2013 Ram 2500 Transmission Problems

Your parked truck shifted into reverse and rolled downhill when someone bumped the gear shift, even though the engine was off. The vehicle struck a fence post but the airbags didn't deploy. This issue appears to be related to a known transmission problem that Ram recalled in 2019, and your truck may have already been repaired under that recall.

Your transmission cooling line may rub against other engine compartment parts over time, eventually developing a hole and failing completely. When this happens, transmission fluid sprays throughout the engine compartment and onto the road, which can cause loss of power, create a fire risk, and harm the environment. The fix will likely involve repositioning or protecting the cooling line to prevent it from rubbing against other components.

After you turn off your engine and remove the key from the ignition, you're still able to shift gears even though the key is out and your foot isn't on the brake. Normally, the transmission should be locked in Park once the engine is off and the key is removed. This could be a problem with the transmission shift interlock mechanism that's supposed to prevent gear shifting when the key isn't in the ignition.

TRUCK GOES INTO LIMP MODE, CHANGED TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND IT FIXED IT FOR ABOUT 11 MONTHS BUT NOW BACK IN LIMP MODE, ( STUCK IN 4 TH) CHANGED TRANSMISSION SOLENOID APPROXIMATELY 11 MONTHS AGO FOR SAME ISSUE, NOW BACK IN LIMP MODE. ( WON'T SHIFT PAST 4 TH)

DRIVER PERFORMED A PRE-USE WALK AROUND INSPECTION ON VEHICLE AND OBSERVED NO DAMAGE. DRIVER PROCEEDED ON TO DESTINATION. DRIVER MERGED ON TO HWY 70 EAST AND ACCELERATED TO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 75MPH AND SET THE CRUISE CONTROL. WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND THE DRIVER, ON OR AROUND MILE MARKER 184, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD GRINDING SOUND AND VIOLENTLY VIBRATED. THE DRIVER PRESSED THE BREAK TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND LOOKED AT THE CENTER FLOORBOARD TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM WHEN ALL AT ONCE THE FLOORBOARD EXPLODED SENDING SHRAPNEL AND DEBRIS UPWARD. FLAMES WERE COMING UP FROM THE FLOORBOARD IMMEDIATELY FILLED THE CAB WITH SMOKE. AT THE SAME TIME AS THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED, BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WITH THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND SMOKE FILLING THE CAB, THE DRIVER HAD ZERO VISIBILITY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN MOTION. USING THE REMAINING VEHICLE MOMENTUM, THEY STEERED TO THE RIGHT TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE 90% OFF THE ROAD. THEY WERE UNABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK OR REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THEY TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE DISTANCE. FROM AFAR, THE DRIVER OBSERVED FLAMES DRIPPING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND WITH NO EXTINGUISHER THEY CONTACTED THE POLICE AT 678-1234 AND INFORMED THEM OF MY NAME AND THE INCIDENT?IN TURN THEY INSTRUCTED THE DRIVER TO DIAL 911. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, THE WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE FIRE RESCUE ARRIVED AND SECURED THE SCENE RENDERING THE VEHICLE FIRE SAFE AND PUSHING IT OFF THE ROAD. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*DT*DT*DT*JB

MY 2013 RAM 2500 TURBO DIESEL HAS EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE TURBO UNIT. UPON RESEARCHING THIS, I FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE CUMMINS HOLSET TURBO. FROM 2007 - CURRENT THIS PART HAS BEEN FAILING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LIMP HOME AT 15MPH WITHOUT WARNING. FORTUNATELY I WAS JUST LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AT 40MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN REPORTED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. I LIVE IN COLORADO WHERE THE SPEED IS 75MPH. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY HOME VIA THE INTERSTATE? I REGULARLY TAKE MY VEHICLE IN FOR OIL & FLUID CHANGES ALONG WITH THE DEALERS 20 POINT INSPECTION. NO PROBLEM WAS EVER PRESENTED TO ME. APPARENTLY, THE TURBO GETS A SOOT BUILD UP AND THE DEALERS DON'T ADDRESS THIS KNOWN FAILURE. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE. THE FIX FOR CONSUMERS IS $5000.00. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SAFETY RISK FOR RAM TRUCK OWNERS.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRUCK JERKED, LOOK AND SEE IT WENT INTO TOWING MODE 4. PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE. I WOULD NOT STAY. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND LET IT CYCLE THEN PUT IT INTO DRIVE. STAYED FOR 2 SECONDS AND WENT RIGHT BACK INTO TOWING. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF ANYTHING HAPPENED WHEN THEY DID 2 RECALLS THE DAY BEFORE. THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS OUT OF THE AREA AND ASKED IF IT WOULD DAMAGE AS I DROVE. I WAS TOLD NO, BUT IT WOULD USE MORE GAS. AS I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ELECTRI COLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION.

I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE WITH NO UNUSUAL NOISES OR VIBRATIONS. ALL OF MY GAUGES WERE NORMAL. ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY PICKUP TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY, AND THERE WAS A CLANGING BANGING NOISE OR SENSATION. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY BLINKER ON AND HEADED FOR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. AS I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, IT FELT LIKE I WAS LOSING POWER, , THE TRUCK WAS STILL SHAKING SO I TIGHTLY GRASPED THE WHEEL AND CRANKED IT OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, OFF OF THE PAVEMENT ALTOGETHER. AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE TO STOP, I TURNED THE KEY OFF. THERE WAS ALREADY SMOKE RISING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF THE TRUCK, THEN FLAMES APPEARED. I GRABBED WHAT VALUABLES I COULD AND ESCAPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, MY PICKUP TRUCK, A 2013 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL WITH BARELY 130,000 MILES ON IT WAS TOTALLY GUTTED BY THE FIRE. MY FRONT DRIVE LINE, DRIVE SHAFT HAD BROKEN OFF OF THE AXLE OF THE PICKUP HITTING THE BRAKE LINE WHILE IT WAS BOUNCING AROUND, CAUSING IGNITION OF THE BRAKE FLUID. THE DRIVE LINE WAS FOUND IN THE CENTER OF THE FREEWAY. THE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID OR TRANSFER CASE FLUID WAS BURNING ON THE GROUND. THE FIRE GRADUALLY SPREAD THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THEN THROUGH THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE CREW CAB PICKUP, DESTROYING IT.

THE E-BRAKE KEEPS LOSING IT ADJUSTMENT AND WILL NOT HOLD THE TRUCK WHEN PARKED. IT HAS A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN DRIVING WILL POT OUT OF GEAR ON ROUGH ROADS AND AT TIME WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. I HAND TO DODGE SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS ISSUE TO NO AVAIL.

ON APRIL 21, 2018, I PULLED MY 2013 RAM 2500 4X4 OUT OF MY BARN TO GO SHOPPING. THERE WAS ABOUT 3 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND. I PUT THE TRUCK INTO PARK AND GOT OUT TO CLOSE THE BARN DOOR. AFTER ABOUT 2 STEPS AWAY FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE TRUCK STARTED TO ROLL. I TURNED AROUND A TRIED TO GET TO THE CONTROLS TO STOP THE TRUCK. I WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE TRUCK AND RUN OVER BY THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND WHEEL. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY LEFT LEG. I HAVE FOUND THE SHIFTER CAN INDICATE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK WHEN IN FACT THE SHIFTER IS SITTING ON THE DETENT BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES (FCA). FCA ISSUED A RECALL OVER UNINTENDED ROLLING OF THEIR TRUCKS. FCA KNOWS THERE IS AN ISSUE YET THEY WANT TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE CARPET. I WOULD NOT FEEL RIGHT IF THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESS AS THE NEXT PERSON MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS I WAS IF THEIR TRUCK EXPERIENCES UNINTENDED ROLLING. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE. A VIDEO OF THIS CAN BE FOUND ON YOUTUBE @ HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=E_NUGO1EMA4 I HAVE STILL PICTURES IF NEEDED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER (GLENN POLK AUTOPLEX RAM, CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, FIAT, 4330 N. INTERSTATE 35, GAINESVILLE, TX 76240, 940-665-3461) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE RECALL PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK IS MALFUNCTIONING. VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF PARK WITHOUT DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL.

I RECENTLY MERGED ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHERE I LIVE AND I LET OFF THE THROTTLE VERY QUICKLY AND THEN GOT BACK INTO IT AND MY TRUCK DIDN'T ACCELERATE AT ALL FOR A COUPLE SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10-15 TIMES DURING THE 3+YEARS I'VE OWNED IT BUT THIS INCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH BECAUSE LETTING OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN GETTING BACK ON IT CAUSE ME TO CONTINUE SLOW EVEN THOUGH I MASHED THE GAS PEDAL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THE SOFTWARE OR CONTROLLER THAT INTERACTS BETWEEN MY DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE/ECU.

STARTING AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES, REAR MAIN SEAL DEVELOPED A LEAK. THE SEAL WAS REPLACED, LEAKED AGAIN AND REPLACED BY A SEAL AND SLEEVE. SEAL AND SLEEVE LEAKED UPON INSTALLATION BUT WERE COATED WITH RTV TO STOP LEAK AT ABOUT 16,800 MILES. AT ABOUT 17,600 MILES VEHICLE EXHIBITED LEAK AGAIN. HAVE BEEN INFORMED NOW BY RAM SERVICE DEALERSHIPS THAT THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SEEPAGE OF FLUIDS FROM ENGINE SEALS AND ARE NOT AN ISSUE UNLESS THE FLUID IS POURING OUT ON THE GROUND AND COVERING THE VEHICLE. I CURRENTLY USE THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CAMPGROUND INVOLVING SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS. AS EXPLAINED, THE VEHICLE IS NOW BANNED FROM BEING OPERATED IN THOSE AREAS DUE TO DESIGNED LEAKING OF FLUIDS FROM THE VEHICLE. RAM CUSTOMER DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ADVISED AND AM AWAITING A RESPONSE.

FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS, THE THROTTLE DOES NOT RESPOND FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS. THERE IS A SEVERE RESPONSE IN THE THROTTLE FROM WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO WHEN THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY STARTS TO MOVE. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I AM TRYING TO SWITCH LANES OR ACCELERATE AND IT JUST SITS THERE FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS IS GOING TO KILL PEOPLE ESPECIALLY ONES UNFAMILIAR WITH DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THIS SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL RAM 2500 AND 3500 WITH THE TURBO DIESEL MOTOR FROM YEARS 2011-2016. AS I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY WORSE. THE DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE HAS GOTTEN LONGER.

2013 RAM 2500 - ON JUNE 1, 2016 I WAS PLACING CAR SEATS INTO THE TRUCK. THE KEYS WERE IN MY POCKET AND NOT RUNNING. MY 3 YEAR SON WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT WHILE I SECURED THE CAR SEATS. MY SON GRABBED THE GEAR SHIFTER AND THE TRUCK WENT INTO GEAR ROLLING DOWN A 25' EMBANKMENT AND STRIKING A TREE AT THE BOTTOM. UPON A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER AS THEY HAD CONDUCTED 2 SAFETY RECALLS IN THE WEEKS PREVIOUS, ONE OF WHICH INVOLVED WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS INFORMED BY THE LOCAL DEALER THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP A VEHICLE FROM GOING INTO GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE DEPRESSED HAD FAILED AND THAT THE RECALLS THEY HAD CONDUCTED DID NOT INVOLVE THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM. I WAS ADVISED BY THE LOCAL DEALER TO CONTACT FIAT CHRYSLER (FCA). FCA SENT OUT A SAFETY INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. ON 6-7-2016 MARIA PADEA WITH A 3RD PARTY INSPECTION FIRM HIRED BY FCA INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER. I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BE PRESENT DURING THE INSPECTION. ON JUNE 15, 2016 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FCA STATING "..WE ARE NOT LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING RESPONSIBILITY" AND "...THEREFORE WE MUST RESPECTFULLY DECLINE ANY ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT. UPON RECEIVING THE LETTER, I CONTACTED FCA AND REQUESTED A COPY OF THE INSPECTION REPORT. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL ON 07-11-2016 STATING "THE INSPECTION REPORT AND DOCUMENTATION YOU HAVE REQUESTED ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY. AS SUCH, WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THEM. SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT OUR HANDLING, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENGAGE YOUR OWN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER.

VEHICLE CAN BE PLACED INTO DRIVE WITHOUT HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER "FIXED IT" ONCE AND THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN FOURTH GEAR. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD SOMETIMES ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

THERE APPEARS TO BE TWO POSSIBLY RELATED ISSUES WITH REGARD TO THE POWERTRAIN. THE FIRST ISSUE IS SOME SORT OF BACKLASH IN THE DRIVE TRAIN WHEN ACCELERATING TO 30-35 MPH AND THEN LETTING OFF THE GAS. THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO SHIFT GEARS BEFORE THE TORQUE CONVERTER UNLOCKS. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LAG IN RESPONSE BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE PEDAL BOTH IN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ISSUE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. BOTH OF THESE RELATE TO THE BCM AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT SOLVED THIS ISSUE. *TR

DEAD PEDAL FROM COMPLETE STOP, DEAD PEDAL OFF AND ON THE THROTTLE. SAFETY HAZARD!! *TR