What 775 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Ram 3500

My ABS and Traction control warning lights and Chime continue to come on and off while driving. Replaced the anti brake Hydraulic Brake Controller two years ago and now the same problem. I read that there are quite a few of the same model trucks having the same problem!

NHTSA ODI 11547907

My 2018 3500 Dully with 34,000 miles started having an issue with the ABS, Traction Control and Eletronic Brack control systems. While driving the truck on a trip, the Traction Control, and ABS lights started coming on intermittently and the check Eletronic Brack control came on at the same time and it too flashed intermittently. Also, while this is happening, the cruise control does not work. Took the truck to the dealer, parts are not available until February of 2024. Five months from now. They recommend two parts be replaced, Anti-lock brake system, part number 68347098AB and Control Anti-Lock Brake System Part 68143491AB. I'm being told it will cost around $2,000 for the repairs. The 5-year 100,000 drive train is within the warranty period; however, this is not covered by RAM. For such an expensive truck, I find it disturbing that in the event of such failure It was advised to take the truck into the dealer as soon as possible because the truck with an ABS issue is not drivable and the dealer says its ok to drive it even though all the systems lights are flashing intermittently.

NHTSA ODI 11548069

ABS and HCU modules are not operating properly. Resulting in no abs and no cruise control.

NHTSA ODI 11546123

Abs and traction control lights are on. Cruise control will not work when lights are on. Lights go on and off with chime very annoying. Brakes will not function properly when lights are on. Contacted dealer no eta on parts. Almost 2 years now. Contacted dealer before warranty was out. Next time I went to ask I got another service rep and he said my warranty is out. This is not good.

NHTSA ODI 11544900

I am getting a warning on this dash telling me that I need to "service electronic braking system". When this message comes up I lose my ABS brakes, cruise control and I get a traction control warning light. Sometimes this will stay on for weeks and then go off for a day and start all over again. When the road is wet you have to be careful with the brakes. I went to the local dealer in Bryan, TX and showed him the warning lights and he told me that I had a bad sensor in the truck. The cost could be as high as $1500.00. The dealership told me that they repair on an average (2) two trucks a DAY foy this PROBLEM. I had the truck checked for any codes in the system and the tech told me that I did not have any codes but yet the tech could see both warning lights on my dash. ABS light and Traction control light.

NHTSA ODI 11544565

ABS LIGHT CODE C002-01 AT 16582 MILES .REPLACED HCU .19710 MILES ABS LIGHT BACK ON CODE C002-01REPAIR LASTED 3128 MILES.TOOK VEHICLEBACK TO DEALER WITH SAME PROBLEM 3/29/23DEALER SAYS NO PARTS AVALABLE SO NO TRUCK TILL PARTS COME IN .AUGUST IS BEST GUESS AS TO PARTS .CALLED DEALER IN AUGUST NOW NO PARTS TILL DECEMBER AND MAYBE NOT THEN.BOUGHT TRUCK NEW FEB 2019 TRUCK BEEN DOWN MORE THAN DRIVEN.DEALER SAYS PROBLEM HAS LOWERED VALUE OF TRUCK CONSIDERABLY.NEED TO RECALL ALL 2018 RAM 2500/3500 TRUCKS. I TRY NOT TO DRIVE TRUCK AT ALL EVEN DEALER SAYS TO DRIVE IT WITH NO ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI 11542883

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the cruise control became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that an unknown sensor needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11538926

When driving at Interstate speed of 65 MPH pulling my goose neck horse trailer the instrument panel started dinging and indicated "Service Electronic Brake System", "Service Antilock Brake System" and the Cruise Control stopped working. I slowed and continued home with warring alternation with "dings" every few seconds. I took vehicle to local Dodge Dealer (Blaise Alexander Lewisburg PA) on 08/10/23 who checked the truck and said I needed the HCU replaced. (Code: 0020-01) I had to wait a few days to get the part. Truck was returned to me on 08/15.23. Invoice Number CHCS26809. Total Cost: $843.75

NHTSA ODI 11538717

I have a 2018 Dodge 3500 with 9800 miles on it.. The ABS light has come on reflecting a braking and control problem. This also shuts down the safety system within the brakes, shuts down the 4 wheel drive and cruise controls also. It is my understanding from the dealership, there is a problem with the parts within this system, and they can not get any parts released to them for repair. They also don't want to use the same parts, knowing they will only fail again. Which would fall back on them, as a repair faciality. Why hasn't the NHTSA ordered a recall on these vehicles. There are Law Suites also addressing the ABS failure and many complain on this safety failure. I see there is a recall regarding tailgates issue on some of the dodge products. Clearly the braking systems must a higher priority. We should not be required to pay for these repairs. I paid $ 70,000.00 plus for my truck!!! Now they cost in the mid $ 80 K I want feed back from the NHTSA regarding there actions, on the Dodge ABS failure. You ask a question below regarding "WAS THERE A CRASH" in this case it was a near crash. Yes I alive, due to my agility to control the vehicle only. I'm 65 and drive vehicles prior to ABS, so this played into my abilities to control the vehicle. It is now a Federal Law that all vehicles be equipped with a ABS system.. ONE THAT WORKS CORRECTLY. My truck is due a annual safety inspection by the end of this month. Its unsafe to operate my truck, and it must remained park in the garage intil someone stops draging there feet and issue the recall. Yes I am very upset, as with many others

NHTSA ODI 11537178

ABS warning light came on, this also shuts down the cruise control system. ABS traction control is inoperable, my understanding the problem is the ABS/HCU pump/Module.. I only have 9087 miles on this truck. It’s a Dodge 3500 Dully. I garage keep and baby this truck, as I paid a lot of money for it. It is my understanding, based on all the internet feedback, that this is a major safety issue and NHTSA is dragging there feet, on ordering a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11536726

C0020-01 ABS Pump Motor Control - General Electrical Failure Under Warranty by FCA Extended Warranty Unable to order part until after 2/21/24 Unsafe to drive with issue and cruise control is inoperable Dash continues to beep while driving which is also very distracting

NHTSA ODI 11534131

Truck has only 65, 000 miles on it, I’m the second buyer, has never haul anything or hitch a trailer, I’m having this electrical brake system failure ABS, this vehicle is to expensive and new to have early issues on it. ABS Motor Control- General Electric failure. I seem other similar problems reported with same year and same problems.

NHTSA ODI 11531877

I recently purchased this 2018 Ram Dually for work on our farm. After 1 trip all the ABS/traction control/4wd and cruise control wont work. It seems that this a safety issue that ram will not address. I would like to file a complaint that if I had known about these issues, I would not have purchased this truck. It is unsafe driving and with no ABS and cruise control or traction control. I depend on the 4wd in our farming business and not having this has caused me lost income because I simply could not get the job done and had to give the job away to others.

NHTSA ODI 11528647

On my 2018 RAM 3500 beginning on Memorial Day 2023, the instrument cluster began flashing with a loud door type chime. The cluster began cycling through messages including Service Electronic Braking System, ABS Failure, and illuminating alarms. Upon testing with a code reader I was presented with the following codes: C0020-01 ABS Pump Motor Control - General Electrical Failure and U0402-00 Implausible Data Received from TCM. Upon internet investigation, I discovered this is not an uncommon problem with several hundred reports available on ramforumz.com and other sites. According to several complainants, the repair for this will cost in excess of $2000 with one complainant stating this has had to be repaired twice as the replacement components are also faulty. This needs to be investigated and frankly needs to be a national recall on these vehicles, it is a lot more dangerous than a tailgate lock issue. I am concerned with the cost, but more concerned that replacing the noted components may not solve the issue in the long term resulting in additional costly repairs.

NHTSA ODI 11527437

In July 2022 our 2018 RAM 3500 Diesel 4 by 4 truck started having an intermittent alert. Service electronic brake system, ABS, traction control. Cruise control is disabled during this alert. May 2023 the vehicle was taken to local dealer for a diagnostic. They revealed no codes were revealed answer was to replace the ITBM at a cost of 921.00. And the diagnostic charge was 233.00. I tried to contact the dealer for further questions with no cooperation. I started investigating and purchased a code reader at my own cost. The code that showed was C0020-01 ABS Pump Motor Control-Electrical Failure. Much different than the ITBM I was told. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles put out a Case Number: S2005000004 Release Date 04/28/2020 Symptom/Vehicle Issue: C0020-01-ABS PUMP MOTOR CONTROL- GENERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE Discussion: Basically says to replace HCU first and then ECU if code still active. So, the dealer is aware of the issue and outright lied to me. There is also an active Class Action Lawsuit for this very issue In California Plantiff James Neu. The fact that my vehicle is not in a safe working condition with this faulty part. The fact that the Dealer is lying about which part is defective and would have installed a different part than what they said the problem is. It is very disturbing that an automotive company is treating the safety of their customers so carelessly. The Fact that this is a common and widespread issue and nothing is being done to rectify, appalling. Thousands of vehicles on the road, no parts available. Action needs to be taken. Lives will be lost, severe injury, it can happen to innocent people. Please do something

NHTSA ODI 11526404

The ABS and Traction lights intermittently come on and blink non stop. Also, a "Service Antilock Brake System" and a "Service Electronic Braking System " message scrolls through the dashboard screen with an audible alarm. The truck was inspected on September 2nd of 2020 and parts 05400701- Control unit, Brake anti-lock hydraulic and part 68143491AA- Control Antilock Braking System were replaced under the manufactures warranty at 20,457 miles by Arrigo Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram ID 45724. On May 27th of 2022, once again the same parts failed and dealer ID 58821- Massey- Yardley Dodge Chrysler replaced the failed parts for a second time. The milage on the truck was 60,540 at the time of this repair. The paperwork from the dealer shows an ABS Control Unit Internal Failure. Less than a year later, on May 5, 2023 the parts failed once again (3rd time). I took the truck to dealer ID 58821- Massey- Yardley- Dodge Chrysler for inspection and repair service but I was informed that repairs were not available and that this issue was put on an engineering hold for further review since the parts continue to fail. There is no available timeline for repairs. This lack of response from the manufacturer and the flaw in design creates a safety hazard not only for my family and I but for other drivers around me since the truck breaking response is delayed at times.The truck does not break promptly and the cruise control is cancelled automatically. In addition, the trucks slows down when the message comes on in the dashboard. The problem has been addressed twice by two separate RAM dealers but the issue is not the dealer but manufacturer design. At this time (the third time) there is no solution available to address this ongoing and repetitive defect. The problem has not been resolved. I have attached a copy of all the paperwork and comments from the dealers in case they are needed.

NHTSA ODI 11523713

Ram truck was taken to dealer December of 2022 with 7,000 miles due to ABS lights on dash. The dealer Larson Dodge ordered a new part and said they would not be able to complete it until March and to "drive it as it is". The vehicle doesn't have functioning anti lock brakes etc. Now they have told me it will likely be August due to Chrysler being the problem. This is obvious far too long and now I'm out of options.

NHTSA ODI 11520281

While driving at any speed the abs and traction control lights start flashing and a chime goes constantly. also when this happens it causes the cruise control to disengage without any warning. Also leaving you without abs brakes. I am on my 3rd abs module and 2nd hydraulic control unit and needing a 3rd hydraulic control unit for this vehicle with less than 62,000 miles the first one went out around 16,000 miles and the second at 37,000 miles. This is also my second truck from this manufacturer to do the exact same thing that happened at 30,000 miles and had another one in the family that did it at 7,000 miles. As i research online I find that this a common occurrence and nothing has been done to resolve the issue other than just replacing the parts with new and wait for it to happen again. I am in need of a new hydraulic control unit and am being told that they are on some kind of hold until the earliest date of August and just to drive the truck with non-working safety equipment.

NHTSA ODI 11519597

I have two warning messages appearing on my dash. Service Electronic Braking System and Service ABS System. Took it to my dealership Michiana Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT in Mishawaka Indiana. I was informed that it needed an HCU (hydraulic control unit) and that the part was unavailable because of engineering review until at least August 2023. The work order was closed and i was sent on my way and told to check back at a later date for availability. After a little reading i found that this issue is under investigation and i wanted add my truck to your list of reports.

NHTSA ODI 11516169

FOR THE LAST 10000 MILES OF THE TOTAL 53K ON THE TRUCK, THE ABS AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS TURN ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THE WARNING CHIME SOUNDS. THIS SOMETIMES CONTINUES FOR 1 MILE, SOMETIMES FOR 20 MILES. SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT HAPPEN FOR 50 MILES. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY ON ROUGH HIGHWAYS OR CITY ROADS. HAPPENS AT 3 MPH AND AT 75 MPH. WITH ABS AND ESC DISCONNECTED IT IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TOWING MY NORMAL 16000 LB TRAILER, ESPECIALLY ON WET OR SNOWY ROADS. I HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE. IF ABS IS REQUIRED ON US HIGHWAY VEHICLES FOR SAFETY REASONS, HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE? IF 2019-2022 RAM 3500 TRUCKS ARE UNDER A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, WHY IS 2018 NOT? RAWLEY CDJR IN SIERRA VISTA AZ HAS VERIFIED THE ISSUE AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE HCU AND ABS MODULE, BUT IS NOT ABLE TO GET THE PARTS. THEY SAY POSSIBLY IN AUGUST. THEY HAVE OFFERED TO REFUND MY PAYMENT FOR THE PARTS THEY ORDERED AND TO DISABLE THE TRULY MADDENING CONSTANT WARNING CHIME TO SAVE MY SANITY. THEN MY TRUCK WILL NOT HAVE ABS OR ESC OR CRUISE CONTROL AT ANY TIME. IS THAT SAFE? THIS SAME ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED AT NHTSA BY MANY OWNERS. IT APPEARS TO BE TIME TO START COMPLAINING TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPS.

NHTSA ODI 11513213

Service Anti-lock brake and Service electronic braking errors come up on screen at random, sometimes the lights will stay one and cruise control is disabled. While braking they seem to shudder. Not safe for a Heavy duty truck that is able to tow 15k lbs.

NHTSA ODI 11512097

Electronic Braking System and Antilock Braking System is defective, similar to being described in FCA Case Number S2005000004. This issue also effects the Speed Control System

NHTSA ODI 11511187

Experienced a failure of the ABS Control Module and Electronic Traction Control during a light snow storm in September of 2022. Dash warning lights come on and go off intermittently. When warning lights come on and cruise control is being used, cruise control is deactivated. Dealership confirmed ABS CPU failure on 11/17/2022. Still waiting on replacement parts and are projected to be in around 4/18/2023. Warning lights continue to come on and go off intermittently. Never know how long cruise control will work before deactivated by warning lights for ABS service light and Electronic Traction Control coming back on.

NHTSA ODI 11509645

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 70-75 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the cruise control independently deactivated and the vehicle decelerated. The “Service ABS” message was displayed. The contact continued to drive and after driving over a bump in the roadway, there was a dinging sound detected and the message disappeared. The contact called the local dealer, and the vehicle was taken to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ABS pump needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the local dealer for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 17,593.

NHTSA ODI 11509484

NOTE: 11/18/22 filed a complaint with NHTSA - they will share it with manufacturer case number(ODI) - 11494143 QUESTION: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? ANSWER: ABS module problem Code : c0020-01 service electronic brake system Service Antilock brake system The display indicators for all of these systems come on intermittently. They effect the use of the cruise control as well. QUESTION: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? ANSWER: There is always the potential that any or all of these systems can fail at any moment when I am on the road driving; especially with 18k-20k pounds of load behind me. QUESTION: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? ANSWER: Yes. Galleria Tire Center in Pelham, Al. confirmed the display of all these warnings and also provide me with the code that I posted above on first question. QUESTION: Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? ANSWER: NO QUESTION: Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? ANSWER: warning lamps come on intermittently and stay of for random times. Always wondering if one of the systems are going to fail. We pull an 18k RV with this truck and it would be tragic if we have a system failure that results in an accident. Online posts also verify that many other RAM owners are experiencing the same problem with their trucks. This most certainly needs to have a recall on it. Very dangerous. Manufacturer has great liability and litigation exposure if they do not act on this and accidents happen. They have been warned.

NHTSA ODI 11507902