8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,990
Average Mileage:
92,400 miles
Total Complaints:
37 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. rebuild transmission (20 reports)
  2. replace entire transmission (6 reports)
  3. not sure (4 reports)
  4. replace transmission (2 reports)
  5. oversize fluid pipe, ext fluid cooler (1 reports)
  6. replace solenoid (1 reports)
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #37

Mar 072013

Ram 1500 5.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Everything that follows in this post is purely "my Opinion." And, since (for a while at least) our opinions are protected by the constitution...all corporate lawyers can go be fruit-full and multiply.

I believe that Dodge designs their vehicles for failure. My 2001 Dodge truck is an endless stream of failures (by design). I have replaced: the engine, the transmission (three times and is now leaking from the front seal like a sieve), the rear-end, the heater core, the a/c condensor, and the ball joints. Not to mention the usual dodge interior that cracks like un-cooked pasta (it might actually be uncooked pasta). Huge POS.

Why am I being so MEAN and HATEFULL?

Because I've heard these companies stories about being better SO MANY TIMES. I vowed many years ago (after owning a 78 plymouth Horizon) that I would never purchase another Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth vehicle. Well, years passed and I thought that they might have changed.. So...I bought this truck.....what a mistake.

Wake up buyers. Dodge/Chrysler claims that they are changing (like they have since 1977)....But, Don't TRUST them.... they will NEVER change. Besides, they have such a poor rep now that they HAVE to screw their customers every few model years just to stay in business. Don't believe the automotive sections, in papers, claiming how "great," the new models are. Papers are unscrupulous ad-salesmen that cater to corporate thieves (because those thieves pay to place their lies in the paper).

Dear Corporate Rapists (of which Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth is the worst): It is a little difficult to be "Rah Rah buy American," when companies like you (Dodge) keep building JUNK. Dodge/Chrysler engineers/corporate officers should all be strung up by their testicles for what they do to their customers. I believe that Dodge engineers, as directed by their brain-damaged company officers, intentionally design engine oil passages too close to the combustion chamber (to cause oil sludging). I believe that Dodge will periodically/systematically engineer a "fairly reliable," vehicle to entice some people into buying it....so that they can engineer a Lemon later on in order to bilk the American people out of money for parts/repairs. Dodge....You should have NEVER been bailed out!

Toyota makes dependable Trucks. Nissan makes dependable trucks. Don't buy a Dodge....you will be pennyless from repairs in the end.

Oh....and for all you people who believe that it's "ok," that these companies continue to produce vehicles below the quality of foreign vehicles for sustainable sales. You are all retarded...and, Here's the proof that you are retarded:

Even though I am American... and have every reason (except for the lack of dependability) to support the American auto industry (and our economy)

...I currently own a Jaguar, a BMW Z4, a Honda Odyssey, a 66 Austin Healey, and two 66 Buicks....

For sale cheap ($2000.00) - One 2001 Dodge truck with a screwed up transmission)....I haven't received one call.

- flybyspam2002, Overland Park, KS, US

problem #36

Sep 012011

Ram 1500 LS 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,652 miles

Just feel Dodge knows about this problem and has done nothing

- Chuck L., Akron, OH, US

problem #35

Feb 082008

Ram 1500 5.9L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 117,140 miles

Here we go about my 2001 Dodge Laramie SLT 1500 4x4 !

Well I was on my way home about Mid way of town, when all of a sudden I heard a noise. started out like a power steering pump squalling and it kept getting Louder, and I knew that was no power steering pump, but coming from my transmission. got about half way up ,a hill and it stop pulling. I had just pulled enough ahead of a intersection so I coast backward on to the that street, and called a wrecker. Got it home wondering what and how we were going to handle this. Took it to reputable transmission shop where we had one worked on before, and they rebuilt the transmission and updated it. Updating got us a better warranty with more miles. Well I got to work some how then in a day are so they call me that the truck was done. Then we started having problems. It gave a solenoid value in the transmission, it coded several times. Had the transmission place to come and get it. They repaired it again. Still had problems. So they put a second transmission in it that was an older model. Could tell by the way it sifted and acted. I think they hot wired the transmission. When I hit the brake the torque converter would unlock but when let off brake pedal never felt it come back in. Hit the brake pedal again and I felt the torque convertor unlock. It had to go back into a lock position but you did not feel it lock. This is where I have the underlying draining the battery. I went after the truck we had to jump the truck at the transmission place. They said they did not do anything to cause that. But I suspect they hot wired the transmission somehow that is draining the battery. We have replaced the this year alternator and the battery last year and this is still happening. Sometimes it sits a week sometimes 2 weeks but it will eventually not start. This is when the buss bar showed up on the other report. WE think that the engine line in is the source of the problem of the alternator. Now I cannot tighten it. I was on this site to look for a schematic to taken it apart.

- Jack M., Advance, MO, US

problem #34

Sep 272004

Ram 1500 5.2L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Thought i loved dodge vehicles, now i realize how much they f*cking suck!!!! F*CK YOU CHRYSLER!!!!

- Dave L., Lisbon, CT, US

problem #33

Nov 062012

Ram 1500 5.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 221,234 miles

I've owned a 2001 dodge ram. it's a decent truck, its had lots of repairs on it... 1 trans problem ac, ball joint driveline you name it. But I have lots of miles and now it doesn't wanna change gear after i drive it for a while. it seems to stop pulling my rpm gauge starts moving but the truck wont. sometimes I'll have to shut it off then I'll pull slowly. the other day b4 this started my trans temp gauge came on and the o/d off light also. but in the morning when it was cold the thing drove like a race car. can anyone offer advice I'm a pretty good so if its a sensor, I can change that.

- eakins.john11, Spring, TX, US

problem #32

Oct 122011

Ram 1500 Laramie Slt 6.O

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,000 miles

Transmission kept going in and out of torque converter lockup at 35-40 mph and steady engine rpm. Fixed same by adding grounds to the wiring harness and bypassing one of the modules. Found fix on the internet. Didn't take but half an hour or so. Problem has not reoccured.

- Ted B., Hendersonville, Select State, US

problem #31

Nov 172011

Ram 1500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 137,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Trying to find some parts for trans are pain in the ass. Had trans rebuilt and sh*tty trans shop in forest park, ga didnt replace solenoid. Having to get someone else to replace it so all the money I put in fluid I get to do again because of lazy ass mechanics.

- chriskellyj, Calhoun, GA, US

problem #30

Dec 212009

Ram 1500 4x4 Sport 5.2L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 155,000 miles

Typical Dodge truck transmission failure ... spent a bit more to get an extended warranty and a cooler installed when rebuilding the transmission.

- J's R., Richardson, TX, US

problem #29

Jul 182010

Ram 1500 SLT 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

My vehicle has lost milage for some time now. I keep getting a P1740 DTC, (malfunctioning torque converter or overdrive clutch). When I talked with a Chrysler dealership service department specified which parts to replace to fix the problem. I had the parts replaced (torque converter for $700) and am still getting the same DTC's, nobody seems to know what the problems are exactly.

- aspin123, Hanover, PA, US

problem #28

Dec 282010

Ram 1500 SLT 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 131,000 miles

Everyone I know who owns a Dodge Ram pickup has had to have the transmission fixed at an out of pocket expense. When I contacted the transmission shop, they knew what the problem once I told them the make of truck. They said they do about one dodge ram rebuild a week. With this amount of rebuilding going on something should be done to offset the cost of repair.

- Bob W., Harrisburg, PA, US

problem #27

Jul 102005

Ram 1500 Quad Cab 5.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

OK, so I am loving my dodge truck, driving it and maintaining it to the tenth degree, thinking it'll last and last.............oh,no!! I don't plow, don't tow, dont go off road, never modified except air intake and stereo................trans just decides to grenade on off ram of freeway, at night of course , in the rain.......... limp it home five miles .............in overdrive........nice redddish trail of blood most of the way home.not under warranty , so I purchase a brand new trans and converter form dealership(a-holes in west allis Wisconsin , now out of business, gee i wonder why) installed, had rad flushed and cleaned. and per my friend who is a dodge tech, i now start to change the fluid every twelve thousand religiously......and.......AND REMOVE THE IN LINE TRANSCOOLER CHECK VALVE, IT PLUGS UP AND DOESN'T ALLOW FLUID TO FLOW...................oh, did I mention the lack of any warranty on a brand new trans from dodge according to the dealer(hub chrysler) Any how, drive it , another 68,000, this one grenades, again no racing, towing plowing etc, and all highway miles, (this truck has 388,000 miles on it and it still has factory shocks , and whole exhaust, it is never cold......always freeway driven) I contact dodge, , sorry no warranty, &uck dodge!!! I bought a new "reman " from JASER ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, they sell me a rebuilt trans, and converter, oil cooler and in line oil filter. 2800 .00 I BELIEVE...........I installed dit in a few hours, getting good at it now, and do all the steps. This trans is still in this truck, gone through over 220,000 miles with no issues, nice red fluid every 15,000 miles I change the fluid, filter and in line filter, every fluid change the aftermarket trans cooler is flushed by a shop for me. I shifts nice and firm, no slip, trans fluid is not baked, no worries , no weirdness in sounds, the way those morns shouldn't made it in the first place............so on we go. Besides the rear differential grenading shortly after the trans........that was 1800 used..........i think due to the large "THWOMP" THAT THE TRANS PUT ON THE WHOLE DRIVE LINE WHEN IT DECIDED TO QUIT WORKING..........So besides the third trans, second rear end, uhm three....dealer bought heater blower motors, on eactually started on fire due to the resistor going bad and over heating the wires.........oh that was fun, let it idle in drive on a snowy morning before work to come out to a smoke(acrid burning plastic) filled cab and wires melting into my heater box and carpet. again my dealer ship tech buddy says........."yeah , we had two come in with the interiors gutted..............uh huh? so ......now we have a little low amp fuse to blow before the wires melt.............any one say duh!!!! LAST.........I GO THROUGH A SET OF FRONT AXLE U JOINTS.......THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE FRONT AXLE TO THE FRONT HUBS........I go through one set a year........., now mind you , ths truck is greased every oil change , which is ever 2500 , to 300 miles..again religiously.............. I can change out front ujoints in about two hours if its not sub zero and chilly in my shop. All this said, I love my truck , I like the way it looks and feels good when it goes down the road............ It has the last of the great 318 motors........it just has som eserious defects that dodge shoulda fixed..........and believe me I tell everyone about this thing.........What is really crazy is , I have a streetrod. I built it from the ground up, It is not a r ace car but a driver......302 5.0 ford ful injected with aod overdrive trans..........basically a lincoln , or mercury town car motor and trans..........i beat the living hell out of this junkyard drive line...........it was cleaned, and re sealed and painted, but besides an oil pump and timing chain/waterpump..........it is all 165,000 mile factory ford and just keeps on going.............whats wrong here...........this car is no where near babied as my dodge!!!!! VERY FRUSTRATING...............AND THEY DO NOT GIVE A SHT ABOUT US!!! DONT BUY DODGE......CHECK OUT DODGESUCKS.COM

- John H., Watertown, WI, US

problem #26

Nov 092008

Ram 1500 SLT 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,300 miles

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN 2 ND AND HAD THAT FIXED 400.00 NOW WON'T CHANGE OUT OF 2ND AND SLIPS IN 4 TH

- James O., Georgetown, TN, US

problem #25

Apr 302008

Ram 1500 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

The transmission problem was annoying and expensive.

- G D., Calhoun, LA, US

problem #24

Mar 112008

Ram 1500 sport 360

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

2 transmissions got it fix the correct way put a racing transmission in

- mikos51, Girardville, pa, US

problem #23

Jun 152001

Ram 1500 V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

The Transmission just died. I took it to the dealer under the extended warranty. They said they were allowed to rebuild it. They did and it worked but immediately started to make a grinding noise. It was intermittent and they claimed not to hear it. It continued and I brought it back three times. Every time they said they could find nothing wrong. After it turned 100,000 miles they said it was out of warranty and there was nothing they could do. The noise has gotten worse over the years to the point where I have to either hit the gas hard or slow down to make it go away. It also jumps just a little bit when I stop at stop lights now. Basically they screwed me on the extended warranty and the follow-up. They do NOT stand behind their product. I will NOT buy a Dodge again. I recommend that anyone contemplating a Dodge PU look very hard at their decision. I am not the only one who has had transmission/warranty issues with them.

- R H., Springfield, VA, US

problem #22

Jan 152004

Ram 1500 V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

Had problems almost immediately after the warranty was over. Added an oil cooler which only helped shortly. And finally had to replace the entire tranny. Mechanic said that the only way to make the tranny last longer was after starting, put tranny into neutral for a few seconds before putting into gear. He had a Dodge with 300,000 miles on the same tranny with no repairs except for oil changes etc... he stated that it was a design flaw in Dodge's.

- Donald E., Summerfield, FL, US

problem #21

Apr 102008

Ram 1500 Quad 1500 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,000 miles

Transmission replaced for the third time. This time I had to pay $1000 in addition to warranty coverage. Have to think awful hard about buying another Ram.

- dhaywood, Mechanicsville, VA, US

problem #20

Sep 202007

Ram 1500 Quad 1500 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles

Replaced transmission lasted just about one year. Died again.

- dhaywood, Mechanicsville, VA, US

problem #19

Apr 052007

(reported on)

Ram 1500 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

Do your homework before you buy. The repair tech at the Dodge Dealer told me that this is a common problem. (Nice)

- Michael A., Traverse City, MI, US

problem #18

Nov 152006

Ram 1500 Quadcab 5.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,000 miles

Like everybody else right after the warranty runs out Transmission total failure...so

paid for the rebuild and two weeks after the one year warranty on that runs out the noise

and shift problems start...still driving it now but soon it will die....this is ridiculous my

79 Chevy still has the original tranny...I always wanted the Dodge...love the look...but

I should have known better.

- David S., Warner Robins, GA, US

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