I am researching buying a new to me 1500 pickup. I am looking into 3rd gen dodges, probably 2003-2005. Also I am looking at chevy/gmc half tons in the same year range and ford f150's in 2004-2005. I have heard that dodges have notoriously weak transmissions compared to the two other auto makers. Is this true or just a rumor?

To give you an idea on what I am trying to compare the half ton pickups that I am looking into are the following:

Dodge: 1500 4 door with the 5.7 hemi

Chevy/GMC: 1500 extended cab with the 5.3 vortec

Ford: F150 extended cab with the 5.4 triton

I like the looks of the dodge the best and the hemi seems to put up the best hp, although probably not the best mpg. I am worried though about the rumors I have heard about dodges having weak trannys. Was this just a problem with the 2nd gens or is it also a problem with the 3rd gen.

If it is a problem or weak point is there a way to mitigate the problem without breaking the bank?

Thanks in advance

 

It WAS true, at one time Dodge trucks were known as "having the best V8s on the planet mated to the worst transmissions". But with Daimler (Mercedes) ownership came new automatic transmissions, designed from the ground up.

I've had all three, a new '97 Ford F150 5.4 (which dropped a piston at 14,000 miles incidentally), an '02 Chevy Z71 and now an '04 Ram, all purchased new. Have done extensive mods/work on my own as well as dozens of others and I can honestly say that the 45/545rfe transmission is at worst on par with any half ton truck transmission by Ford or GM.

Ford and GM and their followers are going to ride the poor reputation of the 1st and 2nd Gen Rams (and a well deserved poor reputation, I'm sorry to say) to the hilt for as long as they can ride that wave.

Incidentally, try a Google search on transmission problems with the new Ford engine lineup. There are literally thousands of 2011 & 2012 trucks sitting on the back lots of dealerships across the country with blown transmissions, waiting for a backlog of new trannies to arrive to be replaced. My ex brother-in-law is a mechanic at a small volume Ford dealership and last I talked to him, they had seven customers' trucks sitting, waiting for transmissions that may be months before arriving...

 

The 1st generation ODs were problems. The 2nd generation were much better,but you had to change the fluid and filter every 30k. If you did'nt you were in for problems.

 

But the third gens are good to go? From the post above yours I am more confident in the 3rd gen trannys. I would like some more peoples input on this though

 

I have had 2 2nd gen with no problems. One of them is a 97 that my son still has and it has 190,000 plus with no issues and the other is an 01 with 115,000 and no problems that I still drive. I have used both for medium towing and didn't baby either one and I know my son has abused the 97 since he got it with 155,000 so I don't feel that the trans were all that weak. My opinion is that the trans absolutely could not stand getting HOT. JMO though and everyone says the 3rd gen are much tougher so get one and have fun with it. Oh I also have 3rd gen 05 QC Hemi wth 116,000 that I love and I sold an 04 QC Hemi 4 years ago that had 110,000 plus on it and haven't lost a MOPAR trans in years.

 

I'll put it this way -- there are hardly any posts on the board about transmission problems. They may get rebuilt around 120-150k miles but who complains about that? The Hemi will BEAT DOWN a similar 5.3 or Ford's 5.4 so you'll like the power side of things.

The worst thing about their transmission is actually the torque converter. A mildly-worked replacement will get more of that power to the ground, and the Hemi loves rpms so a little more stall speed never hurts.

Stand by while someone soon warns you of how the 03 models are ticking time bombs because of bad valve springs. In my 5 years here I might have seen 2-3 people who actually had it happen, but that doesn't stop the predictions of doom!

 

Very true, there are far more posts about plugs shooting out of Ford Triton heads, requiring very expensive top end repair on Ford forums than there are transmission posts here.

True 'dat, as much as 24% of all that power is lost before it reaches the rear wheels. Last I looked at real dyno numbers, of all light trucks, the Nissan Triton had the best torque converter losing only about 16% HP thru the drive lline. But that still doesn't mean the Ram torque converter is weak, they rarely fail, they are just not real efficient.

Although I wouldn't let it stop me from buying a nice '03 at the right price if I found one, I think you are a bit optimistic on your numbers. Taking "forums" out of the picture, I personally know eight people with '03 Hemi trucks and three have had valve springs fail (two of them live not two hours south of you, John). Small sampling for sure, but enough to tell me there should be more than 2-3 people on a forum where probably upwards of 1000 guys with '03 Hemi trucks have at least stopped in and joined over the years. I'm not painting any "doom" pictures here of the '03, but there was a reason that Dodge went to heavier/stronger springs in '04...

 

My truck is paid off very soon so I might talk to my local Mopar guy about new springs. Of course, if I'm doing that, a mild cam wouldn't hurt either...

 

My brother has had 2 1500's with Hemi. Tranny, no problem. Tow'd a big toy hauler with the one for a while (10000lbs) before he got a 1 ton for work. Tranny never had a problem. Current 07 and my own 07 2500, no issues. That same tranny with a different software tune is also in a lot of Jeep Grand Cherokees, and the Durangos as well. I don't recall hearing of many problems.

If you plan to tow, make sure you have a tranny cooler added if it doesn't have one from a tow or heavy duty off road package. Other than that, change the fluid and drive on.

 

My 04 has about 87K, no issues with trans. Tow infrequently (3200 lbs max). Have replaced the alternator, PS cooler and have some rust at the bottom of the tailgate. Just replaced the battery as a result of border line on the load test. The alternator may have been my fault by not covering when cleaning the engine. Overall, happy with the quality.