RAM 3500 Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 767 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the RAM 3500 across 14 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (501). The words owners use most often: “traction control” (33% of reports).
- 767service brakes complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 23mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- $1,250typical repair cost reported by owners
- 46%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.
- Traction control: mentioned in 252 of 767 complaints (33%)
- ABS module: mentioned in 103 of 767 complaints (13%)
- Service electronic: mentioned in 98 of 767 complaints (13%)
- Anti lock: mentioned in 73 of 767 complaints (10%)
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 RAM 3500 at $1,250, and half of them between $1,050 and $1,750.
Based on 29 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 46 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 767 complaints, 23 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 4 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 (5)
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel; service brakes
Model years: 2026
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2026 Ram 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 2500, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The instrument panel may display an incorrect brake system warning light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk: An incorrect warning light can fail to alert the driver to critical safety information, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 9, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 79C.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Model years: 2017, 2018
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.
Service brakes, air:antilock:control unit/module; electronic stability control (esc):control module
Model years: 2022
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Durango and Ram 2500 and 3500 vehicles. Due to a software malfunction, the ABS control module may disable the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk: Driving with a disabled electronic stability control system can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 11, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 55B.
Electronic stability control (esc); service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Model years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 2500 and 2021-2022 Dodge Durango vehicles, and 2019-2022 3500 cab chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs. The ABS control module software may prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction indicator light from illuminating during certain conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk: An ESC malfunction indicator light that fails to illuminate during an electronic stability control problem can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z20.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
Model years: 2019
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Ram 2500, 3500 and 3500 Cab Chassis trucks. The brake calipers may have been manufactured with an incorrect assembly fluid, which can cause the caliper's rubber seals to swell.
Risk: The swollen seals can cause the brakes to drag, potentially overheating the brakes and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front brake calipers and brake hoses and bleed the brakes, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US' number for this recall is V98.
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…
Since first test driving the truck in March of 2025, there was an issue with the ABS system warning coming on. When that happens, it also disables 4 wheel drive, electronic stability control, cruise control and trailer brakes. The first 3x it happened while NOT towing at about 45mph. Other times it…
HCU failure, ABS failure, stability control affected
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 RAM 3500s have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 767 owner complaints about service brakes for the RAM 3500. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the RAM 3500 service brakes?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list service brakes. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes problems on the RAM 3500?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,250 (half paid between $1,050 and $1,750), from 29 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the RAM 3500?
The most frequent phrase is “traction control”, in 252 of 767 complaints, followed by “abs module” (103).
Other RAM 3500 problems
- Electrical System problems (374)
- Power Train problems (327)
- Engine problems (246)
- Steering problems (214)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (204)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (198)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (136)
- Wheels problems (132)
See all RAM 3500 problems.