YearToAvoid

2018 Ram 3500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 13 3500 years

The 2018 Ram 3500 ranks worst of 13 model years, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 802 NHTSA complaints. Brakes account for 83% of complaints, and 10 recalls have been issued, making this year an Avoid relative to other 3500 years.

Complaints
802
Recalls
10
Crashes / fires
15 / 2
Injuries / deaths
6 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2018 Ram 3500 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes664 (83%)
  2. Electrical System137 (17%)
  3. Engine125 (16%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras62 (8%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires44 (5%)
  6. Other36 (4%)
  7. Steering34 (4%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain23 (3%)
  9. Fuel System7 (1%)
  10. Airbags5 (1%)

What owners report

  • Owners report antilock brake system failure or warning lights that leave the brake pedal hard to depress or unresponsive, sometimes leading to a crash.
  • Some report the vehicle losing braking power at highway speed even after receiving a recall notice, because the repair part was on backorder.
  • A front wheel assembly reportedly broke off at the wheel studs while towing at highway speed, striking another vehicle.
  • One owner described the steering wheel failing on a mountain grade, causing the truck to go off the road.
  • A rear tire reportedly blew out at low mileage and low speed, causing loss of control and rollover.
  • An owner reported smoke, sparks, and a cracking sound from the engine compartment while starting the truck, requiring a fire extinguisher.
2018 Ram 3500 complaints: complaints filed per quarter1362018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
1145 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q4 (136).

2018 Ram 3500 recalls

10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V592000Sep 11, 2025Airbags1,761 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window:curtain:inflator

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and Ram 3500 vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's numbers for this recall are 83C, 91C, and 92C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 18, 2025.

  2. NHTSA 25V010000Jan 16, 2025Airbags6,066 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window:curtain:inflator

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Ram 3500, Ram 1500, 2016-2020 Ram 2500, and 2016 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's numbers for this recall are 05C, 09C, and 10C.

  3. NHTSA 24V896000Nov 27, 2024Brakes317,630 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. 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.

    Risk: A loss of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, or traction control can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake HCU, or replace the HCU motor, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed January 9, 2025. Some owner notification letters were mailed January 9, 2025. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated October 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is C4B.

See all 10 recalls for the 2018 Ram 3500 →

2018 compared with other 3500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Good4213414—
2017Avoid8331012—
2018Avoid10080210—
2019Caution6713514—
2020Caution5011611—

All Ram 3500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Ram 3500 reliable?
Compared with other Ram 3500 model years, 2018 ranks worst, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 802 NHTSA complaints, so it is rated Avoid relative to other years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2018 Ram 3500?
Brakes are the top problem area, making up 83% of complaints (664 complaints) with a median failure mileage of 55,921.5 miles.
Does the 2018 Ram 3500 have a brake recall?
Yes. Recall 24V896000 covers a hydraulic control unit (HCU) that may fail and cause anti-lock brake issues on 2017-2018 Ram 2500/3500 trucks.
How many recalls does the 2018 Ram 3500 have?
NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2018 Ram 3500, covering airbags, brakes, suspension, structure, steering, cameras, and electrical systems.
Which Ram 3500 model years are better than 2018?
2013, 2021, and 2023 are rated Best among Ram 3500 years, with Complaint Index values of 17, 8, and 0, far below the 2018 model's 100.

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.