2022 RAM 5500

I drive a RAM 5500, 20' Jerrdan Flatbed Tow truck. We had just purchased this truck about a week and a half prior to the transmission failure. We had 2500 miles on it, and were towing two vehicles behind. We pulled off of the highway, and then felt an extremely hard clunk underneath the truck to which the rear tires locked up, and stopped us in the middle of the road. Once we were stopped, the truck began to clunk louder so hard it would shake the entire truck. Then a CEL appeared, for PO731 and P0734, the truck in drive would only rev and not move. Reverse did work however. But we could not reverse anywhere as we were in the middle of the highway. We had to get a tow truck which took 4 hours because nobody wanted to tow us due to the situation. We almost got hit so many times, it was so dangerous and scary for me and my passenger, as we thought we were going to crash when the rear wheels locked up. This issue needs to be taken much more seriously and looked into becoming a recall. Somebody on the highway could get KILLED!

Were were driving in stop and go traffic outside Durham, NC on I 147/885. After being stopped for a few seconds I depressed the accelerator to move forward. There was a bang and I thought some one had hit me from behind. Then I noticed the engine light on the dash and the truck would not move forward. I was able to get the shifter in park. All temps and pressures on the dash were normal including the transmission. There was no fluid leaking from under the truck. We were in lane three of the highway and cars, trucks, and tractor trailers were passing us on the shoulder and the left lane. I tried using the in vehicle SOS button but the guy on the other end only referred me to call a different number. That number I sat on the line for over 20min while sitting in traffic unable to move with vehicles passing me on the left and right. finally a deputy showed up and was able to control the traffic. 3 hours later it was finally towed to Hendrick Dodge in Cary, NC. Currently waiting on it to be evaluated by the dealer.

Description: The Aisin transmission in my new Ram 2022 5500 unexpectedly failed in the middle of the highway, despite the vehicle having only 5,000 miles on it. This sudden breakdown posed a significant safety risk to me and other drivers on the road. Unfortunately, the truck is currently at Johnson's Auto Center in Denver, but they are unable to provide an estimated time for inspecting the transmission. It appears probable that a new transmission will need to be ordered to resolve the issue. Regrettably, I do not have any further details or insights regarding the incident and its cause at this time.

Center (drag) link as a part of the steering linkage assembly snapped after 40,000 miles. I was driving < 5 miles an hour attempting to park my vehicle when I heard a large snap sound, which, upon further investigation, was the center link that snapped in half. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership for repairs. Had the vehicle been in a more dense area or if I were driving on the highway and not attempting to park, a sudden loss of steering capability could have been fatal. The dealer has acknowledged the center link was broken after completing their diagnostic. I’m not sure if the vehicle part was returned to the manufacturer for inspection and there was no insurance claim for an adjuster to review. I do know from open source information that Ram has had issues (recalls I believe as well) with the steering rod or otherwise steering linkage assembly in the past. There were no lights or indicators suggesting an imminent failure in the steering system.

Many owners have reported sudden loss of power and control resulting from explosive transmission failure causing a major public safety issue. RAM has not provided details on which vehicles are affected. The TSB states if the customer experiences such symptoms to contact dealer if still alive. This lack of information has resulted in many customers simply parking their vehicles and waiting until FCA issues more details on which transmission serial numbers are impacted. Owners have also joined various forums and crowd sourcing information (SEE ATTACHED EXECEL SHEET) to identify factors such as build dates, transmission serial numbers and conditions in which the failure happened. I am requesting the NHTSA to conduct an investigation and require FCA to provide more details regarding impacted vehicles rather than taking a if-it-fails-call-us approach. Furthermore, FCA is not reimbursing owners for towing expenses related to the load. In some cases the truck towing is covered but not in other cases if the towing cost is deemed too high. This has resulted in some owners paying over $5000 for towing expenses and waiting for repayment. In some cases the TSB repair has resulted in additional failures causing the vehicles to be out of services for multiple months and additional safety to the operators and other motor vehicles that share the road with these RAM vehicles.

The transmission failed after less than 500 miles. I stopped at a red light at the end of an exit ramp, and when the light turned green, the truck would not move, either in forward or reverse. I was in the middle lane of a 3 lane exit ramp, and cars were passing me on each side. There were no symptoms or warnings prior to the total failure. The truck had to be towed to a dealer, where they confirmed that the transmission had failed.

Received notice 8 months ago that the electrical relay that is used for grid heater when starting the vehicle may catch fire causing the entire vehicle to burn to the ground. I contacted RAM immediately and they stated there is no fix available. 8 months later I contacted RAM again and they stated that a fix was in the works but not available to me. I later contacted a dealer to buy a new truck and found they had a stop sell on RAM trucks and the fix was made available to them so the trucks can be sold. RAM should be taking care of trucks already sold and are on the road first not trucks waiting to the sold on the lot. Those are the vehicles that risk public safety. There is no risk with unsold truck sitting idle in dealer parking lots other than profits. RAM is colluding with their dealerships to sell truck at the risk of public safety. NHTSA is warned by this complaint that they will be found lax in enforcement if they do not require RAM to correct sold truck first. I have contacted by Senator and notified him of the concern with NHTSA. I currently have to park my truck on the street as required by RAM in their recall notice and my insurance premiums increased as a result.

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the transmission became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced; however, the parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified about the failure, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 862.

Driving down freeway lost all momentum had to coast to the shoulder almost causing several accidents and getting hit by a semi in the process. The truck had no gears whatsoever and gave me on warning something was as it risk for failing. Was told the entire transmission had failed. This was the second transmission ram had put in. The problem is becoming wide spread across the internet as multiple owners are now reporting with no known fix currently. Please note that the file below is the first repair which did nothing but almost cause another accident when it happened again