Skip to main content
(682) 978-8641
O Trucking
Hire Drivers Contact Website Call
NHTSA Owner Complaints

2018 RAM 4500

9 owner-reported issues

Owner-reported data
Total complaints
9
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
0
Open recalls
1

What this means

9 NHTSA complaints filed on 2018 RAM 4500. Light sample — pattern recognition is limited but specific complaints may still be useful. The dominant complaint patterns are: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (33%), SERVICE BRAKES (22%), SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (11%). These three categories cover 67% of all reports — typical signal that there are 2-3 known systemic issues on this make/model/year, not random faults.

Top reported issues
  • #1SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    3 (33%)
  • #2SERVICE BRAKES
    2 (22%)
  • #3SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
    1 (11%)
  • #4SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
    1 (11%)
  • #5POWER TRAIN,WHEELS
    1 (11%)
  • #6STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES
    1 (11%)
Recent complaint examples
SERVICE BRAKES0000-00-00

The vehicle has an active recall open on it (confirmed by local dealership, NHTSA webform, and directly with Ram/Stellantis) that was opened in 2024 and currently has no remedy available. The vehicles brake HCU fails causing loss of ABS/brake control, this unit has actively bega…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC0000-00-00

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 4500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message to "Che…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC0000-00-00

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 4500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had e…

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE0000-00-00

Nov 27,2024 Manufacturer Recall NumberC4B NHTSA Recall Number24V-896 Recall Status Recall Incomplete, remedy not yet available Still no repair for defective parts. Over years.…

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES0000-00-00

See attached document for complaint.…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING0000-00-00

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 4500. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated, before the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the turbo had fa…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC0000-00-00

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 4500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for th…

SERVICE BRAKES0000-00-00

The Anti-Lock Brake(ABS) & Electronic Stability Control(ESC) warning lights will come on and off during normally driving conditions. When The ESC light comes on the cruise control is non functioning. If the cruise control is set when the warning light is off, the cruise will dis…

Related

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these RAM 4500 2018 complaints verified by NHTSA?
NHTSA collects complaints from owners but does NOT verify each one. The complaints below are unfiltered owner reports — useful for spotting patterns, but a single complaint doesn't prove a defect. Pay attention to: (1) volume of complaints on the same component, (2) consistency of described symptoms, and (3) whether NHTSA has opened a formal investigation or issued a recall on the same component. If a component appears in 5+% of complaints, that's usually a real pattern worth taking seriously.
Should I avoid buying a 2018 RAM 4500 based on these complaints?
It depends on the components reported. 9 complaints across roughly tens of thousands of trucks of this model year is a light signal. Compare against other model years of the same truck — if 2022 has 3x more complaints than 2020 or 2024, that specific year has issues. Also check whether the most-reported component is something you can preventively address (e.g., DEF system issues can be mitigated with quality fluid + dealer software updates).
Have any of these complaints led to recalls on the 2018 RAM 4500?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall has been issued for this make/model/year. Owner complaints are one of the inputs NHTSA uses to identify potential safety defects — when a pattern shows up in complaints, an investigation can open, and if a defect is confirmed, a recall is issued. See the recall page for this vehicle for details.
How do I file my own complaint about a RAM truck?
Visit NHTSA.gov/file-complaint. You'll need: your VIN, the date of incident, description of what happened, and component affected (drivetrain, brakes, etc.). Filing takes ~10 minutes and adds your data point to the public record. This is the input that triggers NHTSA investigations. For commercial trucks, fleet operators reporting issues at scale (10+ similar reports) often accelerate NHTSA's review timeline.
What's the most expensive complaint pattern on the 2018 RAM 4500?
Based on the complaint data: the top reported issue is 'SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC' with 3 reports. Depending on the specific failure mode, this can range from a few hundred dollars (sensor replacement) to several thousand (transmission rebuild, DPF replacement, engine work). The complaint pattern alone won't tell you cost — check the symptoms described for hints about the actual root cause. Most commercial-truck complaints describe symptoms ($1,500–$5,000 repair range is typical), not catastrophic failures.

Buying a used truck?

Tell us what you're looking for and we'll send matching new or used trucks — no obligation.

Prefer to talk? Call (682) 978-8641 · We reply within 1 business day. No spam.

Ready to Grow Your Trucking Business?

Dispatch support for your trucking business. Explore our current service options.

Get Started Free (682) 978-8641