2018 Ram 1500: Problems & Reliability
SOLID2018 Ram 1500: SOLID — 667 owner complaints (1.24 per 1,000 sold), a typical complaint rate for ~8 years on the road; top issue: electrical system (159 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2018 is 1.22, where 1.00 is a typical 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25). Severity drives it: 64% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, published U.S. sales, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
667
NHTSA complaints
1.24
Complaints per 1,000 sold
494
Service bulletins
15
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2018 Ram 1500 problems
Electrical system leads a spread-out record, named in 24% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2018 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 159 | 24% |
| Engine | 110 | 16% |
| Unknown or other | 92 | 14% |
| Steering | 90 | 13% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 81 | 12% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2018 Ram 1500 recalls
15 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018, reported between Feb 8, 2018 and Sep 11, 2025.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 25V592000 | Sep 11, 2025 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 25V010000 | Jan 16, 2025 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 23V411000 | Jun 8, 2023 | Engine & cooling |
| 22V406000 | Jun 9, 2022 | Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump |
| 21V632000 | Aug 12, 2021 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 20V475000 | Aug 13, 2020 | Engine & cooling › Engine › Diesel |
| 19V757000 | Oct 24, 2019 | Engine & cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve) |
| 19V347000 | May 9, 2019 | Latches, locks & linkages › Tailgate › Latch |
| 19V324000 | Apr 25, 2019 | Powertrain / transmission › Driveline › Driveshaft |
| 18V556000 | Aug 23, 2018 | Powertrain / transmission › Axle assembly |
| 18V524000 | Aug 9, 2018 | Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood |
| 18V398000 | Jun 14, 2018 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Sensing system › Camera |
+3 more campaigns on the NHTSA record.
2018 Ram 1500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 494 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2018 — close to the 551 of the median 1500 year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (103), engine & cooling (62), structure (44). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2018 vs. the year before and after
From the 2017 to the 2018, owner complaints fell 25% (886 → 667) — an improvement. The 2019 that followed jumped 2.2× (667 → 1,449), so the 2018 is the cleaner of the two by count.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 1500 | CAUTION | 886 | 470 | 13 | — |
| 2018 (this page) | SOLID | 667 | 494 | 15 | — |
| 2019 1500 | AVOID | 1,449 | 1,155 | 30 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Ram 1500 years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2018 Ram 1500
Electrical system (159 complaints on the 2018): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Engine (110 complaints on the 2018): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Steering (90 complaints on the 2018): check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering at parking speed, and clunks over bumps.
Fuel / propulsion system (81 complaints on the 2018): smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
Powertrain / transmission (60 complaints on the 2018): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Recalls: confirm all 15 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2018 Ram 1500 — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2018 Ram 1500 reliable?
2018 Ram 1500: SOLID — 667 owner complaints (1.24 per 1,000 sold), a typical complaint rate for ~8 years on the road; top issue: electrical system (159 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2018 is 1.22, where 1.00 is a typical 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25).
What are the most common 2018 Ram 1500 problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2018 Ram 1500 are electrical system (159, 24%), engine (110, 16%), unknown or other (92, 14%). The manufacturer has 494 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2018 Ram 1500 have?
15 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018 Ram 1500, most recently 25V592000 (Sep 11, 2025, air bags); 25V010000 (Jan 16, 2025, air bags); 23V411000 (Jun 8, 2023, engine & cooling). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2018 Ram 1500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2018 Ram 1500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the per-1,000 rate divides complaints by published U.S. 2018 calendar-year sales; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.