NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ram 2500. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
ABS light and traction control lights came on. I had to replace ABS controller and hydraulic control module. Truck had 37000 miles on it and it was just out of warranty by a little over a 1000 miles
The electronic brake light and ABS warning goes off intermittent and with hitting bumps. When this happens the cruise control shuts off. This leads me to believe that the antilock brakes and and will malfunction in a panic stop. A brief review of google shows this to be a well known issue with multitudes of owner la having the issue. Parts on back order also an indicator of the frequency.
The vehicle entertainment center has an issue where the screen is separating from the unit. This is a SAFETY ISSUE because the system CANNOT be turned off and the unit controls not just entertainment features such as radio, navigation, etc but also controls driver functions such as seat controls, heat & air, cell phone connections, etc. The screen is a touch screen unit meaning that the separation issue causes the system to think random areas on the screen are being touched due to road vibration. This causes the vehicle's computer systems to freak out and do things like randomly call people if a cell phone is connected, change seat settings, turn on air conditioning full blast and then switch to heat full blast, select random navigation points, etc. This is HUGELY distracting to the driver and UNSAFE. An internet search will indicate that this issue has been a known issue by many drivers of Dodge RAM vehicles where this particular entertainment system is installed. It needs to be recalled and fixed. These issues render the vehicle UNDRIVEABLE without risk of causing an accident.
At 67k mileage my 2018 Ram 2500 abs, traction control and electronic braking system warning lights flash intermittently, dealer, auto parts store and several online sites state it is the ABS and HCU modules electrical failure. This causes the abs system to malfunction and poses immediate threat for crash especially while pulling trailers. When the lights flash the cruise control will no engage/disengage. No dealer has these module with no clear indication of availability as of 1/27/2023
The abs traction control lights keep coming on device abs service electric brakes I pull a camper afraid I may loose my brakes and no parts available
ABS warnings on dash. Error code c00020-01. Traction control, cruise control disabled.
C0020-01 code began coming in and out immediatly following a service at my local Ram dealer. I returned to the dealer after the warning lamps and messages all came in around ten times within a mile of picking my truck up from them. The dealer used a device to clear the messages, but the alarms returned again after I left. There are multiple warning lamps and messages that remain in as a result of this: service anti-lock braking system, ABS warning lamp, traction control lamp, and a loss of cruise control functionality. While the constant "dinging" sound and loss of cruise control on a truck with less than 20K miles is disappointing, I am concerned whether or not these warnings are indication of a serious safety hazard to my family and/or those we are on the highway with. My truck is available for inspection. The issue was confirmed by my local dealer who cleared the alarms when they first came in.
Service Anti-lock Brake System; and Service Electronic Brake System warning messages appear constantly on the dash.
All started when the truck had 472 miles. ESC and service brake light came on. Was repaired on May 9, 2019. March 23, 20 back at dealer for ABS Light and ESC Lights on dash. Dealer replaced both the HCU Unit and ABS Module on truck. December 2, 2021 back at dealer again for the same HCU and ABS Light on dash again. Dealer replaced HCU unit but not ABS Module. August 2, 2022 HCU and ABS lights on again. Contacted dealer they said they would call back with service date but never got a call back. This is a very serious safety issue on these trucks. When the ABS and ESC Lights are on in the truck it disables the Antilock Break System along with traction control, brake controller and if you have 4wd it disables that also. I have had nothing but problems with this truck since it had 472 miles on it. Dodge/Ram refuses to address the problem correctly. They just put another part in knowing it will fail sooner or later and by that time your waranty is out and they want $1600 to repair something they know will break again. What will it take to have them correct this problem (someones life!) I will never but another Dodge product again. They refuse to find a fix for this problem.
Service Antilock Braking System and Service Electronic Brake System randomly turning on and off once vehicle is started. Sometimes they do not turn on at all. Randomly occurring. The Alerts were not there one day, and the next they were. No moisture, rain, or hard braking occurred to cause this. This is causing traction control and ABS to turn off which will be a major safety hazard once winter comes. This turns out to be a very common issue with these models.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated and the cruise control inadvertently disengaged, causing the vehicle to decelerate. The contact had not lost control of the vehicle or electrical power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with electrical failure. The contact was informed that the hydraulic control unit needed to be replaced and a software update needed to be performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the dealer informed her that it was a common issue with the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and no assistance was offered as the vehicle was not included in a recall. The contact stated that she researched the failure online and found a recall for the 2019-2022 Ram 2500 with a similar failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V140000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). The contact stated that the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal grinding and metallic sound upon depression of the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake rotors, the brake calipers, and the brake shoes had been replaced twice as a result of the persistent failure. The contact recently received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000(Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made not aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The ABS on my vehicle malfunctioned and the warning lights appeared on about 8/1/2022. The mechanic pulled the error code C0020-01 ABS PUMP MOTOR CONTROL - GENERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. His research indicates the solution is to replace both the ABS Control Module and the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit at the same time. As replacing one without the other seems to lead to additional unnecessary and costly repairs to the same part. After contacting every Ram dealer in my area, there are no ABS Control Modules available anywhere. I then checked the internet and it appears that the ABS CM (part# 68347098AB) is not available anywhere with over 2500 on backorder at a single RAM dealership in Texas. It appears that there are many thousands of RAM owners with the same problem and the lack of a replacement part is troubling. The ABS system in vehicles is a BASIC safety feature and a malfuctioning ABS will undoubable lead to crashes and possibly deaths. As a owner of an affected vehicle, I request that you investigate this problem and force RAM to ensure that their vehicles are equipped with the basic safety features that are required by law.
ABS module and HPU failing. The ABS Module is losing communication with the HPU causing the ABS to turn off and on. The concern is if it turns of during an event where it is needed and increases the chance of losing control of the vehicle.
Intermittent shutting down of ABS. Which as a truck designed to pull heavy loads, this is a serious safety concern. This is due to a faulty ABS module that has plagued a disproportionately large number of owners. The problem remains that Ram is not supplying the needed part to remedy the safety related problem.
The ABS on my vehicle malfunctioned and the warning lights appeared on about 8/1/2022. The mechanic pulled the error code C0020-01 ABS PUMP MOTOR CONTROL - GENERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. His research indicates the solution is to replace both the ABS Control Module and the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit at the same time. As replacing one without the other seems to lead to additional unnecessary and costly repairs to the same part. After contacting every Ram dealer in my area, there are no ABS Control Modules available anywhere. I then checked the internet and it appears that the ABS CM (part# 68347098AB) is not available anywhere with over 2500 on backorder at a single RAM dealership in Texas. It appears that there are many thousands of RAM owners with the same problem and the lack of a replacement part is troubling. The ABS system in vehicles is a BASIC safety feature and a malfuctioning ABS will undoubable lead to crashes and possibly deaths. As a owner of an affected vehicle, I request that you investigate this problem and force RAM to ensure that their vehicles are equipped with the basic safety features that are required by law.
Was driving on expressway exit ramp trying to come to a stop and the brakes hesitated and then locked up, at the same time the traction control and abs light came on. Traction control and abs lights still come on months later and problems with breaking are still there. Took to local shop to get fixed and they told me abs module and hcu pump are bad. Parts are not available thru mopar or aftermarket.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the "Service ABS" and "service electronic braking system" warning messages intermittently appeared on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The contact was informed that there were potential defects with the ABS pump and ABS module. The contact was also informed that the parts for the repair were on backorder. Upon investigation, the contact discovered an active NHTSA investigation for NHTSA Action Number: PE22012 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that there were no warranties on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated with an audible chime. The contact stated that the brakes would slip upon depression of the brake pedal while the warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic linked the cause of failure to the HCU (Hydraulic Control Module); however, the parts for the repair were on back order. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred him to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 75,500. The VIN was not available.
My ABS and Traction control has stopped working for the last 5 months. The warning alerts come on and off constantly. I have tried to disconnect the battery and waited an hour then reconnected but made no difference. I contacted the manufacturer and couldn’t get an answer about this wide spread problem. I use this truck for towing my Travel trailer and with this system failure it has my ability to stop safely and without the traction control, pulling the trailer and parking at campsites is dangerous. My truck is available for inspection at anytime.
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ABS/HCU RESULTING IN NO ABS, CRUISE CONTROL, OR TRACTION CONTROL. UNABLE TO FIND THE PART IN QUESTION, DEALERS WANTING NEARLY $2000 FOR REPAIR ON UNACCEPTABLE TIMELINE. UNABLE TO HAUL SIGNIFICANT LOADS WITH TRUCK (I.E. CAMPER OR EQUIPMENT/TRAILERS). DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK AND NO RECALL WAS EVER ISSUED. HCU PARTS ARE NOW RESTRICTED AND EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE IF ONE DOES MANAGE TO FIND ONE. CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS INITIATED AGAINST CHRYSLER IN CALIFORNIA. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS NOW AND SHOULD BE MADE KNOWN TO ANYONE THINKING OF BUYING A RAM. I LOVE THE TRUCK BUT IT IS UNSAFE AND INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO REPAIR AT THIS TIME CAUSING SIGNIFICANT HEADACHES FOR MY FAMILY.
2018 RAM 2500 diesel purchased brand new in October of 2018. Continuous issues with the ABS Module and hydraulic control unit starting at approximately 23,000 miles. This was unfortunately past the 3 year bumper to bumper warranty. This affects the performance of the ABS brakes, including the brakes freezing up in the closed position, along with a constant chime and notification on the dashboard. Upon doing research this appears to be an extremely common issue with the 2018 models and a recall has already been issued for the 2019 model. The OEM ABS modules have a 6-9 month wait when ordered and the repair is approximately $1,500.
The abs control module and HCU are faulty . No parts have been available for a fix. I have now been driving a truck in the north with no ABS , 4 wheel drive, cruise control or traction control. This truck is a hazard to everyone on the road but with no parts it’s hard to fix it. I only have one vehicle. Tons of people have the same issue and nothing is being done. Ram won’t do anything, stallantis wont do anything. It’s just crazy
When I bought the truck in July of 2022 I worked out of state so I went home (Alabama) to pick it up and on my way back to Indiana (where I was working at the time) and the truck shuts off so I took it to the dealership the following Monday and they told me there was nothing wrong with the truck when they diagnosed it which cost me 300 dollars so I drove it back home and took it to another dealership and they said the same thing So I finally got it into a place that would fix it and it was the egr and the radio that had caused it to shut off but the dealership told me they couldn’t get the parts in to fix the other thing so I would have to wait so I’ve waited 4 months and been to 6 different dealerships since then and they’ve told me that the egr is going out once again and my abs braking module is not any good but none of them can seem to fix it they all tell me that it’s going to be in the shop for at least 3 months but I haven’t gotten a call back from them when I leave and they tell me there going to order it
Service electronic brake system and service antilock brake system comes on intermittently which disables traction , cruise and antilock brake control systems when it happens, very dangerous in slippery weather
The Hydraulic Control Unit Chrysler part number 68143491AA failed and been replaced multiply times on my vehicle. I have the current failed part available for inspection upon request. This causes the Anti-lock braking system and Traction control system to no longer function limiting function under wet or slippery conditions. This puts the driver and others at risk. The problem has been reproduced by my local dealer twice both with the original part and its' replacements. I am adding the first date below. The second failure was 12,000 miles later after the first was ABS was fixed. The vehicle/component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no Warning lamps/messaged before failure only after. These would be ABS lamp and traction control lamp plus a service ABS warning message.
Transmission abrubtly shifts into 4th gear and will not shift up or down. Cannot manually shift either. Must pull over and shut off vehicle and restart.
Service abs system light is on as well as service electronic braking system. My truck no longer has antilock brakes. Cruise control does not work. Dealers do not have parts available to fix the issue. This is a very common and well documented issue with these trucks. This was an intermittent problem to begin with but is now permanent. They should be recalled.
in 2022 the abs and traction control lights began to come on together, leading to loss of ABS and traction control in addition to not being able to use the cruise control. Vehicle was taken to the dealer to be serviced and they stated they would replace the HCU but would not replace the ABS module as they would only address one thing at a time. The problem continues to persist with the constant alarm ding and loss of abs and traction control as the lights continue to flash on the dash. This is a safety issue as you don't know when you'll have abs or traction control and if it happens while driving with the cruise control on, it abruptly shuts down the cruise control.
I have a 2018 ram diesel 4x4 tradesman .around 19,000 miles my service antilock brake system light comes on and off and Abs , traction control. Took it where I bought it and of course the parts was out of warranty so they told me they don’t know if and when my parts will ever come in. But if they do it’s going to cost me 1500 $ and change to fix it. I think for the money I paid for my truck it should have a working brake system in place and should not fail with 19,000 miles on it for no good reason. So this is the million dollar question do I drive this potentially dangerous vehicle? Will it stop? Will traction control work? I paid a lot of money for a truck that I can’t even buy parts for if I wanted to fix it. So keep in mind the safety stuff on this truck is designed to work with the weight of the truck and all the torque it has. Oh yea if you’re brave you could buy used ones on e- bay for $150 dollars. What a joke! Sorry for rambling on. Just how important are brakes? I think dodge should do the right thing and fix these issue’s because it’s their product that is failing. I guess I have to drive a potentially dangerous vehicle. Stay safe.
ABS warning light comes on and chimes randomly. Message: “Service anti-lock braking system”. When driving, warning lights come on, chimes sound continuously, and if using cruise control, it is deactivated. Per my mechanic, I need to replace my ABS module and pump. Parts are on national back order. Estimated time for part availability is one and a half years! Truck only had 16,000 miles on odometer when this problem started. Chime warning comes on randomly and sometimes stays on indefinitely. Driving when the chime is sounding is a nightmare. Deactivation of cruise control is frustrating. Loss of ABS in rainy or slick conditions is dangerous, especially when towing 5th wheel. Dodge has no vehicle recalls on the 2018 2500s. Problem is exasperating and dangerous.
In July 2022, the esc/abs dash lights as well as the ‘service electronic brake/service ABS’ warning began intermittently flashing with resultant loss of traction control and ABS including cruise control. It would continue to activate/deactivate numerous times over the next couple of months. The dealer has identified the hydraulic control module as defective requiring complete replacement of the HCU and ABS system. Online search shows this to be a common known problem along with well over 100 complaints filed with the NHTSA regarding model years 2017-2018. Interestingly, there is a recall for this very problem for the same truck series years 2019-2022 for the same part. There are over 2500 orders for this part and my dealer is not allowed to place an order until mid February because of the backlog endangering my life to use my only vehicle that can be used in the snow this winter. Dodge is clearly not supporting its customer base with providing a known defective part replacement in a reasonable time frame forcing those that don’t have an alternative vehicle to risk their lives and those on the road around them by driving a 7000 pound vehicle that can lose control and not be able to stop given that we are now in the middle of winter.
This is the second time I have had the HCU fail, first time was replaced was at 40653 mile (July 22, 2022) and now again I have the same problem at 46486 miles (Jun 4, 2023), less than 11 months after repair. I use my truck to pull at 12,000 lb. 5th wheel RV so beeping every 3 seconds, no ABS, no cruise control, no traction control is not good.
Bought secondhand at auction with low mileage. Had checked outbytrusted mechanic, all was well. Vehicle records showed brand new transmission on truck. Transmission slipped after service. From July 2022 to today (December 2023) have had to replace transmission FOUR TIMES at great expense. Went to dealership and found no recall notice, they are offering to purchase truck for $7500 cash. Purchase price was approximately $33000 plus about $15,000 in repairs/new transmission replacements and cost of rental vehicle in the thousands as this was a truck purchased for a business. Please issue a recall for this vehicle! This has put a huge dent in our small business and we still don’t have a functional truck!
My 2018 Ram 2500 had an issue in 2022, where it was throwing a "Service Electronic Braking" light. Came on and off, caused the traction control light to come on as well. Additionally, this disabled the cruise control. I paid $1200 roughly to get this fixed because it was not considered part of the drivetrain warranty (50k miles). 16 months later, my truck is having the same issue and Ram wants to charge $1400 to get this fixed again.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the Service ABS and EBS messages displayed along with an audible sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the hydraulic control unit was replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 17,200.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the ABS and Traction Control warning lights illuminated. The contact indicated that when the failure occurred the cruise control suddenly deactivated causing the vehicle to decelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the ABS module and HCU were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but later the failures reoccurred. The failure mileage was 26,448.
On 07/02/2022 I had my Dodge Ram 2500 serviced and assessed for Electronic Braking System Warning and Service Soon light on, by Farlow Automotive 500 S. Wickham Road, West Melbourne, FL 32904 (321) 724-8888. The issue was diagnosed and identified as a bad ABS Control Module as well as a bad ABS Hydraulic Unit. The parts were ordered and installed on 07/20/2022. Following the installation the same Electronic Braking System Warning and Service Soon light went on again. I brought the truck back to Farlow Automotive immediately after the new braking units were installed and it was diagnosed as a faulty ABS Control Module and ABS Hydraulic Unit from the manufacturer. It has been over 2 years since the faulty ABS control module and ABS hydraulic unit has been installed and we have not received appropriate replacement to remedy this important braking system malfunction. We have experienced daily warning lights for 2 years plus, saying service Electronic Braking System. We tow an 8500 pound recreational vehicle for family outings that has repeatedly created significant concerns for the safety of myself and my family for the past 2 years. Farlow Automotive has informed me that they have been in contact with the manufacturer of the ABS Control Module and ABS Hydraulic Unit and that they continue to say it should be here soon but has not arrived after 2 years. For the safety of myself and my family as well as the safety of others driving on the highway, we have remained at risk of Electronic Breaking System failure for over 2 years, without any resolution.
May 18 2020. 6,783 miles on truck ABS light and traction control light started flashing on and off. Drops out of cruise control. Then light stayed on all the time. Dealer replaced the complete brake system. Yesterday July 20 2022 same thing again at 39000 miles.ABS and traction control light on. Dealer said it's out of warranty. There are complaints of this issue all over the web and has been a issue for years. Why is this not a safety recall yet.
ABS and Traction Control system failures. Available for inspection Lack of ABS makes controlling or stopping difficult in the winter, higher potential for collision in slippery conditions. Dealership has confirmed that ABS and HCU modules are cause. Service traction control and antilock brake system messages displayed intermittently starting around July 2022 at 40,000 miles, and then continued until total failure.
The ABS system fails to operate when braking causing skidding and loss of control under hard braking/wet/ slick conditions. The ABS light and the Traction Control light are illuminated and warning dings when the abs system malfunctions. This is incredibly dangerous to a vehicle that can tow a combined G.V.W.R of 24K Lbs. The Dealers are aware of the problem and the manufacturer states that they know of the issue but are not being forced to or have any knowledge of a recall for this failure. There are several forums about this and even had Chrysler/Fiat/Ram truck care involved in the forums about the issue but declines any issue for safety and to keep driving it or bring it in to have repaired at the owner's expense. I feel this is a safety issue with the braking system and needs to be forced on the company to remedy the issues at their expense. I work for Daimler Trucks North America and if this was an issue with a Tractor/Trailer, then it would be a recall to be repaired. People's lives are in danger when you have a heavy vehicle that does not have the proper braking safety features working as they are required to install per your standards. If you require it, it should be operational for the safety of all people on the road.
At 36,100 miles I started getting ABS light warning flashing intermittently on my dash. I took it to a mechanic who told me it needed a ABS module and/or a controller device replacement but these parts have been on back order for the last four months (says RAM). It looks as if many, many people are having this same problem with this vehicle. This problem resigns the vehicle as inoperable since it involves a braking component that is obviously a safety issue. This is my only vehicle so I MUST drive it at times which makes me very nervous.
2018 Ram 2500 with 41,900 miles. ABS and Traction lights started coming on. Had to have the hydraulic control unit replaced. Seems like a known issue and very unsafe to lose abs or traction control. Ram should take notice.
The abs and traction control light is on and chimes non stop and my cruise control will not work when the abs and traction control is defective.It needs the abs pump replaced as do many of these trucks. The next issue is the computer sceen is delaminated and is wanting you to adjust the time and chimes non stop, so it will not allow you to turn on your defrosters so you can see the road. This truck is so unsafe it now just sits in my barn while I drive my 2005 ram with 210000 mile on it! The repair cost is around 5000,00 for a truck with 48,000 miles on it! All safty issues!
HCU is malfunctioning. Loss of ABS. This has been checked at a certified dealership. Warning lights come off and on. This has been happening for the past 5 months. The parts are not available. Dodge/Ram need to make these parts available or they need to give us all a new vehicle.
Service ABS electronic brake indicator light continues to illuminate on various occasions. Dealerships has no answer for issue
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The contact used the parking brake to assist in slowing the vehicle before pulling over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the vehicle was diagnosed with brake failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
I had to brake hard on the freeway to prevent being hit by an 18 wheeler that began to change lanes. Since that incident, every time I press the brake pedal more than 50%, the "Service Electronic Braking System" light flashes on the EVIC. I had the ABS pump replaced in July 2020 under warranty for the same issue, and was advised that it is a known issue, but there was not a recall that has been issued. I have not had any issues with the brake system since the repair until I actually needed it in this instance. This is a safety concern due to the fact that when this occurs, it disables the ABS system.
Electrical issue with the radio. It will change screen, turn the radio up and down. Turn and off. Makes SOS calls on its on. Turn the AC to hot in Arizona when it's already 100+ degrees out. All while driving.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware of a failure with the ABS and HCU systems. The Service Electric Braking System and Service Antilock Braking System warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, no assistance was provided since the parts to perform the repair were not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,000.