Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Ram 3500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake, cruise control, and ABS warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the cruise control and ABS failed to function as intended. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. In addition, the contact stated that a beeping sound was persistent. The contact was annoyed by the persistent beeping while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact was informed that parts were not available to repair the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the ABS warning light intermittently flashed on the instrument panel while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that an audible chime was sounded with the warning light illuminated and the ABS, traction control, and cruise control features became inoperable. The contact stated that the failure almost caused two crashes due to the lack of the ABS functionality. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The dealer was notified of the recall; however, the contact was informed that the part was on backorder. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the contact was given the same information as the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 70-75 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the cruise control independently deactivated and the vehicle decelerated. The "Service ABS" message was displayed. The contact continued to drive and after driving over a bump in the roadway, there was a dinging sound detected and the message disappeared. The contact called the local dealer, and the vehicle was taken to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ABS pump needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the local dealer for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 17,593.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the ABS and electronic brake fault light and message randomly activated with a beeping sound. Additionally, the cruise control was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the contact was informed about NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); and stated that parts were on back order. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available and informed the contact that if the vehicle was repaired out of pocket, reimbursement could be sought. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the ABS hydraulic control unit was making an abnormal beeping noise. While driving at various speeds with the cruise control engaged, the system disengaged without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the ABS system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the cruise control failed to activate. The dealer was contacted and stated that the failure was a known issue. The dealer stated that the ABS Control Module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the part was not available. The contact was placed on a waiting list. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,500.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the cruise control became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that an unknown sensor needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS and traction control warning messages were displayed, and the cruise control feature became inoperable. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 6,000.
The warning chirp occurred and the ABS and ESC lights came on the first two times. The incident happened so quickly I could not clearly determine which warning lights illuminated. On April 18 with just over 39,000 miles on the vehicle the chirping alarm and the ABS and ESC light illuminated. In addition two warnings appeared in the dash: "Service Antilock Brake System" and "Service Electronic Braking System." The warnings happened multiple times per minute in some cases. Other times the vehicle would go for many miles without the warning. Every time the warning chirp was heard the cruise control would disengage. I did not notice any problems with the brakes of the truck. In researching the issue I learned that many people are having this problem. …
I purchased my Ram 3500 new, in 2018, at Nucar auto dealership in Tilton, New Hampshire. When I reached approximately 24,000 miles, my "Check ABS" and "Check Traction Control" lights activated on my dashboard and the message console. I was using cruise control at the time, which immediately deactivated. This could have caused an accident if I had been slower to react. The warning/failure was intermittent at first, but over the next few days became almost constant. The lights/warning would flash, the warning bell would ring, and then shut off for a minute. Over, and over, and over. I brought the truck to the dealer and they ran a diagnostic. They diagnosed the following: C0020-01 - ABS Pump Motor Control-General Electrical failure INTERNAL HCU OR ABS MODULE FAULT. …
Acceleration complaints in other 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2018 Ram 3500?
NHTSA has 108 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2018 Ram 3500, 13% of the model year's 807 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Ram 3500 acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2018 Ram 3500, though it has 10 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Ram 3500 acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 36% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.