My husband purchased a used Dodge 1500 just before we married last year & has been having transmission problems, which began as a minor nuisance. Issue is the auto transmission won't shift out of the 1-2 gear without forcing (increasing rpms, then releasing, thus kicking the trans. to shift to the next higher gear). He even called the local dealership where the woman explained that this was a common issue with this year veh (2000), & that he had nothing to worry about trans. would never go out we just have to get used to living with this problem. That was this last spring. Last week truck will not shift out of first gear forcing us to purchase new transmission, & leaving us no transportation for a month/longer.

I have read several blogs, forums, etc. re this auto transmission shifting problem where owners have replaced trans. (most times replaced several times) & continue to have the same exact problem. It's been 15 yrs since this issue began & continues to this day in current models. My knowledge of this field is limited and I am left wondering why this issue does not have a resolution. Is this in fact a scam to keep dodge customers spending their hard earned money, thus keeping manufacturer, dealerships, etc. in business . . . .?

I enter this complaint in the hopes that others reading this can help them to think outside the box, & hopefully bring about a resolution. My husband & I are retired & cannot afford being without a veh nor the cost of cont. repair/replacement. So I can only pray that help will come soon cause we are presently without a veh.

Any suggestions etc. are welcome...

Update from Nov 10, 2015: Well my husband replaced transmission with a used one on 9/25/15. On 21st of Oct. went hunting & transmission over heated going up a 2 mile stretch of road hauling an empty flatbed trailer. Ever since that day truck is randomly having same shifting problems as before. Yesterday (Nov. 9, 2015) my husband was left stranded 10 miles from home with all lights on dash alit & engine would not start!! He had to get a tow home! Anyone out there found a resolution to this problem? ..... your input would greatly be appreciated:) - Thank You

The transmission went out on my truck and fixing it was a costly expense. I hope dodge has fixed the problem.Along with this huge problem, my dash caved in. I hope that no small child gets hurt with flying pcs. from the dash when and if the vechile is in a wreck. Its a shame that dodge owners have huge holes in the dash. I'm short, I don't see the dash when I'm sitting in the drivers seat, but when I'm on the passengers side this is all I see when I'm going down the road, getting more pissed as the trip grows longer. I'd be ashamed if I was dodge. Dodge needs to make this a safety recall before they are hit with a huge lawsuit .