2018 Ram 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Ram 1500 report two broad themes: infotainment and electrical glitches (blank or blurry backup camera images, a delaminating touchscreen that makes phantom inputs, battery drain) and, on EcoDiesel trucks, stalling and loss of motive power tied to the high-pressure fuel pump and EGR cooler. Diesel-related complaints are typically higher-mileage and are often tied to recalls whose parts owners say were unavailable, while screen and camera complaints show up early, frequently under 60,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Touchscreen delamination and phantom inputs

   • 132 complaints (20%)
   • median 41,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe the Uconnect screen delaminating, after which the touchscreen registers presses nobody made — changing radio stations, scrolling menus, placing calls, and in some cases affecting HVAC or mirror settings. Owners report dealers diagnosing a failed radio or head unit and quoting replacement; a few say the head unit drained the battery. Described from roughly 40,000 to 78,000 miles, sometimes soon after purchase.

   What to check: With the truck running, watch the screen for a few minutes for ghost touches or bubbling at the edges, and test climate, radio and camera controls. Ask if the head unit has been replaced and whether the battery has been going flat while parked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle is out of service due to a defect in the 8.4 uconnect radio. The radio (head unit) has misfunctioned and drains the battery until dead. An attempt to flash the head unit by the dealer was attempted but failed. This was done on june 17th. The dealer then put an order in for a new radio to FCA. It has now been 2 weeks and 2 days since the vehicle was brought in for service. The vehicle is inoperable with no eta given by FCA for the new radio. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11337328, filed 2020-07, 17,800 miles

   “The radio that comes stock randomly starts to delaminate. In doing so, it begins to interfere with the touch screen performance and becomes extremely disruptive to the driver with the constant changes, radio changes, screen changes, pushing things constantly on the screen without user input - if using apple or android, it can get stuck in loops trying to get you to call or text or other loops where it constantly changes your music. Even if you turn the screen off it will come back on and go nuts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11414490, filed 2021-04, 76,794 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   EcoDiesel stalling and loss of power (fuel pump)

   • 86 complaints (13%)
   • median 80,900 mi at 6.0 yrs old (41 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners of 3.0L diesel trucks describe shuddering, sudden deceleration, stalling at speed or failing to restart, sometimes with a throttle-control or check engine light. Several say a dealer diagnosed a failed high-pressure fuel pump. Many of these complaints were filed after a recall notice because owners say the remedy parts were not yet available. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 120,000 miles; a few at lower mileage.

   Recall 22V406000Recall 23V411000

   What to check: Confirm whether recalls 22V406000 and 23V411000 have been completed for the VIN, and ask for service records of any fuel pump work. On a test drive, listen for rough running and check that the truck restarts easily when warm.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) and 22V411000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11545655, filed 2023-09, 79,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 RAM 1500. The contact vehicle is related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (Fuel system diesel) and 23V411000 (Engine and engine cooling). VIN tool confirms there was 2 recalls at this time. However, the contact was driving up an incline at 65mph when the vehicle loss power. There was a strong odor and smoke was observed coming from the back of the vehicle. There was white fome coming out and surrounding both tail pipes of the vehicle. No lights illuminated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11562303, filed 2023-12, 104,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Backup camera blank, blurry, or stuck on

   • 65 complaints (10%)
   • median 33,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the rearview camera going black or pixilated while reversing, or the rear image staying on the screen after shifting into drive. Some report the camera turning on by itself while driving forward or after the key is removed. Complaints say dealers often traced it to the infotainment head unit or rear camera and recommended replacement, with parts sometimes backordered. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 70,000 miles, with some as early as 30,000.

   Recall 18V398000

   What to check: Before buying, put the truck in reverse and check the image is clear, then shift to drive and confirm the camera display turns off. Ask whether the head unit or camera has been replaced and whether recall 18V398000 was performed for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the infotainment screen delaminated, and the HVAC system, radio, rear-view camera, or navigation system became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was determined that the radio needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11759743, filed 2026-08, 40,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while reversing down the driveway, he noticed that the rearview camera image displayed was extremely blurry. The contact stated that the infotainment system was operating erratically by making SOS calls, changing settings, and displaying a rearview camera image while in the vehicle was in drive. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11525065, filed 2023-06, 45,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering assist cutting out

   • 92 complaints (14%)
   • median 74,912 mi at 6.0 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,550 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe the power steering warning light and a "Service Power Steering" message, followed by the wheel becoming very hard to turn, sometimes intermittently and sometimes while moving. Owners report the assist returning after restarting the truck in some cases; a few say a dealer found the rack and pinion needed replacement or could not pinpoint a cause. Reported from about 45,000 to 150,000 miles, with one at about 78,000.

   What to check: Start the truck and confirm no steering warning appears, then turn the wheel lock to lock at low speed and listen for noise. Ask whether the rack or steering assist has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Started off by having a tough spot once in a while turning my steering wheel. Now its total failure on and off. Not consistent, I can be going 20 ,ph and it works good, then my steering just fails. At 60 MPH it works great then all of a sudden it fails. Extremely dangerous. I have almost lost control 3 times. Called the dealership and they have no idea where to even start to look for the problem. Made traveling over the holidays very dangerous. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11387499, filed 2021-01, 72,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the electronic power steering failed, causing the steering wheel to be very difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 200,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11569893, filed 2024-02, 200,000 miles

Buying note. Check that all open recalls for the specific VIN have been completed, especially the diesel fuel pump, EGR cooler, and backup camera campaigns, and test the infotainment screen and backup camera carefully. Service records help show whether the fuel pump, steering, or manifold work has already been addressed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.