RoadVitals

2018 RAM 1500 Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Oct 16, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 646 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 RAM 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Oct 16, 2024

The radio/HVAC screen is malfunctioning. It still works but the screen is delaminating and the screen thinks that someone is touching the screen and there is no control over what it touches or controls. Radio is working but the channels change so fast by themselves that you cannot listen to anything. Cannot change any vehicle settings - such as lighting. Same with the HVAC system. When i click into the climate controls, the screen controls itseld doing whatever it wants. I have no control over the climate. THIS IS THE SAFETY ISSUE. If i am driving my vehicle and my windshield starts to fog up, my defroster is not accessible. I can hit the physical defrost button but there is no saying if the screen will not click the defroster off by itself. This puts myself and all motorists around me at risk if I cannot control a fogged windshield. I get distracted while driving trying to force the climae control to stay on my selected setting when it is to no success. I brought this into MIG Chrysler Dodge Jeep & Ram in Bellefontaine Ohio and they confirmed the problem and quoted me saying, "vehicle needs a replacement radio". I will upload a copy of this quote. We have police in the family that has seen the issue and they are also concerned of the safety hazard this presents. I would be happy to obtain a letter from the local PD and my insurance about this matter. No warning lamps or messages. I noticed a while ago that my screen looked like it was bubbling or delaminating but it never caused issue until one day the screen started clicking around like crazy on its own and has done it ever since. I started to look up forums for this issue and this sounds to be an extremely common issue in 2018 Ram's. My good buddy also has an 18 Ram and has the same issue, although, not as severe.

NHTSA ID
11620198
Incident
Aug 10, 2024
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 14, 2024

My 2018 Ram rear turn signals intermittently work. They can be working and the in the middle of a turn stop working. They may not work at all on any given day. They may work all day. Has been looked at. Not short in wiring, has good solid connection, just intermittent working

NHTSA ID
11619606
Incident
Oct 14, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 4, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon inspection it was discovered that the plastic components inside the headlight housing had melted in the front driver’s and passenger’s side headlight assemblies. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine what caused the components to melt. The contact was informed that the driver's and passenger’s side headlight assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 50,300.

NHTSA ID
11612507
Incident
Aug 11, 2024
Mileage
50,300 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Jan 8, 2024

There is a visible defect in the touch screen of the infotainment unit, which seems to be progressing in a top down direction. I suspect that the touch screen is delaminating and the electrical characteristics of the unit are degrading. The unit now "self-selects" and changes radio settings (FM to AM, or station), or screens (navigation, to CarPlay, to comfort settings, to...). Any and all features selectable through the touch screen, are accessible and changeable randomly; navigation screens and destination changes via both CarPlay and the onboard navigation system; windshield wiper/rain detection settings; high-beam auto dim on/off; parking assist; HVAC temperature, vent selection controls and fan speed; windshield and side mirror defroster; trailer setting selection. So far driver distraction has presented the primary risk. I have experienced the unit self-selecting/changing selections at a rate of approximately 5 selections per second, too fast to keep up with while parked or driving. I am concerned that parking assist features could be turned off or warning volumes changed without my knowledge. If towing a trailer, having the trailer braking options changed or having a different trailer selected could be dangerous. Power relays are also being switched rapidly. My issue has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, but there are numerous Youtube postings documenting the issue. My vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps or messages. The first symptom was the undesired stopping of podcasts or changing of episodes. The problem became prominent approximately 12/14/2023 and has persisted. On [XXX] while driving on [XXX] in southern California the unit dialed and connected to the 911 operator twice and terminated both calls without my choosing to do so. Similarly outgoing emergency calls could be cancelled without completion. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA),

NHTSA ID
11564081
Incident
Dec 12, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 5, 2023

I'm trying to have my daytime running lights enabled for my vehicle, which is a simple request that is done by sending a code to my vehicle. This is a safety feature that can be quickly enabled and I'm having trouble finding a dealership that will enable this, guarantee the work, and get me safely back on the road without charging me $500 for a few minutes of work.

NHTSA ID
11500245
Incident
Dec 1, 2022
ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Mar 31, 2021

GAS PUMP NOZZLE GOT STUCK IN MY TRUCKS GETTING GAS I HAD TO SIT AT WAWA 3 HOURS FOR HELP MARCH 2021 NOW I AM IN FEAR OF DRIVING MY TRUCK I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR MY CANCER TREATMENTS I DID NOT NEED THIS ADD PROBLEM I AM AFRAID TO GET GAS & HAVE DAMAGES TO MY TRUCK NOW WHAT

NHTSA ID
11405800
Incident
Mar 15, 2021
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 9, 2021
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT COVER WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
11395459
Incident
Dec 1, 2020
Mileage
20,000 mi
Exterior lightingSuspension
Filed Dec 30, 2020

FOG LIGHT HOUSING BRACKET IS WORN DOWN, CAUSING FOG LIGHT TO MOVE AROUND/BOUNCE LIGHT BEAM WHILE DRIVING. CAUSING DISTRACTION TO OTHER DRIVERS. FRONT SUSPENSION (AIR LEVELING SUSPENSION) BOTTOMS OUT TO BUMP STOPS WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11385707
Incident
Dec 20, 2020
Mileage
30,200 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 7, 2019

DROVE THE VEHICLE ABOUT 4 HOURS TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER. HAD THE VEHICLE IDLING FOR A WHILE AS I WAITED FOR HER ARRIVE SINCE SHE WAS RUNNING LATE. PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND STARTED TO HEAD HOME AND THE SERVICE SHIFTER MESSAGE CAME ON. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WARNING CAME ON AS WELL AS A MESSAGE WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE LIGHTENING BOLT IN RED. I STOPPED AND TURNED EVERYTHING OFF HOPING TO RESET AND WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE ON EVERYTHING DISAPPEARED UNTIL I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEN I HAD PROBLEMS ACCELERATING AS ALL OF GAGES DIDN'T SEEM TO ENGAGE. I GOT TO THE NEXT EXIT AND PULLED INTO THE CLOSEST PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT TURN OFF. ALL OF MY GAGES WENT BESSEL, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON, ON THEIR OWN, AND THEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE SHIFTER TURNED RED AND FLASHED. THE DASHBOARD CONTINUED TO LIGHT UP LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO RESET. I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. ONCE ALL THE LIGHTS FINALLY TURNED OFF I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON.

NHTSA ID
11229947
Incident
Jul 7, 2019
Mileage
20,060 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .