I checked the NHTSA website and a recall has been issued on the 2003 to 2005 Dodge 2500 and 3500 pickups with the diesel engine and automatic transmission. Although DDC is still trying to blame the operator for not setting the "parking" brake ( strange, is that what Park is for on the tranny?) they are going to fix the trannys by installing different software. I have included the links to the documents.



1. RCDNN-05V462-9083.PDF -- Defect and Noncompliance Notice(Part 573) ( 391.48 KB)

2. RCAK-05V462-2403.PDF -- Recall Acknowledgement ( 62.31 KB)

So for everyone who has been told there is nothing wrong, there is some justice after all.

 

I think the fix for that recall is like the New 06 models..

If you open the door with the engine running and the parking brake is not applied and the transmission is in reverse then the lights will flash and the horn will sound.. (just like if the alarm goes off)...

Still claiming Operator error and this is a warning system to fix the operator..

I just had my truck services and had the door seals done.. I tild the service advisor that I did not want that recall fix done to my truck!!!!!

Gerry

 

typical isn't it!!

DDC will never admit faulty design, but their "warning system" proves otherwise. Again, the park function of the tranny is supposed to keep the vehicle PARKED!!!!!! Not the EMERGENCY brake. Just ask any mechanic that has been around for a number of years.

Don

 

BUT BUT thats NOT the problem.I've known several including a close friend that the auto shifter/linkage got really goofy over time.(3gs)His won't always go all the way INTO park,hangs up and just plain felt strange.He fiddled with and made some adjustments but its not 100% correct and he dosen't trust it to be in park etc.

 

I've had trouble getting mine out park on numerous occasions. I've also thought I put it in drive or reverse then give it some fuel only to rev up the motor & not move. Now I know I'm not losing my mind. 2005 DRW build date 9/11/04

 

Nope others out there doing the same and more.THATS the problem not that they need a ding dong chime.They need a REPAIR.I've tried NUMEROUS times to get the ones I know are scrwed up to call D.C. etc.to open a file but they never do.

 

happen to me to,,i thought it was my fault untill i read these threads,,left the truck running to warm it up on a cold morning,,walked around the back of the truck and the backup light were on,,because of some trouble i had getting ths dome lights to go off when i first got the truck i thought it was just a glitch cause the truck wasn"t moving,,,went into the house,,acouple of minutes later i came back out to see it going across the yard headed for the woods picking up speed cause the yard is slightly down hill,,but the driveway is level,,never caught up to it cause i pulled a muscle in my leg from the great speed i attained in a short distant,,i got lucky it hit a small tree with some give to it,,only had to replace the back bumper,,could have been alot worse,,. after reading these threads i went out and started it up on a cold morning, put it into reverse and it move right away,,so now i know it wasn"t my fault. p.s. i have never in my life used the emergencie brake on level land,,,on a incline i do,,and have never had this kind of problem before i got this truck,,,they have been making trannys for what,,90 years,,u would think they would get better not worse

 

While this is a problem I do have to disagree with one point that plnmkr stated:

As a technician I totally disagree with this statement. If anyone has ever rebuilt an automatic tranny they would likely always use their PARK brake (not an emergency brake, it can be used in an emergency but is more commonly used for parking purposes, owners manuals almost always call it a park brake as well). Why...ever seen what a park pawl, or park pin actually looks like? It is usually a puny little pin or lever sometimes even made out of aluminum that engages a cog or similar device to hold the internal gears stationary. I don't know about you guys but I don't trust the weight of my7500lb truck on an incline to be held by a device this small. The park brake is designed to be applied before the service brake is released to take the weight off the park pawl so that failure is less likely and stresses on the park pawl/pin mechanism are not as extreme. It can also be used in an emergency to slow down a vehicle in the event of service brake failure....but I don't think I want to have to experiment with this one. I definitely agree with the fact that a vehicle should not roll off on its own or engage reverse while it is supposed to be in park, but at the same time don't discredit the importance of the Park brake in the grand picture. I would urge everyone with an automatic to get in the practice of applying park brake before letting of the normal brake to save wear and tear on their park pawl/pin assemblies as well as regular use of the park brake will also prevent cables and mechanisms from seizing which can lead to park brakes being stuck on if the are used infrequently. Those who own manual trannys use the park brake all the time, I suggest making it a habit with an auto as well.

You said, So I am giving you my honest opinion as an answer.

Hopefully Dodge does come up with a decent fix for this problem, but in the mean time just make sure to use the park brake as well.

 

Lets look at the "Real world" here. Look at how many years vehicles have been on the road. Look at how many drivers are out there, and were out there. Lets do a "realistic" poll and see over a Hundred years of driving, How many people have actually used the Emergency brake or park brake, or whatever you want to call it, on a daily basis after they put their vehicle in park. On a manual I can see, But an automatic on level ground?? Lets be realistic.

This is a Dumb, Stupid, dangerous problem that everybody knows a Billion dollar Auto company is surley aware of, but doesnt want to admit the fact and eat a few hundred thousand dollars on a saftey recall.

D/C and techs can sugar coat it, and come up with excuses till they turn blue, but when it comes down to it, it's still a dangerous problem and prompt action should still be taken.

I'm not a certified mechanic, but after tooling around and racing cars since I was 16, I would say I know my way around a vehicle. In an honest, everyday situation, I would bet that these same people that step up to say, "use the park brake" dont even do it them selves!! The same "tech" at D/C that tells you to "make sure you use the E-brake" I bet when he pulls up to work in his automatic Dodge Status, he doesn't put his on....

This is a real world scenario, to the number of average Joe's, everyday drivers, compared to the Mechanics and techs out there, we by far out number them. The everyday driver, should not have to think and have the knowledge of a tech when driving or parking their vehicle, just to be safe. If this was the case, than we all should be tested about knowledge of our vehicles before were allowed to purchase them.

Ive only had my truck since June, and MAN, I'm astonished on how much D/C and others come up with soooooo many excuses for covering their butts for these common and frequent problems!!!

NY state has a law that says that the operator of a vehicle is supposed to actually exit his vehicle out of the passenger side when parked on a street. It's a law, but in the "real world", how many people do you know that actually do this??

 

Kinda like signal lights....they are put there for a reason but 'realistically' how many people use them? The horn on the other hand appears to be essential as it gets used a lot!


I know what you are saying but if you ever get the chance to go into a shop when they have a tranny apart ask to see what the park pawl looks like and decide for yourself if you really trust this item to keep you 7500lb, $40000+ truck parked on a slope? I for one don't...but wait...on the other hand I don't personally like auto's and bought a 6spd instead (personal opinion, not saying anything about anyone who does buy auto's). I have owned many auto trans trucks and have used the park brake on every auto vehicle I own and drive. Did you also know that on many vehicles the park brake is also what adjusts the rear drum brakes to compensate for wear on the shoes (not all vehicles, but most imports for sure). If the park brake is not used the result is also a soft brake pedal due to unadjusted rear brake shoes. There is a reason to use it on auto trannys as well, whether it is to assist in parking, keep cables from seizing or to adjust rear brakes on some cars...I still recommed using it whether there are those that think there is a realistic factor or not. To those who think it is not 'realistic' I suggest to prevent your truck from rolling away or not...use the park brake. I agree this is not a fix for the real problem and DC should come up with a proper fix for this serious issue...but the park brake will at least help prevent it from happening for now.


Nobody said the average driver should have to think or have the knowledge of a tech, but they do have to think. The owners manual does explain the proper operation of the park brake. Likewise I have already listed the reasons why to use it...but if the average driver does not want to take the advice of a tech then I guess there isn't much you can say or do to change their minds and 100 years of ignorance will make up for those who think they know better.

Again this is not to say there is not a serious issue with these auto tranny's and DC definitly should try and fix the real problem so that it doesn't happen in the first place.

 

I USE the park brake on everthing I drive.Habit.Same deal with trurn signals even in the middle of nothing on rural roads.its habit.More then i can say for LOTS of drivers.

 

My brother has an '06 on order. He phoned the dealer today to see if his truck will have the "alarm" system on it(he wants to disconect it). They told him that none of their '06 trucks on the lot have the alarm feature. (I said- what do you expect them to tell you??)

 

It happened to me twice. The first time I was moving two horses for my niece from central IL to central WI, We stopped to grab a bite and streach. I set the park brake out of habbit ( just like using the signals ) and to hold the truck still in case the horses started to kick around in the trailer. While she want in for food I did a walkaround to check lights tires etc. Now this was at night so any lights on where noticed real easy. I walked down the right side of the truck and then behind it to check the hitch etc. Then checked the horses and gave them some hay and such. I came around the back left of the trailer and BAM I see the BU lights come on! So I jog up to the open door and see that it is for fact in R! Now it aint so bad that I was behind the truck and trailer twice, But there was a river about 50ft behind the trailer. So three things could of drowned that night. The other time was in my driveway while warming up. So now no one drives my truck but me.

Kenny.

 

All the trucks on the lot are 6 speeds..

Vehicles got that shift interlock crap thing (auto's anyway) because of the runaway Audi's. Wait a couple years you'll see all vehicles with this alarm feature.

 

Wow, Ime glad i got the 6 speed. I had no idea this was as far spread of a problem as it apears to be. My wife cant drive my 6 speed and i guess she wouldent be alowed to drive it if it where an auto. Chalk anouther Darwin award up to DC. They dont have bad injectors or tranies that go into revers. Its all our fault. I just cant see myself ever buying anouther new vehicle from DC if this is the type of crap they want to pull.