2018 RAM 3500 Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 501 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the 2018 RAM 3500, 62% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 17,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “abs traction” (29% of reports).
- 501service brakes complaints
- 17,000median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 51%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- ABS traction: mentioned in 143 of 501 complaints (29%)
- Cruise control: mentioned in 135 of 501 complaints (27%)
- Service electronic: mentioned in 83 of 501 complaints (17%)
- Code C0020: mentioned in 32 of 501 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes repair on the 2018 RAM 3500 at $1,300, and half of them between $1,100 and $1,850.
Based on 24 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2022–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do service brakes problems happen?
Based on 6 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 501 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
RAM 3500 service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 3500 | 9 | 33% | — |
| 2025 3500 | 19 | 44% | — |
| 2024 3500 | 12 | 27% | 96,000 |
| 2022 3500 | 10 | 5% | — |
| 2021 3500 | 5 | 8% | — |
| 2020 3500 | 7 | 6% | — |
| 2019 3500 | 8 | 6% | 23,000 |
| 2018 3500 | 501 | 62% | 17,000 |
| 2017 3500 | 143 | 46% | 15,000 |
| 2016 3500 | 11 | 8% | 5,177 |
| 2015 3500 | 24 | 18% | 16,642 |
| 2014 3500 | 14 | 7% | 16,500 |
| 2013 3500 | 3 | 3% | 18,533 |
| 2009 3500 | 1 | 33% | 90,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
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.
I have replaced my rear hubs on my Dodge 2018 Dodge ram Dooley Numerous times (and have multiple documents so far over 9K) because my brakes on the driver side rear tires, always grind even though Iâve replaced everything. I even got in an accident because the break went out! It keeps happening…
Fiat Chrysler issued a safety recall in 2024. The FCA recall number is C4B the NHTSA recall number is 24V â 896. This recall was issued almost 2 years ago, but Fiat Chrysler has made little to no effort to make parts available. Iâve attempted to have this recall repaired four times, and I am…
IN 2022 the HCU for the anti-lock brake system fails. On 06/06/2022 The HCU unit was replaced at a RAM deanship. By 2024 the system had failed again. Still there is no resolution solution offered by RAM. It is now 09/14/ 2026. The warning has been going on and off since 2024. Now, the warning light…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2018 RAM 3500s have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 501 owner complaints about service brakes for the 2018 RAM 3500 (62% 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?
Yes: 1 safety recall list service brakes. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do service brakes problems start?
The median reported mileage is 17,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes problems on the 2018 RAM 3500?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,300 (half paid between $1,100 and $1,850), from 24 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the 2018 RAM 3500?
The most frequent phrase is “abs traction”, in 143 of 501 complaints, followed by “cruise control” (135).
Other 2018 RAM 3500 problems
See all 2018 RAM 3500 problems or service brakes problems across all 3500 years.