Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Ram 2500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Ram 2500 has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2,608 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 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 #24V896000 Loss of ABS/Traction Control from Module Failure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V347000 Tailgate May Open Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V021000 Steering Linkage May Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18E096000 Incorrectly Machined Steering Knuckle may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V398000 Loss of Visibility in Backup Camera/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V332000 Cruise Control cannot be Cancelled NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V100000 Vehicle May Rollaway NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V824000 Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes 1,842 complaints
- Electrical System 476 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 464 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 342 complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 225 complaints
- Unknown or Other 103 complaints
Of the 2,608 complaints on file, 39 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 2,608 complaints, owners report 12 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,500–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Ram 2500 has significant issues with brakes, electrical, and steering systems, with high recall and complaint counts in these areas. Mechanical problems can be costly and frequent.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| service brakes | 30,000–60,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | very common |
| electrical system | 40,000–70,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | common |
| steering linkage | 50,000–80,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| hydraulic system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $700–$2,000 | occasional |
| power train | 70,000–100,000 miles | $1,000–$3,500 | 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 change every 5,000 miles
- Replace brake pads every 30,000 miles
- Inspect suspension annually
- Change transmission fluid every 60,000 miles
- Replace air filters every 20,000 miles
- Rotate tires every 10,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Brake pedal feels spongy
- Unresponsive or flickering electronics
- Steering feels loose
- Clunking sound in front end
- Transmission fails to engage promptly
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Ram 2500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.