2018 Ram 3500 · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 664owner reports
- 39,015median miles
- $1,080median quote
- 9involved a crash
Newest report Sep 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
664 of the 803 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 3500.
Narrower sheets: ABS light on (577 reports) · Brake warning light stays on (205 reports)
Tick what matches of 664 reports
Brake wear on other 3500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ABS module (548 reports) and the pads and rotors (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the brakes covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The hydraulic control unit (HCU) may fail, which can cause the anti-lock brake (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and traction control systems to fail.
All 11 recalls on the 2018 Ram 3500, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the 3500
Loss of brake performance. Closed mar 3, 2025.
What owners paid
59 of the 664 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $800 to $1,600.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 20,109 and 67,500 miles, from the 267 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Ram 3500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Trac-Rite Operation Diagnosis, Chatter, Shudder, Moving From A Stop And Turning
CEL (Check Engine Lamp) Illuminates, Recent PCM Replace or Flash Update Performed, Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P057B Brake Pedal Position Sensor Circuit Performance, P1572 Brake Pedal Stuck, C0042-54 Brake Pedal Missing Calibration
Customer may complain of a MIL lamp on. Upon further investigation there could be a fault code in the PCM for P1524 ? Oil Pressure Out of Range ? Camshaft Advance/Retard Disabled.
A/C Pressure Transducer A/C inoperative and diagnosis leads to pressure transducer. Call Steve Rice at cell (248) 867-0061 before replacing the pressure transducer. If no response in 15 minutes, please proceed with repair.
What owners wrote
“1. ABS pump failure, stable tract for steering. Available for inspection if requested. When this warning light comes on cruise control will not function. 2. If ABS failure cannot slow down in a timely manner danger to occupants. 3. Yes 4. Unknown 5. Yes, warning lamps appeared at 15,000 miles. Would like to see this be a recall because numerous other owners have this same issue.”
Filed Jan 18, 2023 · 15,000 miles
“Braking problems / ABS module failure. I never lost brakes but the ABS did fail and the ABS module and HCU had to be replaced @ 17400 miles at roughly 2 years old.”
Filed Dec 13, 2022 · 17,400 miles
“Abs and traction control system stopped working with only 33000 miles. Dealer states module and pump need replacement. No warranty as vehicle is 4 years old as no driving during covid. This has happen to 1000's of ram trucks. Repair is $1600. Will have to drive with out repair.”
Filed Sep 20, 2022 · 33,000 miles
“Truck has 22000 miles ABS and traction control lights constantly coming on and off along with service electronic braking system warning. Kicks the cruise control off every time it pops up. The cause is the abs module which apparently is a very common issue on these trucks and costs over $1000 to repair”
Filed Jun 8, 2022 · 22,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 9 of 664 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 91 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 34 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 25 reports