Laramie won't shift into gear, issues starting

[EvaHeidi]

2017 RAM 1500 Laramie (123,500 miles)
Son stops in driveway, puts into park and keeps it running (just to grab mail).
Gets back in, steps onto brake, notices brake is stiff, can’t really press down, can’t shift into drive.
Other son notices small amount of white smoke coming out from under hood.
Teen friend in backseat says no oil (though I think he only saw the needle being all the way down, but not actually the low/no oil light.
I come to check, able to close the windows, but not start the car.
It tries to, makes a sound, but won’t start. Same sensation with brake.
I check under hood, smell a little something burnt/smokey, can’t really see anything.
I leave it alone.
About 45 minutes later brother-in-law gets in and starts it without any issues, shifts to drive and drives a few yards.
Checks oil, says it’s low. We put oil in. Over half of 5 quart container.
Back story: Bought truck on May 5. No information on when last oil change was performed (only state inspection from October 2024). I check the oil two days later: good level, good color. Don’t need an oil change right away.
Now, May 25 (less than 3 weeks later), according to brother in law, low on oil, puts in 3 - 4 quarts.
Also, adds coolant. Says the “overheat” light had come on.
Put it in reverse, back camera no picture, only grey flickering. (Happened ONCE before, about two weeks earlier, switched gear and back into R and camera working, no more issues.)
Brother in law keeps checking, starting the care, shifting… It makes a unusual click sound during start. Suddenly can’t switch gears anymore. Do not drive an inch since adding oil.
Next day, getting it towed to RAM dealer. (My regular, small shop says they won’t mess with the dial gear shift).
RAM dealer checking active codes. Performs an oil and filter change. Telling me was severely overfilled with oil (11 quarts!!!???!!! WHAT? ALSO, initial no shifting/starting issue BEFORE we added oil…)
Checks the shifting, can’t find anything, double checks the next day, still nothing. Tells me truck went into something like panic mode due to so much extra oil, which caused the shifting issue.
Car good to go.
Son gets in, WILL NOT SHIFT, brake stiff…
Technician comes back, starts it several times, does start but struggles.
Leave truck with RAM dealer for diagnostics. Two days later waiting for update.
HELP, please!
WHAT THE HECK is going on?

 

[RamInfo]

Was there water in the oil and have you checked the coolant for oil contamination? Wondering if you have a head gasket problem…

Best,
SWR

 

[Marshall]

Electrical , starter problem I am thinking would be a starting place.
Oil, No idea, maybe dippen stick was not down all the way or just miss read, new oil it can be hard to tell where it is on a clean rod.

My brake peddle will be hard, no movement on my 2014 if it sits for a while in the garage, common these days , wife can't get in/ out so we use her car all the time
if she is with me. Thou it will still start, as soon a vac comes on, then the peddle feels normal.

If you don't have brake peddle movement, power , gear shifter will still be locked, starter will not start. E torque, that is something I know 0 about ?

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

Brake switch under dash on brake pedal. Or electrical issue with battery

 

[Kayci]

My 2017 Laramie started having lots of weird electric issues when my battery started feeling old. ( It was 6 yrs. then ) and temps dropped to minus 20. Did have it plugged in, but wasn't at my home, so it was outside. No other trouble until following winter. Just dead. 10v. Put new batteries in, and it died b4 next use, at one week intervals, for months. I did all the usual checks. Then it finally stopped being dead, but still wouldn't start, unless I pop the hood. It has been doing the no start, but fine voltage for 7months. The only fix is pop hood. Only does this on the cold start. Always fine if running errands, or been in sun. ( I have disconnected the hood light). Prior to all of this, had a bad/wet tailight, threw an incorrect code, fixed, took a month to normalize. ( Please note that this 2017 and 2018 models have HCU issues on ABS controllers. I think, still no fix for it. -- Which might be telling your brakes they don't work, intermittently. Good luck. )