I'm just reporting the failure of my HRU as many RAM owners have experienced. The dealer ship replaced the part with the new model. When this fails it happened at highway speeds disabling the cruise control while towing a trailer. Becuase of busy traffic and under heavy weight when the truck fell on its face. I was almost rear-ended due to the sudden loss of speed. Very dangerous when towing.
2018 RAM 2500 cruise control problems
moderate 182 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
182
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1crash
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of RAM 2500 we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 182.
Owners have filed 182 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Ram 2500 has a widespread and serious ABS/hydraulic control unit defect (Recall C4B/24V-896) that causes random loss of anti-lock brakes, traction control, and cruise control—especially hazardous when towing or in bad weather. An open recall with no available remedy means owners are stuck paying thousands for repairs or driving an unsafe vehicle indefinitely.
The 2018 Ram 2500 cruise control failures are rooted in a defective hydraulic control unit (HCU/ABS module) that fails intermittently, disabling not just cruise control but also anti-lock brakes and traction control. Owners report the warnings start randomly between 20,000 and 36,000 miles, with flashing dashboard lights, continuous chiming, and sudden cruise control disengagement at highway speeds—creating rear-end collision risk. When active, the fault leaves owners braking without ABS on wet or icy roads, with some reporting tire lockup, skids, and dangerous swerving. For heavy-towing owners, the failure cuts trailer brake communication, forcing the truck to absorb the entire braking load and causing premature brake wear—one owner paid $2,700 for brake work at just 32,000 miles.
The part requiring replacement (HCU #68143491AA or later revisions) has been on national backorder since at least 2020, with some owners waiting over two years. Repair costs range from $1,200 to $2,700. A formal recall (C4B/24V-896) was issued in November 2024 with status "remedy not yet available." Some owners report the replacement parts themselves have failed again after 10,000–12,000 miles, suggesting FCA knew of the problem and obsoleted the original design but has not solved it. Extended warranties do not cover the repair while parts remain unavailable, and dealers refuse trade-ins on vehicles with open, unrepaired recalls.
Same RAM 2500 cruise control reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
ABS/HCU Intermittent Failure with Cruise Control Disengagement
The hydraulic control unit (HCU) fails intermittently, triggering service warnings for ABS and electronic braking systems. When active, the fault disables ABS, traction control, and cruise control simultaneously. Cruise control disengagement occurs without driver input, sometimes while driving at highway speeds, creating sudden deceleration and rear-end collision risk.
When: Typically first appears between 20,000–36,000 miles; some failures occur after previous warranty repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Flashing or steady ABS and traction control warning lights; Service Electronic Braking System message on display; Audible warning chimes or continuous dinging; Cruise control disengages suddenly; Loss of ABS function when warning is active; Loss of traction control when warning is active; Intermittent or continuous warnings; frequency increases over time
Codes mentioned: C0020-01 (ABS Pump Motor Control – General Electrical Failure), C0020-16 (ABS fault codes related to pump motor), Service ABS system, Service Electronic Braking System
Repairs/costs cited: Part #68143491AA or #68143491AB (hydraulic control unit/ABS module) requires replacement. Owners report costs ranging from $1,200–$2,700 for parts and labor. Some owners report parts were available after multi-month or multi-year backlogs; others continue to wait with no ETA. One owner paid $1,674.96 for the HCU repair after an extended backorder.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall C4B (Manufacturer) / NHTSA 24V-896 issued November 2024 with status 'remedy not yet available.' Owners report Stellantis/RAM stated parts are on national backorder with no firm ETA. Some dealers advised reengineering the part as it originally failed in early 2020 models. Extended warranty (Mopar) does not cover the repair when parts are unavailable. One owner reports a second HCU failure at 23,000 miles after the first replacement at 11,500 miles, indicating the replacement part itself may be defective. Some owners were offered reimbursement if they pay out-of-pocket first.
Loss of Braking Confidence and Traction in Adverse Conditions
When the ABS/HCU fault is active, owners report loss of anti-lock braking function and traction control. In wet, icy, or rainy conditions, this results in wheel lockup, loss of steering control, skidding, and dangerous swerving. Some owners have swerved into oncoming traffic or nearly collided with following vehicles.
When: Occurs whenever ABS warning is active; especially dangerous in rain, ice, or snow
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes lock up on slippery surfaces; Wheels skid during braking; Loss of vehicle control on wet or icy roads; Swerving into adjacent lanes or oncoming traffic; Inability to stabilize vehicle in emergency braking; Traction control not functioning
Codes mentioned: C0020-01
Repairs/costs cited: HCU/ABS module replacement required (see above). One owner reports replacing rear brake rotors and pads at 32,000 miles ($2,700) due to trailer brakes not engaging and the truck absorbing full braking load.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall C4B / NHTSA 24V-896 acknowledges the defect but remedy not yet available.
Failure of Trailer Brake Communication System
When the ABS/HCU system fails, the truck loses communication with trailer electronic braking systems. The trailer brakes do not engage, forcing the truck to absorb 100% of the braking load. This is particularly hazardous for owners regularly towing heavy trailers (8,000–16,000 lbs).
When: Occurs whenever ABS fault is active during towing
Symptoms owners cite: Trailer brakes do not engage; Truck absorbs full braking load; Increased stopping distance when towing; Unstable braking when towing at highway speeds
Codes mentioned: C0020-01
Repairs/costs cited: HCU/ABS module replacement. One owner reports paying $2,700 for premature rear brake work and trailer brake system failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall C4B / NHTSA 24V-896; remedy not yet available.
Disabling of Four-Wheel Drive and Parking Sensors
When the ABS/HCU fault is active, the system also disables four-wheel drive and parking detection/park sense functions in addition to cruise control.
When: Occurs whenever ABS warning is active
Symptoms owners cite: Four-wheel drive mode unavailable; Park sense/parking detection system disabled; Cruise control disabled
Codes mentioned: C0020-01
Repairs/costs cited: HCU/ABS module replacement required.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall C4B / NHTSA 24V-896.
Repeated ABS Module Failures After Warranty Repair
Some owners report the ABS module has failed multiple times within the vehicle's life. One owner had the part replaced under warranty at 12,116 miles, failed again at 24,000 miles (2 years later). Another reports three failures total. This suggests either a design defect in the replacement parts or a systemic issue with the ABS system.
When: First failure typically between 20,000–36,000 miles; second or third failures occur within 1–3 years of previous repair
Symptoms owners cite: ABS/traction control warning lights return after previous repair; Intermittent or continuous service warnings; Loss of ABS and cruise control again
Codes mentioned: C0020-01
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple HCU/ABS module replacements at Part #68143491AA or successors. One owner received two failures in less than 25,000 miles, with the third failure expected despite the recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Part #68143491AA was later obsoleted and replaced by FCA, suggesting they recognized a design problem. Recall C4B / NHTSA 24V-896 issued; one owner notes the replacement part supplied under recall may itself be defective.
Synthesized from 182 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Abs, stability control and cruise control are not working as they should. Dash is constantly displaying a warning error about the brakes and stability control.
Had cruise control trouble with your 2018 RAM 2500?
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 cruise control problem on the 2018 RAM 2500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 182 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 182 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 79,667 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2500.
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.