This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact rented a 2016 Ram 1500. While the vehicle was parked, the gear shifted out of park and into drive inadvertently. As a result, the contact jumped in the vehicle and depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000. The VIN was unavailable.
On Sunday, August 20, 2017, my 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck was parked with the engine running in a boat ramp with my boat trailer attached and backed into the water next to the dock. The emergency brake was not on. I exited the vehicle, walked down the boat dock, stepped to the back of my boat, walked to the front of the boat, climbed down to the tongue of the trailer, pulled out the strap and attached it to my boat, began to crank the boat to the front of the trailer, when suddenly the truck started rolling backward into the water. By the time I could jump from the tongue of the trailer, climb on the dock, dive into the front passenger window, crawl across to the drivers seat and try to stop and start the truck, it was too late. The truck would not start and I could not stop it because it was beginning to float. The vehicle rolled backwards into the lake, despite being in park. The electronic transmission must have moved from park to neutral or reverse to allow the vehicle to roll backwards. The entire vehicle nearly submerged. All of the windows were opened and the vehicle filled with water to within approximately one foot from the ceiling of the cab. When the vehicle and trailer were towed out of the water, the vehicle was stuck in park and could not be put into neutral. It was dragged in park for about 50 yards to clear it from the busy boat ramp. The manistee county sheriff complaint # for this accident is: 151-1628-17. Pictures are attached. Aaa insurance has declared the truck a total loss.
Unpredictable and sometime violent downshifting causing momentary loss of control of the vehicle when driving in wet, slippery conditions. This has occurred on several occasions while driving through rain storms. The vehicle started to exhibit erratic shifting behavior at ~5,000 miles and has gotten progressively worse to a point that the transmission unpredictable shifting occurs in all conditions. The impact of the shifts is severe enough that it is being transmitted through the driver's seat creating extreme discomfort and pain to the lower back. A 'service shifter' message is also being displayed. The vehicle was taken in to the dealership. The dealership stated that they don't know why the 'service shifter' message is coming on because no trouble codes are showing; they re-flashed the cpu to see if would correct the erratic and unpredictable shifting, it is not working, in fact it has gotten worse. The dealership also stated that the vehicle may have a defective driveshaft which may be contributing to the harsh shifting, they have one order.
We have the knob shifter and when he stopped he put it in park (left engine running) he walked behind truck and into store and picked out what he needed and then while he was paying the teller noticed his trucked started moving in reverse so my son ran out to get in truck to stop it but was to late it his a pole which and shattered the window of gas station, I reported it to fca and they inspected it and said no problem but I have video and witness that states it was a couple minutes before it started moving. I have called Mr. Kon (fca) 586-274-8162 but he has not returned any of my call which leads me to believe they are hiding something. I did do some research and noticed this is a problem
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. After the contact's wife parked the vehicle, it rolled out of the driveway and crashed into another vehicle parked inside the neighbor's garage. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was in park and the key was in the ignition while the engine was running. The contact's spouse injured her right wrist and left knee while attempting to stop the vehicle. Medical attention was received. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to demontrond Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (888 interstate 45 S, conroe, tx 77304 (281) 528-1700) and was awaiting a diagnosis. The manufacturer stated that they would send investigators to determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,837.
- Conroe, TX, USA
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The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. While the vehicle was in the park position, without the parking brake engaged, the contact exited the vehicle with the engine running. The contact inspected the vehicle while towing a boat out of the water and noticed that the vehicle was rolling down the boat ramp into the water. The contact re-entered the vehicle and shifted the vehicle out of park into drive, but the vehicle continued to roll backwards. The contact mentioned that his children were in the cab of the vehicle, but they were able to exit the vehicle without injuries. The vehicle was towed out of the water and then towed to a lot where it was awaiting inspection by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact inquired about the status of NHTSA investigation: PE-16-014 and was informed that it was still an open investigation. The failure mileage was 17,800.
Coming home from work on January 5, 2017, I pulled my 2016 Ram 1500 pickup part way into my garage, turned the rotary shifter to park and exited the vehicle to make sure that I had a clear path of travel to fully pull the vehicle in the garage. My driveway is an upslope and a portion of the truck was still in the driveway. After I exited the vehicle it began to move backward. The vehicle's door threw me to the ground and swept my legs under the truck.the front left tire ran over both of my legs. The truck continued down our driveway, across the street, through our neighbor's fence and only stopped when it hit a tree in their front yard. My family rushed me to our local hospital emergency room and was I was admitted into that hospital the following morning.
I have a 2016 Ram 1500 eco diesel. Truck now has 16K on it and have had it since new 08/05/16. Truck went to the dealer at its first service 7,138 and fluid leak. Transmission was repaired for a leak at the transfer tubes between heat exchanger and transmission case 09/25/2016. Truck went in for service 14,381 and again transmission leak needed to be fixed. Transmission pan gasket drain plug and fluid replaced 02/01/17. Truck in now at 16,235 05/31/2017 and is going in again for a transmission leak.
The transmission shift knob has failed to keep vehicle in park on at least two occasions. In addition, it is placed too close to the A/C fan control knob. On the first occasion, I placed the vehicle in park from drive, and as I removed my foot from the brake after it was in park, the transmission moved back to drive. Luckily, my foot was still hovering over the brake and I was able to stop the truck. On the second occasion, as I was placing the transmission into park from drive, I placed it into park, heard the transmission disengage, and simultaneously removed my foot from the brake. Again, it jumped back into drive, but my foot was still on the brake and I was able to stop the vehicle. One thing to add concerning the placement as too close to the A/C fan control, I actually reached over as turning to open my door and turned the A/C fan to the left (off) which is the same direction as placing the transmission into park from drive. It didn't feel right and I looked and realized I was controlling the A/C.
I experienced a 'roll away' event after putting the vehicle in park via the gear knob selector while the engine was running. After engaging the vehicle in park, opening the driver's door and stepping outside the vehicle, it rolled forward crashing into another vehicle some 30 feet ahead. The initial position of the vehicle was outside a large commercial garage. When the vehicle became disengaged from park, it rolled forward through the garage doors and into the garage space until crashing into another vehicle (parked). After realizing the vehicle had dropped out of park and was moving forward, I tried to jump back into the cab to apply the brakes. I was unable to fully catch up to the truck, slipped on the running board/rail and slid underneath the moving vehicle -- injuring my ankle and shin. Fortunately, the Ram was stopped just before running over my legs by the parked vehicle ahead. I have security surveillance video of the incident. I have substantial damage to the vehicle's front chrome bumper from the crash and now have little confidence that the truck is safe to operate. It sits virtually unused since the incident. I was hoping to get clarity, assurance, along with a safety fix and body repair from the manufacturer so that I could feel confident in driving it again. I have contacted fca and opening a formal case on this incident. Their written response was to quote the owner's manual and indicate the park is only a supplement to the parking break. This response is unsafe, impractical and unacceptable.
I parked truck on an inclined area; rear approximately 10" higher than front; I exited vehicle & began to unload cargo from rear of vehicle; the truck suddenly rolled forward about 10-12". I opened drivers door and verified that transmission control was indeed in "park"; it was. I also noted that as it rolled forward it did so in rythmic manner; two beats; as though the engine had turned over/ rolled over. It has not repeated this malfunction but then again, I haven't parked on an incline like that since the occurance (March 2017; 10,500 miles on odometer; 5.7 V8)
With engine running in my driveway. I put it he truck in park got out of the vehicle and the vehicle started moving forward, running into my garage door I took it to the dealer. The dealer said they saw a problem and would not release the truck until Chrysler investigate it. They had the truck for a month while they investigate it. I was told by Chrysler they could not find anything wrong. However they did do a software update for the transmission. This was all within the first month that I had the vehicle (brand-new ).
At approximately 4700 miles the vehicle began to harshly shift from 2nd gear to 1st gear when slowing to a stop, in slow moving traffic or pulling in to a parking space. The vehicle will lunge forward when this occurs feeling as the vehicle was tapped from behind. The vehicle was returned for service at the original selling dealer who acknowledged the problem and proceeded to perform a "quick learn" procedure which re-calibrates the transmission shift patterns. Upon driving the vehicle after this service noticed it did not resolve the issue. Scheduled another appointment where the dealer replaced the transmission valve body and controller. After driving the vehicle for 3 weeks the issue returned. The Ram factory representative coordinated for the truck to be dropped off at the dealership so he could see the problem. I provided detailed information of exactly when the problem occurred and specifically that the transmission needed to be above 170 degrees. This information was ignored and the rep didn't see the problem. After 6 months of dealing with the issue contacted Ram corporate and was informed that the dealer never followed up with request from the engineers if their service repaired the problem. Was instructed to take the vehicle to another dealer under an escalated case. To summarize the rest the vehicle has been to the dealer several more times, had firmware flashes and said they have no other repair options, the latest is Ram had another representative drive the vehicle once again ignoring the circumstances of when the issues occurs and says that harsh shifting is inerrant once the vehicle breaks in at 5 - 6 thousand miles even though they couldn't give me an explanation of how they were describing "harsh shifting". Ram closed the case saying they had no further repairs for the vehicle because the factory representative says it is acceptable.
Location - fairbanks, Alaska. Time - 5pm on 11/25/2016 the vehicle was driven 50 ft around the corner of the building into a parking lot on flat ground, brought to a complete stop pointed in the direction of a slight incline, the dial shifter was then turned to the left to select park at which time the driver exited the vehicle. Immediately after stepping out of the vehicle and before the driver could even close the door the vehicle started to creep forward. Due to the slick conditions in the parking lot the driver was unable to catch up with the vehicle right away. As a result the vehicle traveled approximately 10 ft before making contact with another vehicle in the parking lot as the driver reentered the vehicle and brought it to a stop again. No one was hurt and only minor cosmetic damage was caused to the two vehicles. Further inspection of the Ram 1500 by the dealer showed ice buildup around the park release preventing it from working properly.
While vehicle was idling in park it began to roll backwards down my driveway with my wife in passenger seat. I had to run after it and as soon as I opened driver door it came to a full stop. Vehicle was in 4 wheel drive mode at the time. Again vehicle was in park!
My truck rolled back about 6 ft in my drive way while it was parked about 20 minutes after getting out the truck. I moved the truck back and about 20 minutes later it rolled back 4 ft. I then moved it again and put the parking break on with no movement my driveway has a small incline around 3-4%.
I had received this Dodge Ram as a rental while my truck was getting body work done. Before I picked up my son at school I stopped at my house to empty out some work tools to make room for him. I put the truck in park with the rotary dial on a slight incline on my laneway I shut the truck off and walked towards my front door. As I walked away from the truck I heard the snow compressing behind me. I turned around and seen the truck rolling backwards down my laneway. My reaction was to chase the truck thinking I must have forgot to put it in park. I caught up with the truck threw the door open and jumped in. I put the brake on and noticed it was in park. I turned the truck on and drove it back up the laneway. I then tried to put it in park again and let my foot off the brake. It rolled back again so I drove it forward again and tried park again with no response from the transmission and it rolled back again. I then turned the truck around and backed up the laneway and put it in park and let off the brake. The truck then engaged in park but would then chug its way down the laneway but in a slower manner. After picking up my boy at school I parked my truck in my shop and went in the house. After half an hour my adrenaline wore off and my hand, wrist and arm started to hurt. I went to the hospital and received X-rays, I ended up tearing my limb muscles from opening the door handle and jumping into the truck. I called the rental company to let them know and demanded a different vehicle. I do have pictures of the registration from the rental company and my doctors notes on my phone but I am having difficulties uploading them to my computer right now.
Vehicle was backed into a residential garage. Started vehicle and pulled forward out of garage. Placed vehicle in park and exited the vehicle with the engine running. Upon exiting, vehicle began traveling in reverse and traveled backwards into the garage hitting another vehicle and the garage wall. Have owned the vehicle for 8.5 months and approx. 21,000 miles and is very familiar with the "rotary shifter". have noticed a few other occasions that the transmission was placed in park and an onscreen warning came up "vehicle not in park". 17 days prior to this accident the vehicle was placed in park and when the owner exited the vehicle and came to the rear, he noticed the reverse lights were on however the vehicle did not move due the incline it was parked on. I believe the rotary shifter for the transmission is faulty.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Palmer, AK, USA