SHOCK ABSORBER – SUSPENSION & SHOCKS - REAR
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 RAM 1500 suspension problems
severe Owners of the 2018 RAM 1500 have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the suspension, typically surfacing around 15,356 miles at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 1500 | 92 |
| 2015 1500 | 50 |
| 2016 1500 | 62 |
| 2017 1500 | 41 |
| 2018 1500 (this page) | 19 |
| 2019 1500 | 24 |
| 2020 1500 | 13 |
| 2021 1500 | 5 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 19 suspension complaints filed for the 2018 RAM 1500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
LIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Air Suspension Inoperative And Or Compressor Freeze Up Or Sticking In Cold Weather.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Air Suspension Inoperative And Or Compressor Freeze Up Or Sticking In Cold Weather.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Air Suspension Inoperative And Or Compressor Freeze Up Or Sticking In Cold Weather.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2018 RAM 1500 trucks with air suspension report widespread and recurring failures, often striking early—some as soon as 3,600 miles. When the system fails, the vehicle drops hard to the bump stops, creating a punishing ride, loss of steering feel, and in some cases loss of stability control. The 'Service Air Suspension' warning light comes on.
The problem repeats. Owners report three, four, six repairs at dealerships for the same failure, with repairs lasting weeks or months before the system fails again. Cold weather appears to trigger or worsen failures; one owner found the suspension dropped unpredictably when winter arrived.
One owner describes a mode-locking issue where the rear air suspension gets stuck in off-road mode while the front stays in plant mode, creating uneven behavior. Another reports the front suspension bottoming out on bump stops during normal driving.
Owners also cite unpredictable vibrations at highway speeds—a condition that recurred on a previous 2017 RAM 1500 the same owner traded in. Dealers dismiss these as tire issues. Some report metal-clunking sounds in the front end on turns and impacts, though dealerships cannot diagnose them.
Multiple repair attempts lead to secondary failures: relay replacement breaks within a week, battery and alternator issues emerge, and the cascade of repairs damages fuses, relays, joints, and wheel alignment. RAM's help center and FCA customer care have refused recalls or buybacks, leaving owners frustrated.
Same RAM 1500 suspension reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Air suspension system failure
The 4-corner air suspension system fails repeatedly, often without clear provocation. When it fails, the vehicle drops to the bump stops, creating a very harsh ride, loss of handling control, and loss of stability control on some vehicles. The 'Service Air Suspension' warning light illuminates. Owners report multiple repair attempts that don't resolve the issue.
When: 3,600 miles (5 months ownership); 7,000 miles; 28,000 miles (3 repairs); 32,000 miles (6 repairs); varies from months 1-10 of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle suspension drops, front end goes down; Loss of stability control in some cases; Rear end sway on highway lane changes; Rough, harsh ride quality; Service Air Suspension warning light; Vehicle sits very low on bump stops; Repeated failures after dealer repair attempts
Codes mentioned: SERVICE AIR SUSPENSION warning
Repairs/costs cited: Repaired multiple times by dealers (3-6 times reported); replaced relay part in one case; repairs are temporary and failures recur within weeks to months
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: RAM Help Center refuses to take vehicle back or issue recall. FCA Customer Care described as 'useless' by owners. Dealers perform temporary repairs without lasting resolution.
Air suspension failure in cold weather
Air suspension system specifically fails or becomes problematic when cold weather arrives. The system lowers unpredictably during cold months, forcing owners to repair before alignment work can be done.
When: When cold weather starts; winter months in New England area
Symptoms owners cite: Suspension drops to very low position; Front suspension too low to perform alignment; Vehicle becomes unsafe to drive
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report high out-of-pocket repair costs at dealers; one owner had to delay alignment service
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers unable or unwilling to address; manufacturer defect suspected by owners
Air suspension stuck in off-road mode
The automatic air suspension system malfunctions with the rear wheels locked in 'off-road' mode while the front wheels remain in 'plant' mode, causing uneven suspension behavior.
When: Within first month of ownership; recurring after first repair
Symptoms owners cite: Rear suspension stays in off-road mode; Front suspension in plant mode; Uneven suspension operation
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced relay part; failed again within one week; secondary battery and alternator issues developed after repair
Air suspension bottoming out on bump stops
Front air leveling suspension bottoms out to the bump stops while driving normally, causing hard landings and loss of ride quality.
Symptoms owners cite: Front suspension bottoms out on bump stops; Inability to control vehicle properly; Uneven and harsh ride
Unpredictable vibrations at highway speeds
Owners report unpredictable vibrations occurring at various highway speeds, ranging from annoying to severe. This condition recurs across multiple model years (owner had same issue on 2017 RAM 1500). Dealers attribute symptoms to tires, but issue persists.
When: On 2018 model purchased 10/05/19; also on previous 2017 model year
Symptoms owners cite: Unpredictable vibrations at various highway speeds; Severe vibrations that affect drivability
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers dismiss as tire-related; dealers cannot solve
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA Customer Care unresponsive; suspected known issue with RAM platform
Metal clunking sound in front suspension
Owners hear a 'thud' or metal-against-metal sound from the front of the truck when turning or hitting bumps/potholes. Dealership cannot reproduce or diagnose during test drives.
Symptoms owners cite: Thud or metal-against-metal sound in front; Sound occurs on turns and over road impacts
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to diagnose or reproduce
Accelerated wear and tear from suspension failure
Repeated air suspension failures cause cascading damage to other vehicle components, including fuses, relays, bolt joints, bushings, and alignment.
When: After multiple suspension repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Fuse and relay failure; Bolt joint and bushing deterioration; Wheel alignment issues
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple replacement parts required due to suspension system failure
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Fog light housing bracket is worn down, causing fog light to move around/bounce light beam while driving. Causing distraction to other drivers. Front suspension (air leveling suspension) bottoms out to bump stops while driving.
Had suspension trouble with your 2018 RAM 1500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2018 RAM 1500?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 7,000 and 28,000 miles, with the median around 15,356. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,000; a quarter make it past 28,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/RAM/1500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.