2019 Ram 1500 transmission issues

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Bruce Welch

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Bought a brand new 2019 Ram 1500 laramie sport w/ hemi. during test drive, when the gear shift know was moved from Park to Drive, the transmission did not switch into drive. had to rev the engine to approx 1500 and the transmission then switched, and lurched truck as it started to move. Sales guy said its ok and the computer just needs to "learn". I have had the same issue after i purchased. this is not a consistent problem, but happens probably 2 to three times per week. took the truck in for service with less than 900 miles on it, per dealer, no problem found. When i discussed with the service manager, he said that his new 2019 truck did the same thing until he got to about 200 miles. it went away. i picked up my truck on Wednesday, went to drive it on Sat, and it did it again. NOT HAPPY.
 

turkeybird56

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Welcome to the Forum....... On above, call BS, I would be right back parked at the Big Plate Glass, just saying. Let their Service Advisor next to that glass rev it up and put in gear. Bet he will not. Learning would be Shift Points etc, not U having to REV to 1500 to get in gear. Something not programmed correctly, all IMHO.........

Added: Maybe different dealer, hmmmmmm, your zip shows Crowley, by Ft Worth, gotta be a chitload of Ram dealers there, just saying, all IMHO....
 

Ohio5pt7

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My 18 will sometime stop itself in neutral if I spin it to fast almost like it didnt sense it. Never had to rev and dump though that's a bunch a s*** as stated above I'd take to a different dealer

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JoeCo

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Wow, that is quite the line of BS from the sales guy as well as the service. Anytime they say something is normal, it probably isn't.
 

Musky Mike

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Dealer is full of crap and FCA knows about it because my dealer sent them video of mine doing the same thing. It’s a known problem with the 8 speed transmission. There are many cases on this forum, they are just hard to search for because everyone labels it something different. It’s a problem with the valve body, like a tight valve, because sometimes after a while it will stop doing it (I assume the valve wears in a little) Next time, if its safe, video it and insist the dealer send it to FCA. It should not do it and it’s not normal operation.

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/transmission-won’t-shift-out-of-park.132201/#post-1894202
 

Seansy

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Just my experience.. this happened to me about 3 times when I first bought mine. I was concerned and was definitely going to bring it up if it ever happened again... well... it’s been a couple of months and it hasn’t happened again.. I don’t know... maybe it “learned” ?? Lol
 

Seansy

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Just my experience.. this happened to me about 3 times when I first bought mine. I was concerned and was definitely going to bring it up if it ever happened again... well... it’s been a couple of months and it hasn’t happened again.. I don’t know... maybe it “learned” ?? Lol
 

runamuck

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Welcome to the Forum....... On above, call BS, I would be right back parked at the Big Plate Glass, just saying. Let their Service Advisor next to that glass rev it up and put in gear. Bet he will not. Learning would be Shift Points etc, not U having to REV to 1500 to get in gear. Something not programmed correctly, all IMHO.........

Added: Maybe different dealer, hmmmmmm, your zip shows Crowley, by Ft Worth, gotta be a chitload of Ram dealers there, just saying, all IMHO....

I agree. I live in Hurst so I use autonation near 26 and 820. they have been quick to get things and easy to deal with so far.
 

RamCares

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Bought a brand new 2019 Ram 1500 laramie sport w/ hemi. during test drive, when the gear shift know was moved from Park to Drive, the transmission did not switch into drive. had to rev the engine to approx 1500 and the transmission then switched, and lurched truck as it started to move. Sales guy said its ok and the computer just needs to "learn". I have had the same issue after i purchased. this is not a consistent problem, but happens probably 2 to three times per week. took the truck in for service with less than 900 miles on it, per dealer, no problem found. When i discussed with the service manager, he said that his new 2019 truck did the same thing until he got to about 200 miles. it went away. i picked up my truck on Wednesday, went to drive it on Sat, and it did it again. NOT HAPPY.

Hi Bruce Welch,

We certainly understand why this would be concerning. If you decide to continue working with your dealer, please send our team a private message and we would be happy to escalate a case regarding your concern.

Mark
Ram Social Care Specialist
 
OP
OP
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Bruce Welch

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Mark, from this thread, it seems that this is a known issue to RAM (chrysler). Dealers and service providers must know about this, and are simply covering this up. How do i send a private message to your team? I will be happy to do so.
 

Ohio5pt7

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Mark, from this thread, it seems that this is a known issue to RAM (chrysler). Dealers and service providers must know about this, and are simply covering this up. How do i send a private message to your team? I will be happy to do so.
Just click on ram cares next to the icon and click on message. Hope this helps

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RamCares

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Mark, from this thread, it seems that this is a known issue to RAM (chrysler). Dealers and service providers must know about this, and are simply covering this up. How do i send a private message to your team? I will be happy to do so.

Hi Bruce Welch,

I just sent you a private message, but wanted to follow-up with you here as well to make sure you were aware. Please take a moment to review my message at your earliest convenience. Hope to hear from you soon!

Mark
Ram Social Care Specialist
 

WWDiesel

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This needs to be reported to the NHTSA ASAP, This is a very serious SAFETY DEFECT and should be dealt with pronto.
A problem of this nature could get someone seriously hurt or worse yet killed!
No vehicle should be doing this, it is NOT normal.
If it were mine, I would be making some dealers life very miserable until it was fixed!

There are three different ways in which consumers can report safety defects/issues to NHTSA.
First method is through NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline by calling 1-888-327-4236 or 1-800-424-9393.
Second method is Report problem on line at:> https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/
Third method is to send a written complaint to the Office of Defects Investigation (NVS-210), 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590.
 

bruce allen

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Being a person close to the product in the past I can tell you that the transmission is not supposed to act this way. It does not need "to Learn" this function. As someone else stated the shifts are learned. Get the Zone people involved. Call that 800 number in the back of your owners manual. I would never go to back to those folks again as they have already proved that they says what ever it takes
 

JimE

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My personal take on this issue is the 8 speed transmission is just so much garbage having it in a 2017 Ram 1500 Hemi and a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the V6 {weird shifting issues with the latter}. These two vehiles have the same drivers and are used in idendical roads, over the same terrain as previouly owned 2012 RAM 2500 Hemi and CHRYSLER 300C V6, both having 6 speed transmissions. Both of the latter got better gas mileage with their 6 speed transmissions than current vehicles the the 8 speed. The real downside of the 8 speed is its erratic down shifting behavior seems to affect brake function when most needed. Basically it seems the computr is giving priority to downshiftng verses braking, yes brake function is controlled by the damn computer which contrls the hydraulic pump that ulimaately activates the brake calipers. In simple terms these vehivles are overly dependent on computer function and may actually be totally unsafe to drive anytime. Lemons?

The really sad thing is none of the vehicles actually acheive significantly better highway fuel economy than my 1978 Lincoln Town car with a 460 ci V6 and a AOD transmission. 41 years later and things seem to have gone downhill.
 

Elkman

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This is when you need to research the Lemon law for your state and begin to document your trips to the dealer. I would keep leaving it off to have the problem fixed as this shows that you made a good faith effort and that the dealer could not fix the problem.

"Learning" is a common excuse for poor transmission performance and it is not only the Ram trucks that have shown this problem. Issues with the new Ford transmissions and also the new Honda Pilot transmissions.

After reviewing the problems with the 2019 Ram pickups I have decided to wait for the 2020 models.
 

ShotCaller

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Wow, that is quite the line of BS from the sales guy as well as the service. Anytime they say something is normal, it probably isn't.


^^^^This.. The sales people will tell you anything to get you to sign the deal. My brother was one. That job fit him perfectly. :)

Back when I test drove a Ram in 2012, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor and I had to pump the brakes to get it to stop. Salesmen sitting next to me said 'Thats Normal'.
 

boblonben

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Bought a brand new 2019 Ram 1500 laramie sport w/ hemi. during test drive, when the gear shift know was moved from Park to Drive, the transmission did not switch into drive. had to rev the engine to approx 1500 and the transmission then switched, and lurched truck as it started to move. Sales guy said its ok and the computer just needs to "learn". I have had the same issue after i purchased. this is not a consistent problem, but happens probably 2 to three times per week. took the truck in for service with less than 900 miles on it, per dealer, no problem found. When i discussed with the service manager, he said that his new 2019 truck did the same thing until he got to about 200 miles. it went away. i picked up my truck on Wednesday, went to drive it on Sat, and it did it again. NOT HAPPY.
Actually when I got my dial shift RAM it did the same thing to me. Problem was I was NOT making sure to move the knob completely into the inset and although the pointer looked like it was in R or D or N, sometimes it was not, just a tiny bit off, until I made sure the knob clicked into position. After a while made sure I did so and have not had the problem since. Think some of the knob switches are a bit 'heavier' in movement and the driver thinks he/she has selected engaged position when they have not. Just saying.....
 

DA Smith

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My personal take on this issue is the 8 speed transmission is just so much garbage having it in a 2017 Ram 1500 Hemi and a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the V6 {weird shifting issues with the latter}. These two vehiles have the same drivers and are used in idendical roads, over the same terrain as previouly owned 2012 RAM 2500 Hemi and CHRYSLER 300C V6, both having 6 speed transmissions. Both of the latter got better gas mileage with their 6 speed transmissions than current vehicles the the 8 speed. The real downside of the 8 speed is its erratic down shifting behavior seems to affect brake function when most needed. Basically it seems the computr is giving priority to downshiftng verses braking, yes brake function is controlled by the damn computer which contrls the hydraulic pump that ulimaately activates the brake calipers. In simple terms these vehivles are overly dependent on computer function and may actually be totally unsafe to drive anytime. Lemons?

The really sad thing is none of the vehicles actually acheive significantly better highway fuel economy than my 1978 Lincoln Town car with a 460 ci V6 and a AOD transmission. 41 years later and things seem to have gone downhill.

I've had 5 FCA vehicles since 2014 between my wife and myself. In fact at this time my wife has a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee and I have a 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie sport. All 5 vehicles had and have the eight speed transmission and there has been no issues of any kind including the weird stuff you claim to have had. If the eight speed has issues you would think one of the five I have owned would show some problems but as I said zero issues with any of the five I've had. At this time there is 26-k on the Grand Cherokee and almost 14-k on the Ram.
 

JoeCo

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I've had 5 FCA vehicles since 2014 between my wife and myself. In fact at this time my wife has a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee and I have a 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie sport. All 5 vehicles had and have the eight speed transmission and there has been no issues of any kind including the weird stuff you claim to have had. If the eight speed has issues you would think one of the five I have owned would show some problems but as I said zero issues with any of the five I've had. At this time there is 26-k on the Grand Cherokee and almost 14-k on the Ram.

Same, I'm only on my second 8 speed but they both behaved the exact same way. Cold start shift into drive would give a pretty good lurch forward, and the first 1-2 shift was a bit rough but everything after that was nice and smooth. I've never experienced any braking issues or variation during a downshift.
 
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