2018 RAM 1500

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 RAM pickup trucks.The subject vehicle models include 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with a column mounted shift lever.The failures of the BTSI described in the VOQs occurred on vehicles that had all previously been repaired under recall 17V-821 or 18V-100.Both recalls address a potential condition which can cause the BTSI locking pin to become stuck allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without depressing the brake pedal and/or without having a key in the ignition.Shifting the transmission out of Park when not having the brake pedal depressed can result in a vehicle rollaway. ODI is opening this Recall Query (RQ) to review the effectiveness of the 17V-821 and 18V-100 recall remedies, understand the root cause of additional vehicle rollaway incidents, and identify any other possible root cause that may affect the performance of the BTSI system. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both FCA and BMW, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by FCA and BMW.During the investigation FCA filed recalls 22V406, 22E048, 22V767, and 22E087 which include vehicles not identified in the initial subject population by ODI. ODI also received recall 21V586, involving loss of motive power due to failed CP4 fuel pumps on certain BMW manufactured vehicles. An information request letter response received from BMW indicated that failed pumps on their vehicles were caused by an interaction between pump internal components and US market diesel fuel, leading to increased slip and eventual particle-generating wear surface. Additional work will be done to identify whether a similar root cause is associated with the FCA recalled population and if similar wear dynamics occur on pumps supplied to vehicle manufacturers other than those included in the recalled population.ODI has upgraded this investigation to an EA in order to 1) determine engineering specifications of internal pump components that are correlated with pump failure leading to loss of motive power or other safety related hazards, 2) identify vehicle populations equipped with alleged defective pump variants, 3) assess if vehicles equipped with alleged defective pump variants result in an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety and 4) gather and review any other relevant information related to high pressure fuel pump failure associated with the subject populations of recalls 21V586, 21V880, 21E094, 22V406, 22E048, 22V767, and 22E087.Review of the above information will allow NHTSA to confirm root cause and recall remedy viability, and identify and evaluate vehicle populations equipped with pump components that may pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID using the following complaint identification numbers: 11257550, 11351441, 11361603, 11361616, 11365300, 11365426, 11365858, 11366401, 11372337, 11373793, 11374797, 11376793, 11377871, 11378173, 11384377, 11386063, 11387018, 11399710, 11402550, 11415339, 11418868, 11418870, 11427075, 11434276, 11436807, 11437226, 11437249, 11437273, 11437292, 11437294, 11437394, 11437399, 11437403, 11437405, 11437423, 11437528, 11437565, 11437579, 11437580, 11437590, 11437679, 11437744, 11437781, 11437842, 11437993, 11438006, 11438008, 11438121, 11438138, 11438155, 11438392, 11438629, 11439359, 11439879, 11440397, 11443030, 11446542, 11448163, 11453556, 11458918, 11460558, 11469337

My ram 1500 was parked over night and caught fire at around 2am when it has been turned off and locked for 17-18 hours since it was last on. The origin is inside the passenger side. Truck is completely stock and well maintained.

NHTSA ID

11776427

Incident

Nov 7, 2026

I am experiencing intermittent notifications that the electronic breaking system is deactivated, especially on longer trips on highways. The traction control light then illuminate on the dashboard. Sometimes the warning resets after the vehicle sits overnight, but then will reappear randomly.

NHTSA ID

11776415

Incident

Nov 4, 2026

The ABS, brake, and traction-control warning lights on my 2018 Ram 1500 Rebel first appeared in June 2026 and are currently illuminated. During abrupt braking, the rear of the truck can slide sideways, making it difficult to maintain control. In June 2026, I was traveling approximately 50 mph when another vehicle pulled out in front of me. I applied the brakes, and my truck slid sideways off the roadway before stopping in the grass. There was no impact, visible damage, or injury, and no police report was filed. The exact incident date is unknown. The vehicle had approximately 130,000 miles at the time, based on an estimate of my regular driving mileage. The braking problem continues. I leave additional following distance because I am concerned about losing control if sudden braking is necessary. This creates a risk of a collision or another roadway departure. Owner diagnostics using an Autel scan tool recorded active code C2200-49, described as an internal electronic failure of the anti-lock brake module. I suspect an ABS module malfunction, but the cause has not been formally confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The original OEM ABS module remains installed and is available for inspection upon request. No solder reflow has been attempted. The truck also has an abnormal ride height, and the steering wheel is off center when traveling straight. Aero mode works when selected manually, but the truck no longer automatically enters Aero mode while driving. Whether these symptoms are related to the ABS problem is unknown. I contacted Mopar Cares about the concern and was directed to the dealership to discuss possible goodwill assistance.

NHTSA ID

11772730

Incident

Jun 28, 2026

1. The electronic power steering system on my 2018 Dodge Ram began malfunctioning intermittently, with the power steering going in and out, before eventually failing completely. I was informed that due to the design of the system, the entire rack-and-pinion assembly must be replaced because of the design. 2. The intermittent steering failure progressed to a complete loss of power steering assistance, creating a serious safety concern. Difficulty steering can affect the driver's ability to maneuver, respond quickly to traffic, and maintain control in emergency situations. Driving under these conditions puts me and other motorists at risk. I depend on this vehicle to get to work, but I cannot safely drive it with the steering system malfunctioning. Being unable to use my vehicle also creates a significant hardship because I must maintain my employment and daily responsibilities. 3. The problem has been identified as a failure of the electronic power steering system. I have been informed that the entire rack-and-pinion assembly must be replaced because of the way the system is designed. I have also been told that the required replacement part is on national backorder and is unavailable in Oklahoma with no delivery date in sight. The vehicle was inspected by Kasterke of Shawnee, OK and Kevin's Automotive. 4. To my knowledge, the manufacturer, police, and insurance representatives have not independently inspected the vehicle. 5. Before the complete failure, the electronic power steering system began working intermittently, repeatedly going in and out. The problem continued until the power steering failed completely. There was no warning. The vehicle just became unable to steer and handle. Once the system failed, the message "Power Steering Unavailable" appeared.

NHTSA ID

11772722

Incident

Oct 12, 2026

I have a 2018 ram 1500 express my electricinic power steering is binding and causing my truck to jerk when I correct it while driving. I have noticed that there are recalls for the same issue on previous years(2015-2017) and on years after (2019-2021) models. Please investigate why 2018 isnt showing an open or active recall.

NHTSA ID

11771843

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

San Antonio Tx was driving this morning in a light mist had my son in the truck the vehicle ahead of me came to an abrupt stop and I had to hit my brakes pretty hard and without the abs working properly I am impacted by the ABS controller failure However, I was surprise at how few have files formal NTHSA complaints on a serious issue that appears to impact thousands of trucks prior to 2019. The only way to move this ball forward and get injunctive relief is to inform NTHSA. To Whom It May Concern at NHTSA, I am filing this safety complaint regarding a defective ABS Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) on my 2018 Ram 1500 TRADESMAN CREW CAB 4x4 5.7L Hemi with approximately 200,000 miles. DEFECT DESCRIPTION: The ABS HCU has failed, resulting in complete loss of anti-lock braking, traction control, electronic stability control, 4WD and cruise control. This is an identical failure mode to the defect addressed under NHTSA Recall 24V-896, which covered 2017-2018 Ram 2500-5500 trucks. My 2017 Ram 1500 uses the same or substantially similar HCU component and is experiencing the identical failure. SAFETY RISK: The loss of ABS, ESC, 4WD and traction control significantly increases the risk of a crash, particularly in adverse weather conditions. This is not a minor inconvenience — it is a serious safety hazard that FCA/Stellantishas already acknowledged in heavier-duty Ram platforms. MANUFACTURER KNOWLEDGE: FCA was aware of this defect as early as 2016 based on warranty claims and customer complaints. Despite issuing Recall 24V-896 for heavier Ram trucks with the same HCU failure, FCA has failed to extend recall coverage to the 2018 Ram 1500, leaving thousands of owners without remedy. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Repair estimates range from $1,200 to $2,000. The part remains on backorder or engineering hold, making timely repair impossible through normal channels. REQUESTED ACTION: I respectfully request that NHTSA: 1. Open a formal investigation into the 2017 Ram 1500 ABS H

NHTSA ID

11770619

Incident

Oct 12, 2026

The Electronic Power Steering (EPS) assembly on my 2018 Ram 1500 Classic Sport suffered a sudden and complete internal electrical failure (Diagnostic Trouble Code C2217). I was out of town in [XXX], and the morning I was checking out of my hotel, the steering completely locked up and would not operate at all upon startup. Because the failure occurred inside a tight parking garage, it was a severe logistical hazard and the truck had to be towed. This stranded me out of town, forcing me to pay for an extra hotel night, a rental car to return to [XXX], and a second rental car two weeks later to travel back to [XXX] to retrieve the truck once repaired. The dealership diagnosed a complete internal failure of the EPS module/steering rack assembly. The original quote was $4,450. I formally requested Goodwill Assistance from Stellantis corporate and opened a customer care case with Ram. Both corporate entities denied me any financial assistance with Stellantis stating their support policies for any Goodwill Assistance is strictly covered for 2019-to-present models. Ram Customer Care deflected all pricing responsibility to the dealer. While I negotiated the bill down from the initial quote, I was still forced to pay $3,880 out of pocket for a known engineering flaw. This identical EPS failure mechanism is the subject of class-action litigation and a massive safety recall on other Ram vehicles (Campaign 92D). Stellantis is using arbitrary model-year cutoffs to avoid financial accountability for a critical safety component. The NHTSA must expand its active investigation to include 2018 models to protect these dangerous, costly internal steering failures. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11770147

Incident

Sep 13, 2026

I am filing a formal complaint regarding a FAILED RECALL REMEDY and subsequent CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE creating a severe fire hazard on my 2018 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel.In April, the official Z46 High-Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) recall repair was completed on my vehicle. Within one month of the repair, the Check Engine Light illuminated. I returned the vehicle to the authorized dealership (Lakeland Chrysler Dodge), where technicians dismissed the light as a minor "sensor issue" and stated it was resolved. Shortly after, the light returned a second time, and the dealership dismissed it again as a "programming error".Recently, the high-pressure fuel pump system suffered a catastrophic failure. The failure of the recall component directly caused severe consequential damage to the connected fuel return tube (Part #68229388AA), resulting in an active, dangerous fuel leak in the engine bay.Both the dealership and the manufacturer (Stellantis / Mopar Corporate, Case #98037315) are actively refusing to honor the federal safety recall mandate. They are trying to classify this as an out-of-pocket consumer expense, despite clear evidence that the initial recall remedy failed to correct the safety defect and directly destroyed adjacent fuel components. The vehicle remains unsafe to drive due to active fuel leakage.

NHTSA ID

11767041

Incident

Apr 11, 2025

The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement. The Tech May Find Damaged and/or Worn Transmission Output Shaft Splines (850RE Transmission Only)

Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection

Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.

Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.

Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.

Squeak Or Squawk Noise Coming From Either Side Door Of The Vehicle, It Could Be Just One Door Or More. The Noise Can Be Present In Either The Upper Or The Lower Hinge.