Which Ram 1500 years have the most transmission complaints?

The 2019 model year has the most, with 175 complaints and the highest rate per vehicle sold. The 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2018 years have fewer. The 2023 to 2026 years show few complaints, but newer trucks have had less time to collect them, so that is not proof they are better.

Is it safe to drive a Ram 1500 that stalls and shifts into Park?

The reports suggest it is a safety risk. Owners describe losing drive in intersections and in traffic, with near collisions. Dealers often find no codes, so the fault can return. Have a dealer look at it before relying on the truck, and report it to the federal safety agency.

Is there a recall for Ram 1500 transmission problems?

Federal records list seven recalls in this area across 2018 to 2023 trucks. They cover a park lock rod, rear axle oil, a rear driveshaft, a shifter interlock, a transfer case, 5.7L eTorque stalling, and a transmission control unit weld. Which one applies depends on the year, so check the VIN.

How much does a Ram 1500 transmission repair cost?

The data gives no single transmission price. One 2018 owner reported rear axle repairs close to $5,000. Independent repair-cost data puts the model's overall estimated annual repair cost at $691. Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and some owners had transmissions replaced under warranty.

Why does my Ram 1500 shift into Park by itself?

Owners report it in two ways. On 2019 trucks it happens while slowing for stops and turns, often after a service shifter warning. On 2021 to 2025 trucks it follows an engine shutoff at low speed. Some owners tie it to auto start/stop or eTorque. The data does not give a confirmed cause.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ram 1500 Transmission Problems

Ram 1500 transmission complaints center on sudden loss of drive: the truck stalls, drops into neutral or jumps into Park, often at low speed.

Owner complaints: 498
Share of all complaints: 12%
Crash / fire / injury reports: 7 / 1 / 7
Related recalls: 7

1500 transmission complaints by model year

The 2019 model year leads, with 175 complaints in this area and the highest rate per vehicle sold. The 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2018 years follow with roughly 46 to 87 each, and 2018 has the lowest rate of that group. The 2023 through 2026 years show few complaints, but they have had little time on the road, so those counts say little about how those trucks will hold up. The newest years already show the same loss-of-drive pattern seen in 2021 and 2022.

2018
46 · 1/10k sold
2019
175 · 3.3/10k sold
2020
55 · 1.2/10k sold
2021
84 · 1.7/10k sold
2022
87 · 2.1/10k sold
2023
15 · 0.4/10k sold
2024
10 · 0.3/10k sold
2025
25 · 0.8/10k sold
2026
1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA under power train. Newer model years have had less time to collect complaints.

What goes wrong

The typical failure is a truck that suddenly stops driving. The engine quits or the transmission drops into neutral, then the shifter goes to Park and the electronic parking brake sets itself. It often happens while slowing for a light or turning at walking pace. Older trucks add other faults: a gear that will not engage and then lunges, slipping, hard shifts, and gears that stick in first or third. Dealers often find no codes and cannot repeat the problem.

The risk is real. Federal complaint records for this area include crashes, injuries and one fire report, and owners describe near rear-end collisions when power vanished in traffic. The worst reports involve rollaways. A 2018 truck shifted into reverse by itself and injured its driver. A parked 2020 truck rolled forward, and the report says a person died. Some trucks end up undrivable, sitting at a dealer while a backordered part is found.

Symptoms owners report

Stall, Park, and parking brake

The engine dies while the truck is slowing or turning, often around 5 mph. The transmission shifts itself into Park and the parking brake engages. The dash tells the driver to shift to Park to restart. Reports run from 2021 through 2025 trucks.

Neutral or revving without moving

The transmission slips into neutral at 30 to 45 mph, or the engine revs while the truck barely moves. Owners say this happens at traffic lights and at highway speed. Shifting to neutral and back to drive sometimes restores power.

Slow to engage, then lunging

In 2019 trucks, shifting from Park to Drive does nothing until the throttle is pressed. Then the gear drops in and the truck surges forward. Some owners report this on trucks with under 500 miles.

Shifting into Park on its own

A 2019 truck may shift itself into Park, or demand to be put in Park, while slowing for stops and turns. A service shifter warning often comes first. Some trucks get stuck in Park or stall when put in gear.

Hard, stuck, or refused gears

Owners report hard shifts into first or third, sticking in a gear until restart, and slipping. Some 2021 reports include a dealer diagnosis of premature fourth-gear failure. Some 2025 trucks refuse eighth gear or keep dropping to seventh.

Unexpected rolling or movement

Reports include a truck shifting into reverse after the driver stepped out, a parked idling truck rolling forward, and a parking brake fault that let a truck roll away. These are the most dangerous reports in this area.

When the problems start

Many complaints come early. Owners of 2021 trucks report stalls at 34 miles, 300 miles, 1,022 miles and 9,000 miles. One 2021 owner had the transmission replaced around 12,000 miles. The 2023 reports sit between 160 and 14,000 miles, and 2025 problems mostly start in the first few thousand. Self-shifting into Park on 2019 trucks tends to start between 20,000 and 45,000 miles. One 2020 truck needed a new transmission at 61,349 miles.

Repairs and recalls

Dealers often find no codes. Software updates are a common first step, but 2019 and 2025 owners say they fail or help only briefly, and some 2023 trucks still stalled afterward. Motor generator parts on eTorque trucks are often backordered for months. Seven federal recalls apply, all free at a dealer. They include a 2023 transmission control unit weld flaw fixed with a new valve body and control unit, a 2019 four-wheel-drive transfer case that could stick in neutral, and a 2021 software update for 5.7L eTorque stalls. Others cover a 2018 park lock rod, rear axle oil, the driveshaft and a shifter interlock. Rear axle repairs on 2018 trucks cost close to $5,000.

Model years	Campaign	Problem
2023	24V413000	Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. An insufficient weld in the transmission control unit can allow transmission fluid to leak on to electrical components, resulting in a…
2021	23V265000	Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 5.7L eTorque engines. The powertrain control module software may cause an incorrect fuel mixture condition in the engine, and result in…
2018, 2019	18V556000	Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 RAM 1500 trucks. The rear differential may have been insufficiently filled, possibly resulting in its failure.
2019	20V080000	Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Ram 1500 pickup trucks equipped with four-wheel drive. A gear within the transfer case may not have been installed correctly, possibly causing the vehicle to become stuck…
2018, 2019	19V324000	Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Ram 1500 pickup trucks. The rear driveshaft may have an incomplete weld fusion between the tube and tube yoke, which may lead to weld cracking or the driveshaft…
2018	18V280000	Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been…
2018	18V100000	Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 RAM 1500, 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged…

Checking a used 1500 for transmission problems

Run the VIN through federal recall records and confirm each listed recall was completed, especially the transmission control unit, transfer case and eTorque software recalls.
Drive slowly through turns and stops. Watch for the engine dying, a jump into Park, or the parking brake setting itself.
Shift from Park to Drive and Reverse several times on a cold start. Walk away if the gear delays and then lunges.
Accelerate through every gear on a test drive. Note slipping, hard shifts, flare to high rpm, or a gear that sticks.
Ask for dealer records showing software updates, repeat visits for stalling, or a replaced transmission or motor generator.
On eTorque trucks, listen under the hood for whining or grinding that could point to the motor generator.

7 transmission recalls cover the Ram 1500. A VIN check shows whether the car you're looking at had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.

Look Up a VIN →