Car Issues Tracker
Vehicle complaints, recalls & safety data — sourced from NHTSA

2018 RAM 1500: Complaints, Recalls, and Known Problems

Owners have filed 656 safety complaints about the 2018 RAM 1500 with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · Retrieved September 7, 2026 · Counts change as new reports are filed

656
Complaints
15
Recalls
2
Investigations
4★
Overall crash rating

Complaints for this vehicle report 25 crashes, 8 fires, 25 injuries. No deaths have been reported.

Key findings
  1. Electrical leads the complaint list, cited in 158 of 656 complaints, followed by Engine & cooling.
  2. Stalling is a recurring theme. 41 of the 656 reports describe the engine stalling — many while driving.
  3. Complaints peaked 5 years after the model year (117 filed in 2023) — a pattern consistent with wear-out failures rather than assembly defects.
  4. 2 NHTSA defect investigations are associated with this vehicle.

What owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2018 RAM 1500, here is how reports break down by system.

Complaints by vehicle system
System mentions in 656 complaints · a complaint can cite more than one system
Electrical
158
Engine & cooling
151
Fuel & propulsion
138
Other / unspecified
98
Steering
84
Power train / transmission
58
Brakes & stability
50
Speed control
30

"The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the infotainment screen delaminated, and the HVAC system, radio, rear-view camera, or navigation system became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was determined that the radio needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000."

Owner complaint filed August 2026 · Electrical System,Back Over Prevention · NHTSA ODI 11759743

"Car dealership (CarMax) has been not repairing vehicles that are still under warranty and not having loaner vehicles available and having secondary repair shops that are not getting paid to repair warranty issues. My vehicle has been having cv boot issues that have not been repaired as of this date (4/9/2026 ."

Owner complaint filed April 2026 · Suspension,Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance · NHTSA ODI 11730483

When complaints were filed

For most vehicles, complaint volume spikes early and tapers off. The 2018 RAM 1500 peaked later than usual, in 2023.

Complaints filed per year — 2018 RAM 1500
Year the complaint was filed, not the incident year
25
48
70
76
65
117
108
89
58
181920212223242526
2026 is a partial year (through September 7, 2026). A late peak is the signature of wear-out failures: parts that don't fail until the vehicle has years and miles on it.

How the 2018 compares with other model years

Across the RAM 1500 model years we track, the 2014 has the most complaints on file (1,758); the 2018 ranks 10 of 11.

Total complaints by model year — RAM 1500
All complaints on file per model year, as of September 7, 2026
688
695
1,267
1,758
1,441
1,531
868
2018
656
1,465
622
673
Older model years have had more time on the road to accumulate complaints — compare adjacent years, not endpoints.

Recall history: 15 recalls

15 recalls apply to some or all 2018 RAM 1500 vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.

Feb 201818V-100
Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 RAM 1500, 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shi…

May 201818V-280
Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.

May 201818V-332
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…

Jun 201818V-398
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey and RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The backup camera may experience a loss of image display while backing up. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "R…

Aug 201818V-524
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 J…

Aug 201818V-556
Power Train:Axle Assembly

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 RAM 1500 trucks. The rear differential may have been insufficiently filled, possibly resulting in its failure.

Apr 201919V-324
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Ram 1500 pickup trucks. 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.

May 201919V-347
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Tailgate:Latch

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with an 8 foot bed and a power locking tailgate. Chrysler is also recalling all 2013-2014 and 2018 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks built before April 1, 2018 with a 6 or 8 foot bed and a power l…

Oct 201919V-757
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic Pickup trucks equipped with 3.0L Eco Diesel engines. 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…

Aug 202020V-475
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ram 1500 and 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. 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, po…

Aug 202121V-632
Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain:Inflator

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Ram 1500 Classic, 2015-2016 Ram 3500, and Ram 2500 vehicles, and 2016 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating less than 10,000 lbs. The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the …

Jun 202222V-406
Fuel System, Diesel:Delivery:Fuel Pump

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.

Jun 202323V-411
Engine And Engine Cooling

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. 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, …

Jan 202525V-010
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.

Sep 202525V-592
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.

Does your car have an open recall?

Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA crash ratings measure how the car protects occupants in a crash — a separate question from the reliability complaints above. A vehicle can be both crashworthy and trouble-prone.

★★★★☆
Overall
★★★★☆
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★☆
Rollover

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints does the 2018 RAM 1500 have?

As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 656 complaints about the 2018 RAM 1500 with NHTSA. The most-reported system is electrical.

How many recalls does the 2018 RAM 1500 have?

The 2018 RAM 1500 has 15 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.

Is the 2018 RAM 1500 safe in a crash?

NHTSA gives the 2018 RAM 1500 an overall crash rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Crash ratings measure occupant protection in a collision; they do not measure reliability, which is what the complaint data above reflects.

Methodology & source

All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.

Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.

This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.