5.4

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
20,800 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. transmission replaced by dealer warranty (1 reports)
2015 Ram 1500 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2015 Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #7

Feb 262019

1500 BigHorn 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

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

2015 Ram Big Horn 1500 4x4. First of many times this happened. I was at only 75k on the odometer, bought at 70k. While downshifting into passing gear, towing or not, up or down a grade, it sounded and felt like my transmission was falling out. This mechanical malfunction only happens after being on the road for 2 to 3 hours at highway speeds.

I have been to the local dealership multiple occasions for this and the only response I get is that they "can't replicate" the issue. I have logged the miles they drive and it's only been max of 20 miles. Of course you're not going to replicate the issue only going 20 miles. There is also a sudden jump of gears while downshifting from 2 to 1 and up-shifting from 1 to 2. I was told that this is a normal occurrence. How is something that brings attention to your passenger a normal occurrence.

I have spoken to multitudes of Ram owners and the conclusion is only 3 in 10 DON'T have the issues stated above. That means only 30% of the registered Ram owners on the road today have a fully functioning, non issued vehicle. Leaving 70% of your customer base to fate of a mechanical 'KNOWN' issue is just wrong. Fix the problem, no more band aids! Like stated in my other post, one more visit to the service department and I am filing a lemon law suit.

- Jerry V., Asheville, US

problem #6

Oct 302015

1500 Laramie 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,250 miles

Purchased this truck (Dealer Demo Unit) with approximately 5,300 miles on it. Noticed this bumping or what feels to me like a broken motor or transmission mount the very first week of owning this truck. I called my local DCJR (Mac Haik) dealer and explained this bump or shift in the drive train that I feel every time I stop and than accelerate from a stop. The service department told me that this is normal for the RAM 1500 with the 8 speed transmission. I guess they just don't want to waste their time trying to find out what is causing this issue. I turned the hill assist off and I am still getting the bump or shifting feeling. I guess I can live with it as long as I know for sure its not a defect.

Update: Vehicle now has only about 29,500 miles! Had a list of recalls performed on December 01, 2018. However, I am still getting the bump or delay shifting feeling. Symptom: After stopping truck suddenly "bumps" as if hit from behind. Problem comes and goes - both dealers seem have no idea how to fix the problem! Mac Haik DCJR I45 Houston doesn't really seem to care since they punted the problem until the factory warranty expired. Autonation DCJR I45 Spring at least make you feel they're trying to find a a solution. And just think both dealer's want me to buy a NEW RAM truck.

- H M., Houston, TX, US

problem #5

Jul 302016

1500 Big Horn 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

At a stop, when releasing the brake pedal, there is a clunk in the drivetrain somewhere. It happens every time and sit and go traffic it's incredibly annoying.

Here's my go around with RAM/FCA-

I have taken it to the dealership 3x now. The 1st time they said they couldn't replicate the issue so we did a drive with the shop foreman. He felt the problem and knew this was common. Then the dealership called me two days later and said they couldn't replicate the issue. I advised them I replicated it with the shop foreman already. This was alarming because this situation clearly doesn't make any sense. They said they relearned the transmission and sent me back out with my truck. 2nd visit, they took the truck and let some shop tech take it home for the night and drove it over 100 miles while hooked up to a computer apparently. They couldn't replicate the issue. Relearned the transmission and sent me back out again. 3rd visit, I advised them I called FCA and they will be handling this from here on out. I showed another shop foreman the problem, he felt it, and said that the valve bodies need replacing in the transmission which requires a new oil pan, lines, etc. essentially a $2800 fix. I advised the shop foreman after all the research I have been doing, I concluded that the issue is probably within the driveshaft somewhere and you might want to start there since that would be less expensive for your company to fix/replace. He seemed very confident that he was correct. When I got my truck back after being "repaired", nothing had changed and it was the same. The shop foreman called me later that day and advised me that he knows it didn't resolve the problem and that he would conduct and investigation to see what the problem was. He mentioned that it only happens on 2wd 1500s and because it has multi-link suspension in the rear that due to the angle at which the driveshaft meets the rear end, upon acceleration, it moves the rear end back and wears out the spacers. Well, I am fairly mechanical and know this was a load of BS. Very unimpressed with this dealership and the treatment provided. I've owned 9 vehicles in my lifetime and driven many more, and no vehicle I've ever driven has this issue or a company that didn't stand behind their customers. I don't understand what good a powertrain warranty is if the company doesn't fix the powertrain problems.

Update from Sep 7, 2018: Ram replaced the transmission with a remanufactured unit. It worked fine until the transmission was reading over 260 degrees on the highway. Advised dealer that you have to drive a sustained 60mph for at least an hour on the freeway to replicate. After a week in the shop, they said they could not replicate. Came back to the shop and found out that they only drove 30 miles. Advised them that they did not try to replicate and to do it. Called FCA to advise them of their reluctance to replicate the issue. Dealership finally replicated it after 2 weeks in the shop. Found out the transmission heater failed and needed to be replaced. Dealer replaced it, but failed to change the burnt and worn out transmission fluid. They reluctantly agreed to replace the fluid. When I was at the shop to pick up my truck there was a 4in dent on my rear passenger door. Dealer fixed it. The bump at stops still continues on. Several months later I've decided to go to a different dealer as the last dealership (stateline dodge in Fort Mill, SC) was a very bad experience. Gastonia dodge found that the driveshaft needed to be replaced.

- Trevor Y., Rock Hill, SC, US

problem #4

Nov 162016

1500 Crew cab 3.2L Ecodiesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,000 miles

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

clunk slightly for a while but worse since update on engine transmission

- Antonio M., Jacksonville, FL, US

problem #3

Apr 022016

1500 Sport 5.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles

There's a "clunking" in the transmission every time I slow down to a stop.

The transmission clunks going into 1st gear, instead of doing it smoothly and quietly like every other truck/car out there.

- Mark R., Santa Rosa, CA, US

problem #2

Dec 092015

1500 Express 5,7

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,200 miles

I just wanted to know if anyone else was having a clunk in the transmission. I noticed it a few times when I take off or when I'm slowing down it clunks.

- Ken S., Cape Coral, FL, US

problem #1

Sep 152015

1500 Sport 5.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,000 miles

clunking when slowing down to a stop

The transmission CLUNKS whenever I quickly slow down to a stop. Seems like it is the transmission downshifting itself as I am slowing down, only it CLUNKS when doing it.

Dealership says it is "normal operating noise" although it didn't do it the first couple of thousand miles, and I have testdriven several other brand new trucks, none of which made that same clunking noise.

- Mark R., Santa Rosa, CA, US

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