8 Speed transmission won't shift into Drive

[mh3c]

Interesting problem arose this weekend. Attached my cargo trailer to the truck, shifted into drive, and... nothing. Cluster warns than I'm "Not in Park". I shift into park, I feel the knob sort of engage electronically, I shift it back and same thing. Third time it works. Later that day, I unhook the trailer, and it does it again. Repeated again yesterday when I took the trailer back to storage. That time was the worst. It took me shutting of the truck twice to get it to finally register it was in park and allow it to shift into Drive.
Thoughts?

 

[DieselMike29]

Interesting problem arose this weekend. Attached my cargo trailer to the truck, shifted into drive, and... nothing. Cluster warns than I'm "Not in Park". I shift into park, I feel the knob sort of engage electronically, I shift it back and same thing. Third time it works. Later that day, I unhook the trailer, and it does it again. Repeated again yesterday when I took the trailer back to storage. That time was the worst. It took me shutting of the truck twice to get it to finally register it was in park and allow it to shift into Drive.
Thoughts?

Other than the color - mine is Granite Crystal Metallic Clearcoat - and I have a EcoDiesel, sounds like the same trucks. I have heard of a recall about the shifter knob on Rams - whether it is for just ED or what trim level, you might look into that!

This doesn't read like our trucks are included, but this is what I found online. https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-driving/ram-recalls-pickup-trucks-over-gear-shifter-issue/

 

[crazykid1994]

I believe it’s an issue with the electronic shift knob. May need replacing. Maybe try dealer?

 

[RamCares]

Interesting problem arose this weekend. Attached my cargo trailer to the truck, shifted into drive, and... nothing. Cluster warns than I'm "Not in Park". I shift into park, I feel the knob sort of engage electronically, I shift it back and same thing. Third time it works. Later that day, I unhook the trailer, and it does it again. Repeated again yesterday when I took the trailer back to storage. That time was the worst. It took me shutting of the truck twice to get it to finally register it was in park and allow it to shift into Drive.
Thoughts?

Hi mh3c,
We understand your concern. Please send us a private message if this continues to happen. We'd like to get you into the dealer to help you get this concern inspected and diagnosed.
Lydia
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[mh3c]

Hooked up the trailer yesterday. I had a sneaky suspicion there would be a problem, so I started recording when I got back in the truck.

 

[Redheadhunter21]

Has the door been open, when you have had all your problems?

 

[buddy guy]

i thought that too, but it looks like he opened his door and closed it before the 2nd to last attempt..or the final attempt. i went back through the video to see if his door was opened all along. its like an interlock in the dial thought the door was open and wanted the truck to go into park first etc. but the door wasn't open. IF it was open all along, that would be that annoying safety thing that a few others have commented on? (But I'm sure he would have figured that out already!)

that was my interpretation.

 

[mh3c]

Has the door been open, when you have had all your problems?

It happens with door open or closed. Doesn't matter. In this instance I happened to have the door open before closing it.

 

[buddy guy]

i wonder if sometimes the shifter system doesn't understand the door is closed. in any case, it sounds like a dealer issue

 

[mh3c]

It happens with door open or closed. Doesn't matter. In this instance I happened to have the door open before closing it.

The only thing I did differently yesterday was put it into "N" first and let it stay there briefly before turning to "D" and it finally worked.

 

[buddy guy]

And here I was lamenting going back to a column shifter after 14 years of floor and paddle!

 

[zeb handeland]

I've noticed that I can't back up or drive forward with a door open. What a pain sometimes.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[MikeL]

I have a 2016 eco diesel with the exact same problem.
I have the door closed and when I shift to drive, I get that same message that the truck is not in park.
After several attempts of shifting it from park to drive, putting into and out of four wheel drive, starting and stoping the engine, it finally goes. If you find the fix, please post and I’ll do the same.

 

[RamCares]

I have a 2016 eco diesel with the exact same problem.
I have the door closed and when I shift to drive, I get that same message that the truck is not in park.
After several attempts of shifting it from park to drive, putting into and out of four wheel drive, starting and stoping the engine, it finally goes. If you find the fix, please post and I’ll do the same.

Hi MikeL,
We're sorry to hear that you are experiencing this. Should you decide to visit your dealer to have this addressed, feel free to send our team a private message and we would be happy to get you connected with a case specialist to assist throughout this process!
Alex
Ram Social Care Specialist