RoadVitals

1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
28
Latest Feb 26, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 313 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed Feb 26, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH IN FIFTH GEAR, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO COAST. THE CONTACT HAD TO DOWNSHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES IN FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE FIFTH GEAR NUT DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE NUT HAS BACKED OFF AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,727.

NHTSA ID
10219207
Incident
Apr 3, 2005
Mileage
59,727 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Jan 4, 2008

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE TRUCK. LHM DODGE SAID THAT THE LOCK UP TORK CONVERTER HAD GONE OUT AND THAT THERE WAS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER WITH NO RELEASE DATE. I HAD LHM PUT IN A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION TO FIND OUT THAT THE TRANS HAS WIPED OUT THE CRANK SHAFT IN THE DIESEL MOTOR. AFTER TALKING TO DAMLERCHRYSLER THAT ALL 3 TRANSMISSION THAT ARE USED IN THE RAM TRUCKS WITH DIESELS USE THE SAME TORK CONVERTERS AND ONLY 2 OF THEM ARE RECALLED FOR THE TORK CONVERTERS. THE TRUCK STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES NOW FOR THE SAME SHIFTING PROBLEM AND THEY TELL ME SOMETHING NEW EACH TIME. *CN

NHTSA ID
10213763
Incident
Jan 25, 2007
Mileage
10,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 20, 2007

TRANSMISSION FAILED TRUCK AND TRAILER STRANDED IN ROAD. FAILED FOUR OR MORE TIMES IN THE LAST 30 DAY AFTER REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10209562
Incident
Oct 19, 2007
Mileage
158,000 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Oct 30, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WORKING ON THE BRAKE LINES, PRESSURE WAS PUT ON THE SHIFTER PLATE CAUSING THE SHIFTER BOLTS TO FRACTURE AND THE SHIFTER PLATE TO FALL OFF. THE CONTACT HAD THE PLATE REDRILLED AND THE BOLTS REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10172142
Incident
Jun 2, 2006
Mileage
49,800 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 21, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE IN FIFTH GEAR. HE HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN FOURTH GEAR AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAS A NUT IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10143328
Incident
Nov 18, 2005
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Jan 28, 2005

ALL THE BRAKE COMPONENTS EXCEPT THE MASTER CYLINDER WERE REPLACED 7 TIMES STARTING AT 7,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY EITHER LOCKED UP OR DIDN'T FUNCTION AT TIMES. AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO THIS FAILURE. ALSO, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED/REBUILT 8 TIMES BECAUSE IT BLEW OUT, SLIPPED, OR DROPPED DOWN FROM O/D TO REGULAR GEAR, WHICH STARTED AT 5,000/20,000 MILES FINALLY, THE ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE IT CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES, WHICH STARTED AT 77,000-90,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10109136
Incident
Aug 20, 1999
Mileage
7,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 1, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE 5TH GEAR DID NOT WORK. THE GEAR SLIPPED OFF THE SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION. *SC

NHTSA ID
10092444
Incident
Sep 12, 2004
Mileage
72,000 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Sep 14, 2004

THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE CONSUMER NOTICE FLUID ON THE GROUND OF THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WERE DEFECTIVE AND FLUID LEAKED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AND WERE INSTALLING AN UPDATED LINE AND SPRING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *AK THE ABS LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WERE ON AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILURE. *SC

NHTSA ID
10079963
Incident
Jun 23, 2004
Mileage
54,032 mi
Fuel systemTransmission
Filed Feb 19, 2004

TRANSFER FUEL PUMP WAS TWICE REPLACED UNDER 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE NEEDED A THIRD REPLACEMENT AFTER 140,000 MILES. ALSO, FIFTH GEAR WAS COMPLETELY GONE. THIS OCCURRED AT 140,000 MI. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID
10053759
Incident
May 15, 2000
Mileage
25,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 23, 2004

IT APPARENTLY A KNOWN FACT THAT THE TENSION BOLT IN MY 1999 DODGE 2500 STANDARD TRANSMISSION HAS A HABIT OF BACKING OUT AND DAMAGING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN MY VEHICLE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT ON THIS DUE TO ITS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED BY DODGE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND ALSO BY THE DEALERSHIP DOING THE REPAIRS. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN USED 95% ON FREEWAY. IT HAS 119,000 MILES ON IT. BEING A DIESEL WITH WHAT WAS CONSIDERED THE TOUGHEST TRANSMISSION BUILT, IT SHOULD BE GOOD FOR AT LEAST TWICE THIS MILEAGE IF SERVICED PROPERLY WHICH I HAVE DONE. THE OILS WERE ALL CHANGED LESS THAN 30,000 MILES BACK AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING GOING WRONG. THIS REPAIR WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $3,300.00 AND FORTUNATELY DID NOT DAMAGE TOO MUCH OR IT COULD EASILY EXCEED THIS AMOUNT. I PAID 37,000.00 FOR THIS TRUCK AND IT SHOULD PERFORM BETTER THAN THIS OR BE BACKED BY DODGE WITHIN REASON. *LA

NHTSA ID
10054758
Incident
Jan 20, 2004
Mileage
119,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 10, 2003

WHILE DRIVING MY DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP TOWING MY HORSE TRAILER AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE OVERDRIVE 5TH GEAR ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND COULD MANEUVER SAFELY OUT OF TRAFFIC TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. ALL OTHER GEARS WOULD ENGAGE AND I HAD TO COMPLETE MY TRIP IS 4TH GEAR. AFTER AN INSPECTION OF TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE 5TH GEAR IN PLACE ON THE TRANSMISSION OUT-PUT SHAFT HAD BACKED OFF, CAUSING 5TH GEAR TO SLIDE REARWARD AND DISENGAGE. DODGE HAS CIRCULATED A SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM (21-10-98A) AND HAS DEVELOPED A REPAIR KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DODGE FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. AFTER RESEACHING COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA ON THIS SITUATION, I QUICKLY FOUND 10 COMPLAINTS THAT RELATE TO THIS PROBLEM. ALSO AFTER TALKING WITH LOCAL TRANSMISSION MECHANICS, I FOUND THAT SEVERAL SIMILAR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE LOCALLY ON DODGE PICKUP 5-SPEED TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL OWNERS OF DODGES WITH THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10045892
Incident
Nov 2, 2003
Mileage
62,342 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 6, 2003

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY DOWN SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR. DRIVER THEN PUT VEHICLE IN 1ST GEAR AND DROVE IT TO DEALERSHIP, TRAVELING 5 MPH. THIS SITUATIION OCCURRED 3 SEPARATE TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10046522
Mileage
82,834 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 15, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. FINALLY THE DEALER REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION . *AK *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID
10029793
Mileage
9,230 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 1, 2002

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 14,000 MILES, AND AGAIN AT 32,000 MILES. VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE, AND IT TAKES A WHILE TO SHIFT TO NEXT GEAR. DEALER HASN'T BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8003413
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Transmission
Filed Aug 27, 2001

INSPECTED AND VERIFIED NO 5TH GEAR - TRANSMISSION HAS NO UETRASL WHERE 5TH SHOULD BE - SUSPECT NUT AND GEAR BACKED OFF - FOUND NUT AND GEAR BACKED OFF, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUIET SOME TIME, THIS INFORMATION WAS TOLD US BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MADE THE REPAIRS AND A PERSONAL FRIEND THAT IS A MECHANIC. *AK

NHTSA ID
751212
Incident
Aug 16, 2001
Transmission
Filed Aug 27, 2001

INSPECTED AND VERIFIED NO 5TH GEAR - TRANSMISSION HAS NO UETRASL WHERE 5TH SHOULD BE - SUSPECT NUT AND GEAR BACKED OFF - FOUND NUT AND GEAR BACKED OFF, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUIET SOME TIME, THIS INFORMATION WAS TOLD US BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MADE THE REPAIRS AND A PERSONAL FRIEND THAT IS A MECHANIC

NHTSA ID
751211
Incident
Aug 16, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jun 29, 2001
Crash reported

MY PICKUP WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF MY 18 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER CRAWLED IN THE PICKUP AND WAS ABLILE TO PUT PICKUP IN REVERSE WITH OUT PUSHING ON THE BRAKE AND THE PICKUP ROLLED DOWN A HILL CRASHING INTO A TRAILER WHILE MAY DAUGHTER IS BOUNCING AROUND INSIDE THE PICKUP COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE NO ONE WAS HURT JUST THE PICKUP AND TRAILER. *AK

NHTSA ID
747603
Transmission
Filed Jun 26, 2001

6 SPEED STANDARD TRANSMISSION SEIZED UP WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID TO A STOP AND COMPLETELY DIE WITHOUT WARNING.VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, WHO WILL REPLACE TRANSMISSION WITH SAME DESIGN. AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER STATED TO CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR A 24 VALVE DIESEL ENGINE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
891204
Transmission
Filed Dec 18, 2000

VEHICLE COMES OUT OF GEAR AND THIS CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SENSOR MALFLUNCTIONS. *YH

NHTSA ID
876662
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Dec 12, 2000

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER FEELS LIKE VEHICLE SHIFTS FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR, AND SOMETIMES TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT APPLICATION OF POWER. *AK TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A TSB REGARDING THE DIRECT CLUTCH INNER SEAL, MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THIS WAS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
876380
Incident
Nov 20, 2000
Transmission
Filed Jun 11, 2000

SEVERAL COMPONENTS,TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY SOUNDS LIKE DRIVING ON SMALL RUMBLE STRIPS AT 45, TRUCK WONDERS AIMLESSLY SO MUCH IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP FROM GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ESPECIALLY IF ROAD IS A LITTLE ROUGH, ENGINE HAS A CONSTANT SPARK KNOCK, NEARLY IMPOSIBLE TO TOW OR PLOW,POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT WHILE TRYING TO PLOW FOR NO APPARENT REASON AT ALL. I HAVE TALKED TO MECHANICS ABOUT THE SPARKKNOCK AND RECOMMENDED BURNING HIGH OCTANE BUT THE MANUAL SUGGESTS IT WILL ACTUALLY RUN WORSE AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONABLE FOR ENGINE DAMAGE FROM SPARK KNOCK, WONDERING WAS ADMITTED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SAID IT IS ACCEPTABLE BY DODGE AND THAT'S JUST HOW THEY DRIVE, I ASKED ONE OF THE MECHANICS TO LOOK AT IT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF MAYBE I WAS JUST USED TO DRIVING MY OLD ONE, HE SAID IT NEEDED A LITTLE TIME TO BREAK-IN BECAUSE IT WAS A 2500 WITH A HEAVY DUTY SUSPENSION, IT IS STILL THE SAME AFTER ALMOST 11,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
723896
SteeringTransmission
Filed Apr 7, 2000

1. AUTO TRANSMISSION DROPS OUT OF DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHEN START FROM WASHBOARD ROAD SURFACE OR HIT BUMP WHILE DRIVING. DEALER (ED MOSES DODGE) SAYS THAT CHRYSLER RECOMMENDS DRIVING IN 2ND GEAR. THIS INFO IS NOT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. 2. STEERING WILL NOT CENTER - ALWAYS PULLS R OR L. 2 ATTEMPTS BY DEALER TO REPAIR HAVE FAILED. UNSTABLE ON WASHBOARD ROAD.

NHTSA ID
711175
Incident
Jul 17, 1999
Transmission
Filed Jan 7, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING VEHICLE TO LUNGE INTO GEAR FROM 1ST TO 2ND, SIMILAR TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *MJS

NHTSA ID
550289
Incident
Dec 18, 1999
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Dec 31, 1999

AT LOW SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFTS OUT OF FIRST GEAR, THEN SUDDENLY ENGAGES AS RPM IS INCREASED. TRUCK SUDDENLY LUNGES FORWARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
716700
Incident
Dec 18, 1999
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Dec 13, 1999

SUDDEN ACCELERATION ; WHILE TRAVELLING SLOWLY TRANSMISSION WILL DISENGEGE FROM FIRST GEAR, AS ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE SUDDENLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
716005

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .