The Lane Check

Cars › Ram › 2500 › 2018

2018 Ram 2500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
4%
116 of 2,597 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Ram 2500. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 4% of relevant complaints.

Better than 99% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
Share this car

Looking at a specific 2500?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.

Check a VIN

Does the 2018 Ram 2500 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 116 of 2,597 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ram 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (4%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 12% and the 2019 scores 45%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
116
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
2,597
this model year
Fires reported
5
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
10
39 crashes · 12 injuries

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES2,358 · 91%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM475 · 18%
HYDRAULIC459 · 18%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL342 · 13%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE225 · 9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER103 · 4%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
20%
58 of 298
2012
35%
94 of 283
2013
42%
70 of 178
2014
40%
127 of 341
2015
41%
82 of 214
2016
46%
110 of 258
2017
12%
85 of 697
2018
4%
116 of 2,597
2019
45%
82 of 193
2020
44%
69 of 162
2021
53%
53 of 108
2022
51%
85 of 181
2023
53%
18 of 49

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM09/27/2026
I haven’t had an accident yet, but the car beeps at me constantly. It’s very distracting. Abs / traction control lights constantly going on and off. Also had issues with transmission, gears shifting hard, 4wd bushings in transfer case, etc. I have asked for an update on recalls many times. No part available. It’s be…
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES09/09/2026
My 2018 Ram 2500 has a safety recall (C4B/NHTSA 24V - 896) for BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL and the remedy for this condition is "NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE" ??? I have contacted FCA recall assistance center and 2 different dealers and they all are "SORRY" but say there is nothing they can or will do. One dealer offered …
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE08/24/2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 MPH and depressing the brake, the vehicle slid in the rain. The ABS, traction control, and engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic)…

Three of 116 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2018 Ram 2500 (10)

STEERING:LINKAGES
Streetcar ORV LLC (Streetcar) is recalling certain American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) 3" Dualsport aftermarket suspension kits, part numbers N0436000 and N0436001, sold f…
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with an 8 foot bed and a power locking tailgate. Chrysler is also rec…
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey and RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The backup camera may experience a loss of image display while backi…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2018 Ram 2500

Questions people ask about the 2018 Ram 2500

Does the 2018 Ram 2500 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 116 of 2,597 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ram 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (4%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Ram 2500?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns on the 2018 Ram 2500. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Ram 2500 years are better?

The 2018 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Ram 2500 years we track (4%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2018 Ram 2500?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2018 Ram 2500 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

Check a VIN

Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.