often experience noticeable braking issues. illumination of the ABS or brake warning light on the dashboard, indicating a problem with the anti-lock braking system. difficulty maintaining proper braking pressure, especially in emergency braking situations or on slippery surfaces, where the ABS should engage. As a result, the vehicle's stopping distance increases, and I have noticed a lack of control during hard braking. In some cases, the brakes feel soft or spongy due to improper hydraulic pressure regulation. Additionally, intermittent or complete loss of ABS functionality has occurred, leading to less stable braking performance.
2018 Ram 2500: soft or spongy brake pedal
12 of the 2,610 complaints about the 2018 Ram 2500 describe soft or spongy brake pedal.
- owner complaints
- 12
- of this car's complaints
- 0%
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 15 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Soft or spongy brake pedal by model year
- 20262
- 20252
- 20244
- 20221
- 20211
- 20201
- 20191
- 201812
- 20174
What owners say
Have had my truck into the dealer several times to check a hard brake pedal. No error code. When stopping it feels like there is no power brake Assist. It's harder to stop than my old truck with no power brakes especially when pulling my travel trailer. Dealer rep has driven truck an even admitted it was hard to stop. Truck has less than 22 000 miles. email - [XXX] / phone: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The ABS HCU has failed again this is the third time. The brakes feel spongy and the cruise control and 4wd does not work. The cause is unknown faulty design of parts. I don’t remember the mileage of the first or second failure.
Failed parts . #1 abs module #2 steering box & intermediate shaft #3 balljoints .available anytime for inspection? # 1 risk brakes locking up or soft pedal #2 steering wheel back and forth to stay on highway #3 knuckle fall off failed balljoint all causing an accident.. all independent shop for all components. Dealer for steering ?? Abs traction lights
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the ABS, Traction Control and Cruise Control warning lights remained illuminated. The contact stated that since the failure had occurred, the brakes failed to immediately respond while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the brake pedal felt spongy. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 39,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 - 55 MPH and towing a travel trailer, the ABS, traction control, and control module failure warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the brake pedal became spongy, with the rear brakes failing to operate properly. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who replaced the hydraulic brake control module at 3,000 miles. The contact stated that the failure recurred at approximately 7,000 miles. The contact disconnected the trailer and the warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the electronic control module and the hydraulic braking system failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,000.
HCU, ABS Modules. Inspection Is Available Apon Request. Concern For Safety With Hard Brake Pedal, Not Stopping As Required. Modules Do Not Respond To Hard Braking Like Described. Speedometer Not Reading. I Changed The Cables To The Wheel Hub With Still No Response. 42,600 miles In It, No Accidents. Problem Started 8mo. Have Not Driven For 3mo Now. Safety Not Confident. No Dealer, Mechanics Only A An Advanced Code Reader Scanner. Engine Light, ABS, Car/Lane Symbol Display.
Abs light comes on turns off cruise and traction control, brakes becomes spongy and vehicle gets pushed through refle light bey trailer. Near miss accident.
The service brake system and service antilock brake system light came on. This light comes on quite often and shuts off intermittently. The pick-up no-longer has anti-lock brakes, traction control, or stability control. When light is on cruise will not work which if it set and light comes on it will shut-off and cause vehicle to drop speed which could cause an accident. Last time I drove it it felt like the brakes were spongy or not really engaging, which almost cause me to go through stop sign on to a highway. I have not had a chance to take it in to get checked yet, and the parts to repair I believe are back ordered.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the contact experienced a spongy pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the ABS pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Randomly my 2018 ram 2500 ABS/Traction control go out. It’ll happen for 10mins in an out. Sometimes not at all, and others all the time. When the ABS and traction control like come on and off on the dash it causes the brakes to become spongy and harder to brake.
2018 ram 2500 hd diesel 13000 miles, 3 separate occasions, under all driving conditions, brake pedal went to floor requiring pumping action to stop vehicle. Other occasions pedal feels spongy. No service available. One dealer was 4 weeks out scheduling two other are 1-2 weeks scheduling. Vehicle is scheduled for drop off october 4th 2018
Service bulletins that may apply
- Trac-Rite Operation Diagnosis, Chatter, Shudder, Moving From A Stop And Turning
- CEL (Check Engine Lamp) Illuminates, Recent PCM Replace or Flash Update Performed, Diagnostic Trouble...
- Hub and bearing
- Head unit button stuck DTC code B14DA-2A
- Plate - clutch pressure
- Customer may complain of a MIL lamp on. Upon further investigation there could be a fault code in the PCM...
- PadKit- Front Disc Brake
- A/C Pressure Transducer A/C inoperative and diagnosis leads to pressure transducer
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The hydraulic control unit (HCU) may fail, which can cause the anti-lock brake (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and traction control systems to fail.
- Risk
- A loss of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, or traction control can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the brake HCU, or replace the HCU motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning January 9, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA's number for this recall is C4B.
Recall number 24V896000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2018 Ram 2500 spongy pedal
Is soft or spongy brake pedal a common problem on the 2018 Ram 2500?
12 of 2,610 owner complaints about the 2018 Ram 2500 (0%) mention soft or spongy brake pedal. The model year with the most reports is 2018.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Ram 2500?
There is 1 recall and 15 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2018 Ram 2500
ABS 1,974Adaptive cruise 680Brake failure 58Check engine light 44Backup camera 26Warning lights 12Grinding brakes 10Won't shift 10No deployment 7Engine failure 7Loss of power 6Transmission failure 6Ball joint 5Fire or smoke 5Harsh shifting 5Hesitation 5Power steering loss 5Slipping 5Stalling 5Won't start 5
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