2018 RAM 1500 Problems And Complaints

User complaints and problems

Electrical Problems

• Uconnect – The connected vehicle system on the truck just doesn’t work and seems to be a gimmick. The display starts clicking and scrolling by itself when using various functions like it’s possessed.
• Display – The dashboard display and the backup camera was reported to go blank without any warnings.
• Seat heaters – Users reported the heater turning off by itself before reaching the ideal temperature.
• Parking sensors – The audible sensors that guide the car don’t seem to work at times.
• Ignition – The truck fails to start at times and the dealers were able to identify a voltage issue that must be causing this issue.
• Warning light – Random warnings were reported to flash and upon restarting the car, they were all gone but users noticed a power loss post and the truck also failed to respond to the accelerator.
• Cruise control – The feature was reported to activate by itself and set the speed to 90 MPH. The brakes didn’t help and the driver had to shift the car to neutral to slow down.
• Gas gauge – The Gauge displayed empty no matter what the gas level was.
• Powered tailgate – Users stated that the rear tailgate opens automatically when driving.
• Defroster – The system failed to work and didn’t clear the windows.

Mechanical Problems

• Engine – The engine made ticks/knocks and was reported to overheat and stall abruptly while at high speeds. The truck was also reported to enter limp mode abruptly causing it to decelerate drastically.
• Fuel tank – The gas nozzle was found to get stuck in the fuel tank opening and this requires some brute force and hours of work to get the nozzle out.
• Transmission – It was noticed that the gear shifted to neutral by itself when driving but the gear selector still displayed “Drive”.
• Brakes – The brakes were reported to not work at times even after slamming the pedal to the floor.
• Steering – Power steering was disengaged and the steering felt hard.
• Suspension – The air suspension was noticed to give up making a noise when running over potholes.

Safety Problems

• Airbags – Multiple users stated that the airbags didn’t deploy during a crash leaving the occupants to suffer from injuries.
• Seatbelt – The driver-side seatbelt was reported to not latch in place and there were also complaints stating the seat belt buckle to be sharp enough to cut through the belt.

Interior Problems

• Seat – Water leaks into the storage area under the back seats after a carwash or a drive in the rain.

Exterior Problems

• Tires – The front passenger side tire blew up when driving on a clean strip of asphalt.

Recalls

S. No.	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	12th August 2021	21V632000	Side curtain airbag inflator may rupture	A ruptured airbag may not protect the occupant during a crash.	The airbag assembly will be replaced if necessary.
2	13th August 2020	20V475000	Crank position sensor tone wheel may delaminate	This can stall the engine.	Powertrain control module software will be updated.
3	24th October 2019	19V757000	EGR cooler may crack and cause fire	Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the chance of a fire	The EGR cooler will be replaced.
4	9th May 2019	19V347000	Tailgate may open unexpectedly	Cargo may fall out if the tailgate opens when driving.	Tailgate latch will be repaired
5	25th April 2019	19V324000	Driveshaft may fracture and separate	Fractured driveshaft could detach from the truck and cause a road hazard	Rear driveshaft will be replaced.
6	23rd August 2018	18V556000	Rear-axle may fail due to insufficient oil level	This can cause the rear wheel to lock up	Rear-axle with insufficient oil levels will be replaced
7	9th August 2018	18V524000	Voltage regulator may fail and cause stall	A vehicle stall may increase the chance of a crash	The powertrain control module will be replaced
8	14th June 2018	18V398000	Loss of visibility in backup camera	No image when reversing the truck may cause a crash	Dealers will replace the rearview mirrors
9	17th May 2018	18V332000	Cruise control cannot be cancelled	The vehicle may not decelerate after turning the cruise control off	A software flash would be performed on the engine or powertrain control module
10	1st May 2018	18V280000	Incorrect transmission park rods installed	The transmission may not shift to ‘Park’ and keep the truck moving	Dealers will install the correct park lock rod
11	8th February 2018	18V100000	Vehicle may rollaway	Transmission shifts without keys in the ignition may let the vehicle rollaway	Dealers will update the body control module software

Should you buy the 2018 RAM 1500?

The Ram 1500 is one of the most affordable options in its class and is a very fun truck to drive. There have been tons of complaints about the RAM and the company has seemed to address them through multiple recalls but this can still be an offsetting factor to many. The Ram undoubtedly is a great car and if the truck has had multiple recalls, that is a sign that the brand cares for its customers but if you want a truck with low recalls and complaints, we would recommend the GMC Sierra but as a whole, RAM 1500 is the choice we’d pick.