Buying a used 2018 RAM 5500? Check these 8 recalls first
Brakes dominate this year. Recalls cover hoses that can corrode and leak plus anti-lock brake and stability control failure, and 24 of the 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name service brakes, with 12 more citing hydraulics — all unverified reports. Other campaigns: unexpected shift out of Park, cruise control that can stick on, breakable wheel studs, faulty Kidde fire extinguishers, and two brake-light recalls tied to upfitted fire and utility bodies. One crash reported, no fires or injuries.
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.
- Have rear brake hoses and hydraulic lines inspected for corrosion and leaks
- Ask whether it carries an upfitted body covered by the brake-light recalls
- Confirm it holds in Park on a slope and check wheel stud and lug service history
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RAM trucks can shift out of Park unexpectedly | Power Train | high |
| Ram 4500 and 5500 brake hoses may corrode and leak | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | high |
| Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Chrysler cruise control may not cancel | Electrical System | high |
| Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 wheel studs may break | Wheels | high |
| Ram heavy-duty trucks: anti-lock brakes and stability control can fail | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | high |
| Chrysler and RAM vehicles carry faulty Kidde fire extinguishers | Equipment | medium |
| Blanchat Minuteman on RAM 5500 has faulty brake lights | Exterior Lighting | medium |
| Dodge 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 |