Six problems related to automatic transmission gear indicator have been reported for the 2005 Dodge Ram 2500. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
On certain pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines and automatic transmissions, in an attempt to exit the vehicle quickly without shutting off the engine and removing the key, the driver may inadvertently leave the automatic transmission shift control in indicated reverse. Consequence: this error is an unintended action that may result in a lack of transmission park pawl engagement and possibly delayed rearward movement of the vehicle. Remedy: dealers will perform a software modification to equip these vehicles with an out-of-park alarm. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Dodge is saving a bundle of money by going this route. . . . . Instead of fixing that slippery indent between park and reverse selector positions we have to live with a horn blowing. I sometimes need to open my door while backing up. Now I have to listen to a horn blowing as well as my neighbors. Tell Chrysler there are putting a band aid over an open would that needs stitching.
Vehicle was recalled to remedy failure to go into park. Mfr's. Solution was to make the horn blow if the truck wasn't firmly in park. This was never explained to me, and I thought the horn blowing was an electrical problem in the steering column. If the dealer doesn't take the time to explain the so-called fix to the vehicle owner, it's a useless exercise. As far as the horn warning goes, this is only a band-aid on a serious problem. The hazard still exists.
On April 30, 2006, while parking my camper in my driveway I shifted the transmission in to (park); set the emergency brake; left the engine running; got out of the truck to go set a chock on the camper tires and left the door open (note that I have had the recall work performed which activates the alarm should the door be open, the engine running, and the transmission engaged in reverse). It took me approximately four to five seconds to get to the passenger side of the camper to set the chocks when the alarm activated indicating that the transmission had slipped into reverse. Therefore; not only did the transmission fail to properly stay engaged in the park position but the alarm feature also failed to warn me when I got out of the truck. Let me elaborate on exactly how the problem was identified and continues to occur with my specific truck: first of all; it doesn't happen every time but when it does happen; the position indicator (the square marquee that encircles the current gear position) is not illuminated around any gear position, prndl, but specifically not around park or reverse. As the operator, I have to make a very deliberate action to push the shift lever in to the park position and visually confirm that in fact the transmission is in park, as indicated by the marquee. However, given the situation I mentioned above while parking my camper ã‚ I am not convinced that the transmission will stay in the park position. Dccã‚s solution of installing an alarm to warn you of dangerous situation; does not remedy the problem. And, as I mentioned above, this alarm doesn't always work either. Dcc needs to immediately find a solution to their design defect before someone else is either injured or killed.
The contact stated when putting vehicle in the park position the selector will indicate park, but must be careful because sometimes it will say that it was in park but actually it will be in another gear. This could result in an accident. While backing up he put the vehicle in park, got out of the vehicle, and vehicle started rolling and hit the garage door. He contacted the dealership and manufacturer. The vehicle is under warranty.
: the contact stated during hurricane katrina, the vehicle gear shift was placed in park near a levee with the engine running. Although, the vehicle was in park it rolled down a steep grade and into a nearby pond. The vehicle was submerged into 10 feet of water with the engine running. The contact exited the vehicle without any injuries. The police were not contacted. The vehicle was extracted from the pond by a towing service. The vehicle was inspected by an insurance agency; due to the water damage the vehicle was totaled.
: the contact stated while the vehicle's gear position indicator was in park the vehicle rolled backward. While standing outside of the vehicle with the engine running it rolled and hit a parked vehicle. Although the gear position indicator was in park, when the indicator was inspected after the incident, the position indicator was found in reverse. The police filed a report at the scene. However, no injuries were reported. The vehicle sustained damage to the bumper with additional property damage to the other vehicles. The vehicle was taken to the local dealership for inspection. The dealership could not duplicate the problem. The contact claimed wife was in the passenger's seat at the time of crash, but could not get to gear shift in time to stop vehicle. ,she had left arm in a sling due to rotator cuff surgery. The vehicle continued to have the problem of the gear shift jumping into reverse. The indicator definitely wa sin park momentarily before changing back to reverse. The contact's liability insurance paid for repairs to the other vehicle in clash , and the insurance premium increased as a result of the accident. Also, the contact enclosed a copy of the safety recall notice which he received from daimler/Chrysler. He felt damage to the vehicle has not been repaired , and he felt this was a Dodge problem.