2018 Ram 4500 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2018 Ram 4500 has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,826,022 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 24V896000 2024-11-27 317,630 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

A loss of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, or traction control can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the brake HCU, or replace the HCU motor, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed January 9, 2025. Some owner notification letters were mailed January 9, 2025. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date,…

WHEELS 21V398000 2021-05-27 447,985 affected
Defect

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2021 RAM 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. Incorrect information in the Service and Owner's Manuals may cause the flanged lug nuts to be over-tightened, which could result in a broken wheel stud and possible wheel separation.

Consequence

Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.

Remedy

Dealers will update the torque specification in the owner's manual and other published service documents. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle's wheel studs, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y36 owner notification letters were…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 19V236000 2019-03-26 36 affected
Defect

Excellance, Inc. (Excellance) is recalling certain 2018 Ambulances and Emergency Vehicles built on Ford E-350, E-450, F-650, F-550 4x4, Chevrolet G4500, G4500 Diesel, C3500, G3500, Freightliner M2, International 4300, and Dodge 4500 chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of…

Consequence

If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Excellance has notified owners, instructing them to contact Whelen to have the brake lights replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2019. Owners may contact Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331 or Execellance at 1-256-772-9321.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18V332000 2018-05-17 4,815,661 affected
Defect

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018…

Consequence

If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 18V277000 2018-05-01 2,457 affected
Defect

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 RAM 4500 and 5500 cab chassis trucks. The primary and secondary brake hoses located between the brake master cylinder and the hydraulic control unit may have been manufactured without anti-corrosion plating on the ferrules, which can allow the ferrules to corrode.

Consequence

If the ferrules corrode, the brake fluid may leak and cause a loss of braking, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake hoses and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U41.

POWER TRAIN 18V100000 2018-02-08 180,462 affected
Defect

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 RAM 1500, 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock…

Consequence

Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will update the Body Control Module software. Dealers will also test the BTSI operation, replacing the solenoid as necessary. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U11.

EQUIPMENT 17V824000 2017-12-21 61,791 affected
Defect

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged,…

Consequence

If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or Kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on…

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
5
SERVICE BRAKES
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
1
POWER TRAIN
1
STEERING
1
WHEELS
1
Total complaints13

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Nov 27,2024 manufacturer recall numberc4b nhtsa recall number24v-896 recall status recall incomplete, remedy not yet available still no repair for defective parts. Over years.”

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING · reported 2026-01-06

“Nov 27,2024 manufacturer recall numberc4b nhtsa recall number24v-896 recall status recall incomplete, remedy not yet available still no repair for defective parts. Over years.”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2026-01-06

“The contact owns a 2018 ram 4500. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v896000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2024-11-27

“The contact owns a 2018 ram 4500. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v896000 (service brakes, hydraulic). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message to "check abs" was…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2024-11-27

“The anti-lock brake(abs) & electronic stability control(esc) warning lights will come on and off during normally driving conditions. When the esc light comes on the cruise control is non functioning. If the cruise control is set when the warning light is off, the cruise will disengage when it…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2024-08-11

“See attached document for complaint.”

STEERING · reported 2024-08-01

“See attached document for complaint.”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2024-08-01

“See attached document for complaint.”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2024-08-01

Defect investigations

Investigation RQ25003 Opened 2025-07-03 · open

Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 RAM pickup trucks.The subject vehicle models…

Investigation RQ25003 Opened 2025-07-03 · open

Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 RAM pickup trucks.The subject vehicle models…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2018 Ram 4500 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.