Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Ram 4500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Ram 4500 has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 9 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V896000 Loss of ABS/Traction Control from Module Failure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V398000 Wheel Studs May Break NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V236000 Brake Light may Randomly Illuminate/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V332000 Cruise Control cannot be Cancelled NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V277000 Loss of Braking due to Brake Hose Corrosion 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, Hydraulic 5 complaints
- Service Brakes 4 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 1 complaint
- Forward Collision Avoidance 1 complaint
- Power Train 1 complaint
- Steering 1 complaint
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Ram 4500 has multiple recalls related to critical systems such as brakes, wheels, and powertrain. The frequency of owner complaints about the brakes and hydraulic systems suggests persistent issues, impacting reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| brakes | 40,000–60,000 miles | $400–$800 | very common |
| hydraulic control unit | 50,000–70,000 miles | $700–$1,500 | common |
| transmission | 60,000–80,000 miles | $1,000–$3,500 | occasional |
| wheel studs | 40,000–60,000 miles | $200–$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 and filter change
- brake fluid replacement
- transmission service
- tire rotation and balance
- cabin and air filters
- cooling system check
- differential service
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- unusual brake noises
- ABS warning light
- difficulty shifting gears
- steering vibrations
- check engine light
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Ram 4500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.