NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ram 3500. 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
My 2018 Dodge Ram with 7175 miles on it has a continuous service anti lock brake and service electric brake light go on and off.Cruise control inoperable as it shuts off when the warning lights go on and off.Dealer did a $160.00 diagnostic on the system that I had to pay for only to tell me the hydraulic control unit needs to be replaced at a total cost of $825.00 that I am responsible for.Additionally,the part is “controlled” by the manufacturer and they are allotted one unit per week.No time frame when the vehicle will be repaired.This is a safety issue especially when the constant “chime “ goes off which is very distracting.I haul a camping trailer with this Ram 3500 duelly four door diesel four wheel drive and the braking is questionable.
On August 18th, 2022, my "Service ABS system" light starting blinking on and off constantly. I took it to the dealer. They replaced the HCU unit, part of the ABS system. It was not a cheap repair. Yesterday, it starting doing it again. I have read several places that this is a known issue and lots of people are having it. Shouldn't there be a recall by RAM for this? I tow a trailer with my truck. I'm sure this is a safety issue.
ABS/HCU intermittent warning lights/ alarm on dash. Renders ABS brakes inoperable at only 25000 miles
I have a 2018 Ram 3500 with the Cummins 6.7 diesel engine. My ABS traction control lights constantly kick on and off. This is unknown problem as the ABS module needs to be replaced. Ram knows about the issue as thousands of trucks are affected, there is no recall. There are no parts available according to my dealer. When the lights kick on, I have no antilock brakes, no traction control and four-wheel-drive will not work. I live in the northeast, so not only is this dangerous on wet roads, but my truck is useless in the snow, as four-wheel-drive will not work. A recall is needed to force ram to produce these parts and fix the trucks at their cost
Warning light flashes ABS needs service. It intermittently goes on and off. When it does start to flash it shuts off the cruise control. The ECU also comes on/off. In 2020 Driving in the mountains when it was raining having the cruise control shutting off almost caused an accident. Braking in the rain is also dangerous if the ABS goes out. The truck now has 42,000 miles and we need to have it replaced again This makes this truck very dangerous to drive.
My ABS and Traction Control components in my 2018 1-ton Ram are intermittently setting codes with the ECU, leading to loss of ABS, Traction Control, and inability to use my cruise control. I am concerned that I have a loss in braking performance without those components operating as designed. I have brought my truck to the local Ram dealer only to be told that the module will not be available for install until Feb of 2024 after an upgraded unit is made available to the dealers. I feel that this should be a recall, as a quick internet search shows multiple owners of the same vehicle are also affected. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My ABS and Traction control lights will come on and off, making my cruise control stop working without warning. sometimes it stays on and sometimes it goes off. it is completely random. I'm seeing lots of reviews saying this is happening to others and its the HCU module and the abs control. please help get this fixed
Service ABS System goes on and off at various times causes cruise control not to work as designed.
The ABS light and traction control light randomly come on. I loose breaking power from time to time. It is a known issue with these vehicles. Unfortunately there is no way to fix it at this time. All of the dealerships near me have the part on back order and have for well over 6 months. It’s not very fun to drive around with no reliable ABS and the possibility the brakes may fail. I do not drive my truck basically at all anymore. It is a 2018 with 44000 miles. There is no reason the ABS should have failed. The vehicle has been inspected and I was told that a new module was needed. The problem is, I can’t get the module. This needs to be fixed
anti lock brake warning lights randomly come on and sometimes continuously Dealership says module needs replacing along with numerous other customers 31 K miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the messages "Service Brakes" and "Service ABS" were displayed and an alarm sounded. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the failure recurred and the front passenger's side wheel locked up, causing the vehicle to accelerate unintendedly. The contact was able to decelerate and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS pump and the ABS module needed to be replaced; however, the ABS module was on backorder and under engineering review. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE22012 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
I had my ABS module/HCU changed a few years ago, now I am getting the same issues and will need it replaced again. This malfunction also cause cruise control to be inoperable. This time on my dime. After research this has been an ongoing issue with ram trucks since atleast the 2018 model year. Why has a mandatory recall not been called?
ABS and HCU modules are not operating properly. Resulting in no abs and no cruise control.
My 2018 truck since owning has had 4+ of the ABS Hydraulic Control Units replaced. None of them last more than 1 year, sometimes 2 years before the ABS HCU fails again. Dodge / RAM does not offer a solution of any kind. Other than it's a know issue and parts are back ordered. Considering the part never lasts there must be another issue, Dodge/RAM needs to fix this. Thank You
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that ABS pump control had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the parts were not available. The dealer informed the contact that the parts would be available within 4-6 months. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,500.
ABS /Traction Control Light Service Electronic Braking System Service Antilock Brake System Vehicle ABS malfunctions and makes it difficult to stop
ABS Light and Traction Control Light are both on. Loss of ABS functionality. The code displayed is C0020-01. The dealer has not looked at this vehicle yet but service will be scheduled with them.
ABS/HCU intermittent failure resulting in loss of traction control, ABS function, cruise control. The risk associated to myself and others is the loss of ABS and traction control, in bad weather (rain, snow sleet) conditions the drivability of the vehicle is severely compromised. I was made aware of the open class action suite regarding this flaw and have not left the truck for dealer service. Warning lights include ABS, traction control, and service electronic breaking.
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.
Antilock brake warning light that says service antilock brake system comes on often if you hit any bump or rough spot. It continually dings and then the cruise won’t work. We have been told the part to fix it is unavailable. It is a horrible thing that cannot be repaired.
ABS and traction control lights come on intermittently and a chime sound occurs. When this happens cruise control stops working. Getting a “Service Electronic Braking System” message and “Service Antilock Brake System” message. Had to wait three weeks to get an appointment for dealer to troubleshoot. Dealer said it has code C0020-01 logged. Dealer says the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) has an internal failure that is shorting out the ABS pump control. Dealer stated that part will not be available until February or March of 2024 if not later for repairs. Dealer verbally said to either park the vehicle until part is available or drive it knowing that the ABS braking system may not work properly in case of emergency stop. Dealer said there is no recall for this problem but they are aware of many vehicles with it. I feel there needs to be an immediate recall issued for this problem as it is endangering the public.
Keeping getting ABS warning light and electronic braking system warning.
The truck is getting constant ABS failure messages, such as (1) “Service electronic braking system”, and (2) “Service antilock brake system “. When either of these rear their ugly heads, there is multiple loud dinging sounds (which startles the driver), and the cruise control gets turned off. Why hasn’t there been a safety recall?!?! If you guys can’t see that a failed braking system is NOT a safety issue, then our country is way worse than I already thought it was!!!! BRAKES ARE A SAFETY ISSUE!!!! Not only are they a safety issue, but thousands and thousands of 2017 & 2018 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 owners are having these exact issues in the United States!! WHY ISN’T THERE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE?!?! Are you just going to wait, until you have multiple DEATHS, before you do something to PROTECT owners?!?!
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? On July 28, 2023, while travelling Northbound on Hwy 287 N, the engine brake automatically engaged without depressing the brake pedal or decelerating. Prior to this, there was no indication of any problem. No messages or warning lights appeared. I notified Karl Klement Dodge in Decatur Texas to inquire about braking problems or recalls affecting this model. I was told that I had no recalls, and they were unaware of any similar issues. On 9/11/23, after travelling approximately six miles, the ABS and traction control yellow warning indicator light illuminated and an audible warning ding initiated. These warning lights came on and off at recurring intervals, on multiple occasions. Eventually, the service ABS system warning initiated on the center control panel. At this point, I had driven no further than 8 miles. I proceeded to an independent service center in Bridgeport, Texas and spoke with a certified mechanic. He did a computerized diagnostic which indicated the HCU/ABS Module system was showing to be defective. The mechanic stated that they have had to replace this item on other vehicles recently. I again notified the Karl Klement Dodge dealership to inquire about my warranty or a recall or any other problems relating to the ABS or other braking system components. I was told that it would not be covered under warranty, and that there were no problems with the braking system on the particular model, nor recalls but that I could, "bring it in if [I] want to." The current mileage on this vehicle is only 24,314 miles as of 9/11/23. Due to the safety necessity of the braking system, it is a severe safety concern. Upon further research, I have found multiple parties with similar problems with the ABS system on this model.
Antilock brakes Malfunctioning dealer Says Wont fix it under extended warranty Does Not allow antilock brakes to function properly
At around 50,000 miles my truck began to turn off cruise control while driving, ding, and the ABS ,as well as, the traction control light came on. It goes on and off repeatedly while driving. This is incredibly distracting and quite possibly dangerous for braking and handling. The local dealership is aware and have stated that even though it is still under warranty, there is no available part to fix it.
ABS and traction control warning, flashing and audible alarm sounding. ABS braking system disabled. Loss of cruise control. Dealer confirms that this is a known problem with 2017/18 2500/3500 Ram pickups. Stared at around 31800 miles. Problem is ongoing, and not resolved. Dealer said parts are on nationwide back up. And not covered under warranty. See a California Class Action lawsuit for this problem.
In September 2023 I started getting a warning to service the ABS system. The warning and associated annoying tone would appear and than disappear at different times. I spoke with the service manager from Lithia Dodge where I purchased the truck. He told me that he was unable to service my truck because the ABS parts are not available. I was told that like a great number of Ram truck owners, I had to "hurry up and wait for a solution." This is unacceptable. To make matters worse, I am moving out of the country in February. I had a buyer for my truck and now it is un-sellable due to this ABS issue. I hope that a re-call will be issued soon so those of us with this common issue can get some relief. Thank you
ABS PUMP WENT OUT AND THE ABS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. WE HAVE CHNAGED THE SENSORS ON THE WHEELS. THE PART IS ON BACKORDER AND IS HARD TO GET.
Failure of abs system, traction control, and cruise control. Dealer has parts backordered for 4+ months. Throwing abs code for a bad Hcu or abs pump. Truck has zero abs ability.
Already had hcu replaced once now its bad again this truck never goes off road the first time was at 9953 miles now the second time 30550 miles these parts are not even available there has to be something done there no excuse for this to happen. So many complaints about these parts we need a recall
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the ABS system had failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the hydraulic control unit (HCU) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the part being on back order. The contact was informed that the part would be available in March 2024. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
HCU failure at 75k miles causing loss of ABS, Traction Control, and cruise control functions brakes are not as efficient anymore part is 8-12month back order, fiat Chrysler dealership locally said nothing we can do don't drive it wait for $700 part to come In some time in the future. Only vechicle I have I. Self employed can not just park truck for 8-12 months and continue to make payments, there is no option to sell as someone will not buy with abs issues and traction control in-op. This is a wide know issue on rams fiat Chrysler has done nothing to ensure the safety of its drivers and owners. For them to simply say park it do not drive wait 8-12 months to be fixed is absolutely ridclious. A reca needs to be issued and part failures need to be handled. Quick search on line shows many trucks having same problem and same results at dealership.
The "Service ABS" warning light randomly started coming on in the dashboard display. Sometimes it alerts every few seconds, other times it may not alert for days. When this happens I experience a loss of anti-lock brakes, traction control, and cruise control. This truck is used to pull heavy loads and the random loss of anti-lock brakes is not good. My local dealer says that parts are on on back order for many months. The potential loss of braking is scares me and is a danger to others around me. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection.
ABS module has been replaced 2 times after factory modules have failed. I now have a 3rd failure and Ram says unit is under engineering review. 82,000 miles on truck.
The Hydraulic control unit has failed. It has been taken to a mechanic and diagnosed. The electronic part has been replaced per my warranty info and mechanic recommendation and it is still failed, meaning the main HCU is the issue. The cruise control will shut off automatically and the ABS and traction control do not work while in fault. While towing a trailer up an on ramp, the HCU went into fault causing the traction control to fail and the pick up lost traction and started sliding sideways...Luckily I was able to get it under control without crashing. This was all due to the HCU intermittent failure, causing the traction control to stop working. While this is faulted, the ABS also does not work.
The ABS light and traction control light comes on intermittently, from my understanding this controls the stopping power of the truck. I have no traction control when I am pulling my camper. The lights will go off and then come back on own their own, even when the truck is sitting still with nothing hooked to it.
The component that failed was a brake module. It caused the loss of ABS and TCS. The part was claimed to be on backorder, and it took seven months for the part to be replaced. This forced me to drive an unsafe vehicle.
Since purchasing this truck brand new in 2018 we have had nothing but problems with this vehicle. Dodge Ram failed us every time. They failed to work with the dealer and ignored every attempt to find solutions. It started with vehicle loosing power on very dangerous locations a specially freeway located in curves in the middle of nowhere. It took years to fix that problem. Multiple times we drove from the shop being told that it was fixed and it wasn't. We would drive right back in after 15 min. It took over 3 years to get dodge and dealer to replace the transmission and all electrical issues. The other problem that we have had since buying this truck is the AC. Its been always a problem we are continuously trying to fix it and its been very hard. This entire summer my children have been suffering. We are driving in extreme heat with zero ac and Dodge Ram can not produce part for the dealership to fix it. What is really unfair that original dealer tried again to charge us for something that it waste the problem. We would have paid for it and would have been back within an hour. The new dealer Peterson Dodge understood the problem and was honest with us that there is a lot more then a filter. It was me who requested to get a second opinion and get a way from Larry H Miller Dodge.
ABS warning indicator occurs intermittently. Dealer indicates fault code C0020-01 - ABS Pump Motor Control General Electrical Failure. Found active FCA STAR Online Publication 'case number [XXX] dated 4/28/2020 that indicated this failure, with instructions on troubleshooting/repair, and instructions for returning parts to FCA. [XXX] Dealer (8/28/23) had informed me that parts are on on backorder, unavailable, and could not be ordered until spring of 2024. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ABS failed during a panic stop causing the vehicle to skid. Received a notice on the dash to “Service Electronic Braking System” followed by the ABS and traction control lights coming on then off a number of times. It is my understanding that the Hydraulic Control Unit has failed, and FCA is aware of this issue. Failure of ABS in a large heavy pickup truck is dangerous, and FCA should issue a recall to repair the affected units.
At 6000 miles the hydraulic control unit and and ABS module went bad, at 15000 miles the same thing happened again
ABS mogel is defective and needs to be replaced. ABS light and chimes come on constantly. Affecting braking and lose of cruise control ability. This is a know fact that it is a defective part on ram trucks.
Sep 2020 purchased 6 Cooper Discoverer AT3 (LT235/80 R17) tires to replace OEM tires, mileage 12,885. On/around Sep 2022 while towing a 38' 5th wheel trailer, front end of truck started bouncing, mileage 26,334. Both driver and passenger tires where found to have tread separation. Replaced those two with same make/model new tires. All other tires where rotated and balanced. New tires went to inner rear wheels. On/around Aug 2023, once again while towing large 5th wheel trailer, front of truck started bouncing when turning to the left, muted vibration when turning to the right. Tire shop found passenger front tire tread separation again. This was one of the orginal 6 from 2020, mileage 33,762. Since 3 of the 6 tires failed I replaced all 7 (spare included) Cooper tires at my expense.
The ABS/ Traction control is intermittently failing. It is aviliable for inspection. When the light comes on I have no ABS or Traction control which may cause me to lose control under certain circumstances. The dealer has and the manufacturer has confirmed the problem. The dealership was able to reproduce the issue. The component was inspected by the dealership. There are the ABS/ Traction control light that comes on the dash sometimes. I have been told that the part that needs to be replace is backordered indefinitely and the manufacturer has no idea when they will get any new ones. From what reasearch I have done it looks like they need to reengineer the parts to make them work right. Also told that this is not covered by any recalls which I think is wrong as it is a safety issue that they knew about.
I purchased my 2018 Ram 3500 new, in July of 2019. Since then, the HCU/ABS Module has failed 3 times. The first occurrence was at 4391 miles, the second was at 24768 miles, and the third, was yesterday at approx. 45000 miles. The "Service ABS System" light goes on and off intermittingly, which shuts down cruise control and other electrical components. The brake pedal at times feels stiff when brakes applied. This repair is close to two thousand dollars. I've read the other complaints while researching this issue. Something needs to be done by RAM to correct this safety, and excessive cost to owner issue.
The code C0020-01 ABS Pump Motor Control - General Electrical Failure popped up. This happened with 53172 miles on the odometer. Looking on the Cummins Forum, this happens often to the 2017 and 2018 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups.
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?
ABS and Electric Brake System warning lights are on and off intermittently. These symptoms have been reported by many other owners due to defected part installation from the manufactor based on my internet research.
When operating the vehicle the Service ABS/Traction control light starts flashing and cruise control becomes disabled while driving. ABS and traction control becomes disabled. Safety issue! Advised the part will not be available until Feb 2024 and to operate vehicle as is.