8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,960
Average Mileage:
104,450 miles
Total Complaints:
30 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. having a new transmission put in it (14 reports)
  2. not sure (7 reports)
  3. rebuild (7 reports)
  4. replace the transmission (1 reports)
  5. torque converter electronics damaged, had the unit rebuilt (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Dodge dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #10

Aug 292007

(reported on)

Ram 1500 318

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

started getting this problem in nc, took to dodge dealer and thay said trans is bad. took to trans repar shop had looked at and flushed he couldn't find anything wrong. still moves still driving still slips and dosen't down shift all the time. Bot a code reader and erasser to reset the computer when ever trans acks up seems to work so far truck has 155000 on the trans now had two dealers say to replace it. but why not let it stop moving first.

- Jonathon I., Goodhue, MN, US

problem #9

Sep 052007

(reported on)

Ram 1500 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

I bought this truck used in 2002, and it only had 35k miles on it. The original owner used the truck to haul equipment and trailers, and the transmission had a factory defect, and was replaced by the original owner. Around 78k miles the transmission went again, I think it may have been self-inflicted. My 4 wheel drive U-joint assembly broke, which made a winter snowstorm a living hell in 2006 in Colorado. I had been rocking the truck back and fourth, to attempt to remove it from large snow drifts and ice, by going forward and reverse. Which is what may have damaged the trucks second transmission. Eventually the reverse gear in the truck went out completely and had absolutely no function, then after that the gears between 1st and 2nd started slipping. After repairs were done, the check engine light has always been on. Getting that looked into.

- Jjoseph S., Aurora, CO, US

problem #8

Aug 022007

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

This vehicle carried an extended warranty and factory dealer maintenance agreement on it. It belonged to my son who took it in religiously for servicing.

With no warning the transmission stopped operating the first time at about 85,000 miles, the dealership would not fix it, under warranty, nor even explain that there was a problem with the transmissions in these trucks.

He took it to AAMCO and paid $2700.00 to rebuild it far less than the dealership wanted, and it lasted for one month past the warranty by AAmco and went out again. This truck only has 144,000 miles on it. Not wanting to drop another $2,700.00 into it my son parked it in front of my house and went out and bought a new truck. He told me to fix this one and sell it :)) yeah right, well it still runs and drives for a short distance but the transmission appears to be heating up and not shifting out of the lower gear range.

After finding this site I learned that many others are having similar problems with this vehicle, Does anybody know if Dodge has come out with a suitable replacement transmission that would last longer and fit this model. ?

I will certainly not be rushing out to buy a Dodge in the future. Too bad too because other than that it is a good truck.

- Tom W., Lafayette, CA, US

problem #7

Mar 052007

(reported on)

Ram 1500 SLT 318

  • Manual transmission
  • 167,000 miles

hop in and no reverse. all to familiar, this porcelan toilet is going to cost the just built tranny in my 97 ram plus a tranny cooler plus a different converter plus labor to install!!! im switching to chevy piss on dodge!!!

- tdavid, Salamanca, NY, US

problem #6

Feb 152007

(reported on)

Ram 1500 SLT 5.9

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles

We purchsed the truck new in 2000. It still looks new and has only 58000 miles on it. The truck stalled in traffic. It would run but would not move. We had to have it towed to shop and have transmission rebuilt. There had been no previous incident or warning that there was a problem. We will not buy another Dodge due to the dash problems and the brake problems as well as the transmission.

- Linda T., Catoosa, OK, US

problem #5

Feb 132007

(reported on)

Ram 1500 Sport 5.2 V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 129,000 miles

Although my transmission had 129,000 miles on it, it began slipping pretty bad. My mechanic had to replace a lot of parts like the pump, overdrive, overdrive clutch plate, etc. It was a pretty expensive fix.

- J B., San Clemente, CA, US

problem #4

Dec 052006

(reported on)

Ram 1500 Sport 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

I have a 1999 dodge ram after buying it off of a private seller with 42000 miles at the time, within 1000 miles the transmission went, 500 miles after that it went again, then another 2000 miles again, and now at 72000 its gone again. If dodge doesn't think they have a problem look at this, I am going to sell this truck when it is fixed, and I will never buy another dodge, nor will anyone I know. big problem if you ask me

- snowzbiz, West Sunbury, PA, US

problem #3

Feb 062006

(reported on)

Ram 1500

  • 112,000 miles

Dodge knows they have a problem with very lousy transmissions.I dont understand why they dont start using a better quality one!One thing I found out that I didnt know until it was too late is always check your transmission fluid in neutral on Dodge products because the fluid doesnt circulate in park.This is an easy fix for Dodge if they would!

- ctje, Walnut Grove, MO, US

problem #2

Nov 062004

(reported on)

Ram 1500 SLE

  • 70,000 miles

Bought truck last Sept with dealer/carfax 65k verfied original miles. True I have no idea what the previous owner did with it but it had no in-bed hitch, ball mount hole in bumper never had a ball in it, no signs of a receiver hitch. Came home one afternoon (2 weeks before xmas last year), put it in reverse and nothing. It wouldn't move, made no noises, never gave a sign something was amiss before this, just suddenly nothing. That's all I needed 2 weeks before xmas was a $1500 transmission bill. IT SUCKS!!!!!!!! The rebuild tech said a reverse gear snap ring had come loose and went through the transmission destroying stuff as it went. Said there was a piece of it that somehow had actually gotten into the pan. Said he'd never seen one do this before. Imagine that. Been a good truck so far but the trans. SUCKS and I can assume anyone Chrysler has more money then your truely yet I had to suck it up and buy the rebuild. No didn't call Chrysler. In 02 I bought a new ram quad that had several issue, in the shop 8 times in 8 months, and never got it fixed with a 10 year/100,000 warranty so I dumped it for this 99 model. They wouldn't fix the 02...... why would they fix the 99 with 65k on it!?!

- Mike S., Millington, TN, US

problem #1

Apr 242004

(reported on)

Ram 1500 Sport

  • 71,000 miles

The transmission in my truck went out at 71,000 miles. This truck has been babied, serviced when it should have and everything. Dodge will do nothing about it, and they know they have problems with these transmissions. I was pulling my boat on a fishing trip when it went out on me 2.5 hrs away from home. I had to have another truck brought to me so I could get to my destination. Now I have to go back and trailer the truck home. I think there should be a class action law suit against them because of these transmissions!!

- Doug T., Mountain Home, AR, US