2018 RAM 2500 engine problems
severe 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report catastrophic engine fires destroying vehicles and towed RVs with no identified root cause, occurring at 65,000 and 95,000 miles. DEF pump failures starting around 61,000 miles force vehicles into 5-mph limp mode and cost roughly $2,100 to replace, with coverage gaps leaving owners responsible for a known defect the manufacturer acknowledged before COVID.
Turbo actuator failures are widespread, disabling exhaust brakes, compromising acceleration, and increasing stopping distance while towing—creating real safety hazards. Technical service bulletins exist for 2015 models with the same part numbers, yet manufacturer disputes this. Replacement parts are scarce; dealers charge $2,200 with sporadic availability.
Radiator fan shroud rubber sections detach and lodge in the fan, shredding it and holing the radiator. One owner had the same failure recur after dealer repair with added pins, which then detached. Grid heater bolts deteriorate and fall into cylinders, potentially destroying engines and costing $20,000 to replace.
Electronic throttle control gets stuck at full throttle on the highway with the accelerator pedal actively pulled to the firewall—multiple incidents reported with no codes afterward to diagnose. Oil pressure drops without warning, shutting engines off mid-drive. Timing cover leaks cost around $4,000. Engine bearing failure with metal in the block occurs near 120,000 miles. Recall parts remain unavailable months after notice, exceeding reasonable timelines.
Same RAM 2500 engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Engine Fire
Complete catastrophic engine fire resulting in total loss of vehicle and attached RV. Fire originated under the hood with no clear root cause identified before destruction.
When: 95,000 miles; 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light; Unknown red warning light; Fire under hood; Front end explosion; Abnormal popping sounds; Fire projectiles from under hood
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle and RV totaled; no repair attempted
DEF Pump Failure
DEF pump prematurely fails, forcing vehicle into limp mode with speed limited to 5 mph. Loss of ability to dispense DEF fluid for emissions control. Manufacturer acknowledged the defect and began redesign prior to COVID.
When: 61,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle enters limp mode; Speed limited to 5 mph; Unable to dispense DEF; No warning before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost approximately $2,100; requires tow to dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer acknowledged failure and began redesign/remanufacture; not covered under emissions warranty or extended drivetrain warranty
Radiator Fan Shroud Failure
Rubber portion of radiator fan shroud detaches and becomes lodged in the fan blades, shredding and creating a hole in the radiator. Failure recurred after initial repair despite replacement of radiator, fan, and shroud. Dealer added pins as attempted fix, but pins detach.
When: Unknown mileage; recurring during trailer towing
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormally loud shredding sound from fan; Engine overheating; Smoke from exhaust; Abnormal coolant odor; No coolant in reservoir
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of radiator, fan, and fan shroud required; pins added at second dealer; recurred with same repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure; no permanent solution identified
Turbo Actuator Failure
Turbo actuator fails to control VGT vanes properly, preventing proper boost control and rendering exhaust brake ineffective. Limits acceleration and increases stopping distance when towing, creating safety hazard. Known issue discussed extensively in owner forums and YouTube videos.
When: 130,000 miles (one report); mileage not stated in others
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light; Inability to accelerate properly; Exhaust brake inoperable; Longer stopping times when towing
Codes mentioned: P00AF - turbo boost control 'a' module performance, P226C - turbocharger boost control slow response
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replacement cost $2,200; severe parts supply shortage from manufacturer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer states part is different model year to year despite Technical Service Bulletin 09-005-22 addressing same issue; referred owner back to dealer
Electronic Throttle Control Failure
Throttle sticks at full throttle on highway with no physical obstruction. Accelerator pedal actively pulled to firewall by electronic system. Vehicle enters limp mode with 'service electronic throttle control' message after manual intervention.
When: Multiple incidents; one on March 20, 2024
Symptoms owners cite: Throttle stuck at full throttle; Accelerator pedal pulled to firewall; Service electronic throttle control message; Entry to limp mode
Repairs/costs cited: No codes found after incidents; mechanic unable to verify problem
Grid Heater Bolt Deterioration
Grid heater bolt deteriorates and can fall into intake manifold, dropping into cylinder during engine operation. Causes catastrophic engine damage. Known issue on 6.7L Cummins engines in 2018 Ram 2500.
When: 50,000-60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No reported symptoms before failure; failure is silent
Repairs/costs cited: Potential engine replacement cost approximately $20,000
Particulate Matter Sensor Failure
Particulate Matter Sensor fails, triggering emissions-related diagnostic codes. Not covered under warranty despite being critical emissions component.
When: 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Diagnostic trouble codes P24B0, P24B5, P25C9 displayed
Codes mentioned: P24B0, P24B5, P25C9
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement part not covered under warranty; cost unknown; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not covered under warranty
Engine Lifter Ticking
Engine develops a progressive ticking noise originating from lifters, accompanied by misfiring and inconsistent acceleration/deceleration.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Engine ticking; Progressive worsening of ticks; Engine misfiring; Inconsistent acceleration and deceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost described as expensive; lasted approximately one month before repair
Timing Cover Oil Leak
Oil leak develops from the timing cover/crank front of engine, requiring substantial repair cost.
When: 66,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible oil leak from timing cover
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost approximately $4,000; dealer reports multiple cases of same issue
Oil Pressure Loss
Engine oil pressure suddenly drops, triggering warning light and causing engine shutdown while driving.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Oil pressure warning light illuminates; Oil pressure drops; Engine shuts off while driving
Engine Bearing Failure
6.4L HEMI engine fails with bearing metal found in engine block. Reported as third instance of similar failure at approximately 120,000 miles in owner's fleet.
When: 120,920 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of engine power; Engine failure
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine failure; bearing metal contamination in block
DEF System Limp Mode Derate
Vehicle enters severe limp mode (5 mph speed limit) when DEF system error codes are detected, even for minor faults. Leaves owner stranded 85 miles from nearest dealer on highway.
When: Various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: DEF warning light; Vehicle speed limited to 5 mph; No ability to exceed limp mode speed
Repairs/costs cited: Requires dealer visit to reset codes; safety hazard while waiting for service
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: EPA-mandated programming; manufacturer and EPA require derate to 5 mph for any DEF system error
Recall Parts Unavailability
Manufacturer issued safety recall campaigns but required parts remain unavailable for extended periods, exceeding reasonable repair timelines. Affects NHTSA campaigns 19V818000 and 20V036000.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice issued but unable to complete repair
Repairs/costs cited: Parts distribution failure; repair not completed due to parts availability
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls issued (NHTSA 19V818000, 20V036000, 25V720000) but parts not available for remedy
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2018 RAM 2500?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 24 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 91,250 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.