No vehicle is perfect. Whether you own a car, SUV, or pickup truck, there is no guarantee that you will never be faced with any mechanical issues, no matter what company manufactured your vehicle. However, certain trucks are known to be prone to specific issues, the Ram 1500 being just one example.
The biggest flaw with the Ram 1500 over the years has been recurring problems with the transmission, in particular, issues with shifting.
In this article, we take a close look into which Dodge rams had transmission problems, what the common issues are and we also share the ways you can fix the shifting issues.
The Ram 1500 pickup trucks have been known to have transmission issues and shifting problems have been present in Ram trucks from 2001 onwards.
Particularly bad years for the Ram 1500 were 2001, 2009, 2012 – 2016 and the 2019 model also displayed transmission issues.
Problems with the Ram 1500 transmission, are occasionally impossible to diagnose but common causes include:
From 2018 onwards, Ram 1500 has been producing reliable pickup trucks and only the 2019 model has experienced a high level of transmission complaints. The 2020 Ram 1500 won Truck Of The Year and the 2021 and 2022 models have also been well received.
The Dodge Ram pickup truck has been on the road since 1981. Over the years the Ram has had many upgrades and is well known for its versatility as a vehicle suitable for work and play and its strength and durability.
However, what was once a reliable pickup became best known for its transmission and shifting problems in the 2000s, not an accolade any vehicle wants to have.
The transmission issues began as early as 2001, the Rams manufactured in this year would often shift out of gear, have fluctuating RPMs or the transmission would fail completely.
While the issues seemed to reduce momentarily after 2001, by 2009 Dodge Ram pickup trucks were once again suffering from various transmission problems. The flawed transmission continued to be present in 1500, 2500, 4500, and 5500 models released between 2010 and 2016.
2012 and 2014 were particularly bad years for Ram drivers. Several transmission problems were found to be negatively impacting the driving experience of many Ram owners, especially those driving the Ram 1500.
The Ram trucks released between 2010 and 2013 with the 5.7L V8 engine were prone to several issues, including the engine not turning over, suspensions problems, lifters wearing out the camshaft, and even the engine turning off in the middle of driving!
The transmission problems are most prolific in Ram pickup trucks with a five or six-speed automatic transmission and a V8 engine. In 2014, there were many issues with the latest generation of the Ram trucks because the V8 engine was upgraded to an EcoDiesel engine.
It is normal for there to be a few issues with an engine upgrade, but the 2014 Ram had 14 recalls, mainly due to transmission problems.
In 2015 and 2016, the EcoDiesel engine was still causing problems and there were also issues with the cruise control, airbags, dashboard warning lights, and screen display problems.
In more recent years, the Ram pickup trucks have become more reliable as many of the transmission issues have been ironed out. The 2017 Ram 1500 had only nine recalls and received higher customer ratings than any other Ram from the previous 10 years.
The 2018 Ram 1500 also received a high-reliability rating but the 2019 Ram had 21 recalls and over 400 customer complaints. Things were looking up again by the year 2020, the fifth-generation Ram 1500 won the Motor Trend Truck Of The Year award and was highly commended for its safety features.
By the 2021 and 2022 Ram 1500 models, the majority of the transmission problems had been resolved. There were 5 separate recalls for the 2021 Ram 1500 and so far only 1 recall for the 2022 models (related to the HVAC system).
If you are concerned about transmission problems, you should be fine purchasing a Ram 1500 from the year 2018 onwards, just avoid the 2019 models!
There are several reasons why you may be experiencing issues with the transmission on your Ram 1500. Unfortunately, with older Ram models, it can be difficult to diagnose what is causing the transmission problems.
In the past, Ram drivers experiencing transmission issues have had to pay for a full transmission replacement. However, it is possible to pinpoint what is causing the transmission problems in newer Ram 1500 trucks and if the problem is correctly diagnosed, there are ways to fix the issue.
A common complaint of Ram drivers is that the engine will not shift smoothly between gears, it drops out of gears or will not shift up and down at all.
No one wants to drive a truck that won’t shift between the gears, you are not going to be able to enjoy a smooth and comfortable drive if the transmission is failing.
Here is a list of the most common reasons the Ram 1500 has problems shifting:
As you can see, there are many reasons why you may be experiencing shifting problems with your Ram 1500. The two most common causes are a bad transmission sensor and a faulty transmission relay or wire.
Let’s take a closer look at why these components cause shifting problems and have a look at how these issues can be resolved.
If your Ram 1500 is not shifting smoothly, it may be down to a faulty transmission sensor. However, before jumping to this conclusion, first, check the transmission fluid and top it up if necessary – this may be all that is needed to solve your transmission problems.
If the fluid levels are fine, next check the transmission filter. If there is any built-up dirt or debris in the filter, this may be causing the shifting problems. Clean out the filter or replace it if necessary, you may now see all of your shifting problems disappear!
However, if the fluid and filter are both fine, it is now time to inspect the transmission sensors. A loose sensor can cause your transmission to have shifting problems, you may notice your Ram 1500 is struggling to shift between all of the gears, not just sticking between 1 or 2 of them.
Simply tightening up the sensors can be enough to resolve this issue. However, if you notice the transmission sensor is damaged, you may need to take your Ram to a mechanic to have the sensor repaired or replaced.
If the transmission fluid, filters, and sensors are all working as they should be, the shifting issues may be down to a problem with a transmission relay or wire.
When a transmission relay or wire is faulty, you may notice your Ram 1500 is shifting from first gear to third gear, skipping gears and it may not stay in the correct gear, shifting up or down unnecessarily.
When you notice these transmission problems with your Ram 1500, a faulty electrical relay or a loose wire may be the culprit. Before you can resolve this issue, you will first need to check the voltage coming from the transmission terminals, using a voltmeter.
If the voltage is reading normal, inspect the electrical wires, there may be damage that is preventing them from working correctly.
A damaged wire can be replaced but you may want to ask a professional to do this with you, interfering with your car’s electrical systems can be difficult and dangerous if you do not know what you are doing.
If you can not find the cause of your Ram 1500s transmission issues, you can take it to a mechanic for professional troubleshooting.
In the worst-case scenario, you will need to pay out for a full transmission replacement, but it could be something as small as a damaged spark plug or contaminated transmission fluid.
In more recent years, the Ram 1500 pickup trucks have been experiencing fewer and fewer issues with the transmission. Shifting problems were most common in the Ram 1500 models with a 5.7L V8 engine and the early models with the EcoDiesel engine were prone to transmission problems too.
However, following several recalls with the 2019 Ram 1500, the 2020 model won Truck Of The Year and was highly praised for its safety features. There have only been a few recalls of the 2021 and 2022 Ram 1500 pickup trucks and none of these have been related to the transmission.
The Dodge Ram 1500 had transmission problems for several years and generations. In 2001 there were several issues with the engine transmission and Rams released from 2009 to 2016 were prone to transmission and shifting issues.
Pickup trucks with five and six-speed transmissions were most likely to suffer from transmission issues and even as recently as 2019, there have been recalled due to transmission problems.
The length of time a Ram 1500 transmission will last is subjective, it will vary depending on how often you drive your truck and how well you keep up with its regular engine maintenance.
However, in ideal conditions, a Ram 1500 transmission should last for around 150,000 to 200,000 miles. When your truck reaches this amount of miles, the transmission will need to be replaced or will likely need to be repaired.
Ram 1500 pickup trucks do not have the best reputation, especially when it comes to transmission. However, models from certain years are much better than others.
You should avoid 2001, 2009, 2012, and 2013 – 2016 Ram 1500 trucks, you may get lucky but complaints and recalls were at their highest during these years. The 2017 Ram 1500 is a much more reliable option as many of the transmission faults had been resolved.
The 2018 and 2020 models have high customer satisfaction and so far the 2021 and 2020 models have only had a small number of recalls. In fact, the 2020 Ram 1500 was a big success and boosted Ram’s reputation following all the problems with the 2019 model.
The cost to get your Ram 1500 transmission replaced or repaired will vary depending on what damage has occurred and what year Ram 1500 you have. For a 2009 Ram 1500, you should expect to spend around $2,900.
For the 2020 Ram 1500 with a 5.7L V8 engine, the maximum you should need to pay will be around $3,200. For an accurate quote, contact your local mechanic. You should expect to pay between $2000 and $3000 for a complete transmission rebuild.
There are several reasons why a truck won’t shift correctly. The shifting issue could be down to something as small as a dirty transmission filter, a loose wire, or a damaged spark plug.
Contaminated or leaking transmission fluid can also cause shifting problems and loose or broken transmission sensors can be problematic too.
The Ram 1500 trucks from certain years, unfortunately, have common faults built into their V8 5 and 6-speed transmission engines that would cause regular shifting issues.
The Ram 1500 is a pickup truck made for the worksite, off-road driving, cruising on road trips, and everyday personal use. Over the years Ram has released several models that have unfortunately been prone to irritating and dangerous transmission problems.
The 2001 Ram 1500 displayed several transmission problems and between 2009 and 2017, 1.5 million Ram 1500 pickup trucks were recalled.
Unfortunately, Ram 1500 trucks have been known to have issues with shifting and this can be annoying at best and life-threatening at worst. Some Ram 1500 drivers experienced the engine cutting out while driving, the truck slipping out of gear, and the transmission behaving unpredictably.
Transmission problems can be very dangerous and will need to be repaired as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the transmission in certain Ram models can not be repaired and will have to be completely replaced.
The 5.7L V8 engine was the most problematic for Ram 1500 drivers but over the years Ram has worked hard to improve its reliability rating and create a transmission that won’t let drivers down.
The shifting problems with the Ram 1500 may be down to contaminated engine fluid, damaged sensors, or loose wires. Fortunately, there are fixes to all of these smaller issues and you should quickly notice an improvement in your Ram’s transmission.
However, if you can not pinpoint exactly what is causing the shifting problems, a professional will be able to diagnose the issue and make the necessary repairs. If you need a transmission rebuild or replacement for your Ram 1500, be prepared to spend around $2000 to $3000.
