2018 Ram 3500 Brakes
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
Vehicle ABS malfunctions routinely. This comprises reliability and overall road safety. This recall is well over 3 years old and the manufacturer has not done enough to remedy this defect, knowing that the entire fleet shares this ABS system failure. On ice, snow and inclement weather conditions the ABS failure results in brakes locking and the vehicle going into sliding. Dodge doesn’t care about the safety of their products and as a consequence risk the safety of millions of Americans daily.
I tow a 16000 lb RV with my truck and the ABS/Skid control goes on and off every few minutes and RAM keeps telling me that they do not have the part to take care of this recall, it has been more than 18 months now. This is my only means of transportation.
Incident Description (ABS Module Failure) The ABS control module is failing intermittently. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The ABS warning light illuminates unpredictably, sometimes every few minutes to every few tens of minutes. When this occurs, ABS, cruise control, and trailer brake control are disabled, making the vehicle difficult and unsafe to operate, especially when towing or driving in traffic. This failure creates a safety risk due to loss of braking and stability-related systems. The issue is a known manufacturer defect with an established repair; however, the manufacturer states that replacement ABS modules are currently unavailable due to parts backorder, with no repair timeline provided. The issue has been acknowledged by the manufacturer and dealer. No inspection by police or insurance has occurred. Based on available information, my best assessment is an intermittent ABS module failure that renders the vehicle effectively unusable. I am requesting escalation and corrective action by the manufacturer.
Hydraulic Control Uni Safety: The loss of abs/esc/traction control may cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. This voluntary recall still has not been remedied and no assistance has been provided.
Recall C4B/NHTSA 24V-896 was issued November 2024. To this date, there is no remedy. I have spoken with both FCA and my local dealership. Both have communicated that FCA does not have a resolution and can not provide a date for parts availability for repair. As the recall states. " The loss of the ABS/ESC/Traction control may cause a vehicle related crash without prior warning". I have significant concerns with the potential mechanical failure which could lead to a vehicular accident. 12 months without resolution is not acceptable.
2018 Ram diesel 3500. 36,000 miles ABS and Traction Control lights illuminated on dash. Cru8ise control does not work. Dealer told me the HCU (hydraulic control unit) is defective, and thee are no parts available to repair it. I am leaving Indiana for Florida on 18 Jan 2025. That means a 1,000 mile trip one direction pulling a boat - without cruise control or antilock brakes. What can be done?
I have had actual issues with this vehicle due to the recall CB4 with the HCU unit. My vehicle not only has the recall but is actually effected. This recall is over a year old and my braking (antilock braking, traction control, etc) changed how the vehicle was driving last October on my way back from a funeral so it’s nearly a year since I’ve been able to drive my truck. I can’t sell it because all the bells & whistles chime alerting to an electric braking issue. Shouldn’t RAM be forced to buy back vehicles they can’t fix after a year? At this level of a recall where safety limits the ability to drive it but I still have to pay insurance on it and can’t get another vehicle because I can’t sell this one? I called NHTSA late winter and FCA (x2) already and FCA second call didn’t keep a record of my 1st call which is dishonest. They said I’d be put on the list for early repairs but then didn’t log my first call. I’m not sure if they logged my 2nd call. I think they should have to start buying vehicles back.
There is a recall for the brake HCU, but parts are not available. RAM won't fix. ABS warning light and traction control lights are on, and flash along with warning buzzer chime. Unacceptable. This has been going on for 4 months.
The recall for this vehicle was announced on November 24 2024. To date, Chrysler has not been able to come up with a solution to this serious brake problem. I have had to rely on alternative transportation since last November, This is ridiculous to wait 9+ months to get my vehicle repaired.
Traction control, stability control, and ABS all not working. Started at 8,700 miles, truck now has 9,800 miles on it. Received a recall end of 2024, part is still not available. This is taking far to long for a repair, we know someone who has an extended warranty who had their truck repaired. Something is fishy here. This truck is the same as new and was bought to tow a fifth wheel and haul tractor and track hoe. Not safe to do so. Ram should have issued a do not drive on this truck and the repair should have been done a long time ago. Either fix it or replace it, this time frame is unacceptable.
I have an issue with my ABS and Traction Control systems malfunctioning. This manifests as as warning lights on my dashboard and stored message in my truck display for "Service Antilock Braking System and Service Electrical Braking System'. There are also diagnositc trouble codes associated with this fault. I know that some trucks of my model year are subject to a previous recall linked here: [XXX] However, I have been told by the dealer that my truck is not covered under this recall. I would like NHTSA to reconsider this issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I had just merged onto the highway and was in the left lane that was ending ahead. As soon as I switched lanes traffic came to a stop. I slammed on the brakes and the truck came to a complete stop before impact. Then with my foot still on the brake pedal the truck lurched forward making impact with the vehicle in front of me. I believe that the defective brake HCU failure caused the ABS system to fail ultimately resulting in the accident. The only damage was to the front bumper. No airbags deployed and the accident was not reported. I would like Ram to replace my bumper since I have been driving with this problem for over a year and still no fix to the problem. It is a clear safety issue and had resulted in not being able to safely drive the truck.
ABS PUMP Failed on 09/03/22. ABS light constantly coming on and off and dinging had it repaired on 10/21/22 had to wait for part, was charged 930.00 ABS FAILED 2ND TIME ABS Light constantly going on and off and dinging ON 1/31/25, Received recall C4B/NHTSA 24-896 on 01/13/25 in mail. Ferman Dodge of new port Richey refused to cover it, and their recall center refused to cover it or reimburse me. I had it replaced a second time on 4/11/25 had to wait for the part to come in. They are not honoring the recall which has been under investigation by NHTSA since 2021. So, I have been charged 2 time, another 957.00 and the second time the truck had not even been driven 30000 miles since last repair. So, every 30 to 40 thousand miles the abs pump fails possibly causing the brakes to malfunction. They are also saying that it was repaired on 12/05/25, Truck was not in for service on that date, see attachments,
This recall has been open and unresolved for 12 months. Contacted both the dealership and the manufacturer. Both have stated parts are not available and unknown timeframe when the vehicle can be repaired. Currently, the vehicle is drivable, but indicator lights are not illuminated on the dashboard. Case number with manufacture is 94739240
The hydraulic control unit has been on recall since December 2024, I been to the dealer several times a they told me they do not have a remedy for the problem and they do not know if or when they will have a solution for the problem. Now I have a Check engine,ABS, and the eletronic stability control light on. The deler told the lights are on due to the HCU is bad. But they did give me a solution for the repairs
Safety recall over 5 months ago on ram 3500 truck used solely for pulling 10k camper. NG hydraulic control valve with possible failure of ABS without warning. Contacted dealer in early jan. 2025. They are aware and said they would call when part came in. Called back today after no communication in 6 months. Told no part in stock and no part to order. Asked if it was safe to drive and was told it wasnt a dealer responsibility and it was my desision. Called chrysler recall number and told the same thing and they would not give mw anything in writing saying the truck was safe to drive. Looked online and that part number hydraulic valve is readily available on mopar.com parts site. The issue from what i understand is they refuse to divert those valves of oem assembly line needs for the recall. To say this is frustrating and concerning would be an understatement.
On or about [XXX] my Ram 3500 showed a check engine light indicating to service the HCU/ABS system. After researching this I discovered there was a problem with the HCU/ABS in the Ram 3500. At the time there was no recall for the part. I found the part and replaced the part. On or about 1/25 I received a recall notice from the manufacturer. I proceeded to their website and submitted the required documents for reimbursement. I was promptly denied reimbursement: "Dear Mr. [XXX] , Good day! We understand that this was not the decision that you were hoping for, and we apologize for that, but that is the decision of the company based on the information provided. There is no installation cited and it is not eligible for reimbursement. We look forward to the chance to assist you in the future, and we thank you for being a Ram customer. Regards, Therie Ram Customer Care " I called and talked to several representatives, however, they still will not reimburse for the part. I explained to the representative that I did the work myself and indicated this on the reimbursement form (did the work myself was a selection). I explained this repair was a safety issue, dealers were charging $1500-$2000 to do the repair, and the time of this issue the replacement part was on a nationwide shortage. The dealer could give me no timeframe on when they could secure the part. Due to these reasons I kept looking until I finally found the part and did the repair myself. I provided proof of purchase from the dealer, credit card statement showing payment and offered to take a picture of the old part and installed part side by side as I still have the old part. They still denied reimbursement. Is there anything you can do? It doesn't seem fair that the manufacturer of a defective part gets to make the rules for reimbursement and can deny any disputes the consumer has with their decisions. It seems the NHTSA should have a say in this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I filled a complaint on the HCU (brakes) on my 2018 Ram 3500 with NHTSA. FCA took forever to finally recall. By then i had already found a new RAM factorty OEM HCU from a RAM DEALER THAT ALSO SELLS ON EBAY, and installed myself. After getting the recall notice in the mail i contacted RAM as the part was already replaced to get reimbursed for same. I sent them the failure code from original incident, picture of the active light on my truck, ebay receipt from ebay with visa payment, and tracking showing it shipped to me. RAM Customer service replied the claim was denied because i showed no install. My email to them clearly stated i installed myself and have been in mechanical maintenance my entire carrer and was one of the first ASE Certified Mechanics in the 1980's. I believe they are not honoring the recall on my vehicle forced on them by NHTSA (thank you from all the RAM owners that they didnt care about) and i should be reimbursed for my cost and labor to install the known recalled failed part. When i tried to reply to the denial email they had already shut down the link. Im sure im not the only one with this problem. Thank you in advance.
Service Antilock Braking System due to faulty HCU
ABS warning light & Traction control warning lights coming on and off intermittently. Found problem to be a bad HCU assembly. There seems to be a reliability problem with this brake HCU assembly. Other Ram trucks have a recall for this same problem & this is the second time this HCU module has failed on my truck. The first failure was in March of 2022 when the truck had 46002 miles. The unit was replaced at that time and Chrysler paid for the replacement. This latest failure was the same HCU module and it failed in October of 2024 when the truck had 76563 miles.
Abs / hcu has malfunctioned again, has already been replaced once around 20,000 miles now I’m around 58,000 miles and having same issues. Abs and traction control not working. In a truck with this much torque it is a serious problem. This is a well documented issue with the system and FCA should make it right. I found a video on line that explains the issue is with the brushes on the motor being held in to tightly. Should be a simple solution and is obviously a design flaw. There should be a safety recall asap. I assume that this problem happens with most of the heavy duty trucks.
My anit lock brake warning keeps going on and off
ABS & Traction Light and ding ding, then go away for a while then it all comes back. Truck is out of warranty, so any cost is mine. They want you to pay for diagnostic even there is a code. Quoted cost was around $800 to $1000. The first time this happened the code said to replace the 4wd shift motor. Done that problem went away for awhile then came back. I am retired and these cost don't fit in real good. We purchased the truck new. I have read that this problem is not new, just ongoing. When this is happening the 4wd and cruse doesn't work or shuts off. It appears that RAM isn't going to do anything until people start getting killed. Then are forced to fix it.
ABS C0020 pump motor control...only have 54000 miles on this truck..
I had to have my ABS module replaced because ABS fault on my dash lit up. A few months later the ABS fault light is back on. The parts they put on is junk. I cant keep paying the ridiculous price of this repair when it doesn't fix the issue. Reading thru the forums it has been a issue for many many years. I cant use my cruse control when this alarm goes off and I would like for my ABS to work the way it was intended for.
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The 2018 Ram 3500 has 271 Brakes complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.