2016 Ram 3500 Power Train

The contact owns a 2016 Ram 3500. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle with the brake pedal depressed, while attempting to shift into gear, the gear shifter handle fractured. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was contacted, and the part was replaced by the contact. The vehicle was later serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V821000 (Power Train). The contact indicated that an addendum card was to be given as part of the recall repair with instructions to drivers on how to shift gears when the brake pedal was depressed however, the card was not given. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer would supply the card. The failure mileage was 55,390.

TRUCK IS BURNING THROUGH A QUART AND HALF OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES IT APPEARS, BUT THERE ARE NO LEAKS UNDER THE VEHICLE OR ON THE OIL PAN. APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TURBO SEALS. THE TRUCK GIVE NO WARNING THAT THE OIL IS LOW WHILE DRIVING. WHEN LOW IT DOES NOT SHOW UP ON THE DIPSTICK AT ALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER DETACHED WHILE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V495000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN) AT TACOMA DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (4101 S. TACOMA WAY, TACOMA, WA 98409) HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS FAILED TO FIX OR PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,799.

WE HAVE SEVERAL RAM 3500 VEHICLES. ALL THE REAREND FAIL WAY BEYOND THE TIME THAT THEY SHOULD BE IN SERVICE. THESE UNITS FAIL WITH LESS THAN 200,000 MILES AND SHOULD GO WELL BEYOND THAT MILEAGE. I FEEL THESE UNITS HAVE A ON GOING ISSUES THAT THE MFG KNOWS ABOUT BUT FAILS TO DO A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUES. THESE SAME ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED IN OUR 2012, 2014 AND 2016 MODELS. THIS IS ALL A SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THESE REAR ENDS COME APART WHILE TOWING A LOAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT INDEPEDENTLY SHIFTED FROM THE PARK POSITION TO THE DRIVE POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. THE DRIVER WAS DRAGGED UNTIL THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS ON THE BODY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DRIVER'S ERROR AND UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,180.

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP THE ENGINE HAS A 3 TO 4 SECOND LAG. NORMAL RESPONSE RESUMES AFTER THE INITIAL LAG. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN CONSISTANT THROUGHOUT 2016. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW. PRESENT MILEAGE IS 4500.

THE TRUCK WAS LOADED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,400 POUNDS OF HAY IN THE BED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE TOWARD THE REAR. IT WAS PLACED INTO PARK AS WITNESSED BY THE 2 PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AS THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DOOR. A COUPLE OF SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS.