2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Transmission Problems

2005 DODGE RAM 3500 4X4 DIESEL 48RE AUTOMATIC TRANS # [XXX]. TRUCK IS FOR PERSONAL USE AND HAS 117,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. TRUCK WAS DRIVEN TO STORE AND TORQUE CONVERTER BOLTS AND TORQUE CONVERTER STUDS WELDED ON CONVERTER SHEARED OFF CAUSING TORQUE CONVERTER TO EVACUATE TRANS FLUID ALL OVER UNDERSIDE OF TRUCK AND ALL OVER TIRES AND BRAKES. THIS DID NOT CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS BUT COULD HAVE DAMAGED PROPERTY AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED BODILY INJURY IF OCCURRED DURING DAILY COMMUTE ON INTERSTATE. THIS INCIDENT HAS BEEN THE FIRST FOR ME WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL REPAIR BILL DUE TO THE DAMAGE THAT THIS CREATED TO THE TRANS AND FLYWHEEL AND TORQUE CONVERTER. DODGE WILL NOT WARRANTY ANY OF THIS BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE AND DODGE'S BANKRUPTCY. I HAVE READ VARIOUS THREADS PERTAINING DEFECTIVE OR WEAK TORQUE CONVERTERS AND BREAKING OF FLYWHEELS DUE TO THESE ISSUES BUT NO RECALLS AS OF YET. THE DODGE DEALER STATED MY TRUCK WAS THE SECOND ONE THIS WEEK WITH SIMILAR ISSUES BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE DAMAGE TO MINE AND MUST BE PAID OUT OF POCKET. THERE IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE WITH THE WEAK PARTS BEING USED ON THESE VEH THAT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE AFTER MARKET MANUFACTURES ARE PRODUCING DIFFERENT DESIGNED PARTS FOR THIS APPL. THIS PROBLEM IS THE FIRST FOR ME BUT NUMEROUS TRANS SHOPS HAVE REPAIRED THE SAME SYMPTOMS FOR WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT. MY REPAIR BILL FOR THE FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER MOUNTING BOLTS IS OVER $2500.00 AND INCREASING BEFORE MY TRUCK WILL BE REPAIRED LESS THE MONEY FOR TOWING AND RENTAL VEH BEING NEEDED. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALER I NEED ALL BROKEN PARTS FOR MY REVIEW AND I AM WAITING FOR THEIR REPLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS BEING HELPFUL BUT THE HAVE SAID THAT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED DUE TO THEIR BANKRUPTCY AND THAT IF THEIR WAS A RECALL THAT IT WOULD CREATE A MAJOR PANIC WITH IN THE DODGE NAME. I AM CERT. MECHANIC WITH OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND I AM SEEING MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE . PLEASE ASSIST,AND THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10336035

Incident

Jun 8, 2010

Mileage

117,370 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 3500 QUADCAB 4X4 SWB. WHILE PLACED IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO THE WOODS WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND THE MOTOR RUNNING. THE CONTACT INJURED HIS ARM. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 11/12/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE BY ITSELF. UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10216413

Incident

Jan 9, 2007

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION VIBRATED ROUGHLY AND MADE NOISES WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO DOES NOT SHIFT AND WOULD ONLY DRIVE NORMALLY AT 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING NORMALLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID

10204549

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

10,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 3500. WHEN HE STARTED HIS VEHICLE WHEN IT IDLED HIGH AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THIS CAUSED THE BELL HOUSING TO BLOW OUT, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAB. IT ALSO RIPPED THE EXHAUST FROM UNDER THE CAB AND RIPPED OUT SOME WIRING. THE CLUTCH AND OTHER PARTS DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10199604

Incident

Jul 11, 2007

Mileage

76,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 3500. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN BUMPED INTO NEUTRAL INADVERTENTLY. THERE WAS ONE MINOR INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,000.

NHTSA ID

10193678

Incident

Jun 11, 2007

Mileage

23,000 mi

WHILE IN REVERSE WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN AND WEARING THE SEAT BELT THE OUT-OF PARK ALARM SOUNDED. THE OUT-OF PARK ALARM WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA RECALL # 05V462000. WHEN CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER IT WAS DETERMINED THE OUT-OF PARK ALARM SHOULD NOT SOUND WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS BEING WORN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10188533

Incident

Dec 16, 2006

Mileage

20,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE NHTSA RECALL FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR THE OUT OF PARK ALARM DID NOT RECTIFY THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF PARK ON ITS OWN 25 TIMES AND THE ALARM DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE GEAR DOESN'T INDICATE IT IS IN PARK. IT DISPLAYS THAT IT IS IN REVERSE AND IT WILL NOT START DUE TO THIS. UPDATED 12/18/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174475

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

13,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS EXITED. THE UNATTENDED VEHICLE ROLLED BACK AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, BUT NO SPEED WAS DETERMINED. A NOTICE WAS RECEIVED FOR RECALL # 05V462000 REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RETURN CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10172171

Incident

Oct 28, 2006

Mileage

11,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO REVERSE BY ITSELF AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V462000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED THE RECALL AFTER THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10171871

Incident

Aug 19, 2006

Mileage

59,600 mi

2005 DODGE RAM HEAVY DUTY PICKUP, PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT LEVER. *KB THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160532

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RECALL #05V462000; POWER TRAIN; AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL STATED THAT THE REMEDY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL. THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IS BARELY VISUAL AND NOT AUDIBLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AUDIBLE PORTION OF THE RECALL WAS NOT PART OF THE KIT FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE AS WELL AS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS TO BE ENGAGED BEFORE THE REVERSE INDICATOR ON THE SHIFT LEVER WILL BLINK. UPDATED 6-23-2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10159306

Incident

Jun 8, 2006

Mileage

11,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE DRIVER EXITED. SHORTLY AFTER THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A CONCRETE TRUCK. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE SUSTAINED 1500.00 OF DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 05V46200 CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIR. THE CONTACT FELT THIS RECALL DID NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE, A POSSIBILITY OF ROLLBACK WHILE IN PARK WITHOUT WARNING. UPDATED ON 05/30/06. *AK

NHTSA ID

10157157

Incident

Mar 6, 2006

Mileage

6,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN REVERSE WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN AND WEARING THE SEAT BELT THE OUT-OF PARK ALARM SOUNDED. THE OUT-OF PARK ALARM WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA RECALL # 05V462000. WHEN CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER IT WAS DETERMINED THE OUT-OF PARK ALARM SHOULD NOT SOUND WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS BEING WORN.

NHTSA ID

10157127

Incident

May 9, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REMEDY FOR RECALL # 05V462000; POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER TO OPEN THE DOOR IN ORDER TO SEE AROUND THE FIFTH WHEEL WHILE BACKING UP. WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN WHILE BACKING UP, THE HORN SOUNDED AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE THAT THE SIDE MIRROR AND WINDOW CAN ENABLE THE DRIVER TO SEE AROUND THE FIFTH WHEEL, BUT FEELS THE DRIVER SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR IF NEEDED WITHOUT THE HORN SOUNDING AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHING.

NHTSA ID

10156487

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

13,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF GEAR. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP HOWEVER, THEY WHERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH A TRAILER BEHIND IT; THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF GEAR ONCE AGAIN AND HIT THE TRAILER CAUSING DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ROOSTER TAIL IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONCE AGAIN FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK A THIRD TIME AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING THE POWER TRAIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 05V462000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10153845

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

Mileage

12,000 mi

2005 RAM 3500 ROLLED BACKWARDS AFTER CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK AND EXITED VEHICLE. *TS WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, IT KNOCKED THE CONSUMER DOWN AND ROLLED OVER HIS FEET. THE INSPECTOR FOUND NO MALFUNCTIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED. THE PARKING PAWL AND PARKING BRAKE HELD THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE SHIFTER SOLIDLY ENGAGED EACH GATE. THE CONSUMER HAD ALSO OBSERVED WHEN HE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK , THE P INDICATOR WOULD LIGHT UP AND THEN THE R INDICATOR LIT UP AS WELL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152986

Incident

Sep 29, 2005

Mileage

1,053 mi

MY 2005 DODGE RAM HD DIESEL W/AUTO TRANS. COME OUT OF PARK WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON INSIDE. HE IS NOT TALL ENOUGH TO REACH THE BRAKE, HOWEVER HE WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OUT OF PARK INTO R AND THE TRUCK ROLLED OFF THE HILL INTO THE WOOD AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL SAPLINGS. MY SON WAS NOT SEVERELY INJURED, HE STRUCK HIS RIGHT CHEEK, CHEST AND ABDOMEN SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE NOW WILL COME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY. 10 MIN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142548

Incident

Nov 12, 2005

Mileage

14,250 mi

2005 DODGE RAM 3500 WITH CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS A "TOW-HAUL" MODE THAT WILL NOT LOCK THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF OVERDRIVE. IF YOU ARE DESCENDING A HILL AND YOU SO MUCH AS TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR THEN THE TRUCK AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS INTO OVERDRIVE AND SENDS YOU SPEEDING DOWN THE HILL. THE "TOW-HAUL" MODE ALSO DOWNSHIFTS THE TRANSMISSION INTO SECOND GEAR AT 50+ MPH AND THAT CAN ALSO SPELL DISASTER WHILE DESCENDING A HILL ON A COLD DAY. MY FIST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS WAS EARLIER IN THE WEEK WHILE TRAVELING TO TENNESSEE. WE HAD TO TOW OUR 8000 LB RACE TRAILER OVER MT. EAGLE AND ENCOUNTERED BOTH SITUATIONS WHILE DESCENDING THE HILL. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THE 2004 MODEL AND THE NEW 2006 MODELS BOTH HAVE AN OVERDRIVE "LOCKOUT" TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AND I'M NOT SURE WHY IT WAS NEGLECTED ON THE 2005 MODELS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10135297

Incident

Aug 31, 2005

Mileage

1,200 mi

DODGE REPRESENTS THE 3500 RAM I PURCHASED TO BE A HEAVY DUTY TOW VEHICLE CAPABLE OF SAFELY TOWING NEARLY 16000 LBS. UPON MY PURCHASE I QUICKLY DISCOVERED THAT THEY HAVE REMOVED THE BASIC OVERDRIVE LOCK OUT FEATURE FOUND ON MOST IF NOT ALL VEHICLES IN THIS CLASS OF AUTOMOBILE. THE COMPUTER PROGRAM AND TRANSMISSION CONTROLS WILL COMMAND THIS VEHICLE INTO OVERDRIVE REGARDLESS OF TERRAIN OR LOAD BEING TOWED OR CARRIED AT THE TIME. BOTTOM LINE IF YOU TOUCH THE GAS WHILE GOING DOWN A GRADE PULLING A 16000 LB TRAILER YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN OVERDRIVE LACKING ANY WAY TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL OTHER THAN THE BRAKES. PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ARE AVAILABLE TO BE SEE AT WWW.DIESELTRUCKRESOURCE.COM THIS FORUM HAS SEVERAL POSTINGS CONCERNING 2005 TOW HAUL MODE. THE DISCUSSIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THE 3RD GENERATION DRIVETRAIN DISCUSSION BOARD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10135127

Incident

Aug 28, 2005

Mileage

1,500 mi

DT: DODGE RAM WITH CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE . THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DECELERATE WHEN LETTING OFF OF THE THROTTLE. HAD ONE MINOR FENDER BENDER, AND A NEAR MISS AS A RESULT OF FEELING AS THOUGH THE MOTOR WAS STILL PULLING. NO REPAIRS, BUT HAS BEEN TO DEALER TWICE. CONTACTED CHRYSLER, WHO STATED THIS WAS PROGRAMMED INTO THE COMPUTER TO DO THIS DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH MAGNIFIED THE PROBLEM. HAD NO PLANS TO CHANGE THIS DESIGN. CURRENTLY THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10126686

Incident

Jan 5, 2005

Mileage

1,000 mi

DT WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK IT WILL JUMP INTO REVERSE. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY, AND OVER TOP ON THE CONSUMER, ACROSS A STREET, AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD CUTS AND BRUISES ON HIS KNEES FROM AVOIDING THE ROLLING VEHICLE. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN IT SHIFTED INTO PARK. DID THIS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED A DOZEN TIMES. THIS HAPPENED AROUND JANUARY 15, 2005. HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. AN ENGINEERING FIRM WAS SENDING SOMEONE TO LOOK AT VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10129667

Incident

Jun 20, 2005

Mileage

22,800 mi

DT: THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING AND WITHOUT WARNING OR OCCUPANCY OF DRIVER IT POPPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, STRIKING ANOTHER CAR. THIS WAS THE ONLY INCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DEMONSTRATE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IT WAS AS THOUGH WHEN IT WAS IN PARK IT WAS NOT ALWAYS IN PARK AND THE SAME WAS WHEN IN REVERSE. A POLICE OFFICER WITNESSED THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE THAT WAS HIT HAD PASSENGERS IN TOW. THE DEALER DID NOT TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WITNESSED HOW ONE COULD PLACE THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT. HOWEVER, IN REPAIR SHOP THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10122111

Incident

Mar 3, 2005

Mileage

2,500 mi

2005, DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 QUAD CAB 5.7L, 3.92 GEARS INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED AN ALMOST IDENTICAL 2003. IT HAD A 4.7L / 3.55 GEARS. SO FAR THE TRUCK STALLED TWICE WHILE IDLING IN FRONT OF THE MAILBOX. ONCE WHILE IDLING WAITING ON LINE TO PICK MY CHILD UP FROM SCHOOL. ONCE WHILE IDLING WAITING FOR MONEY AT AN ATM MACHINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10118757

Incident

Mar 10, 2005

Mileage

4,729 mi

THE GEAR POPPED FROM PARK TO REVERSE ON ITS OWN. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK *NM SEE ALSO 10111594. *DSY

NHTSA ID

10111596

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

5,000 mi

VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF THE DRIVE GEAR INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN, CAUSING IT TO RUN INTO A LIBRARY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE OCCURRENCE.*AK VEHICLE IS A DODGE RAM 2500 QUAD CAB 4X4 (NOT ON PRODUCTS LIST). *DSY

NHTSA ID

10112881

Incident

Dec 13, 2004