URGENT: Run Away 3rd Gen Trucks

[todt061458]

Darn I was gong to buy a new truck this fall but I think I will wait till they fix this dangerous problem :{

 

[Yo Hoot]

Darn I was gong to buy a new truck this fall but I think I will wait till they fix this dangerous problem :{

Don't be silly. This is not a mass problem. I would venture to say most of the problems are created by people who are impatient and just expect everything to work flawlessly no matter how they operate the truck.



I haven't looked but you can bet your sweet bippy there is a warning in the owners manual and explicit directions on how to place the vehicle in park.



I'm not saying there aren't any trucks out there that actually have a mechanical defect or the shift mechanism is out of adjustment. These things happen accross the board on all brands. D/C needs to eliminate them because of the safety implications. If somebody gets hurt CNN will have a story.



Remember the Audi 5000. It did something similar. I think that's when they started putting the brake interlocks in.

 

[DPKetchum]

My buddies 03 did all of the above a few times. He fiddled around with it and made some adjustments to the shift cable/trans etc. Its ok now and has been for a year or so.

 

[jakemeister]

I have a problem with my 05 at times. I think its the shifter though. I was at a drag race one time racinf another cummins. I went past the 2 yellows on line up so i had to back up to the line(rookie mistake) when i did i dropped back into drive... well when the light turned green i let her rip and the tach went to 3000 rpm but i didnt go nowhere... really embarrassing. I looked at the indicator and it said it was in "D" but it wasnt... i slightly tapped the shifter and it engaged... Heres where you laugh at me... i kinda just wimpered down the track... seeing i just got my azz handed to me.



I know i shouldnt be racing my truck but it was fun on the next run to race a powerstroke and win... . Ran a 15. 1 sec quarter mile with a 2. 2 60'. Quad race box on 130 setting strait through exhaust and afe... .

 

[juicedcummins]

My 05 disappeared on me last week. I was parking some equip and hear a loud crack. Truck was left running in park in the same place it had sat all day and not moved. At <100ft all you could see was the cablights because it went into a nasty ditch and up against the far bank. Had to fire up my excavator to yank it out. First damage report was only a lost mudflap and bent tailpipe but after closer examination the back bumper being a sport has the paint cracked and is chipping. [thank god for receiver hitches. ]

This truck is also just about impossible to get out of park @ times to the point the shifter will be in my hand one of these days. [tried shuting off, turning the wheel etc to no avail. ]

This truck has also had the transfer case jump into neutral twice while on paved roads @ road speed.

 

[Matt400]

This truck has also had the transfer case jump into neutral twice while on paved roads @ road speed.

Wow. . electric or manual shift?

 

[magothy1]

You boys make a guy awfully nervous about launching a boat, I declare !! Seems this was going on when I first joined, this past January. So far, knocking my head on the desk, mine is ok.



'03 3500, flame red, 48E... . gulp

 

[EBottema]

I love having a manual tranmission where my brain is the parking pawl in that case.



Nothing like a mechanical pawl in a turbo 400 or 727



We can log this problem in the electronic disfunction file.

 

[speedracer76]

funny

This tread is pretty funny. Even if there is some problem with the transmission dropping back into reverese there should be no way that the truck would roll anywere. Even with the engine running the auto transmission would not overpower the Parking brake . If someone exits their vehicle without setting the parking brake they are asking for trouble.

 

[Matt400]

You boys make a guy awfully nervous about launching a boat,

I wouldn't worry so much about that, IMO park with the park brake is about as safe as your going to get. One thing to make sure of is when you select park, make sure the lever falls away from you towards the dash, you can be in a situation where you see park on the display and the lever is not locked in park and that may be where these run aways are happening. When the lever is locked in park it is physically closer to the dash than when it is in reverse.



This fella's 3rd gen is a 6 speed and thats the tow truck driver you see in the pic that swam out to it.

 

[EBottema]

His brain must have not worked that day...



whatever happened with his truck? Salvaged?

 

[Matt400]

whatever happened with his truck? Salvaged?

I would think it was a total, that pic came from this thread

 

[juicedcummins]

Matt400 it is a manual case. My buddies 04 1500 is very hard to get out of gear @ times also and has a case that will jump out of gear.

 

[ttreibel]

Remember the Audi 5000. It did something similar. I think that's when they started putting the brake interlocks in.

The Audi had an antenna mount leak above the fuse box and it could start and drive itself off if you didn't leave it in park or neutral.



With my 2003 I have only had to chase it once. I had just got the truck and in the dark went to pop the hood release to show my brother the motor and found the brake release instead ... ..... all John could say was jeeezus krist as I jumped in and hit the brake. I have a 5 speed and when I leave it in gear, it still will take off on a good hill... ...



BTW the parking brake holds fine living in the Seattle area puts a good test to it almost every day just push down on it harder!!!!

 

[Barry]

Update on my friend's runaway truck: DC sent out an inspector to look at the truck. Pronounced there was nothing wrong with the truck and DC refused to settle. My friend thought well cased closed and ordered a new Duramax/6speed Allison. Then... ... 2 weeks later... ... . an attorney from Washington, DC called representing the DOT and asked if my friend would testify in a class action against DC for runaway Dodge trucks.



Will keep you informed as the story progresses... ... ... .