2022 Ram 1500 Limited Rough Transmission

Recently purchased a new 2022 Ram 1500 Limited w/ E-Torque. After purchasing and pulling into my neighborhood I noticed the truck downshifted rough from 3 to 2 and 2 to 1. Took it back to the dealer and they completed the quicklearn routine and made comments on the invoice that the truck was still experiencing rough shifting, so the tech completed "TCM Adaptation Procedure" It still didn't feel quite right when I picked it back up and now it is doing the same thing again, right back to the dealer.

They are now claiming they "can't duplicate and cannot feel the harsh shifting" When I say harsh shifting, it feels like my old Buick that was missing 2nd gear dropping from 3rd to 1st. It even feels like it struggles finding a gear when I'm taking turns in 2nd gear, almost like it's in neutral and lurches into 2nd when it finally decides.

I'm at a loss for what to do with this truck and how to handle the dealer. Anyone have any experience with this?

Update:

Truck was with the dealer for a week and they said they couldn't duplicate my concern. Caught them lying to me via text saying they just got back from another test drive and still couldn't duplicate, but the Ram app showed it parked and not started for 4 days. Not sure why the lie that they were trying to duplicate still, do they have a reason to not try and fix the issue? Anyway - I picked the truck up this morning and within 5 miles of the dealership I started feeling the harsh downshifting/stuck in neutral feeling 3 to 2 and even worse 2 to 1. I noticed more on this drive that it feels like the transmission is slowing me down and then "lets loose" causing the truck to lurch forward.

I've searched the forum and only found other posts about 2020 and 2021 year models having this same issue, but there was a TSB for it and several of them ended up with transmission replacements. I'm coming from a 2013 1500 that drove better than this truck, is it possible this is just how the newer 8 speed shifts? Should I take it to another dealer that wasn't involved in the sale of the truck? 430 miles and I feel like I'm getting the runaround after they sold me a truck with a bad transmission.

Ronest said:

Update:

Truck was with the dealer for a week and they said they couldn't duplicate my concern. Caught them in a lying to me via text saying they just got back from another test drive and still couldn't duplicate, but the Ram app showed it parked and not started for 4 days. Not sure why the lie that they were trying to duplicate still, do they have a reason to not try and fix the issue? Anyway - I picked the truck up this morning and within 5 miles of the dealership I started feeling the harsh downshifting/stuck in neutral feeling 3 to 2 and even worse 2 to 1. I noticed more on this drive that it feels like the transmission is slowing me down and then "lets loose" causing the truck to lurch forward.

I've searched the forum and only found other posts about 2020 and 2021 year models having this same issue, but there was a TSB for it and several of them ended up with transmission replacements. I'm coming from a 2013 1500 that drove better than this truck, is it possible this is just how the newer 8 speed shifts? Should I take it to another dealer that wasn't involved in the sale of the truck? 430 miles and I feel like I'm getting the runaround after they sold me a lemon.

Click to expand...

Man that sucks, dealers like that are the worst and unfortunately seem to be too commonplace. That's such a ****** thing to do, to take someone's vehicle for that long and not work on it at all and pass it off as you couldn't diagnose the problem. It would be good to name that dealer here and leave some accurate reviews online to hopefully warn other people to avoid that place. At this point you may as well try another dealer and hope for better results.

And you're not crazy, my 21 8 speed behaves exactly as my 2013/2017 did. I have never experienced things like you are describing in any of those rams. Best of luck I hope you can get some help for it.

See if ram cares can help you .

Your in KATY, I would make some calls, talk to some PPL who know which are the Better Dealers in Houston area and go to one of them. Gotta be some dealers on the west side of the loop. Your Dealership IMHO not gonna make it, that be the reason I drove an hour from my house to buy mine vs going to Dealership in town. Just how it is.

All above IMHO...

Thanks for all of the replies, glad to hear I'm not crazy and this is a real issue. I scheduled an appointment with another dealer for Monday and will see what they say.

I took the truck out for an hour this morning and really watched what gear everything is happening in and was able to consistently duplicate the issue on demand. 4th to 3rd gear is actually the worst, it feels like it gets stuck in 4th and then jerks loose when it finally drops into 3rd. I'm also getting a shuttering in 3rd gear because it won't downshift into 2nd until I'm at almost complete stop. There is no way the dealer didn't feel this when driving. It honestly feels like I'm driving an older vehicle with a bad transmission.

I've been buying Mopar vehicles for the past 12 years and this is the worst operating vehicle I've purchased in that time (also the most expensive)

@RamCares any insight here? 430 miles and nearly 200 of those are "trying to duplicate" or travelling to and from the dealership.

Update:

Reached out to Ram Cares via PM this morning, no response yet. Is there a better way to get in contact with them?

Transmission issue 4th to 3rd was terrible in city traffic this morning. The lurching forward is getting worse...parking the truck until I have a fix.

Newest Update:

Finally talked to Ram Cares on 4/23 and opened a case. They said that a "specialist" would be in touch with me in the next three business days, but still have not reached out to me.

More issues are popping up with the truck and I'm truly considering contacting a lemon law lawyer, but have not had to do this before and don't know where to start. I can't trust that this truck is even going to make it to 10k miles at this rate and FCA is showing how much they care about their consumers.

3/25/2022

• On drive home from dealership, noticed rough shifting transmission. Immediately setup service appointment for Monday (60 miles on truck)
• Monday – Dealership tells me they cannot get me in for diagnostic appointment and that I would have to wait at least a week before they had an opening
• Talked to sales associate who sold me the truck, he was able to get me in on Thursday 3/31/2022

1st Service Appt.: 3/31/2022

• 237 Miles
• Poor downshifting transmission & Air whistle noise
• Road test verified concern, scan report done and found no DTC’s, checked for related TSB’s and SOL pubs – None
• Hoist truck and checked fluid level = good
• Complete Visual Inspection
• Reach over 170-degree operating trans temp and complete quick learn routine and road test
• VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING HARSH SHIFTING
• As per service procedures shift quality concern NOT CORRECTED by quick learn
• Tech completed TCM adaptation procedure
• No additional road test completed
• Claimed could not duplicate air noise from drivers side rear door or pillar

2nd Service Appt. 4/5/2022

• Updates:
• 4/5 Received text received that they could no longer feel the shifting issue and still could not hear the whistling noise
• 4/11 Received text “Good afternoon sir. They’re still working on it”
• 4/12 Received text “Good afternoon sir. Still no luck duplicating the issues, Not sure why they can’t but we’re still trying”
• Confirmed via Ram app that the truck had not been started since 4/8
• Called dealership out on the fact that they were lying about even attempting to repair the truck
• 4/13 Received text that they still could not duplicate and requested I do a ride along
• Confirmed via Ram app that they did take it on an 18-mile test drive
  
  
• Picked truck up from dealership on 4/18 – They would not supply an invoice for this visit
• All texts and screenshot of Ram app confirming the above attached below

4/22/2022

• Noticed rear speaker on passenger side rattles and sounds like a tin can
• Messaged dealership requesting to bring truck in for a ride along that they requested
  • As of 4/30 no response from dealership

4/23/2022

• Began feeling vibration in floor, seat and steering wheel
• Intermittent lack of power when pushing gas pedal. Has only occurred a handful of times and cannot figure out how to duplicate on demand (This is not from a complete stop and not related to start/stop system)
• Contacted Ram to open a case and was told I would hear from a specialist within 3 business days
  • As of 4/30 no response from Ram

4/27/2022

• Morning - During highway driving, had to come to abrupt stop. Harsh downshifting occurred and had strong burning smell
• Afternoon – Wireless charger will no longer charge phone after several minutes of charging. Light flashes red and unit feels very hot to the touch
• Noticed loud whining noise when coming to a stop

List of Issues:

• Rough Transmission causing “jerky” driving
• Truck feels like it gets stuck in 4th gear and makes it feel like the brakes are being heavily applied, then will shift into 3rd harshly and truck will lurch forward
• Intermittent Shuttering/Loss of power when pressing gas pedal
• Vibration at various speeds (Noticed 15 MPH all the way to 70 MPH)
• Bad speaker(s)
• Wireless phone charger intermittently overheating and not working

Ronest said:

Newest Update:

Finally talked to Ram Cares on 4/23 and opened a case. They said that a "specialist" would be in touch with me in the next three business days, but still have not reached out to me.

More issues are popping up with the truck and I'm truly considering contacting a lemon law lawyer, but have not had to do this before and don't know where to start. I can't trust that this truck is even going to make it to 10k miles at this rate and FCA is showing how much they care about their consumers.

3/25/2022

• On drive home from dealership, noticed rough shifting transmission. Immediately setup service appointment for Monday (60 miles on truck)
• Monday – Dealership tells me they cannot get me in for diagnostic appointment and that I would have to wait at least a week before they had an opening
• Talked to sales associate who sold me the truck, he was able to get me in on Thursday 3/31/2022

1st Service Appt.: 3/31/2022

• 237 Miles
• Poor downshifting transmission & Air whistle noise
• Road test verified concern, scan report done and found no DTC’s, checked for related TSB’s and SOL pubs – None
• Hoist truck and checked fluid level = good
• Complete Visual Inspection
• Reach over 170-degree operating trans temp and complete quick learn routine and road test
• VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING HARSH SHIFTING
• As per service procedures shift quality concern NOT CORRECTED by quick learn
• Tech completed TCM adaptation procedure
• No additional road test completed
• Claimed could not duplicate air noise from drivers side rear door or pillar

2nd Service Appt. 4/5/2022

• Updates:
• 4/5 Received text received that they could no longer feel the shifting issue and still could not hear the whistling noise
• 4/11 Received text “Good afternoon sir. They’re still working on it”
• 4/12 Received text “Good afternoon sir. Still no luck duplicating the issues, Not sure why they can’t but we’re still trying”
• Confirmed via Ram app that the truck had not been started since 4/8
• Called dealership out on the fact that they were lying about even attempting to repair the truck
• 4/13 Received text that they still could not duplicate and requested I do a ride along
• Confirmed via Ram app that they did take it on an 18-mile test drive
  
  
• Picked truck up from dealership on 4/18 – They would not supply an invoice for this visit
• All texts and screenshot of Ram app confirming the above attached below

4/22/2022

• Noticed rear speaker on passenger side rattles and sounds like a tin can
• Messaged dealership requesting to bring truck in for a ride along that they requested
  • As of 4/30 no response from dealership

4/23/2022

• Began feeling vibration in floor, seat and steering wheel
• Intermittent lack of power when pushing gas pedal. Has only occurred a handful of times and cannot figure out how to duplicate on demand (This is not from a complete stop and not related to start/stop system)
• Contacted Ram to open a case and was told I would hear from a specialist within 3 business days
  • As of 4/30 no response from Ram

4/27/2022

• Morning - During highway driving, had to come to abrupt stop. Harsh downshifting occurred and had strong burning smell
• Afternoon – Wireless charger will no longer charge phone after several minutes of charging. Light flashes red and unit feels very hot to the touch
• Noticed loud whining noise when coming to a stop

List of Issues:

• Rough Transmission causing “jerky” driving
• Truck feels like it gets stuck in 4th gear and makes it feel like the brakes are being heavily applied, then will shift into 3rd harshly and truck will lurch forward
• Intermittent Shuttering/Loss of power when pressing gas pedal
• Vibration at various speeds (Noticed 15 MPH all the way to 70 MPH)
• Bad speaker(s)
• Wireless phone charger intermittently overheating and not working

Click to expand...

Well that sucks. I sure hope it gets figured out one way or another.

Ronest said:

Newest Update:

Finally talked to Ram Cares on 4/23 and opened a case. They said that a "specialist" would be in touch with me in the next three business days, but still have not reached out to me.

Click to expand...

We responded to your message, please take some time to review it.

Rob
Ram Cares

Ronest - I've experienced nearly identical symptoms with my 2022 Laramie etorque since the day I brought it home. Terrible off the start, worse during decel at low speeds whether braking or not.

Salesman wrote it off to transmission "learning my driving habits during break in". I'm at 2400 miles now, and it's just as bad if not worse. Haven't took it to a dealer yet, just putting it off due to expecting your same treatment... But getting fed up, city driving is an awful experience.

Look forward to hearing how this plays out on your end.

@wader Sorry to hear you're having some of the same issues. You nailed it though, it's the worst during decel and especially bad if you have to do it a lot when you're city driving.

I do have a few more updates today:

1) On 5/2 I was driving in city traffic utilizing the Ram navigation and the screen froze and then went black. A few moments later it turned back on, not sure what caused it to crash. Maybe potential electrical issues now as well. Managed to catch the tail end of it on video as the system was restarting.

2) On 5/3 I called in to speak to Ram cares after not hearing back from my case manager and Ram Cares here on the forum suggesting I call in. They said that I had been assigned a case manager but they "pushed it back" as they believed I should have been sent to a different department. The woman I spoke to was very polite, but didn't have any answers for me other than to wait another 24 hours for a callback.

3) 5/4 - Currently sitting in the truck at work. On my drive back from lunch I noticed the stop/start system wasn't working now either even though it worked on the drive to work this morning. I have a 2 minute video showing this now and made sure to show I didn't have it turned off. I can't believe how the number of things wrong keep adding on.

I'll make sure to keep this thread updated as things progress.

Do you have the 3.92 gears, Ronest?

3.21 gears with the anti-spin rear differential rear axle option.

Unfortunately my Ram case manager didn't call today either. I'll call in at noon and see if I can make any headway, but it's not looking promising at this point.

Update:

Tried reaching my case manager this morning but keep getting the "Our normal hours of operation are 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM Monday through Friday" and to call back during normal business hours. It's almost 11:00 AM Central, so unless Ram is running off of the Hawaii-Aleutian time zone, it is normal business hours.

Today is day 14 waiting to speak to a case manager at Ram about the issues with this truck and I've made no headway.

Update:

Still have not been able to reach my case manager. Now when I call in, it sends me directly to a voicemail that is full. Tomorrow marks two weeks since calling Ram and opening a case and zero attempt to contact me has been made.

Dang man I'm sorry to hear all the problems you are having. Hopefully it turns around soon. Not sure if it helps but I think the screen on the truck going blank is probably part of their known issue with the uconnect5 system, they have been working on it but it happens to a lot of people, mine has done it once, but mostly my phone will connect and disconnect. Also not sure what the temp is for you when you went to lunch, but I have the etorque too with start stop, and it will not shut off if I have the AC set low and its still trying to cool the cabin. A way to test that on your end would be to drive and when it doesn't auto start/stop, while waiting turn the AC off, then it should auto stop the truck. Hopefully that helps.

I'd try to lemon law that truck ASAP! It's bull**** that no one, especially ram"cares", has an answer for you.

Thanks for the reply @gt8684. I'll try that on my drive home today and see if that's what it could be with the start/stop system. It has been in the 80s & 90s here in Houston lately. It is disappointing to hear that their Uconnect 5 system has issues, I hadn't read about that anywhere else. Mine seems very unresponsive lately and I just chalked it up to another issue specific to this truck.

I could deal with the little quarks like that if it weren't for the larger issues with the transmission and vibration/rattling. My 10 year old was with me yesterday and made a comment about how he misses my old truck because this one shakes him all around. We were going 25 MPH through my neighborhood when he said it... Mind you I had Grapplers on my old truck and it wasn't a smooth ride at all.

The transmission seems to be worse at times and even with the start/stop turned off I am getting a delay from pressing the gas to the truck moving. It's like the transmission is in neutral and struggles finding a gear.

And to top it all off, STILL no response from my case manager. Voicemail is full and no calls from Ram. I spoke to another customer service rep yesterday and all they could do was mark my account that I want someone to call me... 18 days now with no communication from Ram.

Sorry to hear you've been unable to get any traction @Ronest. Here is what I've experienced to date. Haven't taken it in yet, but going to try and do so next week.

- very noticeable jump/bump when accelarating/decelerating, especially decelerating. Specifically from 3rd to 2nd, and 2nd to 1st.
- occasionally when decelerating it feels like the truck can't figure out if it wants to be in 2nd or 1st.
- when starting from a stop the truck hardly wants to move without getting in the pedal pretty good, hard to keep under 2k rpm, it wants to jump to 2nd gear
- Auto stop/start has quit working
- Yesterday I stopped at an incline, when I took my foot off the brake to go, the truck rolled backwards very quickly and I caught it with the brake. I tested this again on a steep driveway while at work today. I pulled up the driveway about 10', kept the truck in drive, let my foot off the brake and the truck rolled back approximately 6' before I applied the brake, like a total freewheel, no resistance whatsoever. This evening I tested the truck on a hill around my house and the truck operated as I expect it should. I let off the brake and the truck was planted. Hill assist has been on since I drove it off the lot.
- the 12" screen has gone black a couple times