2018 Ram 1500 Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

108Engine complaints

16.8%Of all 641 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM151 · 23.6%

ENGINE108 · 16.8%

Unspecified / other91 · 14.2%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM79 · 12.3%

STEERING76 · 11.9%

Share of the 641 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Ram 1500 overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, A WARNING MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT…”NHTSA complaint 11324149 — filed 05/11/2020

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V757000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER THE PART TO DO…”NHTSA complaint 11322132 — filed 04/24/2020

“DIESEL ECODIESEL ENGINE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN MOUNTAINOUS AREA. LOST ALL POWER IMMEDIATELY AND RESULTED IN INTERFERENCE WITH STEERING, BRAKES, AND NEED TO MOVE…”NHTSA complaint 11321978 — filed 04/23/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Ram 1500 have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Ram 1500: 108 of 641 complaints on file (16.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2018 Ram 1500 have in total?

641 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 25 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, 25 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.