2019 6.4 Transmission Issue

[19Ram6.4]

Hello,

New member. I created an account here to get input from other owners. I have a 2019 Ram 2500 6.4 with 4.10 diff ratio. The truck has 10,5XX miles on it currently. I purchased it new. Around 3000 miles, I noticed a rough downshift shift from 2nd-1st gear. When coming to a complete stop, the truck would "clunk" and lurch forward. If your foot was not solidly planted on the brake, the truck would lurch forward several inches. The first time it happened, I was attempting to pull into a tight parking space and nearly struck another vehicle because of the lurch.

Around 3500 miles, the lurch seemed to disappear. I figured it was part of the adaptive learning on the transmission and forgot about it. Around 7,000 miles, it came back. It got worse to the point that my passengers pointed it out. At 9,500 miles, I took the truck in to the dealer. The dealer informed me that there was a TSB for a "low speed lurch" and they updated the learning on the transmission. After the TSB, the truck drove great for about 500 miles. No lurch or rough shifting.

After approximately 500 miles, the truck slowly developed the same issue again. The lurch is back and the truck appears to have developed another issue now. Occasionally the truck experiences a rough downshift that "clunks" while slowing down at a higher speed. It appears to happen while down shifting around 4th or 5th gear, but I haven't been able to determine if it's specific to a single gear. The rough down shift at higher speed is not consistent and only happens occasionally, but it is a new issue that didn't happen before the TSB.

The clunk and lurch only occur when the transmission is at full operating temp. I've carefully monitored when it occurs and I can't replicate it when the transmission is under 150 degrees. It also won't lurch in tow haul mode. It drives so smooth in tow haul mode, I'm tempted to leave it in tow haul mode so it doesn't lurch at every stop light in town. Turning MDS on or off does not affect it. My driving style is moderate. I am not an aggressive or passive driver. The truck is primarily a commuter 4 days a week. The commute is 50/50 highway/city. I tow a 6,000 travel trailer with it 1-2 times a month on the weekends.

My local dealer only has one transmission tech and he is gone for the next 2 weeks, so I can't get the truck looked at immediately. Additionally, the last time I dropped it off, the tech waited until the next morning to drive it and then only drove it for 11 miles, so he couldn't replicate the issue since the transmission was under operating temp. I had specifically put in the notes that the trans needed to be at operating temp, but I guess the tech didn't see that part.

Has anyone else experienced this issue or found a resolution? I've talked to several other local owners and they said their truck doesn't lurch, so I'm thinking this is a unique issue. Since the update to the transmission software seemed to temporarily resolve the issue, it seems like the problem has something to do with the adaptive learning. I love the truck besides this one issue, so I'm hoping I can get this resolved.

Thanks for any help,
Nick

 

[elephantrider]

yes, most of us have experienced incompetent dealers and knotheaded techs. some of us more than once.

 

[Brutal_HO]

Welcome to HDRams!

Do you know if they did the quick learn after the TSB?

If you're not getting any satisfaction from the dealer, you may want to reach out to @RamCares here on the forums to open a case on your behalf, Just know that the dealer will know and some can be sh* tty about FCA getting involved. However, if you're not getting resolution, that' the path you need to take with them. They can always call in a specialist if their in house tech can't get it resolved.

 

[RamCares]

Hello,

New member. I created an account here to get input from other owners. I have a 2019 Ram 2500 6.4 with 4.10 diff ratio. The truck has 10,5XX miles on it currently. I purchased it new. Around 3000 miles, I noticed a rough downshift shift from 2nd-1st gear. When coming to a complete stop, the truck would "clunk" and lurch forward. If your foot was not solidly planted on the brake, the truck would lurch forward several inches. The first time it happened, I was attempting to pull into a tight parking space and nearly struck another vehicle because of the lurch.

Around 3500 miles, the lurch seemed to disappear. I figured it was part of the adaptive learning on the transmission and forgot about it. Around 7,000 miles, it came back. It got worse to the point that my passengers pointed it out. At 9,500 miles, I took the truck in to the dealer. The dealer informed me that there was a TSB for a "low speed lurch" and they updated the learning on the transmission. After the TSB, the truck drove great for about 500 miles. No lurch or rough shifting.

After approximately 500 miles, the truck slowly developed the same issue again. The lurch is back and the truck appears to have developed another issue now. Occasionally the truck experiences a rough downshift that "clunks" while slowing down at a higher speed. It appears to happen while down shifting around 4th or 5th gear, but I haven't been able to determine if it's specific to a single gear. The rough down shift at higher speed is not consistent and only happens occasionally, but it is a new issue that didn't happen before the TSB.

The clunk and lurch only occur when the transmission is at full operating temp. I've carefully monitored when it occurs and I can't replicate it when the transmission is under 150 degrees. It also won't lurch in tow haul mode. It drives so smooth in tow haul mode, I'm tempted to leave it in tow haul mode so it doesn't lurch at every stop light in town. Turning MDS on or off does not affect it. My driving style is moderate. I am not an aggressive or passive driver. The truck is primarily a commuter 4 days a week. The commute is 50/50 highway/city. I tow a 6,000 travel trailer with it 1-2 times a month on the weekends.

My local dealer only has one transmission tech and he is gone for the next 2 weeks, so I can't get the truck looked at immediately. Additionally, the last time I dropped it off, the tech waited until the next morning to drive it and then only drove it for 11 miles, so he couldn't replicate the issue since the transmission was under operating temp. I had specifically put in the notes that the trans needed to be at operating temp, but I guess the tech didn't see that part.

Has anyone else experienced this issue or found a resolution? I've talked to several other local owners and they said their truck doesn't lurch, so I'm thinking this is a unique issue. Since the update to the transmission software seemed to temporarily resolve the issue, it seems like the problem has something to do with the adaptive learning. I love the truck besides this one issue, so I'm hoping I can get this resolved.

Thanks for any help,
Nick

Hi Nick,

I apologize for the trouble that you are experiencing with your truck! If it would be of interest, I would be more than happy to escalate a case on your behalf to a specialist for further support as you continue addressing this with your dealer. Your specialist would be able to review your concern, then assist you and the dealership in exhausting all available resources to have the concern addressed and resolved.

If this would be of interest, our team is just a private message away to get the process started.

PS - Thank you for the tag @brutal!

Mark
RamCares

 

[19Ram6.4]

Brutal - the dealer informed me they did do the quick learn.

Mark - thank you for the information. I'll give the dealership another opportunity to address the issue. If it still persists, I may reach out to your team for help.

Thanks again,
Nick

 

[RamCares]

Brutal - the dealer informed me they did do the quick learn.

Mark - thank you for the information. I'll give the dealership another opportunity to address the issue. If it still persists, I may reach out to your team for help.

Thanks again,
Nick

Sounds good Nick, thank you for taking the time to get back to me!

Mark
RamCares

 

[blu3s94]

Mine has done exactly what you described 2x now. 12k miles on my 2019.

It has also died on me 2x while in reverse with the wheels locked out, it will surge and idle drop then die.

Haven't bothered taking to the dealer. They never have loaners and its my only vehicle. Plus I know it won't do these things when the techs have it as it's only done it 2x over a year.



Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[RamCares]

Mine has done exactly what you described 2x now. 12k miles on my 2019.

It has also died on me 2x while in reverse with the wheels locked out, it will surge and idle drop then die.

Haven't bothered taking to the dealer. They never have loaners and its my only vehicle. Plus I know it won't do these things when the techs have it as it's only done it 2x over a year.



Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

I am deeply sorry to hear your sentiments expressed here, @blu3s94. If you are not able to determine a solution based on suggestions from fellow forum members and you decide to address this with your Ram dealer, please be sure to follow up with us via private message. We would be more than happy to escalate your situation to a specialist who can work alongside you and your dealer while your truck is in service.

Mark
RamCares

 

[Jgrubb07]

My truck is a 2020 ram 2500, it is also doing this same issue as described with 2k miles on it. I will be bringing it up at my first oil change

 

[Mooreman21]

was there ever a fix found for the lurch? my 2020 2500 gas did it the other evening with approximate3ly 795 miles on the odometer.

 

[Eatonpcat]

This lurching just happened to me when I was heading to lunch (No worries, I continued on to Subway)...Pulled out of work, drove about 3/4 mile and stopped at a stop sign, came to a stop or close to it and the truck jumped forward. put a bit of a scare in me!

At first I thought maybe my foot hit the gas pedal and I just had the edge of the brake pedal depressed, but looking at the location of the brake and gas pedals this does not seem to be a possibility.

Anyone get a fix at the dealer for this issue??

2020 RAM 2500 Tradesman - 6.4L (25,000 miles)

 

[Tgun7667]

Traded my 2011 F250 in on a 2021 75th. I had the same lurch with about 500 miles on it. Came up to a stop sign behind a car and almost hit it. I see this is a common problem with Rams. Never owned a Ram before hope this doesnt keep occurring.

 

[BigJim]

Same issues on my 2021 Ram 3500 4x4 with the 6.4 gas engine. It isn't bad but it's very odd to try to drive it at low speeds and I"ve also come close to hitting a few cars in parking lots. That along with a throttle that you barely have to touch to launch the truck it's hard to drive at times. When I combine this with the poor brake pedal location it's taking me a long time to learn how to drive this truck safely when I've never had a problem with driving a new truck.

My local Ram dealer scares me with their lazy employees who really don't seem to want to fix anything or even help you so I don't know what to do with it. There's another dealer about an hour drive away, might take it to them and point out this thread. I had thought it might something to do with the MDS but seems here that it's not that.

The MDS reminds me of other older trucks that if the carbs weren't tuned just right you'd step on the gas pedal and it would act like "oh, so you want to go faster?" "let me get back to you about that" and then the truck would downshift and speed up. Funny how we've gone full circle!!

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Mine usually does the opposite of what you describe. In traffic or going thru a parking lot in 2nd gear, if I slow down and come to a stop it will drop into 1st and usually jerk me to a slower speed.

occasionally I’ve had it shift gears and give me a little forward push but usually it’s a “rearward” braking effect as described above.

I've chalked it up to the computer learning that I typically drive with a heavy foot and when I’m pooting around it doesn’t know to shift softly. My first experience with this was my 6speed AT tundra (I also have a 6speed MT tundra) which would shift aggressively based on learned behavior.

hope this helps.

 

[MuBBeR]

Just bought 2022 2500 last month, already took it to the dealer, said it would be a month at drop off. Got a text in 5 days saying it was ready and fixed, called my advisor to make sure it was done. I had to pick up after service closed due to my work schedule, happened again leaving their lot, turned around to bring it back and was told they don't have room had to make an appointment for over a month from now. Lurch/hardshift problem still happening on the newer trucks. feelsbadman

 

[Chris85xlt]

my 2022 Power Wagon does the 2-1 clunk when i come to a stop. Almost unnoticeable when i do a slow stop. Its more apparent when im coming in hot with more aggressive braking. I noticed it on my 2016 Ram 1500 w/8spd too.
Figure ill bring it in one day when there is a for sure fix.

 

[jetrinka]

My 21 has been solid. One of the best matched engine/trans combos I’ve ever felt in a truck

 

[JamesEvan]

@Chris85xlt - My 2022 Power Wagon with 2K miles is doing exactly what you're describing. Actually was at the dealer today and asked the service rep if there was a TSB, but she said that she couldn't find one. Guess will need to schedule an appt....

 

[NJ_Ram]

As many above my 2022 Power Wagon is doing the same 2 -> 1 clunk when braking. Did anyone have find out the issue?

 

[AMDPSU]

2022 Power Wagon with 800 miles doing the same 2-1 lurch.....

Traded a 2019 Power Wagon that shifted flawlessly for 3yrs and 35k miles.....go figure!