2018 Ram 1500 transmission and drivetrain problems
59 of the 662 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ram 1500 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 4 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation. 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 transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 59 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 4 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 10 · 2024: 9 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 6
Half of the 19 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 9,000 and 65,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
662 complaints in all about the 2018 Ram 1500, 6 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ram 1500 transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v036000 (power train), however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue.
There is an open recall on these vans (we have 3 of them) that Ram has not determined a remedy for. I have contacted them and had only 1 correspondence returned, basically saying they do not have an answer
I noticed, shortly after purchasing truck from a used car dealer with 96000 miles on it,that the gas mileage was getting worse steadily( highway miles ).then one day, on the way home from work ,the passenger side rear tire was smoking. Took it over to my mechanic and found out my whole rear axle had to be replaced.
Driving home from work. Had used cruise control at 70mph on freeway, but had not used it in town. I was decelerating for a stop light, when it turned green. I was probably traveling 15-20mph when I began accelerating again. I heard a click, like a relay or solenoid and the vehicle began to accelerate as if I had hit "resume".
There is a recall on the driveshaft that can cause the incomplete weld to brake and cause crash v48 is the recall. When I went to the dealership on 6/27/19 was told that the part needs to be ordered.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 19V324000 HighApr 25, 2019 · 10,160 vehicles
- 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.
- 18V556000 HighAug 23, 2018 · 4,171 vehicles
- 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.
- 18V280000 HighMay 1, 2018 · 71 vehicles
- 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.
- 18V100000 HighFeb 8, 2018 · 180,462 vehicles
- 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 Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
NHTSA investigation
- RQ25003 Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failureopened Jul 3, 2025 · open
- The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 RAM pickup trucks. The subject vehicle models include 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with a column mounted shif…
Trouble codes named on this system
P208B P20E8 P0513 P057B C140E P0336 P0716 P0733
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- electrical problems 159 complaints
- engine problems 156 complaints
- fuel system problems 140 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2018 Ram 1500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 59 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (9% of everything owners filed about it), and 4 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation 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 transmission and drivetrain on the 2018 Ram 1500?
Yes — 4 campaigns are filed under this heading: 19V324000, 18V556000, 18V280000, 18V100000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2018 Ram 1500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 24,557 miles; half of them between 9,000 and 65,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.