What 2,489 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Ram 2500 Regular Cab

Component or system that failed or malfunctioned The issue involves a safety recall‑related system on my Ram truck that remains open with no available remedy for over one year. The vehicle is now experiencing traction loss while pulling and during normal driving, along with multiple failure/warning lights activating on the dashboard. How my safety or the safety of others was put at risk While driving and when pulling/accelerating, the vehicle unexpectedly loses traction, which creates a risk of loss of control, especially during traffic, turns, or acceleration from a stop. The appearance of failure lights combined with traction loss presents a serious safety risk to myself, my passengers, and other motorists, increasing the likelihood of a crash. Whether the problem has been reproduced or confirmed The safety defect is confirmed by the open NHTSA recall associated with my VIN. The traction loss and failure lights have occurred during normal vehicle operation and continue to reappear. The issue has not been repaired due to the manufacturer stating that no recall remedy is currently available. Inspections by dealer, manufacturer, or others Authorized Ram/Dodge dealers have confirmed that the recall remains open with no repair solution available from the manufacturer. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by police or insurance representatives, but it remains available for inspection. Warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms Failure and warning indicator lights have appeared on the dashboard and remain present. These symptoms began while the recall was still unresolved and now occur in conjunction with traction loss during driving and pulling, indicating the defect may be actively affecting vehicle safety.

NHTSA ODI 11731489

I am reporting ongoing safety concerns with my 2018 RAM 2500 (6.7L Cummins) related to repeated emissions/aftertreatment failures and the lack of timely repair options. These failures directly affect drivability and can create hazardous situations if the vehicle enters derate mode while towing or driving at highway speeds. Over the past year, my truck has suffered multiple emissions-related component failures, including DEF dosing issues, SCR/DPF system faults, repeated warning messages, and the threat of speed-limiting derates. The vehicle is used for normal personal use, is well-maintained, and has not been modified. Despite proper maintenance, the same types of failures continue to recur. A major concern is that local RAM dealers have extremely limited ability to service these issues in a timely manner. Appointments are often weeks out, and when the truck is already in a failure state it is unsafe to continue driving. I have previously reported safety-related defects to NHTSA (ABS/HCU), and those issues later resulted in recalls—so I know that reporting matters. The combination of emissions failures, derate risks, and lack of dealer support creates a situation where the vehicle may suddenly lose power or become unsafe to operate, especially when towing or traveling in rural areas with limited service availability. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether there is a broader pattern of emissions-system failures on RAM heavy-duty trucks with the 6.7 Cummins and whether these failures pose a safety risk due to the forced-derate logic and inability to obtain timely repairs.

NHTSA ODI 11704542

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle and while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Service ABS" was displayed. The check engine and ABS warning lights were illuminated, and the ABS alarm chimed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the ABS module needed to be replaced but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

NHTSA ODI 11702651

Turbo actuator is a defective item. Per the Facebook forums I'm in, this item is often talked about as a common point of failure. There are also several videos on YouTube describing the defect. It limits the VGT vanes in the turbo from building/retarding boost in the engine creating an unsafe driving condition by not being able to accelerate properly and limit the effectiveness of the exhaust brake function when towing leading to longer stopping times which could lead to a crash. There are warning lights and CEL codes that can be read/interpreted from a handheld scanner which I have as well as many other knowledgeable mechanics regarding this specific defective/known Ram issue. There are several codes which point to a defective turbo actuator or failing turbo itself. P00AF-turbo boost control "a" module performance P226C-turbocharger boost control slow response

NHTSA ODI 11697093

The contact's son owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while her son was driving 20 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle started to shake abnormally. The check engine light turned on and then went off. The owner received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact called an unknown local dealer and was informed that parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11683853

While towing a heavy load of approx. 16,000 Lbs. uphill steep grade during 100 degree temperature at low travel speed but high engine RPM a load boom came from the engine compartment. Upon inspection the fan shroud had made contact to the fan and caused severe damaged to the cooling system rendering the vehicle disabled until repairs could be made. This occurred about 30,000 miles ago however the current fan shroud has also failed under normal use. If the failed shroud damages the serpentine belt steering and breaking will be jeopardized which could lead to an accident!

NHTSA ODI 11651075

Truck will not shift and drops out of drive leaving you helpless

NHTSA ODI 11649924

Truck only has 66,000 miles and developed a bad oil leak from the timing cover/crank front of engine. Repair is going to cost around $4000 and dealer says there have been several cases of the same thing.

NHTSA ODI 11642699

The Turbo Actuator on the Ram 2500's especially Gen 4 are known to have faulty Turbo Actuators on them. There is a huge supply issue with trying to get one for repair , I called every auto parts store and no one could get one due to manufacture constraints. Basically they told me to call the dealer . The dealer wanted $2,200 for the part , that is outrageous for a known faulty part , please look into this as there are thounsands of people who have made this repair.

NHTSA ODI 11636791

1. Remote start will engage when initiated then turn off after 10 seconds. 2. Gear shift leveler not all the way in park when at park.

NHTSA ODI 11629260

Nothing has happened so far, however it has come to my attention that the grid heater bolt will eventually deteriorate until dropping into the intake and then into the number six cylinder. This could be a serious safety issue for me when pulling our 2970 RL Imagine Travel Trailer that could possibly weigh upwards toward 10,000 pounds fully loaded. We have traveled and likely will again Interstate 75/85 through Atlanta, parts of which has as many as six lanes. In addition to a potentially serious safety issue there would be a considerable repair cost with likely having to spend up to $20,000.00 for a new engine destroyed by a defective bolt in an extremely terrible location, and my truck has only between 50,000 and 60,000 miles on it with this engine being known as a million mile engine.

NHTSA ODI 11615693

The contact owned a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated the vehicle was parked overnight on the street and unoccupied when a loud bang was heard and it was discovered that the vehicle had caught on fire. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The fire department and police department arrived to inspect the vehicle where it was noticed the fire started on the passenger side of the engine however the exact origin could not be determined. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was consumed by the flames and there were only burnt framing remains of the vehicle. A police report was filed but the case number was not available. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle remained in the contact's possession. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11590977

On 20 Mar 2024, the vehicle throttle went to full throttle and was stuck in full throttle while on the highway. After kicking the accelerator pedal multiple times the throttle came out of full and then entered limp mode with the message “service electronic throttle control” displayed. The accelerator pedal did not stick on anything and the truck actively pulled the accelerator pedal away from my foot and completely into the firewall. Luckily the brakes were strong enough to control the acceleration but this occurred in a packed part of the highway with few options to pull to the side of the road. After kicking the pedal more and cycling the power to the truck, it exited limp mode and normal operation was restored. Afterward the truck displayed no codes so the mechanic could not verify the problem. This has occurred 3 times now.

NHTSA ODI 11581337

Loss of power/turbo. I was hauling a heavy load when I had a loss of turbo power on highway. Causing my truck to loose mph up a hill and almost getting struck by a semi vdd into my trailer. Check engine light is on and turbo don’t kick on anymore. I haven’t had the money to fix the problem but I’m certain it’s the turbo/turbo actuator.

NHTSA ODI 11577881

when hauling my 20' enclosed trailer with a 10k lbs load my 2018 ram 2500 turbo actuator went out. my exhaust brake is inoperable due to the turbo actuator not functioning properly. the truck does not build boost as it should. there is a service bulletin for 2015 ram 2500 with 6,7 cummins in them. bulletin number [XXX]. this bulletin covers the exact part that went out on my truck while hauling. the part numbers from 2015 to 2018 model years did not change. i have attempted to reach out to ram about this issue. they state that the part is different even though the dealership says it is the same. here is a link to said defective part. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11574515

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while towing a trailer at 55 MPH, the turbo actuator failed to operate with the check engine warning light illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact discovered Technical Service Bulletin: 09-005-22 which linked the failure to the turbo actuator kit. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and referred the contact back to the dealer to have a diagnostic test performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11574528

The truck developed and engine tick. They got progressively worse, and it felt like the engine was misfiring and made the speed of the truck inconsistent when I tried to accelerate in decelerate. The mechanic told me the engine ticks were definitely coming from the lifters and we had it repaired. This was not cheap. The ticking went on for about one month before I had it repaired. I have attached the invoice.

NHTSA ODI 11571941

Vehicle has 62953 miles. Ram service dept says the vehicle needs new engine,pcm,hydro boost assembly, hydraulic control unit, shifter assembly. They repaired the drag link in 2019. This did not solve issue. The tires were being worn rapidly. Ram said they would replace the drag link. Vehicle is drivable but not safe.

NHTSA ODI 11521432

Multiple reports from 6.7 Ram Cummins owners experiencing the failure of the grid heater. The grid heater failure leads to the destruction of the engine. Ram uses a grid heater to warm up the vehicle during cold temperatures for starting. During this process, it has been reported, that the not of the grid heater melts off and enters the engine causing catastrophic damage.

NHTSA ODI 11506478

First time brake system hydraulic control unit failed was at 17,000 miles, now have 76,000 and it has failed again. Abs system notification goes off and on constantly. Turbo actuator has failed at 76,000 miles. Check engine light and associated ecu codes are flashing. Rear view camera on tailgate goes out intermittently.

NHTSA ODI 11506121

The brake anti lock warning light comes on intermittently causing cruise control to be turned off.Yes it can be inspected.I feel this is a safety issue when driving at highway speeds.

NHTSA ODI 11496780

Diesel truck computer system shuts down truck for minor def system error code to 5mph within 85 miles to get to a dealer to reset computer code. This will cause deaths from truck not going any faster than 5mph on freeway. Just because the def system sees an error and might cause a bit more exhaust, to shut down your truck in the middle of nowhere causing traffic nightmares and deaths is the most stupid rule the EPA and mfgs follow. Epa and mfg needs new computer programming on all diesel trucks that have this. If anything, make the derate to 65 mph for 500 miles, far enough so folks can get home safely.

NHTSA ODI 11494452

Def warning light comes on for no reason and derates your speed to 5mph while traveling on interstate pulling trailer. You have only 85 miles to get to a dealer to erase codes. This is a very unsafe computer programing setting that the EPA states must be done. Going 5mph while on interstate pulling trailer will cause numerous deaths and accidents. 85 miles in nothing when your out in the middle of nowhere.

NHTSA ODI 11493811

The engine oil pressure light suddenly comes on and the pressure drops causing the engine to turn off. Vehicle turns off in the middle of road while driving can cause serious accidents and injuries.

NHTSA ODI 11492976

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that after two weeks of not driving the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start up after several attempts. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact jumpstarted the vehicle and made an appointment with the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. However, the dealer replaced the battery. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on two other occasions; however, the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.

NHTSA ODI 11489109