10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,893 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Ram 3500 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2018 Ram 3500 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #57

Oct 232022

3500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The ABS Brake control module malfunctioned causing several electrical issues. Fortunately the vehicle was able to function. RAM Service center noted a wait time of over 3 months. When I brought the vehicle to another Service center looking to see if the part was available, I was told to make an appointment and they charged me $90 to tell me what I told them. Uggg.

- Bushnell, FL, USA

problem #56

Sep 142023

3500

  • miles
ABS and traction control lights come on intermittently and a chime sound occurs. When this happens cruise control stops working. Getting a -??Service Electronic Braking System-?? message and -??Service Antilock Brake System-?? message. Had to wait three weeks to get an appointment for dealer to troubleshoot. Dealer said it has code C0020-01 logged. Dealer says the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) has an internal failure that is shorting out the ABS pump control. Dealer stated that part will not be available until February or March of 2024 if not later for repairs. Dealer verbally said to either park the vehicle until part is available or drive it knowing that the ABS braking system may not work properly in case of emergency stop. Dealer said there is no recall for this problem but they are aware of many vehicles with it. I feel there needs to be an immediate recall issued for this problem as it is endangering the public.

- Lake Stevens, WA, USA

problem #55

Jul 052023

3500

  • miles
My 2018 3500 Dully with 34,000 miles started having an issue with the ABS, Traction Control and Eletronic Brack control systems. While driving the truck on a trip, the Traction Control, and ABS lights started coming on intermittently and the check Eletronic Brack control came on at the same time and it too flashed intermittently. Also, while this is happening, the cruise control does not work. Took the truck to the dealer, parts are not available until February of 2024. Five months from now. They recommend two parts be replaced, Anti-lock brake system, part number 68347098AB and Control Anti-Lock Brake System Part 68143491AB. I'm being told it will cost around $2,000 for the repairs. The 5-year 100,000 drive train is within the warranty period; however, this is not covered by RAM. For such an expensive truck, I find it disturbing that in the event of such failure It was advised to take the truck into the dealer as soon as possible because the truck with an ABS issue is not drivable and the dealer says its ok to drive it even though all the systems lights are flashing intermittently.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #54

Sep 222023

3500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

ABS and HCU modules are not operating properly. Resulting in no abs and no cruise control.

- Shippenville, PA, USA

problem #53

Aug 152023

3500

  • miles
When operating the vehicle the Service ABS/Traction control light starts flashing and cruise control becomes disabled while driving. ABS and traction control becomes disabled. Safety issue! Advised the part will not be available until Feb 2024 and to operate vehicle as is.

- Libby, MT, USA

problem #52

Dec 092021

3500

  • miles
ABS light code C002-01 at 16582 miles.replaced hcu.19710 miles ABS light back on code C002-01repair lasted 3128 miles.took vehicleback to dealer with same problem 3/29/23dealer says no parts avalable so no truck till parts come in.August is best guess as to parts.called dealer in August now no parts till December and maybe not then.bought truck new Feb 2019 truck been down more than driven.dealer says problem has lowered value of truck considerably.need to recall all 2018 Ram 2500/3500 trucks. I try not to drive truck at all even dealer says to drive it with no ABS or traction control.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #51

Aug 292023

3500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since purchasing this truck brand new in 2018 we have had nothing but problems with this vehicle. Dodge Ram failed us every time. They failed to work with the dealer and ignored every attempt to find solutions. It started with vehicle loosing power on very dangerous locations a specially freeway located in curves in the middle of nowhere. It took years to fix that problem. Multiple times we drove from the shop being told that it was fixed and it wasn't. We would drive right back in after 15 min. It took over 3 years to get dodge and dealer to replace the transmission and all electrical issues. The other problem that we have had since buying this truck is the AC. Its been always a problem we are continuously trying to fix it and its been very hard. This entire summer my children have been suffering. We are driving in extreme heat with zero ac and Dodge Ram can not produce part for the dealership to fix it. What is really unfair that original dealer tried again to charge us for something that it waste the problem. We would have paid for it and would have been back within an hour. The new dealer Peterson Dodge understood the problem and was honest with us that there is a lot more then a filter. It was me who requested to get a second opinion and get a way from Larry H Miller Dodge.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #50

Apr 012023

3500

  • 44,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the ABS and brake warning lights was flashing on the instrument panel while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed; the diagnostic showed a faulty computer module had caused the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

- Moorpark, CA, USA

problem #49

Aug 172023

3500

  • miles
Anti lock brake service light came on repeatedly and vehicle was taken to South County Ram dealer in St. Louis and they scheduled a service appt in July 2022 and they indicated an antilock module was required and did not have part due to manufacturer and did not know when part would be available. The vehicle again was taken to same dealer on July 10, 2023, and same story. This was reported to Chrysler Complaint line that same day and no response from manufacturer. How can an important safety part not be available" How can they continue to produce vehicles and not have replacement safety parts"

- Festus, MO, USA

problem #48

Jun 282023

3500

  • miles
ABS and Traction control lights on/off intermitantly. ABS Code C0020-01 ABS pump motor general electrical failure. See you recently posted some information regarding 2017-18 Ram 2500 -3500 trucks. Lots of complaints on Ram Truck forums. Lots of problems with HCU and ABS Contollers. SHOULD BE A RECALL. No braking problems...(yet)

- Dunnellon, FL, USA

problem #47

Jun 092022

3500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

ABS System flashes on and off that it needs to be serviced, also cruis control doesn-??t work. Took it to dealer to get it diagnosed. Dealer says the HCU needs to be replaced and the ABS pump needs to be replaced and also that cause the brakes and rotors to wear out and they need to be replaced too.

- Dike, TX, USA

problem #46

Jan 012021

3500

  • miles
2018 RAM Display screen delaminates and behaves erratically. Car phones 911 and the call cannot be stopped. Switches driver controls erratically. All electronic systems are erratic because the screen thinks it is being touched when it is not. This failure is present on this 2018 RAM 3500 and Ive seen the same failure on multiple Ram 1500/2500/3500 vehicles from 2018.

- Carnegie, PA, USA

problem #45

May 012023

3500

  • 161,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH with the Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control activated, the traction control and ABS warning lights illuminated intermittently. Additionally, the cruise control then deactivated independently. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.

- Mount Holly, NC, USA

problem #44

Jul 162023

3500

  • miles
Ram 3500 Larime Crew Cab Deisel with 47,800 miles. We were driving home from our seasonal campsite, (about a 2 hour trip on highway) and it began to rain (about 15 minutes into the trip) it continued to rain very hard at times the whole trip home. Around 30 minutes into our trip the ABS warning light, Check Engine light, & Traction Control light came on. I pulled to the shoulder of the road and waited for a lull in the rain. I then opened the hood and inspected to see if something was shorting out electrically. I couldn't see or smell anything, so we decided to continue on our way. We exited the highway and took non-highway route home. I did not notice any issues while braking or driving that concerned me enough to have it towed. I pulled the truck into the garage (under our house) and unloaded our belongings from the weekend. I went down to the garage about 2 hours later (the key fob was upstairs) when I walked behind the truck, the cargo light and interior lights came on. This didn't make sense to me because the key fob was not anywhere near the truck. It was still raining so I decided to disconnect the batteries (2 batteries on the Cummins) rather than put the truck outside in the rain. Didn't want to take the chance of burning my house down. This was the first time this has happened (7-16-2023) I research to see if anyone else had similar issues and found a considerable number of owners with this similar complaint. The vehicle has not been taken to the dealer as of this writing. Having to pull to the side of the highway during heavy rain, put my family and others at risk. Given the number of complaints that I was able to read, I would say these issues should warrant a recall.

- Spencer, MA, USA

problem #43

Jul 012022

3500

  • miles
Abs/hcu faulty, brake warning light, message, and alarm will sound on and off while driving. I have tried to buy the parts and they are not available through dodge with no estimated availability. This has been going on for a year.

- Paris, TN, USA

problem #42

May 312023

3500

  • miles
In July 2022 our 2018 RAM 3500 Diesel 4 by 4 truck started having an intermittent alert. Service electronic brake system, ABS, traction control. Cruise control is disabled during this alert. May 2023 the vehicle was taken to local dealer for a diagnostic. They revealed no codes were revealed answer was to replace the ITBM at a cost of $921. And the diagnostic charge was $233. I tried to contact the dealer for further questions with no cooperation. I started investigating and purchased a code reader at my own cost. The code that showed was C0020-01 ABS Pump Motor Control-Electrical Failure. Much different than the ITBM I was told. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles put out a Case Number: S2005000004 Release Date 04/28/2020 Symptom/Vehicle Issue: C0020-01-ABS PUMP MOTOR CONTROL- GENERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE Discussion: Basically says to replace HCU first and then ECU if code still active. So, the dealer is aware of the issue and outright lied to me. There is also an active Class Action Lawsuit for this very issue In California Plantiff James Neu. The fact that my vehicle is not in a safe working condition with this faulty part. The fact that the Dealer is lying about which part is defective and would have installed a different part than what they said the problem is. It is very disturbing that an automotive company is treating the safety of their customers so carelessly. The Fact that this is a common and widespread issue and nothing is being done to rectify, appalling. Thousands of vehicles on the road, no parts available. Action needs to be taken. Lives will be lost, severe injury, it can happen to innocent people. Please do something

- Ferndale, WA, USA

problem #41

May 222023

3500

  • miles
Service ABS, traction control, ESP, ABS lights come on. Vehicle constantly beeps. RAM dealer says it needs a new HCU/ABS module (on national backorder) and/or ABS pump. Second time this has happened. Vehicle now at 77k miles and it happened all over again. If this is happening regularly then something must be defective with the parts they are putting on the truck.

- St Johns, FL, USA

problem #40

Apr 292023

3500

  • miles
While driving at any speed the abs and traction control lights start flashing and a chime goes constantly. also when this happens it causes the cruise control to disengage without any warning. Also leaving you without abs brakes. I am on my 3rd abs module and 2nd hydraulic control unit and needing a 3rd hydraulic control unit for this vehicle with less than 62,000 miles the first one went out around 16,000 miles and the second at 37,000 miles. This is also my second truck from this manufacturer to do the exact same thing that happened at 30,000 miles and had another one in the family that did it at 7,000 miles. As i research online I find that this a common occurrence and nothing has been done to resolve the issue other than just replacing the parts with new and wait for it to happen again. I am in need of a new hydraulic control unit and am being told that they are on some kind of hold until the earliest date of August and just to drive the truck with non-working safety equipment.

- Vero Beach, FL, USA

problem #39

Sep 012022

3500

  • miles
September-October 2022 --The Anti-Braking System module has quit working. (ABS). Requested replacement part from Dealership in October 2022. Dealership advises Mopar cancelled parts request to them. I have no anti braking working on vehicle. Dealership advises me to contact Mopar directly for help. I advised them that wasn't my job it was theirs'.

- Dade City, FL, USA

problem #38

Mar 242023

3500

  • miles
I have two warning messages appearing on my dash. Service Electronic Braking System and Service ABS System. Took it to my dealership Michiana Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT in Mishawaka Indiana. I was informed that it needed an HCU (hydraulic control unit) and that the part was unavailable because of engineering review until at least August 2023. The work order was closed and i was sent on my way and told to check back at a later date for availability. After a little reading i found that this issue is under investigation and i wanted add my truck to your list of reports.

- Mishawaka , IN, USA

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