658 older Ram heavy-duty pickups have been recalled in Australia because a fault in the brake hydraulic control unit could switch off the anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and traction control. The notice, REC-006752, was published on 23 October 2026 by American Special Vehicles (ASV), the local importer and right-hand-drive remanufacturer for Ram.
Some early reports described these as new trucks. They are not. The official notice covers the DJ-series 2500 and D2-series 3500 from the 2017 and 2018 model years, which means the youngest affected trucks are now about eight years old and many will be on their second or third owner.
Recall at a glance
| Detail | What the notice says |
|---|---|
| Recall number | REC-006752 |
| Campaign | RC20042C4B |
| Published | 23 October 2026 |
| Models | Ram Trucks DJ 2500 and D2 3500, all variants |
| Year range | 2017 to 2018 |
| Vehicles affected | 658 |
| Defect | The brake hydraulic control unit (HCU) may fail |
| Risk | ABS, ESC and traction control may not work, reducing braking performance and vehicle control |
| Fix | Not yet available. ASV will write to owners when it is, and the repair will be free |
| Contact | An authorised Ram dealer or 1300 681 655 |
How the 658 trucks split
The notice does not split the numbers, so we went through the official VIN list. The 10th character of a North American VIN marks the model year, and the opening characters identify the model.
| Breakdown | Trucks |
|---|---|
| 2017 model year (VIN year code H) | 179 |
| 2018 model year (VIN year code J) | 479 |
| Ram 2500 (VINs beginning 3C6UR5) | 630 |
| Ram 3500 (VINs beginning 3C63R3 or 3C63RR) | 28 |
So this is overwhelmingly a 2500 recall, with nearly three in four trucks from 2018. These are our counts from the VIN list, not figures supplied by ASV. In Australian spec these trucks used the 6.7-litre Cummins turbo-diesel six with a six-speed automatic, and many were bought for towing caravans, horse floats and plant.
Why this fault matters on a heavy truck
The HCU is the valve block that lets the ABS and stability systems modulate brake pressure at each wheel. If it fails, the ordinary brakes still work, but the electronic help that stops the tyres locking under hard braking or catches a slide may not. On a pickup that weighs more than three tonnes before it hitches up a large trailer, losing that safety net in an emergency stop or on a wet or gravel road is a real concern.
Because no remedy is available yet, owners are in a holding pattern. Until the fix arrives we suggest the following practical steps, which go beyond the official notice.
- Check the VIN against the REC-006752 list and register your details with a Ram dealer or on 1300 681 655 so the remedy letter reaches you.
- Take an ABS or stability control warning light seriously. Have it inspected before towing.
- Leave larger gaps and brake earlier, especially when towing or in the wet.
- Keep receipts for any related inspection in case you need to discuss it with ASV later.
Buying a used Ram
A 2017 or 2018 Ram 2500 is still a popular towing choice, and an open recall with no fix is worth factoring into a used purchase. Ask the seller whether the truck is on this list, and remember that the recall travels with the vehicle, so the repair will be free whenever it becomes available.
New buyers face a very different market. The current Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 now start from $172,950 and $177,950 before on-road costs respectively. Our best utes guide covers smaller alternatives, and our explainer on whether utes and 4WDs will cost more under the NVES looks at what is coming for heavier vehicles.
Other American pickups have had recent recalls too. The Ford F-150 fuel tank strap recall covered 3,745 trucks, and the Ford Ranger Double Cab airbag recall covered 13,907 utes.
All recall details are from the official notice REC-006752 and its VIN list, checked on 3 November 2026.