018Electrical System4,815,661 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. 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 the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

    Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

Electrical System complaints by 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2013240 (19%)
  2. 2014267 (15%)
  3. 2015179 (12%)
  4. 2016199 (13%)
  5. 2017116 (13%)
  6. 2018165 (25%)
  7. 2019390 (26%)
  8. 2020169 (27%)
  9. 2021205 (30%)
  10. 2022197 (32%)
  11. 202379 (39%)
  12. 202429 (39%)
  13. 2025197 (56%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints were filed for the 2018 Ram 1500?
NHTSA lists 165 electrical system complaints for the 2018 Ram 1500, which is 25% of the 661 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for electrical problems on the 2018 Ram 1500?
Yes, two recalls cover the electrical system: campaign 18V524000, involving replacement of the powertrain control module, and campaign 18V332000, involving a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module.
At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up on the 2018 Ram 1500?
The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints is 20,712 miles.
Have electrical issues caused fires or crashes on the 2018 Ram 1500?
NHTSA data shows 4 fires and 4 crashes and 6 injuries associated with electrical system complaints on this model year.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.