Well, I will be purchasing a Cummins in about 3 weeks. I was told by a not so informative source, that 04 cummins have auto tranny issues.

If so, what are the issues... and are the 05 and up trannys different than the 04 trannys?

Also, any recommendations on my purchase would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

welcome to DTR!

For quick answer to your questions do a search for threads on this discussion as there are many. You will likely find answers to any or all questions you have. It all depends on what you plan to do with your truck. The auto trannys are fine for stock applications I have found. Just my 0.02 cents

 

The 48RE automatic transmission is arguably the most trouble free among the big 3 American truck makers. It is not as sophisticated as the Allison or Torqueshift trannies......but less trouble prone.

With stock horsepower it is fine. If you want to add big power you need to upgrade. But then again, if you had a ferd or a chebbie you would have to do that anyway.


The info about the Dodge auto trannies being bad is from years ago and the belief by some that they are bad just won't die.

Don't worry about buying your new truck because of the transmission.

 

Researching is all I have been doing the past month. I was just wanting an opinion first hand. So thanks for the people who have responded.

My plans as of now are just exhaust intake. I already have another turbo dodge that I plan on putting my money in. LOL The cummins will be my daily driver and will tow my neon to the track.

If there is anymore opinions out there, I'd love to hear them.

 

Well, I have a 4.5 with the 48RE and it has been a pleasure. No problems at all to date.

 

If you stay stock, you should be fine. Upgrades??? We all say that were not going to do anything but drive it when we first buy it. Watch out, it's addicting... As far as your transmission, I just built mine and with just over 11k miles the thrust washers were wasted and had to be replaced. (NOTE: My power additions have only been on the truck for 4 months. Not enough time to do that kind of damage.) My truck is an 05 and I have seen other 05 and even an 06's in the same condition. (The 06 was ok, but it only had 3k miles on it. The earlier trucks that I've seen have been in better condition. Would this have caused a problem, maybe not? They have oiling issues that are the cause. DC or whoever, builds the transmissions use very loose standards in comparison to the Performance guys, That's why it may not have shown up for quite awhile. At least until it was out of warranty.
Good luck just adding the exhaust and staying happy with that.