Disappointed Ram Owner

[RACENRAM1]

Man I'd love this truck if it hasn't caused me so many problems, inconveniences and time being in the shop. I'll make this as short as I can. It's a 2021 2500 6.4 Ram, I pull my race care/trailer with it. Here's what's happened. This has happened 4 times, pulling my race car down the interstate cruise set at 74mph it automatically shifted itself into 4 wheel low, what a screaming dangerous ride that was. Dealer said it was a shift control module that had rusted and corroded, this all started at 7900 miles. said it was fixed, after a few months it did it again while pulling at 55mph, another scarry ride! Took it back to dealer and the same rusted corroded module was changed. I told them to check my engine and transmission for damage after taking those hi revving low range hits at highway speeds. The assured me the engine and trans were fine! I wasn't buying it and made them check, well the transmission was full of metal! They put a new trans in after waiting and being without a truck for 12 weeks. At this point I had a case already with Ram assistance which was a horrible experience. Anyway this tranfercase did this automatic down shift 2 more times. Changed the same module again and it was ok for awhile. Over the last year and driving on pins and needles it has not downshifted into low range at speed thank goodness but it has been hanging up in 2nd gear and 3rd a couple times and will not up shift? It also would not go into reverse, it would just revs periodically and when backing up to park it's shifting into low range 4wd totally on its own sometimes? It's been back to the dealer several times and a couple times it's been that shift module corroded and rusted again, They say? Now there is a loud growling vibrating noise that's pretty bad, the service tech that drove it and felt/heard all this told me he was sure it was rear end going bad!? Remember all this started at 7900 miles, now the truck has only 35,000 miles on it now and the rear end is bad?? (I think all these drivetrain parts were damaged when it slammed into 4 wd low range while towing, something had to give, I know that's why the trans had to be changed. It's at the shop now and there telling me the rear gears are good and tolerances are good, buuut, they found metal pieces in the rear axle housing??? Has anyone experienced any of these issues with there ram? Sorry but customer service has been awful from Ram and Ram Customer Care. So disappointed in this company!

 

[RamDiver]

WOW!

Something sounds a bit fishy with the dealership, I'd get away from them ASAP. I don't believe their story about the module failing repeatedly from corrosion unless you tour the rust belt regularly.

I live in the most chemical-filled roadway area of Canada, AFAIK, and have not heard of this failure up here.

Dropping your truck into 4 low at 74 Mph is a failure that's most likely to eat the tranny, transfer case and the remainder of the driveline, if not the engine too.

The rev limiter might somehow magically protect the engine but, forget the driveline and all it's components, AFAIC.

I've been driving 4wd for a long time but have zero experience with this type of failure.
Maybe, someone with more experience in this area will correct me.

.

 

[Wild one]

It appears like they can't fix it,why not trade it off .

 

[RACENRAM1]

Well I'd like to, I hate to lose my 1.4% rates. Rates are so high now. May end up doing it anyway? Thanks

 

[Wild one]

Well I'd like to, I hate to lose my 1.4% rates. Rates are so high now. May end up doing it anyway? Thanks

Even if they somehow manage to throw enough parts at it to fix it,you'll never trust the truck anyways,lol

 

[RACENRAM1]

WOW!

Something sounds a bit fishy with the dealership, I'd get away from them ASAP. I don't believe their story about the module failing repeatedly from corrosion unless you tour the rust belt regularly.

I live in the most chemical-filled roadway area of Canada, AFAIK, and have not heard of this failure up here.

Dropping your truck into 4 low at 74 Mph is a failure that's most likely to eat the tranny, transfer case and the remainder of the driveline, if not the engine too.

The rev limiter might somehow magically protect the engine but, forget the driveline and all it's components, AFAIC.

I've been driving 4wd for a long time but have zero experience with this type of failure.
Maybe, someone with more experience in this area will correct me.

.

Thanks, this is the 2nd dealership, Ram customer care sent me to. I agree those 4 hard hits has caused damage. I know the transmission was damaged because of that hit, I worry about the engine but like you said hopefully the rev limiter helped there. The dealer that has it now just called and wanted to know why the last dealer put a used transfer case in it. It has the used parts paint pen stuff written all over it? Never was told it was changed, nothing on any of my documentation from the other dealer about a transfer case change?? It's been a nightmare. BW

 

[turkeybird56]

Trade it. But IMHO only. Not think u gonna get any satisfaction.

 

[RamDiver]

Even if they somehow manage to throw enough parts at it to fix it,you'll never trust the truck anyways,lol

I had typed almost the same response and then decided to wait for yours. LOL

.

 

[Wild one]

I had typed almost the same response and then decided to wait for yours. LOL

.

I can be pretty blunt at times,lol

 

[RamDiver]

Thanks, this is the 2nd dealership, Ram customer care sent me to. I agree those 4 hard hits has caused damage. I know the transmission was damaged because of that hit, I worry about the engine but like you said hopefully the rev limiter helped there. The dealer that has it now just called and wanted to know why the last dealer put a used transfer case in it. It has the used parts paint pen stuff written all over it? Never was told it was changed, nothing on any of my documentation from the other dealer about a transfer case change?? It's been a nightmare. BW

I'd be willing to bet that the entire driveline has been compromised and wouldn't have much confidence with the engine either. I wonder about the lemon laws in your state.

If I were you, I would encourage the second dealer to provide documentation on that magic transfer case substitution, you can likely use that in your trade negotiation.

My first choice would be to find a suitable compromise that involved you trading in that damaged truck. FCA may be getting more negotiable in the near future and you might find a good trade option.

.

 

[RamDiver]

I can be pretty blunt at times,lol

We like to call that, being direct and not mincing words.

And, you are good at it.

.

 

[Wild one]

We like to call that, being direct and not mincing words.

And, you are good at it.

.

I'm even worse face to face,if you're lacking common sense,i have no issues pointing it out to somebody live,lol

 

[RamDiver]

I'm even worse face to face,if you're lacking common sense,i have no issues pointing it out to somebody live,lol

And more importantly, someone you prefer to share more than a house with.

OK, you win. I bite my tongue, once in a while.

.

 

[BenchTest]

RAM needs to take that truck back. If it has a history that long of doing the downshifts?? Are they waiting for a fatality accident to make real fixes?

 

[Art_in_CO]

Is a Lemon Law buyback applicable here? This nightmare started well before the warranty expiration.

 

[DeckArtist]

Before you trade it, get a carfax report and see what they recorded when it comes to service. That will tell you whether or not to trade or sell outright to a private person or Carmax.

 

[2019RamInSC]

RAM needs to take that truck back. If it has a history that long of doing the downshifts?? Are they waiting for a fatality accident to make real fixes?

DownShift? I get nervous just imagining that happening. There is no way that the drive line did not suffer extreme damage the first time. I would have gotten rid of the truck immediately. Amazing!

 

[Uncleollie]

Man I'd love this truck if it hasn't caused me so many problems, inconveniences and time being in the shop. I'll make this as short as I can. It's a 2021 2500 6.4 Ram, I pull my race care/trailer with it. Here's what's happened. This has happened 4 times, pulling my race car down the interstate cruise set at 74mph it automatically shifted itself into 4 wheel low, what a screaming dangerous ride that was. Dealer said it was a shift control module that had rusted and corroded, this all started at 7900 miles. said it was fixed, after a few months it did it again while pulling at 55mph, another scarry ride! Took it back to dealer and the same rusted corroded module was changed. I told them to check my engine and transmission for damage after taking those hi revving low range hits at highway speeds. The assured me the engine and trans were fine! I wasn't buying it and made them check, well the transmission was full of metal! They put a new trans in after waiting and being without a truck for 12 weeks. At this point I had a case already with Ram assistance which was a horrible experience. Anyway this tranfercase did this automatic down shift 2 more times. Changed the same module again and it was ok for awhile. Over the last year and driving on pins and needles it has not downshifted into low range at speed thank goodness but it has been hanging up in 2nd gear and 3rd a couple times and will not up shift? It also would not go into reverse, it would just revs periodically and when backing up to park it's shifting into low range 4wd totally on its own sometimes? It's been back to the dealer several times and a couple times it's been that shift module corroded and rusted again, They say? Now there is a loud growling vibrating noise that's pretty bad, the service tech that drove it and felt/heard all this told me he was sure it was rear end going bad!? Remember all this started at 7900 miles, now the truck has only 35,000 miles on it now and the rear end is bad?? (I think all these drivetrain parts were damaged when it slammed into 4 wd low range while towing, something had to give, I know that's why the trans had to be changed. It's at the shop now and there telling me the rear gears are good and tolerances are good, buuut, they found metal pieces in the rear axle housing??? Has anyone experienced any of these issues with there ram? Sorry but customer service has been awful from Ram and Ram Customer Care. So disappointed in this company!

I have a 2020 ram limited has the leather dash leather is bubbling. There were window leaks water and rear defroster. Only one section works with this since March, I have been lied to by the service manager on more than one occasion Jim Jordan Berman Chrysler Dodge, Jeep Oaklawn, Illinois. I know this is a common problem. I am dealing with Dodge ram care, which is useless. It seems wish you luck.

 

[dennisok]

Take it to a different dealer. If that doesn't work take it to a transmission shop and have them look at it.

 

[RamDiver]

Take it to a different dealer. If that doesn't work take it to a transmission shop and have them look at it.

I agree with finding a new dealer but...

I would choose to ditch that vehicle ASAP and preferably through a reasonable trade with a dealer. Let them deal with the mess, I'd want no part of selling it to anyone privately.

Even if you have every inch of the driveline disassembled, transmission, transfer case, and engine, that would still be a 'hard pass' for me.

.