2003-04 Dodge RAM Automatic Trans Issues

[drandre]

Here's a very interesting article from the Automotive News 05/17/2004 issue. This is still under investigation so it's not considered a recall.



Vehicles: 2003-04 Dodge RAM 2500-3500 Pickups, All with Automatic Transmissions



Problem: Transmission does not engage securely in park and may slip into reverse while engine is running.



Complaints: Nine, with six reported crashes and two claimed injuries.



Vehicles: 40,000

 

[fox]

Can you give us a LINK?

 

[MCornwell]

hehe

This doesn't apply to me, I idle my truck the correct way.



With the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake applied.



I also think this is because the new gear selector lever is more



finicky than the 2nd gens... my . 02



-Mitch

 

[thejeepdude]

Cool! Another thing that'll be fixed on my '05

 

[DGFoster]

Originally posted by thejeepdude

Cool! Another thing that'll be fixed on my '05

Yeah rub it in

 

[drandre]

There is no link since it came from there magazine. Automotive News covers the manufacturing side of the automotive and is a weekly newspaper for dealers. My buddy is a dealer so he gave me the article which stated exactly what I wrote. When and if I find out more information, I will be glad to post it immediately.



I thought making this post available ASAP would make people owning these models aware of the problem and avoid an accident... like the truck accidently backing up on you while you check your trailer hookups.



Safety first!

 

[CumminsBu]

Originally posted by MCornwell

This doesn't apply to me, I idle my truck the correct way.



With the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake applied.





I'm glad I have a Handshaker

 

[midlife crisis]

I would be willing to bet money that even with your handshaker- its in neutral with the parking brake applied. At least we all hope so...

 

[Yo Hoot]

I did notice putting mine into park was sometimes finicky. I have to jiggle the shifter every once in a while so get the ign key out.

 

[ACerf]

I had the truck go into reverse twice on me. One time I was in the bed and the wife slamed the transmission back into Park. I ended up hitting my head on the tailgate. The dealer said that the Netural Switch was bad. But they also told me to apply the parking brake when the engine is running.

 

[RLighthall]

Somehow I missed this thread 'till just now. I was just telling the wife yesterday that when going from R to P it often feels like it didn't quite make it. Also, neither the R nor the P are lit. When that happens I have to drop it back into D to get a running start at the P position. Had it pop out of drive and into neutral one time on a curve, so I thought this was just an adjustment issue...