Shifter knob issues, 2019 RAM 1500, help- BRAND NEW

[SynAckuL]

I have two follow-up questions:
1) Is there a Technical Service Bulletin issues from Dodge regarding this? If so, what is the number of the bulletin?
2) What does it mean to "open a case" with Dodge for getting my truck fixed? How do I open a case? What does that do for me over simply taking my truck to the dealer for service (assuming that the dealer service department says they cannot reproduce the problem.)?

Many thanks for the help.

I can only speak from my experience:
1) Not that I know of.
2) I opened a Star case here: https://fcacommunity.force.com/RAM/s/knowledge. The dealer I kept going to could not replicate the problem, though they could see it on my videos. They eventually just gave it back to me and said it was "functioning as designed". I opened a Star case, and the next day I had the dealership call me to bring my truck back in, and they said would replace the transmission. The dealership could not authorize a transmission replacement. They wouldn't get paid for it by the manufacturer unless they had received approval first.

Throughout this whole debacle, here's what I believe to be true: the local dealership only has the knowledge that their mechanics have. They have the ability to work with a Chrysler tech (yes, that's what they called them) to get more information on bigger issues. But the dealership is still limited to their own mechanics to diagnose and fix a problem if the manufacturer isn't brought in. Oftentimes, if they can't replicate the problem, they tell you that and return your vehicle. The mechanics are limited by what they know, and don't usually see any further than their service bay. They don't take it upon themselves to call a Chrysler tech if they don't think they need to. In my case, I had to get that ball rolling with the manufacturer since I wasn't getting satisfaction from the dealership. I honestly feel like it never should have gone that far. So, if you feel something is wrong, and the dealership is telling you they can't find/fix it, my suggestion is to first go to another dealership. If they also can't replicate or repair the problem, open a Star case.

 

[Joeyp]

I have two follow-up questions:
1) Is there a Technical Service Bulletin issues from Dodge regarding this? If so, what is the number of the bulletin?
2) What does it mean to "open a case" with Dodge for getting my truck fixed? How do I open a case? What does that do for me over simply taking my truck to the dealer for service (assuming that the dealer service department says they cannot reproduce the problem.)?

Many thanks for the help.

The contact link is below....explain your issue, create a case and they will be the liaison between you and the dealer just in case they aren't being helpful.

FCA RAM

fcacommunity.force.com

 

[RamCares]

I’ve got roughly 800 miles on Rebel and it’s done this a few times. A week ago I took it in and they uploaded the 21-002-19 TSB. Happened again yesterday so that wasn’t the fix for mine. I can go back and forth between park and drive all day long and drive won’t engage. If I go to reverse and then drive, works just fine. Hopefully this gets figured out.

Hello Jeff12,

As I've mentioned to other members, don't hesitate to connect with us if you go back to the dealer. We're available via direct message and would be happy to help with that process.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[mvfjet]

Just wondering if anyone with a late build date is still having this problem? The truck I'm looking to buy has a build date of April 20th sequential VIN number is 850370.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

 

[BigHorn-SV]

Just today back from the Dealer for appointment number four (4) to resolve this ongoing intermittent problem with my truck not moving after being started then shifted from P into R or D, and then then slamming into R or D gear once engine RPM is raised.

After a thorough investigation and testing of the e-Brake system, the Dealer found nothing wrong and my truck is back home. Service Manager did request that I set the e-Brake back to deploy automatically, which is when I've had the subject problem. I've had no problems during the past few days (prior to my appointment today) while I had e-Brake Auto-Deploy set to "off ". However, we set it back to "on", as this mechanical and/or electrical and safety problem needs to get resolved sooner than later.

I just left a voicemail regarding with my Case Manager at RAM Enhanced Customer Satisfaction. Dealer is leaving current paperwork open for a couple days to see if problem resurfaces again soon.

If/when this problem surfaces again, I will make another appointment at the Dealer. I will also ensure my Case Number with RAM Enhanced Customer Satisfaction has remained active, or start a new one.

 

[Joeyp]

Just today back from the Dealer for appointment number four (4) to resolve this ongoing intermittent problem with my truck not moving after being started then shifted from P into R or D, and then then slamming into R or D gear once engine RPM is raised.

After a thorough investigation and testing of the e-Brake system, the Dealer found nothing wrong and my truck is back home. Service Manager did request that I set the e-Brake back to deploy automatically, which is when I've had the subject problem. I've had no problems during the past few days (prior to my appointment today) while I had e-Brake Auto-Deploy set to "off ". However, we set it back to "on", as this mechanical and/or electrical and safety problem needs to get resolved sooner than later.

I just left a voicemail regarding with my Case Manager at RAM Enhanced Customer Satisfaction. Dealer is leaving current paperwork open for a couple days to see if problem resurfaces again soon.

If/when this problem surfaces again, I will make another appointment at the Dealer. I will also ensure my Case Number with RAM Enhanced Customer Satisfaction has remained active, or start a new one.

You definitely need a new transmission as I did.... Mine was approved almost immediately from the FCA so there must be some type of issue. I only had 170 miles on it when I returned it to the dealer. My truck runs like it should now.

 

[rossn2]

My transmission and torque converter were replaced at 150 miles on the truck for issues described in this thread. The issue was known at DELIVERY as experienced by myself and two salesman...

 

[Cerino2000]

Sadly...my brand new three week old truck is doing this. Has a build date on Jan 2019. This is my 6th Ram in 10 years and the only one I’ve ever had a problem with. Hope it’s not a sign of things to come. Did it once towards the end of a 500 mile road trip in the middle of a 19 mile traffic jam. Fortunately it popped into gear. I had in park for a minute cause traffic was stopped. Very disappointed.

 

[Cerino2000]

Mine did it again yesterday and I caught it on video. Dropping it off at dealer soon. This could be a legal nightmare for FCA if this happens to lunge forward into a person. Will report back once I have more info.

 

[SynAckuL]

Mine did it again yesterday and I caught it on video. Dropping it off at dealer soon. This could be a legal nightmare for FCA if this happens to lunge forward into a person. Will report back once I have more info.

It would be awesome if you uploaded the video to YouTube. The more of us that do that, the more weight each one carries.

 

[Cerino2000]

Dealer has had my truck for a few days while I am traveling. I showed them the video of it doing it and he thinks it needs a software update or has a brake issue (which believe me it doesn’t....it needs a trans). They told me today they reinitialized the transmission and have been driving it with no issues. I’m sure it will be going back to the shop. Since it hasn’t had “the problem” in their hands, they are way underestimating what the problem is. One day someone with this problem is going to kill someone when the truck slams into gear and lunges forward. The whole reason I spend the money on new vehicles is so I don’t have to deal with older vehicle problems. I understand cars can have problems but when a company clearly has an issue and does nothing to acknowledge and fix the problem, this is when I start looking to another company. I’ve purchased no less than 23 FCA vehicles since 2009. This is my 6th Ram in this time frame and likely my last. With this and the ongoing Uconnect issues that dodge refuses to acknowledge, I can no longer recommend FCA to people and feel like I’ve done them a favor. It was a good run. Too bad. I’ll post back when the trans acts up again.

 

[Cerino2000]

Here’s the vid of the transmission problem caught in action. One thing you can’t get from a video is how violent it is when it slams into gear.

 

[Patsy1099]

That’s just totally insane. I can’t believe a bigger deal isn’t being made to do something about this. Somebody is going to get really hurt. Is a vehicle is doing something like this FCA should immediately pull it off the road and either fix it or replace it. It’s just so dangerous.

 

[Cerino2000]

In thinking about it, I suppose it COULD be software if there is a delay of sending the signal to the trans. When the problem is happening, when you put it in drive it does nothing. Not squat. I suppose if the parking pawl is hanging I’d hear some kind of noise as it partially disengaged and got hung. Maybe the slow giving of the gas is coincidental and even if you don’t give it gas it would go into gear after X amount of time. X of course being the exact same amount of time it would take it to go in gear if I was slowly giving it gas. In any case, I should not be having to deal with this.

 

[TruckDriver]

youtube]mwL4xFfhOKY

@RamCares y'all seein' this?

@Cerino2000 you're probably the first to post a video that I've seen on this board; glad you caught it to show it - I hope this is corrected somehow! (repair, new truck etc)

Knock on wood, I felt a hesitation with that trans at the start but nothing like this thus far. I hope this doesn't occur later in the future for other users also...

 

[BigHorn-SV]

In thinking about it, I suppose it COULD be software if there is a delay of sending the signal to the trans. When the problem is happening, when you put it in drive it does nothing. Not squat. I suppose if the parking pawl is hanging I’d hear some kind of noise as it partially disengaged and got hung. Maybe the slow giving of the gas is coincidental and even if you don’t give it gas it would go into gear after X amount of time. X of course being the exact same amount of time it would take it to go in gear if I was slowly giving it gas. In any case, I should not be having to deal with this.

I sat in my driveway for 10 minutes with my truck idling in this failure mode (with D gear selected on incline with brake off and truck not moving) while talking to my local RAM dealer's service adviser and the truck doing absolutely nothing. Then after finally running out of options and issues to discuss with him about this problem, I chose to slowly raise the idle the truck slammed and lurched into D after reaching 1,000 RPM. Normally the above-described process is immediate, as when I get into my truck am ready to take off and go somewhere.

 

[BigHorn-SV]

Here's another video from page 20 of this thread.

Unfortunately, it happened again for the first time after the valve body replacement. I was driving around and stopped in front of our house (shifted to P). With the engine still running, I waited for the family to get in. I shifted to D, and the car would not go forward. Shifted back and forth slowly several times. Whipped out my camera and started recording as I did it a few more times, then slowly revved the engine until it harshly popped into gear. So, looks like the valve body replacement might not be a permanent fix.

 

[Cerino2000]

I sat in my driveway for 10 minutes with my truck idling in this failure mode (with D gear selected on incline with brake off and truck not moving) while talking to my local RAM dealer's service adviser and the truck doing absolutely nothing. Then after finally running out of options and issues to discuss with him about this problem, I chose to slowly raise the idle the truck slammed and lurched into D after reaching 1,000 RPM. Normally the above-described process is immediate, as when I get into my truck am ready to take off and go somewhere.

That’s what I was afraid of.

 

[SynAckuL]

That’s what I was afraid of.

It's not programming. It's not the brake. It is likely the transmission. I've had mine replaced. In the process to have the whole truck bought back under our state's lemon law.

 

[BigHorn-SV]

In the process to have the whole truck bought back under our state's lemon law.

Just reviewed our state's Lemon Law, and given the number of visits to my local dealership, my truck now appears to qualify. Wish FCA would own-up to the problem and buy back these dangerous trucks, so we didn't have to now spend even more hours out of our lives navigating the Lemon Law process.

I personally have already spent at least 20 hours detailing this problem for FCA:
- travelling back and forth when dropping off and picking up this truck to diagnose the problem at my dealership,
- explaining the problem to dealership service advisers and managers,
- communicating to FCA customer service reps via email, IM, or phone about this problem, and;
- documenting it on this forum.

Now I need to spend even more time to invoke the Lemon Law process!?!

I really wanted this truck - special ordered it in fact - purchased accessories, spent countless hours researching RAM online and visiting dealerships before choosing this truck as best new truck over all its competitors in the full-size truck market.

However, given all this truck's nice features and cool attributes, I am unwilling to deal with this heinous ongoing safety issue within its driveline. FCA must understand that none of us experiencing this safety issue wants to take the chance of running over some kid or ramming into another vehicle with these problem trucks, then experience the after effects of being liable for something that is completely not our fault.