2018 Ram 1500 electrical problems
159 of the 662 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ram 1500 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 104 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 of the 159 reports a crash · 3 a fire · 6 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 5 · 2019: 10 · 2020: 17 · 2021: 27 · 2022: 30 · 2023: 18 · 2024: 24 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 11
Half of the 38 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 8,000 and 49,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
662 complaints in all about the 2018 Ram 1500, 11 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ram 1500 electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The vehicle consisted of multiple times of t he vehicle not starting and having to be jumped for the vehicle to start. This vehicle has now been in the odaniel ford dealership in fort wayne, in for over 30 days with still no resolution - in since june 27th 2019 it is now august 1st and still no resolution has been determined on…
The parking sensor for the front and rear of the vehicle show the visual indication on the dash but the audible sound only works on occasions. The alert is supposed to work at low speed or if you are to close to an object even if your vehicle is not in motion. The has happened off and on since the vehicle was purchased new.
Vehicle has failed to start 3 times in 2 1/2 months. I required road service each time. This occurred on jan. 16, 2019, mar, 20, 2019 and mar. 23, 2019. Vehicle had been used for errands involving several stops with only a couple of miles in between, then it would not start and the battery was completely dead.
I have a radio that is not operating correctly and according to chrysler there is no fix and/or could never be a fix
Truck started on fire due to electrical problem (block heater failure or other electrical)
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 18V524000 HighAug 9, 2018 · 12,779 vehicles
- 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 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. 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.
- 18V332000 CriticalMay 17, 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles
- 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 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. 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, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
104 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- S1623000028 Rev. K Service bulletinJun 12, 2026
- Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
- S1623000028 REV. I Service bulletinMay 29, 2026
- Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
- S1408000384 REV. J Service bulletinMar 4, 2026
- Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On
The 3 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P203E P0513 P057B P0441 P062A C140E P1DF3 B1A10
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Ram 1500 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Ram 1500
Source: the same files- engine problems 156 complaints
- fuel system problems 140 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 59 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2018 Ram 1500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 159 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (24% of everything owners filed about it), and 104 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2018 Ram 1500?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 18V524000, 18V332000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2018 Ram 1500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 21,364 miles; half of them between 8,000 and 49,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.