Buying a used 2018 RAM 5500? Check these 8 recalls first
The 2018 RAM 5500 has 8 recalls in this group, covering brake-hose corrosion, brake-control failure, wheel studs, shift interlock, cruise cancellation, fire extinguishers and brake-light behavior. Braking stands out in the complaint record: NHTSA lists 37 owner complaints, which are unverified reports, including 24 service-brake and 12 hydraulic entries. Wheels and vehicle speed control also appear. The record includes 1 reported crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries; complaint categories can overlap.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Request brake-hose corrosion and brake-control recall records; inspect brake lines and hoses.
- Verify wheel-stud, shift-interlock and cruise-control recall completion.
- Confirm applicable brake-light and fire-extinguisher recalls were addressed.
- Open recalls are repaired free at any RAM dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2018 RAM 5500
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Chrysler and RAM vehicles have fire extinguishers that may fail | Equipment | high |
| RAM Trucks' Shift Interlock May Allow Rollaway | Power Train | high |
| Ram 4500 and 5500 Brake Hose Corrosion | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | high |
| Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Chrysler cruise control may not cancel | Electrical System | high |
| Ram Truck Wheel Studs May Break | Wheels | high |
| Ram Trucks Brake Control Unit May Fail | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | high |
| RAM 5500 Minuteman Brake Lights Turn On Wrongly | Exterior Lighting | medium |
| Ram 5500 Fire Truck Brake Lights Turn On Wrongly | Exterior Lighting | medium |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
37 complaints filed for this model year, including 1 mentioning a crash, 0 a fire and 0 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 24 | Yes |
| Wheels | 5 | Yes |
| Speed Control | 4 | None found |
| Power Train | 4 | Yes |
| Suspension | 2 | None found |
| Steering | 2 | None found |