OBD diagnostics · purchase protection

2018 Ram 1500
Common Problems & Inspection Guide

Verify baseline vehicle system stability data. Learn what to check on the physical vehicle computer before signing a bill of sale.

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Platform Heritage

The Ram pickup (marketed as the Dodge Ram until 2010 when Ram Trucks was spun-off from Dodge) is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by Stellantis North America (formerly Chrysler Group LLC and FCA US LLC) and marketed from 2010 onwards under the Ram Trucks brand. The current fifth-generation Ram debuted at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, in January of that year. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge line of light trucks. The Ram name was introduced in October 1980 for model year 1981, when the Dodge D series pickup trucks and B series vans were rebranded, though the company had used a ram's-head hood ornament on some trucks as early as 1933. Ram trucks have been named Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year eight times; the second-generation Ram won the award in 1994, the third-generation Ram heavy-duty won the award in 2003, the fourth-generation Ram Heavy Duty won in 2010 and the fourth-generation Ram 1500 won in 2013 and 2014, and the current fifth-generation Ram pickup became the first truck in history to win the award four times, winning in 2019, 2020, 2021 and most recently, 2025.

Source: Wikipedia intro extract · as of Jun 23, 2026

💡 What Consumer Forums Warn Buyers to Inspect in Person

Recurring patterns only — each item below appeared in multiple independent owner reports or forum snippets, not a single anecdote. Verify on a physical test drive and OBD scan.

  • "Difficulty Refueling" (10 owner reports on CarComplaints.com)

    Refer back: View owner reports

Source: CarComplaints.com (public owner reports) · community-only, unverified · as of Jun 23, 2026

Key facts for this model year

638NHTSA owner complaints
15Safety recalls on file
55Top issue reports · Electrical System
$0Typical OEM recall remedy cost to you

~6.1k average monthly buyer searches in the US (google ads data · as of Jun 23, 2026). Run a MotoMetrics scan for your VIN to see live repair exposure.

Verify the data — open primary sources · as of Jun 23, 2026

System Defect Summaries & Field Data

Active safety recalls on file: 15 (source: NHTSA Recalls API · as of Jun 23, 2026)

Top NHTSA complaint categories

Recent recall summaries

Campaign 20V475000 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL · API record

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ram 1500 and 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.

Campaign 19V347000 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH · API record

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with an 8 foot bed and a power locking tailgate. Chrysler is also recalling all 2013-2014 and 2018 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks built before April 1, 2018 with a 6 or 8 foot bed and a power locking tailgate. On August 29, 2019 Chrysler expanded the recall to include an additional 693,128 model year 2013-2014 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate actuator limiter tab may fracture and cause the tailgate to unlatch and open while driving.

Campaign 18V398000 · BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · API record

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Journey and RAM 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The backup camera may experience a loss of image display while backing up. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Campaign 18V280000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · API record

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.

Campaign 18V332000 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · API record

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

YouTube voice themes below are research hints only — verify against NHTSA data before citing.

Search demand cross-check: ~6,130 avg monthly intent searches (source: google ads data · as of Jun 23, 2026)

On-Site Ram 1500 Pre-Purchase Checklist

  1. Verify OBD-II readiness monitors are complete (not recently cleared) using a full protocol scan.
  2. Compare dashboard mileage to ECU-stored odometer modules where accessible.
  3. Pull permanent and pending DTCs — not only stored codes visible on the dash.
  4. Inspect systems related to ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  5. Inspect systems related to STEERING (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  6. Inspect systems related to UNKNOWN OR OTHER (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  7. Inspect systems related to FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  8. Inspect systems related to ENGINE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  9. Confirm recall remedy completed for ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL (campaign 20V475000).
  10. Confirm recall remedy completed for LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH (campaign 19V347000).
  11. Confirm recall remedy completed for BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA (campaign 18V398000).
  12. Run a MotoMetrics on-site scan for Ram 1500 before signing the bill of sale.

Alternative Inferences & Cross-Shopping Matrix

Adjacent model years for this nameplate and equivalent footprints shoppers compare across brands.

Generational cohorts

2025 Ram 1500

Class competitors

2018 Ford F-150 2019 Toyota Tacoma 2018 Gmc Sierra 1500

Vehicle health varies wildly by individual history. Aggregate recall and complaint data cannot tell you whether the specific car on the lot had its monitors cleared or its odometer rolled back. Verify the physical or digital scan before you sign a bill of sale.

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