Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Ram 3500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Ram 3500 has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns and 809 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
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 #21V398000 Wheel Studs May Break 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 502 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 145 complaints
- Electrical System 137 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 108 complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 60 complaints
- Unknown or Other 37 complaints
Of the 809 complaints on file, 16 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 809 complaints, owners report 6 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,500–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Ram 3500 receives an average reliability rating. While there are notable issues with the service brakes, electrical system, and steering, these are not uncommon among heavy-duty trucks. The recalls largely address safety-related components such as airbags, brakes, and powertrain shifting mechanisms, which though significant, are manageable when proactively addressed.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| service brakes | 50,000–80,000 miles | $400–$700 | very common |
| electrical system | 40,000–70,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| steering linkage | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| transmission lock | 50,000–80,000 miles | $250–$600 | occasional |
| backup camera | 30,000–60,000 miles | $150–$300 | 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 change every 7,500 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 20,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 50,000 miles
- Differential service every 30,000 miles
- Air filter replacement annually
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Brake pedal feels soft
- Unusual electric flickering
- Steering wheel play or noise
- Transmission not holding in park
- Backup camera outages
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Ram 3500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.