Slipping Out of Park

[Georgia Cracker]

I seem to remember reference on the board to a TSB on 2004s slipping out of park. Mine did and I am wondering if someone has a #.

 

[drandre]

Well it doesn't appear to be a TSB but I would definitely complain to the dealership since there are aware of it.



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



Check out this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103260



And also the 2004 TSB Site: http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2004-index.htm

 

[Pawpaw]

From the NHTSA website at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/defectsearch.cfm



NHTSA Action Number : EA04025 NHTSA Recall Campaign Number : N/A

Make : DODGE Model: RAM 2500

Manufacturer : DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION Year : 2004

Component : POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Date Investigation Opened : August 26, 2004

Date Investigation Closed : Open

Summary:

THERE HAVE BEEN 50 COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DAIMLERCHRYSLER ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF REVERSE POWERED ROLLAWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAD ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE GEARSHIFT LEVER IN THE “PARK” POSITION WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE RUNNING, AND THE PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED. THESE INCIDENTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE RESULTED IN 42 CRASHES AND 3 INJURIES. IN MY 2003, DAIMLERCHRYSLER INTRODUCED A NEW SHIFTER DESIGN IN THE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS THAT FEATURED AN ELECTRONIC GEAR POSITION INDICATOR (“PRNDL”) LOCATED IN THE DASH DISPLAY DIRECTLY FORWARD OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR THE MY 2003-04 RAM 2500/3500 PICKUP TRUCKS IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE RATES FOR THE MY 2001-02 RAM 2500/3500 PICKUP TRUCKS WITH THE PRIOR SHIFTER DESIGN USING A MECHANICAL “PRNDL” AND THE MY 2003-04 RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCKS WHICH USE THE SAME SHIFTER AS THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, BUT A DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION DESIGN. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED.





Bob

 

[rbattelle]

A very good friend of mine worked on the line at New Venture Gear for awhile (specifically, he ran the "shaver"). Anyway, he was telling me one day about the inspection process for the park pawl on automatic transmissions. He said if a "bad" one got by your station, or you built a bad one, you could lose your job ON THE SPOT.



For anyone who has ever rebuilt an automatic transmission, you understand why you would NEVER EVER EVER want to rely on the park pawl to hold the vehicle without the parking brake. Of course, I see people do it all the time and it's rare for a car to come out of park. But like a wise man once said, you can drive a car with your feet, but that doesn't mean it's to be done!



Sorry if I got off topic a bit.

-Ryan