2018 RAM 3500 Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 12, 2026 · 144 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 144 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 2018 RAM 3500, 18% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 59,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “traction control” (38% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Traction control: mentioned in 54 of 144 complaints (38%)
  • Hydraulic contacted: mentioned in 38 of 144 complaints (26%)
  • Service ABS: mentioned in 16 of 144 complaints (11%)
  • Audible chime: mentioned in 10 of 144 complaints (7%)

At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?

Based on 108 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles4 · 4%
10k–25k miles12 · 11%
25k–50k miles29 · 27%
50k–75k miles25 · 23%
75k–100k miles13 · 12%
100k–150k miles11 · 10%
150k+ miles14 · 13%

How serious are the reports?

Of 144 complaints, 4 mention a crash.

RAM 3500 service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year

Peak: 2018, with 144 complaints
2014: 1201412016: 1201612017: 472017472018: 14420181442020: 1202012022: 2202222026: 220262

n = 198 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearService Brakes, Hydraulic complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2026 350027%458
2022 350021%41,085
2020 350011%7,000
2018 350014418%59,000
2017 35004715%65,000
2016 350011%117,000
2014 350010%63,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2025, with 58 complaints
2022: 2202222023: 182023182024: 132024132025: 582025582026: 53202653

n = 144 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (1)

Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/moduleNov 27, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V896000 · 317,630 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: A loss of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, or traction control can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the brake HCU, or replace the HCU motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning January 9, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is C4B.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair…

Received Sep 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11768059

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the ABS warning light intermittently flashed on the instrument panel while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that an audible chime was sounded with the warning light illuminated and the ABS, traction control, and cruise control…

Received Sep 25, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11766920

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The…

Received Sep 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11765765

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2018 RAM 3500s have service brakes, hydraulic problems?

No. NHTSA has 144 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the 2018 RAM 3500 (18% of the 805 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2018 RAM 3500 service brakes, hydraulic?

Yes: 1 safety recall list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?

The median reported mileage is 59,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 2018 RAM 3500?

The most frequent phrase is “traction control”, in 54 of 144 complaints, followed by “hydraulic contacted” (38).

Other 2018 RAM 3500 problems

See all 2018 RAM 3500 problems or service brakes, hydraulic problems across all 3500 years.