Dodge Ram truck have been on the road since 1981. Known for their rugged durability and versatility, many homes and businesses rely on them every day to get the job done. If you are thinking about buying one, you may have heard that Dodge Ram trucks have problems with their transmissions.
What are the common indications of a Dodge Ram transmission gone bad?
The top three indicators of a problematic Ram transmission are:
- Can shift truck into gear without pressing brake pedal
- Truck rolls away while parked and off
- Unable to shift into park
What causes the transmission to have these troubles in a Dodge Ram pickup? Our article has the answers and solutions in one quick read.
What Went Wrong with the Transmissions in the Dodge Ram Trucks?
The transmissions that are related to common complaints and recalls for Dodge Ram trucks are five and six-speed automatic transmissions. These were found in the 2009 Dodge Ram and 2010 through 2017 Ram models 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500.
The transmission provides the link between the engine and drive wheels. Power is sent from the engine to the transmission where it converts the power through a series of gears and forwards it to the rear wheels. If the transmission is in Park, no power is transmitted to the wheels.
Automatic transmissions shift gears without requiring the driver to engage the clutch. Sensors in the transmission determine which gear will be engaged at different speeds to optimize fuel economy, torque, and horsepower.
To shift the truck into drive from park or reverse, the brake pedal must be depressed to move the shift lever.
In the Dodge Ram transmissions, sometimes the brake transmission shift interlock pin would get stuck in the open position. This allowed the truck to be put into gear or slip into gear without pushing the brakes down.
That resulted in some trucks jumping out of Park and into Reverse or Drive and rolling away while the engine is off and parked. In other model years, the pin would get stuck closed which prevented the truck from being shifted out of gear at all.
How the Problems with the Ram Transmission Get Fixed
Driver Can Shift Truck into Gear Without Pressing Brake Pedal
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration issued a wide-sweeping recall for nearly 1.5 million Dodge Ram trucks 2009 to 2017. The recall indicated that the brake transmission interlock pin (BTIP) must be tested and replaced if found to be faulty.
Testing the pin requires a certified technician to attempt to pop the truck into gear without pushing the brake and while the engine is off.
The solenoid that moves the pin makes a clicking noise when it works. If the technician can shift without using the brake or the click is not audible, the BTIP module is replaced.
Replacing the BTIP involves opening the steering column and access panels in the truck cab. A wiring module and physical pin are replaced.
For models 2015 to 2017, a software update is also run to ensure that the engine computer properly checks that the pin is in the right position before allowing the transmission to change gears.
Truck Rolls Away While Parked and off
Some owners reported their trucks rolling out of parking spaces and into traffic, causing accidents. This complaint on 2009 to 2017 Ram trucks directly refers to the problem covered by the BTIP recall.
If the BTIP is replaced on your Ram truck, the truck should no longer be able to hop out of Park without a driver behind the wheel.
Unable to Shift into Park
Owners of the 2018 Ram 1500 Truck reported that they were unable to shift into drive, even with the brake pedal engaged. Another recall was created that noted the wrong transmission park lock rod had been installed at the factory.
The rod was shaped so that it may not always move, allowing the truck to shift gears. A replacement lock rod is installed to fix the situation.
