2019 Ram 1500 · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 28owner reports
- 30,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Mar 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
206 of the 1,481 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 28 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 28 reports
Transmission shudder on other 1500 years
No other 1500 model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every 1500 year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2019 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
A gear within the transfer case may not have been installed correctly, possibly causing the vehicle to become stuck in neutral. If this occurs while driving, there could be a sudden loss of power.
The rear driveshaft may have an incomplete weld fusion between the tube and tube yoke, which may lead to weld cracking or the driveshaft fracturing.
The rear differential may have been insufficiently filled, possibly resulting in its failure.
All 30 recalls on the 2019 Ram 1500, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the 1500
Post recall remedy brake transmission shift interlock (btsi) failure. Open.
Vehicle rollaway. Closed jan 25, 2024.
Rear differential failure. Closed mar 5, 2013, led to recall 12V-474.
None of these investigations covers the 2019 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 10,500 and 69,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Ram 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Gear Ratio DTC?s, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the PCM with the latest available software.
What owners wrote
“During normal driving when coming to a stop the vehicle will hard downshift to neutral for no apparent reason. It will also hard shift to 1st like itâs lagging hard from 2nd or deciding if it wants to shift to neutral. It will happen at random times, in the middle of a turn, middle of an intersection. And is a serious concern”
Filed Dec 5, 2025
“While driving the transmission is slipping out of gear. After research found this is happing to many other owners and the dealer has not been able to correct the issue.”
Filed Nov 3, 2022
“Transmission slipping out of gear shifting to park while braking and downshifting occurs”
Filed Oct 3, 2022
“The vehicle has a tendency to hesitate when accelerating from a stop. It is as if the engine is stalling and then recovers. It occurs primarily when the engine is cold but has also happened when warmed up This is a safety hazard because it could leave the vehicle subject to collision form approaching traffic.”
Filed Jun 26, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 28 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 218 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 153 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 143 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 133 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 92 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 77 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 74 reports
- Water leaks into the cabin 63 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 45 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 44 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 43 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 39 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 33 reports
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 27 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 26 reports