Watch Out For This! Dangerous!

[Dogpatch]

I have the 2015 Ram 3500 with keyless push button start.

Recently when I went to get fuel, the only stall with diesel was on the opposite side so I had to turn around and back up to the pump.

I thought I had put the gear shift in park, pushed the ignition button to stop the engine and went to get out of the truck.
I had one leg on the ground and suddenly found the truck rolling backwards. I hobbled till I could get back into the truck, threw my foot on the brake and found the gear shift was still in Reverse. I put it into Park (slightly shaken). It's a good thing I had a grip on the steering wheel on exit!

I did a test and put the truck in reverse and tried to push the ignition to turn off the truck. It did NOT turn off!

I thought about the potential of what could have happened with one leg on the ground and the vehicle in reverse if I lost footing. If I was unable to regain my position to get quickly back into the truck and gain control, I could have easily slipped under the truck and been run over. Leastways, I could have had a runaway truck.

A very valuable lesson was learned. Firstly, I looked and noticed I had my tilt steering set as such that the center of the steering wheel was high enough to cover sight of the Gear display. I changed that.
Most importantly though, make absolutely sure you're in Park and make sure the engine stops!

I know many will think this a no brainer, but I've been driving for 42 years and it's the first time I've ever done this. I attribute it to the short throw on the gear selector on this new truck and the push button start. Neither of which I've had before.

Thought I'd share.

 

[Ram4Sam]

The emergency brake is your friend...........good that you were not hurt.

Sam

 

[Dogpatch]

The emergency brake is your friend...........good that you were not hurt.

Sam

Another good idea!

I typically only use it on a slope or when towing.

 

[Alphonse]

Dogpatch, thanks for sharing a valuable lesson learned. I will keep an eye out to not repeat this.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Mine is showing P on the shift indicator but the message "Vehicle not in park" is listed on the EVIC. Sometimes it's NOT in park, even though the dash says it is. The mention of the E brake is simple but effective.

 

[RustyJC]

If the Ram is like my wife's Toyota Highlander, the reason the push button doesn't kill the engine with one push while the vehicle is in gear is to prevent a child from accidentally killing the vehicle while it's being driven by a push on the button. Sounds like the law of unintended consequences kicked in on this one.

Rusty

 

[mwilson]

I think that I am good with an old fashioned key.......

 

[Dogpatch]

Mine is showing P on the shift indicator but the message "Vehicle not in park" is listed on the EVIC. Sometimes it's NOT in park, even though the dash says it is. The mention of the E brake is simple but effective.

I've noticed the same "Vehicle Not In Park" message and confirmed it was at least once before.

 

[SnoKing]

I am not a parking brake guy. I have over the years learn to wait for the vehicle roll against the parking pawl before exiting. I do use the parking brake with the 5th wheel or when on a boat ramp.

Couple guys launched their boat trailer and 2014 RAM to other night across the channel from us. One owned the truck and the other the boat and trailer. Wonder whose insurance is going to pick up the bill. Drivers, three or four wreckers, and lots of police and fire guys. Must have been a 2x4 truck, the got way down the ramp at low tide and current in the channel started pulling it in. And wonder way they were launching it in the dark at 8PM in the evening. Next door neighbor said he heard the spinning tires as they tried in vain to pull back up.

Snoking

#ad

 

[Dogpatch]

That'll be a story for the Grandkids!

 

[MLee]

Just do as recommended and use the E-brake and you'll be safe. One day the prowl pin might break of and where will you be then? learn by your ALMOST experience.
Glad your safe.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I am not a parking brake guy. I have over the years learn to wait for the vehicle roll against the parking pawl before exiting. I do use the parking brake with the 5th wheel or when on a boat ramp.

Couple guys launched their boat trailer and 2014 RAM to other night across the channel from us. One owned the truck and the other the boat and trailer. Wonder whose insurance is going to pick up the bill. Drivers, three or four wreckers, and lots of police and fire guys. Must have been a 2x4 truck, the got way down the ramp at low tide and current in the channel started pulling it in. And wonder way they were launching it in the dark at 8PM in the evening. Next door neighbor said he heard the spinning tires as they tried in vain to pull back up.

Snoking

#ad

Off topic but boat ramps are an endless source of entertainment all around the country...........great place to take the kids if you want to show them what NOT to do.

 

[kthaxton]

I am not a parking brake guy. I have over the years learn to wait for the vehicle roll against the parking pawl before exiting. I do use the parking brake with the 5th wheel or when on a boat ramp.

Do you also forgo using it when parking on an incline when you don't have a trailer hooked up? This is not good for the pawl.

 

[SnoKing]

Do you also forgo using it when parking on an incline when you don't have a trailer hooked up? This is not good for the pawl.

Should have included step incline! SNOKING

 

[photowrite]

Another good idea!

I typically only use it on a slope or when towing.

You story is one example why I have the healthy habit of using the parking brake first, religiously, to hold a vehicle, then will put it in gear/park to shut down.

 

[Tuesdak]

I suggest you report this "defect" to your equivalent of the NHTSA as listed in the back of the owner's manual. Not sure what is so hard for OEM's to get right about being firmly in park, but, Ford is noted for issues with this in the 80's. Not to mention the current horn blaring joke of a recall... Must have it in Park before you can remove the key has prevented a lot of this. The new systems with the start/stop buttons remove this protection.

You are correct that the truck will run you over as the fellow down the street from me was run over by his Chevy truck shattering his arm. He stepped out with the truck in gear, running, and then tried to get back in. When the open door hit the bumper of his other truck, shattering his arm, he was done in and rolled under the parked truck while the running truck ran through his house. This is what 911 is for as they handled it from there. Lucky to be able to dial it with his good arm on a cell under the parked truck...

Driving a manual I have stepped out of my old auto equipped truck in gear with the parking brake on more than once. The trick is to make sure the thing isn't moving before jumping out. And this is settling on the parking brake, park pin, or in manual trans gear before getting out. I pay a lot of attention to adjustment on the parking brake and know what frozen parking brake cables are all about.

 

[RVTRKN]

In 04 I had to chalk off my truck on boat ramps due to weak a E-Brake and complained, new trucks shouldn't have a weak E-Brake, I was told my boat is to heavy and not their problem. After several adjustments and checking of other trucks, dealer ignored my pleas and I complained to service manager, after the adjustment, the Service Porter got out of my truck with the manager standing next to me. He said loud and clear with both of us there, "Man the E-Brake is spongy on this truck" manager told him to take it back to mechanic. Turned out to have a stripped adjusting screw. Always keep E-Brake on when parked, regardless of reason.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I suggest you report this "defect" to your equivalent of the NHTSA as listed in the back of the owner's manual. Not sure what is so hard for OEM's to get right about being firmly in park, but, Ford is noted for issues with this in the 80's. Not to mention the current horn blaring joke of a recall... Must have it in Park before you can remove the key has prevented a lot of this. The new systems with the start/stop buttons remove this protection.

You are correct that the truck will run you over as the fellow down the street from me was run over by his Chevy truck shattering his arm. He stepped out with the truck in gear, running, and then tried to get back in. When the open door hit the bumper of his other truck, shattering his arm, he was done in and rolled under the parked truck while the running truck ran through his house. This is what 911 is for as they handled it from there. Lucky to be able to dial it with his good arm on a cell under the parked truck...

Driving a manual I have stepped out of my old auto equipped truck in gear with the parking brake on more than once. The trick is to make sure the thing isn't moving before jumping out. And this is settling on the parking brake, park pin, or in manual trans gear before getting out. I pay a lot of attention to adjustment on the parking brake and know what frozen parking brake cables are all about.

This is not true, the truck will not shut off if it is not in park. The OP even confirmed this with his own test. No offense to Dogpatch, but it sounds like he just got careless, thought he was in park, by his own admission, the engine didn't stop, and won't, got in a hurry and got out of the truck with it still running, still in reverse, with no emergency brake. Fortunately, he wasn't hurt........Where is the defect?

 

[kthaxton]

Where is the defect?

Loose nut behind the wheel......:-laf

 

[Tuesdak]

This is not true, the truck will not shut off if it is not in park. The OP even confirmed this with his own test. No offense to Dogpatch, but it sounds like he just got careless, thought he was in park, by his own admission, the engine didn't stop, and won't, got in a hurry and got out of the truck with it still running, still in reverse, with no emergency brake. Fortunately, he wasn't hurt........Where is the defect?

Thanks for the clarification, this is worse than I thought!

I was thinking more alone the lines of: You can leave some of the newer stop/start button vehicles key in hand (or in pocket never put in anything) - running or not. Assume engine has shut off with button press and being in hurry don't notice it didn't.

He attempted to shut off the engine and it didn't perform as expected due to faulty design. Faulty design like the relief valve indicator that melted down Three Mile Island by indicating commanded closed position rather than actual stuck wide open position. This compounds the 'didn't go into park' problem by having the engine running in reverse rather than the expected "park" and engine off. This "defect" applies power to reverse reducing time to solve the bad situation rather than engine off just rolling in reverse.

Old designs won't let you have the key back if it isn't in "park" and allow the engine to shut off in any gear or not.

I will be the first to clearly explain that it's just plain Fing stupid to override by design the operator's intent to shut down the engine at any time. I have had several runaway conditions with a GM Lemon that would go flat out light up the rear tires and drag the front tires backwards requiring shifting to neutral or turning off the key. Taking away this ability to stop the engine biased on experience like this is taking away ability for people who can solve a problem like this to the disadvantage of safety.

No, not warranty. This is a design problem and the unintended side effect is removal of the ability to shut down the engine. These are are the worst problems to get fixed.