5thGenRams Forums

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

List of issues, do you see any of these?

Rich

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
403
Reaction score
153
Location
NH
Most of these seem to be things that could be resolved by simple software changes or fixes.

1. When connecting a 4 pin trailer, it doesn't activate trailer odometer, etc. The owner's manual doesn't say that this feature of the vehicle is limited to a certain type of trailer. I think it should also automatically disable the rear "Park sense with braking" when a trailer is connected. Note that in "trailer type" option for the cluster it would be nice to have a setting for "Light trailer with no brakes", or "4 pin Trailer with no brakes".

2. Backing up into my driveway will almost always slam on the brakes with Park Sense w/Braking turned on. My driveway has a gentle upward slope, yet there are no obstacles that the system should detect. The system seems overly sensitive. Can any adjustment be made to this so it won't be so sensitive? Right now I have to disable the rear park assist every time I back into my driveway, and then try to remember to turn it back on again once I reach the top.

3. The rear doors sometimes stick in freezing low temperatures. Perhaps freezing water/ice is collecting on the door seals? Note that the front doors don’t appear to do this. It is obviously very dependent on the weather (rain) and then freezing overnight temperatures. It doesn't always happen and very hard to duplicate.

4. Hard transmission "slam" shifts sometimes occur at slow speed. Seems to be 2nd or 1st gear only. The dealer performed an update to the transmission control module yesterday (bulletin 21-002-19). I will test and continue to monitor this to see if it solves the issue.

5. The tailgate is not mechanically fully supported by both support cables. The driver side support cable on the tailgate is slack even with some weight on the tailgate. Disconnecting the passenger side cable causes the driver's side cable to be tight, yet the cables appear the same length. Is there an adjustment available for this?

6. Bluetooth phone calls echo sometimes. I can't reproduce this at will, but has happens sometimes.

7. Remote start doesn't run the windshield defroster long enough to help to melt ice buildup. I checked it by being in the vehicle when it was cold, and then used the remote start, climate was in "Auto" mode. Note that the rear defrost comes on, heated wheel and seat come on. Initially the front windshield defrost seems to blow cold air onto the windshield, but before the engine warms enough to provide any warm/hot hair, the system changes the airflow to the floor, removing the possibility of any windshield defrosting action. As soon as I unlock the doors and open the drivers door, the climate fan speed slows down considerably. This is before pressing the 'start' button to end the remote start and continue to drive the vehicle.

8. Windshield defroster only seems to blow strong air in the center of the windshield, but not all along the defrost ports. The area immediately in front of the driver's position (and probably the passenger also) received significantly reduced airflow so that ice buildup in front of the driver's view is not cleared sufficiently. If there is ice buildup on the windshield, you can obviously see the center portion clear (directly below the rearview mirror) much faster than in front of the driver's view! This is a safety concern under heavy icing weather conditions.

9. Navigation guidance voice volume won't save. It keeps reverting to volume setting 15. This much too loud, is startling and is a major annoyance! It appears that the Nav Guidance Volume resets itself to 15 the first time the voice speaks. e.g. If I first start the vehicle and then immediately change the Nav Guidance Volume to 4 before starting to drive the vehicle, the first time the Nav speaks (warn a speed limit, etc.) the setting will reset to 15! Also, sometimes, but not always, the setting won't visibly reset to 15 (it still displays the setting of 4), but the spoken voice is much too loud (as if the display was at 15). However toggling the displayed setting from 4 to 5 and then back to 4 again will then cause the spoken voice to be the appropriate softer volume. The best way to duplicate this is to turn on the "Speed Limit Warning" feature. Then you will know right away!

10. The SiriusXM traffic display map is not direction of travel up (this should follow the navigation map display settings), and it also doesn't follow the vehicle's position. The Vehicle will also drive off of the traffic map.

11. The time of day clock on top of 8 inch screen disappears when in Android Auto mode even though the software setting is to display the clock at the top of every page (note that the clock does display on the top of every page, except the Android Auto display).

12. If it's desired to raise the cabin temperature by setting the temperatures on HI (or 84 degrees) when in climate control auto mode, the fan doesn't go to a high enough speed to bring temperature up quickly enough even when engine is at normal running temperature. This makes it difficult to raise the cab temperature quickly without using the manual fan speed settings. Auto more should be able to know if a large temperature change is needed and then increase the fan speed to help.

13. Dashboard and radio display brightness is inappropriate when 'turn on headlights with wipers' feature is enabled, yet it is daytime and bright enough to not want the displays to be dim. The display brightness seems to go into 'night mode' when the headlights turn on in the daytime due to windshield wiper mode. The brightness of the displays should only dim if the daylight sensor detects that it is dark enough to require diming of the displays. It seems the display diming is only coupled to the headlights being on, and does not seems to follow the amount of light falling on the 'daylight' sensor on the dashboard. Of course the driver can override this via the manual rotating control, but this could work smoothly and automatically if the daylight sensor was used to detect when to dim the dashboard displays.

14. Weather alerts can't read full text, need a method to be able to scroll text as often it can't be read enough to know what is trying to tell me.

15. No method to disable Weather alerts. Also no method to choose only current county or location for weather alerts, it seems I get alerts from all over a wide area.

If you have any of these issues, please let me know. Perhaps even to simply reply to say 'yes, my vehicle also has #9'.

I have the 8.4 basic 6 speaker system with Nav and according to my dealer I have all updated available.

Yes, some of these are mentioned in other threads (like the tailgate cables) so some could be "within tolerance" or "as desired/designed", but could be better if changed.

Feel free to update or add to this if you can provide details and how to reproduce the issue.

I do like this vehicle, so this is not a complaint list, just things that need improvement! :)
 
Last edited:

Gtbrown

Active Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2019
Messages
115
Reaction score
46
Quite a list, I appreciate the effort put into this. As I'm taking delivery of my Limited in a few days I've been paying close attention to this forum. I view this list as an aid to both FCA and owners to continuously improve these great trucks. The Limited will be my fourth (Dodge) Ram, in fact I may keep my current one because I like it so much.
 

MN5241

Active Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2018
Messages
62
Reaction score
14
Location
Minnesota
7. Remote start doesn't run the windshield defroster long enough to help to melt ice buildup. I checked it by being in the vehicle when it was cold, and then used the remote start, climate was in "Auto" mode. Note that the rear defrost comes on, heated wheel and seat come on. Initially the front windshield defrost seems to blow cold air onto the windshield, but before the engine warms enough to provide any warm/hot hair, the system changes the airflow to the floor, removing the possibility of any windshield defrosting action. As soon as I unlock the doors and open the drivers door, the climate fan speed slows down considerably. This is before pressing the 'start' button to end the remote start and continue to drive the vehicle.
Try to sit in the vehicle and have someone else remote start it from a distance. I noticed as soon as I get in if I remote start it, the HVAC changes as soon as my keyfob is detected inside from defrost to the last auto setting.
 

Jus Cruisin

Ram Guru
Joined
Jul 10, 2018
Messages
1,187
Reaction score
1,078
Location
Metro Detroit - I miss FL
2 - slow your backup speed. I back into parking spaces all the time and I've had to slow my speed down a bit because a parking stop/block will trigger the auto-brake
5 - every pickup I've owned with the current style cables always has one "loose" and I've owned maybe 15 or so.
9 - try saving your nav volume once it's where you want on the door memory.
10 - the direction the truck '' travels'' on the screen is in the navigation settings area
 
Last edited:

Get N Dirty

Active Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2018
Messages
84
Reaction score
30
I had your problem with the brakes being applied when no one is there. Except I have a huge slope I back down. Dealer applied an update for the parksense sensors and I have not had the issue since update.
 

pitboss000

Active Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2019
Messages
75
Reaction score
85
Location
MD
#2. I have the same problem. So I just turned off the auto braking to avoid whiplash. No big deal to me. Besides, I'd rather have it a little too sensitive than less - so I don't run over a neighbors kid or pet.

#13. My biggest gripe. But I wouldn't expect any update or fix for it. My 16 Laramie was the same way.

#16. My addition to the list, and my second biggest gripe (the only 2 I have lol). The theme keeps resetting to default (theme #1) on the driver display every time I use remote start. But the 8.4 retains the theme. Dealer said there is an update coming end of first Q - which I can only assume means March or April. He couldn't really say.
 

SpeedyV

Ram Connoisseur
Staff member
Site Supporter
Joined
May 6, 2018
Messages
5,109
Reaction score
4,786
Location
Fort Worth, Texas
Most of these seem to be things that could be resolved by simple software changes or fixes.

1. When connecting a 4 pin trailer, it doesn't activate trailer odometer, etc. The owner's manual doesn't say that this feature of the vehicle is limited to a certain type of trailer. Note that in "trailer type" option for the cluster it would be nice to have a setting for "Light trailer with no brakes", or "4 pin Trailer with no brakes".

2. Backing up into my driveway will almost always slam on the brakes with Park Sense w/Braking turned on. My driveway has a gentle upward slope, yet there are no obstacles that the system should detect. The system seems overly sensitive. Can any adjustment be made to this so it won't be so sensitive? Right now I have to disable the rear park assist every time I back into my driveway, and then try to remember to turn it back on again once I reach the top.

3. The rear doors sometimes stick in freezing low temperatures. Perhaps freezing water/ice is collecting on the door seals? Note that the front doors don’t appear to do this. It is obviously very dependent on the weather (rain) and then freezing overnight temperatures. It doesn't always happen and very hard to duplicate.

4. Hard transmission "slam" shifts sometimes occur at slow speed. Seems to be 2nd or 1st gear only. The dealer performed an update to the transmission control module yesterday (bulletin 21-002-19). I will test and continue to monitor this to see if it solves the issue.

5. The tailgate is not mechanically fully supported by both support cables. The driver side support cable on the tailgate is slack even with some weight on the tailgate. Disconnecting the passenger side cable causes the driver's side cable to be tight, yet the cables appear the same length. Is there an adjustment available for this?

6. Bluetooth phone calls echo sometimes. I can't reproduce this at will, but has happens sometimes.

7. Remote start doesn't run the windshield defroster long enough to help to melt ice buildup. I checked it by being in the vehicle when it was cold, and then used the remote start, climate was in "Auto" mode. Note that the rear defrost comes on, heated wheel and seat come on. Initially the front windshield defrost seems to blow cold air onto the windshield, but before the engine warms enough to provide any warm/hot hair, the system changes the airflow to the floor, removing the possibility of any windshield defrosting action. As soon as I unlock the doors and open the drivers door, the climate fan speed slows down considerably. This is before pressing the 'start' button to end the remote start and continue to drive the vehicle.

8. Windshield defroster only seems to blow strong air in the center of the windshield, but not all along the defrost ports. The area immediately in front of the driver's position (and probably the passenger also) received significantly reduced airflow so that ice buildup in front of the driver's view is not cleared sufficiently. If there is ice buildup on the windshield, you can obviously see the center portion clear (directly below the rearview mirror) much faster than in front of the driver's view! This is a safety concern under heavy icing weather conditions.

9. Navigation guidance voice volume won't save. It keeps reverting to volume setting 15. This much too loud, is startling and is a major annoyance! It appears that the Nav Guidance Volume resets itself to 15 the first time the voice speaks. e.g. If I first start the vehicle and then immediately change the Nav Guidance Volume to 4 before starting to drive the vehicle, the first time the Nav speaks (warn a speed limit, etc.) the setting will reset to 15! Also, sometimes, but not always, the setting won't visibly reset to 15 (it still displays the setting of 4), but the spoken voice is much too loud (as if the display was at 15). However toggling the displayed setting from 4 to 5 and then back to 4 again will then cause the spoken voice to be the appropriate softer volume.

10. The SiriusXM traffic display map is not direction of travel up (this should follow the navigation map display settings), and it also doesn't follow the vehicle's position. The Vehicle will also drive off of the traffic map.

11. The time of day clock on top of 8 inch screen disappears when in Android Auto mode even though the software setting is to display the clock at the top of every page (note that the clock does display on the top of every page, except the Android Auto display).

12. If it's desired to raise the cabin temperature by setting the temperatures on HI (or 84 degrees) when in climate control auto mode, the fan doesn't go to a high enough speed to bring temperature up quickly enough even when engine is at normal running temperature. This makes it difficult to raise the cab temperature quickly without using the manual fan speed settings. Auto more should be able to know if a large temperature change is needed and then increase the fan speed to help.

13. Dashboard and radio display brightness is inappropriate when 'turn on headlights with wipers' feature is enabled, yet it is daytime and bright enough to not want the displays to be dim. The display brightness seems to go into 'night mode' when the headlights turn on in the daytime due to windshield wiper mode. The brightness of the displays should only dim if the daylight sensor detects that it is dark enough to require diming of the displays. It seems the display diming is only coupled to the headlights being on, and does not seems to follow the amount of light falling on the 'daylight' sensor on the dashboard. Of course the driver can override this via the manual rotating control, but this could work smoothly and automatically if the daylight sensor was used to detect when to dim the dashboard displays.

14. Weather alerts can't read full text, need a method to be able to scroll text as often it can't be read enough to know what is trying to tell me.

15. No method to disable Weather alerts. Also no method to choose only current county or location for weather alerts, it seems I get alerts from all over a wide area.

If you have any of these issues, please let me know. Perhaps even to simply reply to say 'yes, my vehicle also has #9'.

I have the 8.4 basic 6 speaker system with Nav and according to my dealer I have all updated available.

Yes, some of these are mentioned in other threads (like the tailgate cables) so some could be "within tolerance" or "as desired/designed", but could be better if changed.

Feel free to update or add to this if you can provide details and how to reproduce the issue.

I do like this vehicle, so this is not a complaint list, just things that need improvement! :)
I have not experienced many of these, but there are a few:
2. Yes, but only if I don't slow down and/or keep a light pressure on the brake pedal. And with my air suspension, I've learned not to back up in Entry/Exit mode!
5. Yes, mine is the same, but I'm not worried about it. I don't see the need for any 'backyard fabrication'.
9. I used to have this issue, but it seems to have been resolved with a software update. Also, when using CarPlay, I followed someone else's good advice to reduce the Google Maps navigation volume, and that worked wonders.
11. Well, I thought the same about CarPlay until I realized that Apple puts the time on the left side of all CarPlay displays. So it's still showing the time, but not in the UConnect location.
13. Yes, this has been discussed at length on other threads, and I agree that the contrast change is pretty strong, but not enough for me to override the auto settings in UConnect and adjust.
 

Rich

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
403
Reaction score
153
Location
NH
I had your problem with the brakes being applied when no one is there. Except I have a huge slope I back down. Dealer applied an update for the parksense sensors and I have not had the issue since update.

Any chance you can post the details about what update was applied by your dealer?
 

Rich

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
403
Reaction score
153
Location
NH
Try to sit in the vehicle and have someone else remote start it from a distance. I noticed as soon as I get in if I remote start it, the HVAC changes as soon as my keyfob is detected inside from defrost to the last auto setting.

Good idea, and I will try this. So far my experience is that the truck doesn't melt an icy window with a remote start. Defroster isn't working properly I. Auto mode.
 

Rich

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
403
Reaction score
153
Location
NH
2 - slow your backup speed. I back into parking spaces all the time and I've had to slow my speed down a bit because a parking stop/block will trigger the auto-brake
5 - every pickup I've owned with the current style cables always has one "loose" and I've owned maybe 15 or so.
9 - try saving your nav volume once it's where you want on the door memory.
10 - the direction the truck '' travels'' on the screen is in the navigation settings area

To #2, it doesn't help me to slow.

#5 could be true, just mentioning it. If FCA says it's within tolerance, then that's fine.

#9 I don't have the memory option. It's very frustrating and not consistent.

#10 - yes exactly! But this setting doesn't affect the traffic map, which it should.
 

Rich

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
403
Reaction score
153
Location
NH
I have not experienced many of these, but there are a few:
2. Yes, but only if I don't slow down and/or keep a light pressure on the brake pedal. And with my air suspension, I've learned not to back up in Entry/Exit mode!
5. Yes, mine is the same, but I'm not worried about it. I don't see the need for any 'backyard fabrication'.
9. I used to have this issue, but it seems to have been resolved with a software update. Also, when using CarPlay, I followed someone else's good advice to reduce the Google Maps navigation volume, and that worked wonders.
11. Well, I thought the same about CarPlay until I realized that Apple puts the time on the left side of all CarPlay displays. So it's still showing the time, but not in the UConnect location.
13. Yes, this has been discussed at length on other threads, and I agree that the contrast change is pretty strong, but not enough for me to override the auto settings in UConnect and adjust.

#2, it need improvement in how it works. Riding my brake up a 150 ft driveway is a work around, and not s good solution IMHO.

#5 I'm not looking for a back yard fix. If FCA says it's ok as is, then I'll accept it. I'm just documenting the issue.

#9 but this doesn't help fix the issue with the Uconnect map, speed limit warnings, etc.

#11, the car play/Android Auto screen has a clock, but in a different location and format. The Uconnect setting is to put the clock at the top center of the display and it's distracting and takes time for the driver's eye to search for the clock display when you are used to quickly glancing at one spot for the time. I'm sure they disabled the clock display so two clocks wouldn't be displayed may the same time so there wouldn't be complaints if they didn't show the same time, but it's still distracting and not following the Uconnect setting to have the clock displayed as desired.

#13 yes, and if no one tells FCA about it, they won't do anything about it.
 

Get N Dirty

Active Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2018
Messages
84
Reaction score
30
Any chance you can post the details about what update was applied by your dealer?

A have a receipt somewhere. I went in and told the dealer about the problem and said I believe there is a technical service bulletin. Found the bulletin under resources tab on this website. Believe it is called Parktronic System Module Enhancements. I would have to find my receipt to make sure that was the update they applied.
 

Get N Dirty

Active Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2018
Messages
84
Reaction score
30
I occasionally have #4, slam shift.
A have a receipt somewhere. I went in and told the dealer about the problem and said I believe there is a technical service bulletin. Found the bulletin under resources tab on this website. Believe it is called Parktronic System Module Enhancements. I would have to find my receipt to make sure that was the update they applied.

Found the receipt. It say 2236 updated backup sensors. Not sure it that is the same bulletin I mention above or not, but the update did seem to work. Had it done 1/9 and so far so good.
 
Last edited:

Whiskey_tango

Active Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2019
Messages
152
Reaction score
59
Found the receipt. It say 2236 updated backup sensors. Not sure it that is the same bulletin I mention above or not, but the update did seem to work. Had it done 1/19 and so far so good.
I don't have the braking issue (no backup sensors). Just the hard shift between 2nd and 1st.
 

Rich

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
403
Reaction score
153
Location
NH
Found the receipt. It say 2236 updated backup sensors. Not sure it that is the same bulletin I mention above or not, but the update did seem to work. Had it done 1/9 and so far so good.

Thanks for this, if you find more info, let me know. we can all help each other. :)
 

Royal27

Active Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2018
Messages
33
Reaction score
31
Definitely number 5. Whether it's an issue I do not know.
 

TVANVA

Active Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2018
Messages
128
Reaction score
116
Location
Lynchburg, VA
Let me take a shot at #1. With a four wire trailer connection, the truck can't sense that the trailer is connected, so the displayed trailer stats don't display.

When you have a seven wire connection, and your trailer has electric brakes, the load presented by the brake windings, can be sensed, and the truck knows to begin displaying trailer info.

This is what I can determine from following other posts on this forum, as I don't have my truck yet to run my own experiments. This is also based on how my RedArc brake controller functions on my old Dakota.

An experiment that has been suggested on this forum, but I don't know if anyone has tried would be to find out what load an electric trailer brake system would present at rest, and apply that load using a jumper between the trailer brake pin and ground on the 7 pin trailer connector.

I plan on doing just this........if my truck would freaking hurry up and get here :)
 

Rich

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
403
Reaction score
153
Location
NH
Let me take a shot at #1. With a four wire trailer connection, the truck can't sense that the trailer is connected, so the displayed trailer stats don't display.

When you have a seven wire connection, and your trailer has electric brakes, the load presented by the brake windings, can be sensed, and the truck knows to begin displaying trailer info.

This is what I can determine from following other posts on this forum, as I don't have my truck yet to run my own experiments. This is also based on how my RedArc brake controller functions on my old Dakota.

An experiment that has been suggested on this forum, but I don't know if anyone has tried would be to find out what load an electric trailer brake system would present at rest, and apply that load using a jumper between the trailer brake pin and ground on the 7 pin trailer connector.

I plan on doing just this........if my truck would freaking hurry up and get here :)

It is possible to detect a 4pin trailer. My other brand vehicle detects my same 4 pin trailer with LED lights perfectly!

It can even warn me if some of the trailer lights aren't working properly.

So all of this is possible with a 4pin trailer.

Our Ram owners manual doesn't mention a need for a 7 pin trailer to support these features.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top