Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge 3500. After placing the vehicle into park, it began rolling backwards. The contact returned to the vehicle and observed that the gear shifted into reverse on its own. The contact received a recall notice that stated that, in certain circumstances, the vehicle may move without warning. It further stated that the manufacturer will modify the vehicle free of charge by installing an out of park alarm system. The recall repair consisted of rewiring the vehicle so that the horn would blow when the vehicle shifted from park into reverse. The contact has experienced the safety risk involved due to the failure. A supervisor at the manufacturer stated that the repair was mandated by law and cannot be reversed. The manufacturer could not offer any further assistance. The contact expected the vehicle to be repaired for safety reasons. The recall number was unknown. The approximate current mileage was 148,000 and failure mileage was 120,000.
2003 Dodge RAM 3500 transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 26 of 26, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*- the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 3500. The vehicle was serviced for recall 05v46200 concerning the power train automatic transmission. The dealer installed an out of park alarm system. The alarm system will activate if the vehicle door is open while reverse gear was engaged. The alarm caused the horn to blow, and the lights to flash. The contact stated he did not want this system in this vehicle. The dealer stated they were unable to remove the out of park alarm system because it was mandated by the federal safety agency. The vehicle currently had 52,000 miles. *ak updated 05/21/07
Dt*: the contact stated while going over a hill at 5 MPH the vehicle jumped out of gear and accelerated without warning. The dealership was unable to duplicate the problem. The manufacturer has been alerted.
Dt*: the contact stated after exiting the vehicle, with the engine still running in park, it began to reverse down the boat dock. This damaged the boat trailer and the dock. The contact received recall letter #05v462000, for the automatic transmission. Although the recall work has not been performed, the contact believes this will repair the problem.
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle had been parked on a boat ramp for 10 to 15 minutes with the engine off, after the boat was loaded the vehicle rolled into the water. The vehicle was submerged in the water over the front tires. It was driven out of the water and to the contact's residence 2 miles away. The dealer and manufacturer were contacted and there is a the federal safety agency recall, # 05v462000, regarding the power train: automatic transmission. However, both refuse to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer is sending a representative to inspect the vehicle.
Dt*: the contact stated a recall letter was received in the mail regarding the power train; automatic transmission, recall number: 05v462000. Prior to receiving this recall, the contact was involved in an accident. The vehicle jumped out of park into reverse and hit another vehicle. There was substantial damage done to the contact's vehicle. The contact does not agree with the remedy listed in the recall. In addition to the out of park alarm listed as the remedy to this recall, the dealership determined a shifter cable needed to be installed.
Dt*: the contact stated when the vehicle was parked, the vehicle engaged into reverse gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. They replaced the transfer case because of the calibration set points. The vehicle now operates correctly.
Dt: the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 3500 one ton. The warning lights kept coming on. The dashboard lights came on and off. The contact cited a recall on manual transmissions, and his vehicle had automatic transmission. He noticed this on 9-13-05.
Consumer stated vehicle rolled off while parked.
My 2003 dodge ram 3500 diesel has been jumping into reverse from park. This has happened three times. The first time was in the middle of january. I parked at mini mart at 6am to get a cup of coffee. It was cold so I left the engne idling to warm up. I came out to find my vehicle gone. I looked across the street and found it smashed into a building. The truck had minimal damage, but extensive damage was done to the building. I thought maybe I mistakinly put the lever in reverse at first, but but you cant get out of the door without the vehile taking off when you leave it in reverse, if you take your foot off the brake it takes off. This hapened again in mid march. I left the vehicle to check a field, I herd a klunk and turned around to find my pickup backing down the road. At this point I had the dealer check the transmisson. The found nothing wrong. In mid I june was checking rice boxes on a canal bank when it happened again. This time the pickup went into the canal and filled 1/4 full of water, as will as body damage. I again took it to the dealer. They had a represenative from diamler-chrysler come out and check the vehicle. He did a whole series of tests. They later sent me a letter stating my claim had been denied. They are doing nothing! These vehicles are unsafe. I dont know where to go from here.
The vehicle lurched forward in every gear except in neutral when depressing the clutch when starting the engine. The dealer replaced the clutch, but problem recurred. *ak the transmission was hard to shift, the clutch control was defective due to the slave cylinder bleeding back into the master cylinder. This caused the vehicle to lurch unexpectedly.
Vehicle vibrates when it reaches 20 MPH in gear or not in gear. It vibrates so hard that the mirrors on the exterior shake like they are coming off.
Poor fuel mileage in comparison to several other dodge's of the same year. *ph while pulling a trailer at 63 MPH the vehilce had a low of 6.85 mpg. On average the vehicle got 7.5-8.0 mpg loaded and 12-14 mpg empty. The dealer reflashed the computer. The vehicle was returned to the consumer but now it was missing. The vehicle was taken to another dealer. The truck was left there for a week but they were unable to determined the problem. The vehicle was ereturned to the consumer. The dealer contacted the cosumer to bring the vehicle back to the dealer to perform service suggested by the manufacturer. On the way to the dealer the truck started blowing transmision fluid through the radiator overflow. The dealer had to rebuild the transmission, replace the radiator and transmission cooler. The u-joint at the rear axle snapped which caused the drive shaft to collapse onto the highway. The fuel lift pump failed which caused the vehicle to stall while driving. Transmission cooler line leaked.
Consumer will provide pictures, and will provide further information on u joint and front axle.
The transmission keeps slipping into neutral while driving and sometimes upon pulling out. The truck is 10 weeks old and has been in the shop for this condition 4 times, with the malfunction light on 3 of those trips, once it went in on a rollback because it would not move at all. It has also downshifted into a lower gear, barked the tires and slung us forward so hard it almost snapped our necks twice now. This has been reported also. They now say since I am requesting a full refund for the truck that there is no mechanical problems or damage only a software problem with the computer. They say michigan is aware of it, but there has not been a program written to correct it yet, but they will notify me when there is. The vehicle is not safe to drive, you can't merge into traffic for fear of it not moving, you are afraid of it downshifting, but they assure me it is safe to drive, and the rep won't call me back like he was supposed to. They are trying to ignore me completely since I asked for a refund under the tennessee lemon law, of which the 4 unsuccessful repair attempts have been made, with notification by certified letter to the dealer after the 3rd attempt. They say now they can't duplicate the problem, when before I asked for a refund they could.
While vehicle was in park and transmission slipped out of gear, and vehicle rolled into a lake. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
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