2018 Ram 3500 brake problems
664 of the 805 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ram 3500 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall, 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 brakes
Source: NHTSA complaint database9 of the 664 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 42 · 2023: 247 · 2024: 183 · 2025: 92 · 2026: 92
Half of the 133 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 29,000 and 90,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
805 complaints in all about the 2018 Ram 3500, 92 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 “Service Brakes” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ram 3500 brake problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
2008 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn with 20,000 miles flashing warning messages on front display repeatedly reading : "Service Antilock Breaking System" and "Service Electronic Break System". I am not sure why is doing this.
ABS pump module failed with vehicle under 25K miles. Pump failed prematurely and failed while I was driving, disabling my ABS brakes. The ABS lights and check engine light did light up, it has since been replaced and there is no recall on this issue. Seems to be a common issue with FIAT Chrysler cars
The abs system started malfunctioning after driving through heavy rain. Seems to be worse after the truck has warmed up. I have searched this problem and believe this should be a recall. How long before someone gets hurt or dies because of this problem?
Intermittent Antilock Brake Sysyem and Service Electronic Braking System warnings. Vehicle has 49,500 miles. There is a STAR service bulletin issued
At 40000 miles my service brake light has come on. This a bad HCU and according to multiple site is on thousands of HD trucks Cost to repair is 1500 fo a safety piece of equipment I ha replace 400 in sensors already and now unless our a Ram dealer you cannot buy he piece to replace
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 24V896000 HighNov 27, 2024 · 317,630 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The hydraulic control unit (HCU) may fail, which can cause the anti-lock brake (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and traction control systems to fail.
NHTSA investigation
- PE22012 Loss of Brake Performanceopened Nov 28, 2022 · closed Mar 3, 2025
- The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on November 28, 2022, after receiving 134 reports from consumers alleging an intermittent or permanent loss of braking performance in certain 2017-2018 Ram 2500-3500 pickup trucks manufactured by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). The alleged failures continued to occur at a steady rate across both models, at all speeds, with limite…
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Ram 3500 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Ram 3500
Source: the same files- electrical problems 137 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2018 Ram 3500?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 664 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (82% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall, 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 brakes on the 2018 Ram 3500?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 24V896000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the 2018 Ram 3500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 55,000 miles; half of them between 29,000 and 90,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.