2018 Ram 3500: Problems & Reliability
AVOID2018 Ram 3500: AVOID — 809 owner complaints, 6.6× the 3500 median year by raw count; top issue: service brakes (669 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2018 is 9.39, where 1.00 is a typical 3500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 7.79. Severity drives it: 90% 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, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
809
NHTSA complaints
6.6×
vs. median 3500 year
434
Service bulletins
11
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2018 Ram 3500 problems
Service brakes dominates the record — 83% of complaints name it.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2018 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 669 | 83% |
| Hydraulic | 145 | 18% |
| Electrical system | 137 | 17% |
| Speed control / throttle | 108 | 13% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 60 | 7% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2018 Ram 3500 recalls
11 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018; the campaign list is on NHTSA's record for the 2018 Ram 3500.
2018 Ram 3500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 434 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2018 — close to the 459 of the median 3500 year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (102), engine & cooling (42), powertrain / transmission (38). 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 jumped 2.6× (317 → 809) — a step backward. The 2019 that followed fell by more than half (809 → 138), so the 2019 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 3500 | AVOID | 317 | 388 | 13 | — |
| 2018 (this page) | AVOID | 809 | 434 | 11 | — |
| 2019 3500 | AVOID | 138 | 784 | 14 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Ram 3500 years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2018 Ram 3500
Service brakes (669 complaints on the 2018): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Electrical system (137 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.
Speed control / throttle (108 complaints on the 2018): check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
Forward collision avoidance (60 complaints on the 2018): ask about false automatic-braking events and look for driver-assist warning messages.
Know what to pay for the right 2018 Ram 3500 — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
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FAQ
Is the 2018 Ram 3500 reliable?
2018 Ram 3500: AVOID — 809 owner complaints, 6.6× the 3500 median year by raw count; top issue: service brakes (669 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2018 is 9.39, where 1.00 is a typical 3500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 7.79.
What are the most common 2018 Ram 3500 problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2018 Ram 3500 are service brakes (669, 83%), hydraulic (145, 18%), electrical system (137, 17%). The manufacturer has 434 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2018 Ram 3500 have?
11 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2018 Ram 3500. Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2018 Ram 3500 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 3500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; 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.