URGENT: Run Away 3rd Gen Trucks

[Barry]

Last year I helped my east coast buyer get an '04. 5 3500 dually with an automatic trans. (converted him from Chevy). This morning he tells me that he stopped into a dry cleaners to get his laundry and when he came out his truck was gone!



The truck had come out of park into reverse, crossed the parking lot, over the curb, thru the landscaping and centered a big oak tree! Damage to the truck is fairly extensive. This is the 3rd time the truck has done this but the first time that anything has happened. In talking with the girl in the dry cleaners that has a new Dodge gasser, she said her truck does the same thing. Chrysler/DC is sending someone to inspect the truck right away... . it appears that there is a problem that is beginning to show up... ... BE AWARE!



I called the fleet mgr. at the dealership and he is checking... ... . anyone else know about this problem?????????

 

[Bertram65]

The shift lever has a short range of motion and it easy to think you are in one gear when you are in another, Park and reverse are very close. With the brake interlock I doubt it was in park and then went into reverse, it would seem more likely it was accidently left in reverse not park.

 

[Rosco]

I've had the same problem and started a thread on this. The NHTSA has a file on this so have your buddy contact them. What happens is there is a spot in between neutral and park where you swear the truck is in park because the shifter appears to be in park, the "P" is illuminated, and the truck remains motionless when you get out. However, a short time later the transmission drop into reverse and the truck starts rolling backwards.



It's happened to me several times but the most dramatic was awhile back after I had just unhooked from my fiver. I jumped out of the truck to do a quick walkaround the camper and about 1-2 minutes after I exited the truck it began to roll. The only thing that prevented serious disaster was that the truck came straight back and rehitched to the fiver. When it rehitched it had enough momentum going to push the chocked camper back 5 inches or so.

 

[Barry]

Could be, but there seems to be enough smoke in this deal to suspect there is a fire... ... ... ... ... . time will tell. Still another reason why I buy 6 speeds.

 

[scootergmc]

Doesn't anyone set a parking brake anymore?

 

[Barry]

Certainly a reasonable question. However, in so. Fla. the only hills are man made overpasses so I would suspect that most folks could become lazy in that respect... ... ... ...

 

[Don-T]

Here in southeast Texas the ground is flat too, but there is no way I trust any auto trans to stay in park. I don't trust them to hold the truck even if they are in park. I always use the parking brake. It is far cheaper than damaging the truck.

 

[drandre]

It's pretty funny that I started a thread last year about it. You really have to make sure those automatic shifters are in the Park or else . . .



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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

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Full thread:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103260

 

[Matt400]

Still another reason why I buy 6 speeds.

I would be more worried about a 6 speed ending up in the lake on a boat ramp than an auto.

 

[2Gen3Gen]

It isnt just the trucks! My wife's new Chrysler Sebring Convertibledid the same thing on Sunday. Lucky for us, it only rolled out ofthe garage and didn't hit anything. Scared the $%^&*( out of my wife to see her car roll by the front window! :--)

 

[gsbrockman]

When I owned my 2000 RAM 2500 4x4 Quad Cab w/CTD & automatic, I routinely left the truck idling in neutral with the parking brake on so as to circulate the fluid whilst idling or prior to shut-down.

Greg

 

[Po' Riggity]

6 spd with use of the emergency brake has stopped any problems.

Scott

 

[Matt400]

6 speed-



#ad

 

[steveinaz]

Possible fix?

If we could just get a wrench on that loose nut behind the wheel... ... :-laf

 

[Barry]

Was that truck his first manual trans after driving automatics all his life???

 

[ASchwartz]

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Had the same problem with my Jeep Grand Cherokee. It was eventually recalled and repaired.

 

[srichard]

lol - I sure hope he payed his $7 launching fee...

 

[DHayden]

My emergency brake isnt worth a crap. I would trust it to hold my truck anywhere and judging the posts over the years neither should you.

 

[Barry]

Fleet man at the Dodge store called back. Said he had heard from regional. They are already tracking this thread... ... ... ... ... ... ...

 

[CJEliassen]

My old 97 had a parking brake release on a hill when I was under the truck. Rolled over the chocks and my leg before screaming down a mountain into a tree. It was the older ratcheting type. My 04 hasn't had a problem. I set the brake everywhere and even on very steep hills it holds fine. If the engine isn't running, I also put it in gear.