2018 RAM 3500 buying guide

A data-driven checklist for buying a used 2018 RAM 3500, built from 784 owner complaints, 10 recall campaigns, 443 service bulletins and federal safety records — not opinions.

Know before you buy

10 recall campaigns affect this model year. Check each one and confirm the repairs were done — recall work is free at any authorized dealer.
Main problem areas: service brakes (493), electrical system (135), service brakes, hydraulic (132), vehicle speed control (107), forward collision avoidance (60).
Symptoms owners describe: electrical failures (32), brake problems (25), vibration / shaking (21), check engine light (18), stalling (15). Test-drive with these in mind.
Reported incident mileage: among 175 complaints with a usable odometer reading, half were filed between 20,000 and 80,000 miles (median 42,000). This describes when owners reported problems — it does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop one.
4 federal investigations have named this model year — read what they cover.

When problems get reported

Reported incident mileage among 175 complaints with usable odometer readings.

under 20k		40
20–40k		38
40–60k		29
60–80k		23
80–100k		13
100–150k		16
150k+		16

Before you hand over money

Run the VIN through our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact build.
Check open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall that was never fixed is a free repair you can claim.
Get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the problem areas listed above.

This guide is generated from official NHTSA, EPA and FARS records. Complaints are unverified owner reports and raw counts are not adjusted for sales volume.