The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that with the warning lights illuminated, the 4WD feature was inoperable. The contact researched and found several recalls and warranties associated with the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was determined that the vehicle had experienced a hydraulic brake failure; however, the VIN was not under recall, and the part was on backorder. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into 4WD, the message “4WD Unavailable” was displayed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.
Ram 3500 brake failure problems
54 of the 2,370 owner complaints about the Ram 3500 describe brake failure, most of them for the 2018 model year.
- owner complaints
- 54
- worst model year
- 2018
- typical mileage
- 16,000
By model year
Often reported together
ABS 27Adaptive cruise 10Stalling 2Sudden acceleration 1Won't shift 1Spongy pedal 1Overheating 1Lane assist 1
Trouble codes mentioned
C0020 1
What owners say
The recall for the brake hydraulic contol unit (C4B/the federal safety agency 24V‑896) has not been addressed in years.....I have no brakes on my trailer from this failure. This needs fixed asap.
Hello, I am formally documenting a serious safety incident involving my recently purchased 2026 Dodge Ram 3500 Tradesman 6.7L dually, purchased from Towbin Dodge in [XXX] , on May 9, 2026. On May 13, 2026—only five days after purchase—we were operating the truck for our dumpster business while towing a GN trailer loaded with approximately 5 tons. We were traveling down Mount Charleston after a pickup when a critical brake failure occurred. While descending the mountain grade, the truck’s braking system failed to respond. A warning light appeared on the dashboard indicating an issue with the electric brake system. We had tow/haul mode and exhaust braking engaged, but neither system functioned properly. When my father pressed the brake pedal, the vehicle did not slow down. With a steep descent ahead and no effective braking response, my father was forced to steer the vehicle off the road into a ditch to avoid a direct impact with the mountain, which could have resulted in a fatal collision. After stopping, we noticed signs of extreme brake overheating, and the system appeared to be close to catching fire. I have video and other documentation of the incident. The vehicle is currently in the dealer’s possession. This is a major safety failure occurring within days of purchase, and I am requesting a full investigation into the brake system and all related components, including any recalls, defects, or electronic braking malfunctions. I do not want the truck anymore! Given the severity and risk to life involved, I am requesting immediate action and a full resolution regarding this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ABS module audible warning brake failure warning on dash. Recall CB4 parts still not available per Mopar and dealership. The warning and audible alarm goes off every 2 to 5 minutes while driving.
While towing 10,000 lb trailer vehicle displayed indicators that traction control and ABS were failing. I've taken vehicle to dealer 5 times since recall and it's now over 1 year and Chrysler failed to remedy recalled defective part 68143491AA. Chrysler complaint case no. 95672952 filed on 2/16/26. Chrysler HAS in fact produced the replacement part No. 68143491AB - supersedes failed part no. above. Local dealers have qty 9 of part locally in stock and sell to public for $500. After calling many parts dept sources, I learned dealers are lying and telling current owners no remedy available under recall so that Chrysler can prioritize replacing Ram trucks traded in to dealers so they can fix under recall and make those vehicles sellable by dealers as highest priority for parts. However, dealers are also willing to sell the new part to consumers at full msrp at parts counter + labor in service center. So they make eligible customers pay full price up front and fight to get reimbursed later after being out nearly $1000 to fix Chrysler's problem. I get that there may not be enough parts on hand for every recalled unit - yet. But there are enough now at dealers that when a truck comes in to dealer service center with proven HCU failure indicators (traction control and ABS warning lights) those customers should be given the recall part with labor as required of Chrysler. In my case, brake failure warning lights were documented 7 months ago at North Fort Worth Auto Nation dealer service center under invoice #187541. So, there is no excuse why I'm now being lied to and told they don't have new part 68143491AB when parts mgr told me himself they have 8 parts in stock at that dealership alone as of 2/16/26. the federal safety agency is allowing Chrysler to self-regulate on this without sufficient oversight. After a year plus since first recall notice there is NO excuse why current owners should be denied available parts to fix this known major safety issue.
Incident Description (ABS Module Failure) The ABS control module is failing intermittently. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The ABS warning light illuminates unpredictably, sometimes every few minutes to every few tens of minutes. When this occurs, ABS, cruise control, and trailer brake control are disabled, making the vehicle difficult and unsafe to operate, especially when towing or driving in traffic. This failure creates a safety risk due to loss of braking and stability-related systems. The issue is a known manufacturer defect with an established repair; however, the manufacturer states that replacement ABS modules are currently unavailable due to parts backorder, with no repair timeline provided. The issue has been acknowledged by the manufacturer and dealer. No inspection by police or insurance has occurred. Based on available information, my best assessment is an intermittent ABS module failure that renders the vehicle effectively unusable. I am requesting escalation and corrective action by the manufacturer.
2025 ram 3500 dual rear wheel truck has intermittent anti lock brake failure . As well as traction control, forward collision warning/assist, lane departure, high beam headlights, and other safety systems. The dealership has tried to fix these issues 8 or more times, with no success. It is illegal for Ram and Stellantis to put customers back into vehicles with anti lock brake failures. In wet/slick/or hard braking situations, loss of anti lock brakes is dangerous to my family as well as other drivers on the roads. And that danger increases when towing a large trailer when the failure happens. The dealership and Stellantis/Ram know of these problems with 2025-26 dual rear wheel Ram pickups.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a message indicating a brake failure was displayed, and that the vehicle needed to be serviced was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the HCU had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired at the owner’s expense; however, the failure persisted. The contact later received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), which the contact related to the failure; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted for reimbursement but denied reimbursement because the contact did not have the original receipt of the repair that was previously performed on the vehicle. The contact provided a letter, and documents provided by the dealer, that confirmed that the repair was performed at the owner's expense. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
I am filing this complaint regarding the unavailability of a critical safety component for my vehicle. Multiple dealers have informed me that the part is not available through the Mopar parts chain. However, the identical part is currently available for purchase by consumers through MoparGenuineParts.com (111 Bond Street, Westbury, NY 11590) at the following link: [XXX] ). One verified buyer even confirmed this discrepancy. As [XXX] wrote in his 5-star review dated 04/03/25: *"ABS PART – Fixed my problem just what I needed. Dealership said they could not get to because of part shortage??"* This highlights a troubling inconsistency: Mopar’s authorized dealer network is unable to supply parts that consumers can easily purchase online. It makes no sense that the official supply chain is cut off while direct-to-consumer sales remain active. The component in question is critical to the safe operation of the vehicle. If it fails at high speed, the driver could experience sudden loss of braking or steering control. Such a failure poses an imminent danger of severe accidents, rollovers, or fatalities, both to the vehicle occupants and to others on the roadway. My concern is twofold: (1) why Mopar dealers cannot access parts that clearly exist in Mopar’s system, and (2) how long-term safety is being compromised if consumers must resort to inconsistent third-party availability for essential components. This disconnect directly threatens public safety. I respectfully request the federal safety agency investigate why Mopar’s dealer network is unable to provide critical safety components, while consumers can obtain the exact same part online, and whether this practice constitutes a systemic safety hazard that warrants recall, investigation, or enforcement action. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2nd time truck has warning lights on related to ABS, electronic braking system with no parts available from manufacturer - HCU. Truck is set up to tow a gooseneck trailer. Loss of braking capacity has put me in hazardous situations as the problem is intermittent. Previous repair, where dealer stated my rotors were bad with fewer than 20k miles, was expensive and tech said it could be related to the electronic braking system failure causing rotors to malfunction. No remedy from manufacturer is unacceptable as I'm unable to use my vehicle and if I did, I could be in a situation causing a major accident with no brakes.
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
Service brakes, air: antilock: control unit/module
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Durango and Ram 2500 and 3500 vehicles. Due to a software malfunction, the ABS control module may disable the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
- Risk
- Driving with a disabled electronic stability control system can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 11, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 55B.
Recall number 24V415000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Ram 2500, 3500 and 3500 Cab Chassis trucks. The brake calipers may have been manufactured with an incorrect assembly fluid, which can cause the caliper's rubber seals to swell.
- Risk
- The swollen seals can cause the brakes to drag, potentially overheating the brakes and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front brake calipers and brake hoses and bleed the brakes, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US' number for this recall is V98.
Recall number 19V635000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ram 3500 brake failure
Which Ram 3500 years have brake failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2018 (26 complaints), 2017 (13 complaints) and 2019 (4 complaints).
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