On my `02, i dont need to apply the brake to shift out of park into any gear. nor do i need to apply the brake to switch from neutral to reverse. is there any reason to believe that my truck could come out of park while it is parked? I can only do this when the truck is on, but i dont want to chance it shifting when i'm not around..

 

I don't know if is safe or not, but my truck does the exact same thing if that helps at all.

 

I don't think any truck has an intertlock switch to require applying the brake to shift gears.
It is just natural to do so.
My dad always put his cars right in drive from reverse before completely stopping.
The Dodge tranny doesn't like this and would prefer you come to a complete stop before shifting gears.
With an interlock switch, the Neutral Drop would never have been invented.......

 

what were talking about is your sitting in a parking lot with the truck running, you bump the shifter lever and it will go into reverse or drive without pressing the brake peddle. I thought mine was the only one that did that also. Scared the heck out of me when I found out it would do that. I used to let the kids play in the truck while it warmed up on camping trips. Never again unless I get that fixed.

 

My '99 works the same way.
I happen to prefer this to the "have to step on the brake before shifting" that my Chebby work truck requires.
I guess Dodge gives us a little more credit for 'smarts' than some other manufacturers.

I made my kids a deal, I don't play in their sandbox, My kids don't play in my truck.

 

That is normal, they were built like that. Dodge added an interlock to some vehicles as a recall, but I don't think it ever involved the trucks.

 

My son loves to be behind the wheel of the truck(check my photos) but I never let him in there if the diesel is runing. Yes my truck does the same thing and I don't mind mind. Operate your truck, don't let it operate you , I say..