Is the 2018 Ram 1500 a bad year?
667 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 1500 years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2018 Ram 1500 are in line with other 1500 years. Electrical system, fuel system and steering stand out for this year: see below.
5th quietest of 20 1500 years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 1500 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 23,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 159 (24%) | 9k–47k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 140 (21%) | 14k–81k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 90 (13%) | 10k–72k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine | 149 (22%) | 17k–82k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 60 (9%) | 8k–55k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 48 (7%) | 3k–70k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 31 (5%) | 4k–27k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 22 (3%) | 9k–51k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Air bags | 19 (3%) | 15k–55k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 17 (3%) | 6k–36k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 15 (2%) | 12k–46k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 8 (1%) | 11k–60k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 5 (1%) | 22k–104k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 17 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 23,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 667 complaints: 25 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 42 say the car was towed.
81 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I own a 2018 ecodiesel and when my truck went in for an oil change they did an update called aem or V08 emissions update.
Ecodiesel engine failed at 38,000 miles. Main journal bearing allowed crankshaft to slip. The vehicle was in motion on a highway at highway speeds.
Noticeable ticking sound from engine bay when the vehicle is started. The sound continues and gets faster when driving down the road and onto the freeway.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 23,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Ram 1500: 15
The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
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. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation. Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture. A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
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. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold. Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
The tailgate actuator limiter tab may fracture and cause the tailgate to unlatch and open while driving. If the tailgate opens while the vehicle is being driven, cargo may fall out the vehicle and create a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash.
The rear driveshaft may have an incomplete weld fusion between the tube and tube yoke, which may lead to weld cracking or the driveshaft fracturing. A fractured rear driveshaft could detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, or it may result in a loss of drive power, both of which can increase the risk of a crash.
The rear differential may have been insufficiently filled, possibly resulting in its failure. If the rear axle assembly fails, it can cause a loss of drive or the rear wheels may lock up. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
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. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The backup camera may experience a loss of image display while backing up. A loss of image in the rearview camera while backing up can increase the risk of a crash.
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… If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission. If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ram: 313
Repair instructions Ram sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Ram 1500. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission
CEL (Check Engine Lamp) C006A-49 Multi-Axis Acceleration Sensor Internal Electronic Failure And C10CC-00 ESC Sensors
Dual EVAP System Extreme Duty Vapor Canister Filter Kit Customers operating fleet or severe/extreme duty gasoline vehicles in continuous dusty driving…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure
High pressure fuel pump failure
Neighbouring years
2017 1500: 886 complaints, keep it · 2019 1500: 1,498 complaints, keep it.
Every Ram 1500 year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All 1500 years side by side
Other Ram models: Ram 2500 · Ram 3500 · Ram 5500 · Ram Promaster. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Ram 1500 a bad year?
667 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 1500 years. At 23,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ram 1500?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (159), fuel system (140), steering (90), engine (149), transmission and drivetrain (60).
How many recalls does the 2018 Ram 1500 have?
15 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 25V-592), Air bags (NHTSA 25V-010), Engine (NHTSA 23V-411), Fuel system (NHTSA 22V-406) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.