Is the 2018 Ram 2500 a bad year?
2,609 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 2500 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2018 Ram 2500 are in line with other 2500 years. Brakes, electrical system and speed control stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 2500 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 59,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 2,348 (90%) | 36k–88k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 476 (18%) | 20k–70k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 342 (13%) | 25k–72k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 87 (3%) | 7k–61k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 75 (3%) | 13k–80k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 41 (2%) | 12k–91k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 11 (0%) | 6k–51k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 5 (0%) | 5k–20k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Collision avoidanceSTANDS OUT | 225 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 21 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 14 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 11 (0%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 11 (0%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Traction control | 11 (0%) | 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 59,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 2,609 complaints: 39 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 34 say the car was towed.
448 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The transmission failed while driving in city street traffic with no warning. The vehicle would not move forward or in reverse.
I was pulling my 5th wheel trailer up a steep hill, and my engine fan sucked in my fan shroud cut it into large chunks, they then flew into my radiator and punctured it resulting in loss of all engine coolant.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 59,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Ram 2500: 10
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 hydraulic control unit (HCU) may fail, which can cause the anti-lock brake (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and traction control systems to fail. A loss of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, or traction control can increase the risk of a crash.
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 outboard steering linkage jam nut may loosen, allowing one end of the drag link to separate. A drag link separation can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of crash.
Improper installation and machining of the original equipment steering knuckle may weaken the joint between the steering drag link and knuckle. The weakened connection may result in a fractured steering drag link, causing a loss of steering and increasing 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.
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 list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
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: 298
Repair instructions Ram sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Ram 2500. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination, Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P21C4 - (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) Reductant Line Heater Control Circuit High…
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated
CEL (Check Engine Lamp) Illuminated, P057B Brake Pedal Position Sensor Performance
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure
Loss of Brake Performance
Steering loss due to linkage separation
Steering loss due to linkage separation
Neighbouring years
2017 2500: 699 complaints, keep it · 2019 2500: 194 complaints, keep it.
Every Ram 2500 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 2500 years side by side
Other Ram models: Ram 1500 · Ram 3500 · Ram 5500 · Ram Promaster. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Ram 2500 a bad year?
2,609 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 2500 years. At 59,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ram 2500?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (2,348), electrical system (476), speed control (342), steering (87), transmission and drivetrain (75).
How many recalls does the 2018 Ram 2500 have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 25V-592), Air bags (NHTSA 25V-010), Brakes (NHTSA 24V-896), Latches and locks (NHTSA 19V-347) 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.