Problem with rear outside door handles

[accidentalyEV]

@RamCares I had the same thing happen to me except the rear doors would open randomly while the truck was in motion after I thought they would finally latch. Please send me the TSB number for this (Technical Service Bulletin number)

 

[DPhillips78]

Hi all. I bought my 2019 Ram 1500 Limited used last September, with 18K miles on it. We have pretty cold days up here in Maine, and pretty much from the time the daily temps went below freezing I have not been able to reliably open my rear doors from the outside. Basically, pull the outside door handle and it doesn't budge.

When this first started happening I tugged the left rear door handle a bit too hard, and apparently snapped a cable in the door. (I have been waiting since the end of November for the part, dealer says it's backordered and unavailable?).

When the right rear door handle didn't budge budge I was a bit gentler with it, and opened the door from the inside, only to find that when I shut the door it wouldn't latch. For grins I pushed in and pulled out the lock button manually on that door, and found that the door latched, but then found that the door could no longer be opened from the inside, either.

Great, now I have two rear doors that are unusable. I brought the truck back to the dealer last week for the right rear door issue. They told me that this that and the other thing were misaligned and that they fixed it and it works perfectly now. So I picked the truck up, and stopped at the grocery store on the way home. The right rear door in fact opened just fine, but when I shut it it wouldn't latch again. I immediately called the dealer, and of course he said, gee, we've never ever seen this kind of issue with these trucks. Note that I have never had an issue with the front door handles.

Again, these rear door issues seem to happen only when the temperature is below 30, suggesting that water is trapped somewhere in the handle/lock/latch mechanism and frozen. It's hard for me to believe that I am the only one encountering this, on both rear doors. Has anyone else had this issue?

Has Ram solved this issue for anyone? After 5 years of ownership this started happening to my passenger rear door. Is there a TSB?? My dealership doesn't seem to be aware of the fix....

I've just sent a message to @RamCares

 

[Scram1500]

RamCares still a thing?

 

[RamCares]

Has Ram solved this issue for anyone? After 5 years of ownership this started happening to my passenger rear door. Is there a TSB?? My dealership doesn't seem to be aware of the fix....

I've just sent a message to @RamCares

Thank you for bringing this to our attention @DPhillips78. Our team has responded and look forward assisting you!

Gia
Ram Cares

 

[Gren71]

Has Ram solved this issue for anyone? After 5 years of ownership this started happening to my passenger rear door. Is there a TSB?? My dealership doesn't seem to be aware of the fix....

I've just sent a message to @RamCares

Post in thread 'Rear door stuck in locked position…cant close'

Dec 23, 2024

If the door latch was tripped into the latched position which is what it appears to be just rotate the latch around to the opened position.

Once i got it all the way put it worked perfectly. I still have no idea wth happened but its back to function, so ill take my merry truckmas a smile

• Gren71

Here is a thread of what I went through when this just happened to me a week or so ago. After completely disassembling the door it seems like it was probably related to a temperature / freezing issue. I lubricated the hell out of all of the moving components before putting it back together and even in the recent couple of days with cold temperatures, I haven’t had the issue reoccurred once.

 

[jcross15]

2021 Laramie 1500.... have the same rear passenger door issue. Dealer quoted $800 to fix!! I just bought this truck.... @RamCares how about some help with this KNOWN ISSUE with these trucks!!

 

[Handycraftman]

Жизнь барана в России, продолжение

Мальчик после зимней мойки переживает о том, что двери не откроются утром. Мужик переживает о том, что двери не закроются🤣 Так случилось и со мной- открыл дверь и замок остался в открытом положении, р…

www.drive2.ru

 

[Gren71]

Жизнь барана в России, продолжение

Мальчик после зимней мойки переживает о том, что двери не откроются утром. Мужик переживает о том, что двери не закроются🤣 Так случилось и со мной- открыл дверь и замок остался в открытом положении, р…

www.drive2.ru

Thats shows as a different language for me..so in case its that way for others

 

[RamCares]

2021 Laramie 1500.... have the same rear passenger door issue. Dealer quoted $800 to fix!! I just bought this truck.... @RamCares how about some help with this KNOWN ISSUE with these trucks!!

Hi @jcross15!

We are sorry to hear this. Our team has responded to your private message. We look forward looking into this for you.

Gia
Ram Cares

 

[RamCares]

Post in thread 'Rear door stuck in locked position…cant close'

Dec 23, 2024

If the door latch was tripped into the latched position which is what it appears to be just rotate the latch around to the opened position.

Once i got it all the way put it worked perfectly. I still have no idea wth happened but its back to function, so ill take my merry truckmas a smile

• Gren71

Here is a thread of what I went through when this just happened to me a week or so ago. After completely disassembling the door it seems like it was probably related to a temperature / freezing issue. I lubricated the hell out of all of the moving components before putting it back together and even in the recent couple of days with cold temperatures, I haven’t had the issue reoccurred once.

Hi @Gren71,

We are pleased to hear that you concern has been resolved. However, if this happens to occur again, please private message us with details of your concern, so our team can look further into this. Thank you.

Gia
Ram Cares

 

[Scjon03]

Add me to the list. First time experiencing this. I use to live in California and got orders to Nebraska. And of course I come when it was -11 degrees. Got to my new location and the passenger rear door was hard to open. A good pull and the door open, but will not latch. I did was everyone else did and strapped it to the tie downs on the floor of the truck. It did warmed up a little bit like 7 degrees but the door was facing the sun. The latch reengaged. But now the handle is hard to pull again. Just going to leave it until it gets warmer. After the temps stays warmer I’m going to remove the panel and lube the hell out of it. Just one door, all others are fine. The dealership here told me they are 2 weeks backed up.

 

[Gren71]

Apparently im out of practice lubing things cause mine “froze” again yesterday when it was 14d thankfully this time I recognize the handle was hard to pull and just left it shut. i had my kids both get in the drivers side rear and left the door alone for now. PITA

I wonder if its a bad seal or something that lets moisture in to the locks…

 

[DPhillips78]

Sure seems like allot of people have experienced this issue. We really need Ram to issue a resolution on a TSB describing the proper fix. Mine froze again yesterday, one of my co-workers had to ride back to work holding the rear passenger door closed as it wouldn't latch. I now always have lock de-icer spray with me and sprayed a entire can into the door latch mechanism...and it still didn't work. Once back to work, I used a ratchet strap to hold the passenger rear door closed. Parked it with the sun on the passenger side for about 1/2 hour. Frustrated, I decided to take it to the dealership. Drove the truck to my dealership (1/2 hr drive) and of course by the time I arrived it starting latching again. I only loosened up the ratchet strap enough to test the door. After inspection, the tech wants to order a new latch mechanism, but I'm not convinced that this will resolve the issue. Based on others feedback, it seems to me that the issue is the # 7 cable that has the "U-bend " that retains moisture and freezes. I asked the service advisor if they disassembled the door to inspect it or if they were "just throwing parts at it". He said likely his tech did take it apart and inspect it but he was already gone so he couldn't confirm. When I got my truck back the ratchet strap was still hooked around the door handle....the tech obviously didn't remove the door panel....I'm just not convinced that replacing the latch mechanism will resolve this issue....unless it comes with a new grease filled # 7 cable. Sounds like @55Trucker got his resolved when Chrysler told his dealer to inject a specific grease into the # 7 cable...likely this purged the moisture and prevents it from re-entering the cable.

@RamCares please help with a TSB for this issue...the dealership techs would benefit from the documentation. I don't want to be inconvenienced by multiple trips to the dealership trying to resolve this safety issue. Thank you!

 

[DPhillips78]

@RamCares can someone provide a update on the resolution to this Safety issue? It happened again yesterday during a work trip. Please advise.

 

[Scjon03]

I had enough with this and started to dig in myself. Dealers here in Omaha, NE should they are like 2 weeks backed up or something like that. Anyways like I said in my post above, never experience this issue until I moved to NE.

So after watching number of videos and blah blah blah. I found this guy that was installing the passive entry, thank you, whoever you are and sorry for copying your video

Yes, you do need to remove the entire inter panel and disconnect the window. It is pretty easy and do not force anything. My door latch that was freezing was only my passenger rear. All the other doors were fine.

His instructions are pretty much the same for the rear doors. Just I did not disconnect the wiring harness to remove the panel totally out of the door. So my problem wasn't the cable freezing. It was what the cable was attached to inside the latch itself.

I lubed, freeze proof grease, WD40, Waterproof WD40/Silone, everything into the blue circle areas on the latch. (do not put lube in the blue circles in the pictures where the bolts go into btw)

On the latch itself it has a black cover. Just pop it off. You can see the cable where it is attached too. That linkage was stiff, after lubing it and actuating it a few times it loosen up.

Just reserve order the process and make sure you recheck the black cover again. Because I forgot to do it and now need to reopen everything again... arrrrggg.. So tonight/tomorrow it suppose to drop temps again. So hopefully this worked.

 

[Gren71]

I had enough with this and started to dig in myself. Dealers here in Omaha, NE should they are like 2 weeks backed up or something like that. Anyways like I said in my post above, never experience this issue until I moved to NE.

So after watching number of videos and blah blah blah. I found this guy that was installing the passive entry, thank you, whoever you are and sorry for copying your video

Yes, you do need to remove the entire inter panel and disconnect the window. It is pretty easy and do not force anything. My door latch that was freezing was only my passenger rear. All the other doors were fine.

His instructions are pretty much the same for the rear doors. Just I did not disconnect the wiring harness to remove the panel totally out of the door. So my problem wasn't the cable freezing. It was what the cable was attached to inside the latch itself.

I lubed, freeze proof grease, WD40, Waterproof WD40/Silone, everything into the blue circle areas on the latch. (do not put lube in the blue circles in the pictures where the bolts go into btw)

On the latch itself it has a black cover. Just pop it off. You can see the cable where it is attached too. That linkage was stiff, after lubing it and actuating it a few times it loosen up.

View attachment 196212View attachment 196212View attachment 196213 Just reserve order the process and make sure you recheck the black cover again. Because I forgot to do it and now need to reopen everything again... arrrrggg.. So tonight/tomorrow it suppose to drop temps again. So hopefully this worked.

I sincerely hope this works for you. I did basically exactly what you did and my handle froze a couple weeks ago with cold weather. fortunately it worked fine after thawing () and now i just child safety locked that side and have my kids both get in from the drivers side.

 

[Scjon03]

I sincerely hope this works for you. I did basically exactly what you did and my handle froze a couple weeks ago with cold weather. fortunately it worked fine after thawing () and now i just child safety locked that side and have my kids both get in from the drivers side.

Damn..... so yours froze again after greasing and all that? I also noticed that if open from the inside it latches just fine.

 

[Gren71]

Damn..... so yours froze again after greasing and all that? I also noticed that if open from the inside it latches just fine.

Yep, unfortunately it did. And i also noticed the same…that opening from the inside it works fine. The child lock just builds the habbit for my youngest to get in/out the other side. I actually haven’t checked if its working in a couple weeks..im hoping to keep it out of my mind until the spring and hope it works regularly then. The whole sex panther probability isn’t something I want to mess with when its cold.



Also hoping a tsb or something comes out by then.

 

[Scjon03]

Yep, unfortunately it did. And i also noticed the same…that opening from the inside it works fine. The child lock just builds the habbit for my youngest to get in/out the other side. I actually haven’t checked if its working in a couple weeks..im hoping to keep it out of my mind until the spring and hope it works regularly then. The whole sex panther probability isn’t something I want to mess with when its cold.

View attachment 196231

Also hoping a tsb or something comes out by then.

ahhhh crap.... did you replace the cable? or anything else? Looks like replacing the cable is pretty easy compare to replacing the latch mechanism. I'll repost tomorrow morning ish.

 

[Scjon03]

Yup... didnt work.... time to replace the damn cable.