47 complaints reported

2018 Ram 3500 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
47
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2023

Purchased this truck specifically to tow 14000 lb fifth wheel camper. Two months ago warning chime and “service electronic brake system, Service antilock brakes and Traction Control” caution lights repeatedly activate. I am concerned about towing in this condition if operating on rain slick roads and winter weather. Also the constant chime is a serious distraction. Truck is currently at the dealership for repair. 25000 on the odometer. Truck is out of warranty. These failed safety systems endanger mine and my family’s lives, as well as other motorist and the public.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2023
Oct 2023

my 2018 Ram 3500 had less than 36,000 miles when the anti-lock brake system and service electronic brake system alarms began randomly flashing. this happens now every few seconds and so speed/cruise control no longer functions, also anti-lock and skid prevention has failed. Dealers have 3 month back order on the Hydraulic Control Unit, leaving owners the choice of operating an unsafe vehicle, or parking it for months.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Sep 2023
Oct 2023

Truck gets a service electronic braking check engine light and disables traction control as well as the cruise control. The braking becomes disabled at random times. Taken the unit to the dealership just to be told the part has been backordered for over 2 years and that they cannot sell me the HBU to repair it. They said they could remove the unit and have it shipped off to be remanufactured but my truck will be inop for min 2 weeks. Was told the part I needed 68143491AB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2023
Oct 2023

ABS and traction lights come on intermittently with the brakes feeling different.Diagnostic shows code C0020-01 which is apparently a very common issue with 2018 Rams.Dealer told me today(10-25-23) no part’s available at the earliest will be Feb. of 2024.This truck has 81000 miles on it and is my daily driver.I would hope Ram steps up and fixes problems at NO CHARGE for everyone effected.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Oct 2023
Sep 2023

Abs/hcu faulty, brake warning light, message, and alarm will sound on and off while driving. I have tried to buy the parts and they are not available through dodge with no estimated availability. This has been going on for a year.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2022
Aug 2023

Anti lock brake service light came on repeatedly and vehicle was taken to South County Ram dealer in St. Louis and they scheduled a service appt in July 2022 and they indicated an antilock module was required and did not have part due to manufacturer and did not know when part would be available. The vehicle again was taken to same dealer on July 10, 2023, and same story. This was reported to Chrysler Complaint line that same day and no response from manufacturer. How can an important safety part not be available? How can they continue to produce vehicles and not have replacement safety parts?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Aug 2023
Jul 2023

ABS and Traction control lights on/off intermitantly. ABS Code C0020-01 ABS pump motor general electrical failure. See you recently posted some information regarding 2017-18 Ram 2500 -3500 trucks. Lots of complaints on Ram Truck forums. Lots of problems with HCU and ABS Contollers. SHOULD BE A RECALL. No braking problems...(yet)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jun 2023
May 2023

Service ABS, traction control, ESP, ABS lights come on. Vehicle constantly beeps. RAM dealer says it needs a new HCU/ABS module (on national backorder) and/or ABS pump. Second time this has happened. Vehicle now at 77k miles and it happened all over again. If this is happening regularly then something must be defective with the parts they are putting on the truck.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: May 2023
Apr 2023

September-October 2022 --The Anti-Braking System module has quit working. (ABS). Requested replacement part from Dealership in October 2022. Dealership advises Mopar cancelled parts request to them. I have no anti braking working on vehicle. Dealership advises me to contact Mopar directly for help. I advised them that wasn't my job it was theirs' .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2022
Feb 2023

My truck is a 2018 Ram 3500 with only 12,500 miles on it, and it is not driven in the winter. Recently it has been has intermittent activation of the ABS and traction lights. It has been on consistent for over a month now. I code scan showed C0020-01 ABS module general electrical failure. I search online and talking with the dealership revealed this is a fairly common issue on 2017 and 2018 trucks and the fix with either the HCU, ABS module or both. I see NHTSA has opened and investigation into the matter so I am just reporting mine as additional truck with issues. It has not been repaired yet. Thanks.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2023
Feb 2023

While reviewing NHTSA's website I noticed PE22-012 concerning Loss of Brake Performance on 2017-2018 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks. My 2018 Ram 3500 recently started giving me an ABS, traction control and/or "Service Electronic Braking System" warnings. I first noticed the ABS light shortly after I most recently rotating the tires. The tires were rotated for the 3rd time on 14 Dec 2022 with 44,158 miles on the truck. I rotate all 5 tires (spare included in the rotation). I didn't think much of it at first as I was driving in PA on snow covered dirt roads the first time the ABS light came on. After that it became more frequent with the traction control light typically also illuminating. And now more recently a message on the dash information center appears after the lights come on. The lights don't always go out after a key cycle but will often turn off in the middle of a trip. I have not taken the truck to be inspected. Nor have I noticed a degradation of braking ability. I also have never had to brake hard enough to activate the ABS on this truck, nor have I tried it just to see.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Dec 2022
Jan 2023

"Service Electronic Braking System" intermittently flashes in the dashboard, along with the orange ABS and traction control lights. Seems to happen more on bumpy roads, goes away on smoother roads, then randomly comes back. Over the span of a few weeks, the frequency of the error message has increased, and now the error lights stay on almost all the time. 47,500 miles and purchased new 3 years ago. Here is a video of what happens: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hZ3GAAq3UryvgJWV9

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: May 2022
Jan 2023

ABS Brake Module and Electronic Braking Module are issues warnings. Unknown

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Nov 2022
Dec 2022

Right before 36000 miles the ABs and Traction control lights come on and off intermittently. I took the truck to my local dealer and was told 2 components needed to be replaced. They informed me it was not covered under warranty and they did not have the parts nor knew when they might get them in. This has been 4 or more months now and the lights stay on more often than they are off. I can’t use cruise control and it will not pass inspection with the lights on.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jul 2022
Dec 2022

A warning to have my electrical braking system checked continues to alert me while driving along with a abs warning. I notice no change in the system braking. When taken to a RAM dealer for repair the result is to wait months for an electric brake controller. Warning message disables the cruise control.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Oct 2022
Nov 2022

"Service electronic braking system" and "service antilock brake system" are popping up on gauge cluster at highway speeds. This is a random event that started at about 35,000. The system shuts on and off constantly with chimes and alarms to “Service electronic braking system" and "service antilock brake system". I contacted the dealership by phone, and they said they know about this issue but there is no Recall yet and it’s not covered under powertrain warranty; they advised it needs to have the ABS pump and control module replaced. I have looked on the internet and see several thousand complaints for the exact same issue. To me this seems like a life/safety issue that is being ignored Stellantis / Ram.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2022
Nov 2022

HCU unit failing. Keeps throwing service abs, and service electronic brake controller. On off on off on off non stop constantly the whole time truck is almost undeliverable Part is unavailable due to supposedly back ordered. Been told part is known issue and that a recall should be done but it’s not. Hydraulic control unit. So driving a one ton truck with failing abs, traction control with no delivery date of a part that is junk.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Jan 2022
Nov 2022

Service electronic brake system with the traction control light lit. Seems to be a common occurrence

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Feb 2022
Oct 2022

2018 Ram 3500 - ABS system/Electronic braking system failure at 5583 miles. ABS/traction control and service electronic braking system display on dash, also audible chime with cruise control inactive. Took to dealership for diagnonis and code C0020-01 is active. Reccomended replacement of HCU which is common for these vehicles. Truck is out of warranty and estimate is $1080 for repair, which does not include the $301 I spent on diagnostics. There needs to be a recall on these Chrysler HCUs as they are a known issue and related to the braking system. Why do I see recalls on items such as malfunctioning tailgate latches but not braking systems?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Oct 2022
Aug 2022

ABS and EBS sytem is shutting on and off on highway at speeds. This is a random event that started at about 20,000 miles then went away for about 6,000 miles then came back at 29,000 miles whil on a 1,500 trip and is now not going away. The system shuts on and off constantly with chimes and alarms to "service ABS/EBS. I have the truck at the dealership and they advsied it needs to have the ABS pump and control module replaced. I have looked on the internet and see several hundred complaints for the same issue. The delaer says this is not a recall and is not covered by warrenty. To me this seems like a safety issue that is being ignroed by Chrysler corp / Ram. They are looking at the numbers and not enough people have been in accidents to justuify the cost of a recall. I have a video of the issue system turning on and off constntly at about 62 MPH as I enetered the freeway from and on ramp to merge in trafic.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Nov 2022
Jun 2022

ABS and Traction Control lights and DIC alarms came on while driving. They stayed on for a few minutes then went off. Also the service trailer brake system message came on. This has happened several times now turning off cruise control too. I reseated all fuses and went for two weeks before it started happening again. Happens sometimes as we go over expansion joints or hit potholes while driving at highway speeds. I notice several other reports of this here at NHTSA site and various RAM forums across various RAM years.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Aug 2022
Apr 2019

INTEGRATED BRAKE SYSTEM FOR TOWING TRAILERS (ITBS) DOES NOT WORK. SAFETY HAZARD AS THE TRUCK CAN NOT STOP THE 150000 POUND 29T ARCTIC FOX 5TH WHEEL. AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS DODGE GAVE UP AND SAID THE ITBS WORKS AS DESIGNED. THE 5TH WHEEL WAS CERTIFIED THAT THE BRAKES WORK WITH OTHER TOW VEHICLES. NOT WITH OUR RAM 3500 WHICH IS RATED TO TOW 22000 POUNDS WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WE ARE UNABLE TO STOP THE TRAILER IN AN EMERGENCY OR UNER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS USING THE ITBS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 RAM 3500, Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Incident: Feb 2019

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Quick Summary

The 2018 Ram 3500 has 47 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.