Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Ram 1500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Ram 1500 has 15 NHTSA recall campaigns and 667 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 6 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #25V592000 Side Curtain Air Bag Inflators May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V010000 Side Curtain Air Bag Inflators May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V411000 Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V406000 High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V632000 Side Curtain Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V475000 Crank Position Sensor Tone Wheel may Delaminate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V757000 EGR Cooler May Crack and Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V347000 Tailgate May Open Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V324000 Driveshaft May Fracture and Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V556000 Rear Axle may Fail Due to Insufficient Oil Level NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V524000 Voltage Regulator may Fail and Cause Stall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V398000 Loss of Visibility in Backup Camera/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V332000 Cruise Control cannot be Cancelled NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V280000 Incorrect Transmission Park Rods Installed NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V100000 Vehicle May Rollaway NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 159 complaints
- Engine 110 complaints
- Unknown or Other 92 complaints
- Steering 90 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 81 complaints
- Power Train 60 complaints
Of the 667 complaints on file, 25 report a crash and 8 a fire; across all 667 complaints, owners report 25 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $12,000–$20,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Ram 1500 has numerous recalls, particularly affecting air bags, engine and cooling, and power train. The 667 owner complaints highlight significant issues with the electrical system and engine. The complaint data indicates potential long-term reliability concerns, though the evidence is not exhaustive.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $250–$1,200 | common |
| Engine | 70,000–110,000 miles | $1,500–$5,000 | common |
| Power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,200–$4,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections and servicing
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system flush
- Tire rotations and replacements
- Air filter replacements
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Warning lights on dashboard
- Unusual engine noises
- Transmission slipping or jerking
- Sudden loss of power
- Unexpected electrical issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Ram 1500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.