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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2018 Ram 5500 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
10%of 39 total for the year
Median mileage
91,033miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2018 Ram 5500, 10% of the 39 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 91,033 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“On march 23, 2021, while driving on the highway, I started hearing the same humming noise I heard 8 months ago when I had the transfer case problem. This was the new transfer case the dealership had put in, and all of a sudden there was a loud bang/explosion sound from where the transfer case exploded. I was driving at 60 MPH and was not able to brake as I lost the brakes after the transfer case exploded. …”

NHTSA complaint #11404657, filed 2021-03, 100,066 miles

“My truck from new gad turbo exhaust manifolds kept warping breaking bolts in the head everytime my radio quits and reboots and glitches after truck updates runs poorly with excessive egt and dealers tefused to do anything for me kept tellin me they didnt have proper tech or tools or was told all was nornal and my frint 19.5 wheel cracked in the middle with no impact or tire dammage radio wuits and freezes reboots several timex a day”

NHTSA complaint #11252128, filed 2019-08, 7,000 miles

“I have a 2018 Ram 5500 and was driving up the interstate working in my truck at posted speed and the truck started to make a very loud noise and boom! The truck bucked like I had hit a solid wall. The trucks indicator light for airbags had came on, but didn't deploy even though I hadn't actually hit anything, thankfully. Come to find out after having to get a tow to the dealership the transfer case had exploded and came apart which made the driveshaft break loose and come through the floorboard. …”

NHTSA complaint #11320633, filed 2020-04, 82,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20222181%
2020113%
201918%
2018410%
2017838%
2016635%
2015323%
2014218%

Other parts of the 2018 Ram 5500

Brakes
26 complaintsWheels
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
1 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsForward collision avoidance
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Ram 5500

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology