2018 Ram 1500: Engine failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2018 1500 report: engine failure. CarComplaints.com lists 5 owner complaints, average mileage 29,850 miles.
NHTSA has 153 owner complaints for the 2018 1500 in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11765002 (filed 09/17/2026): “The contact owns a 2018 ram 1500. the contact stated that the vehicle was initially taken to the dealer to be repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 23v411000 (engine and engine cooling). after retrieving the vehicle, while driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled. …”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11762265 (filed 09/04/2026): “Xxx, [xxx] east bound 9:30 pm, , pulling a tandem-axle boat and trailer 6000# gvw , the truck slowed suddenly, in traffic 62 mph. i contacted cjdr dealers in [xxx], and [xxx], and both stated there was no recall, warranty, or goodwill repair, available for …”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace engine (5 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $7,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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