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Ram transmission, park and driveline recalls: what owners need to know
Ram's power train recalls fall into three families. The biggest is park and shift trouble: a brake-shift interlock fault on 2017-2018 Ram 1500 through 5500 with column shifters, a wrong park lock rod on 2018 Ram 1500, shifter cables that separate on 2014-2019 ProMaster, a park pawl that will not engage on 2019-2021 ProMaster, and a 2025 Ram 2500/3500 cluster that displays the wrong gear. The second is transmission fluid leaking from the dipstick tube on 2019-2023 Ram 2500 and 3500 with the 68RFE six-speed, plus a leaking transmission control unit weld on 2023 trucks. The third is driveline hardware on 2018-2019 Ram 1500: underfilled rear axles, cracked driveshaft welds, and a bad transfer case gear. A 2021 Ram 1500 eTorque stall recall stands apart.
Warning signs to watch for
- The truck or van rolls after you shift into Park
- The gear shown on the dash does not match the gear you selected
- Burning smell, smoke, or transmission fluid under the hood
- Sudden loss of drive power, or the vehicle stuck in neutral
- Engine stalls while driving, on the 2021 Ram 1500 eTorque
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of the thirteen recalls in this group carries a stop-driving or park-outside order, so no notice tells owners to park the vehicle. Treat the two transmission-leak recalls as the most urgent, because leaking fluid can burn — if you smell burning, see smoke, or find fluid under the hood, stop driving and get help. For every park, shifter cable, park pawl, and gear-display recall, set the parking brake every time you park, and make sure the vehicle has fully stopped before shifting or stepping out.
What the free repair involves
The repairs split between software and hardware. Dealers reprogram the body control module, powertrain control module, or instrument cluster on the interlock, eTorque, park pawl, and gear-display recalls. Elsewhere they replace parts: the valve body separator plate, dipstick and vent assembly, park lock rod, shift cable, rear driveshaft, or transfer case. Others begin with an inspection, such as the rear axle oil check. Every repair is free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 2 |
| high | 11 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-08 | Ram 2500 and 3500 dashboard shows wrong gear | high |
| 2024-06-06 | RAM 3500 transmission leak can cause power or park loss | high |
| 2023-04-27 | Ram ProMaster may roll away despite being in Park | high |
| 2023-04-13 | Ram 1500 eTorque software glitch can stall engine | high |
| 2022-11-10 | Ram 2500 and 3500 transmission fluid leak fire risk | critical |
| 2020-10-15 | Ram ProMaster paratransit shifter cable may separate from transmission | high |
| 2020-02-13 | Ram 1500 4x4 can slip into neutral, lose park | high |
| 2020-01-24 | Ram 2500 and 3500 transmission fluid can leak and burn | critical |
| 2020-01-23 | Ram ProMaster shifter cable may come loose from transmission | high |
| 2019-04-25 | Ram 1500 rear driveshaft may crack and break | high |
| 2018-08-23 | RAM 1500 rear axle may lack oil, fail | high |
| 2018-05-01 | Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM may not stay in Park | high |
| 2018-02-08 | RAM trucks can shift out of Park unexpectedly | high |
Common questions
My Ram rolled after I put it in Park — which recall is that?
Several could apply: the brake-shift interlock recall on 2017-2018 column-shift trucks, the wrong park lock rod on 2018 Ram 1500, the ProMaster shifter cable, or the ProMaster park pawl. A VIN check at NHTSA tells you which one, if any, is open.
Which Ram trucks leak transmission fluid from the dipstick tube?
Two recalls cover it: 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 with the 68RFE six-speed automatic, and 2020-2023 Ram 2500 with 2020-2022 Ram 3500. Both describe pressure and heat building inside the transmission and pushing fluid out of the dipstick tube.
Is the 2021 Ram 1500 eTorque stall fixed with software alone?
Yes. On that recall, dealers update the powertrain control module calibration so the engine does not run an incorrect fuel mixture and stall. It is a dealer visit, not an over-the-air update, and it costs nothing.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.