I just rolled over 1500 miles on my 2012 Ram 1500 Sport and don't care for the MDS! I usually can hear when the MDS is active and often when I give throttle for a hill or just to increase speed I can feel it like the motor has a miss or hesitation. This combined with the trans downshifting due to the throttle increase sometimes makes the truck really sensitive to throttle movement. My 05 that I traded in was slow to respond occasionally so the difference between them is significant and somewhat aggravating. My question is has anyone else felt this, is it normal for this model, or am I being overly sensitive and critical of the new truck? Thanks in advance for any input.
RSD

 

I started hating mds after driving my truck for about a month. I bought an early 09 sport in 2/09. Had it reflashed for some tsb that was for mds improvements a few months later. Didn't help at all, still sucked. You are fortunate in that you can tap the shifter over and just use the extended range mode and it won't engage mds. You will still have your top od gear, something only you 2012 guys have with the claimed 6 speed trans. I have had mds disabled since superchips released a tune back in 2010. These trucks are so much more responsive without it and there is not that much of an mpg difference that I observed.

 

I have an 09 and also hate MDS. I always know when it is active and hate the vibration like its missing. I will say I have no throttle lag and once you give it enough gas MDS goes off easily enough but I do not think I will get another truck with it again. Some people say they do not even feel it when MDS activates but in my truck it is super obvious. I tend to have a light foot on the throttle so maybe that makes it more noticeable.

With all that said, I know I can make it not use MDS by putting it in 5th gear but to do that every time I start it is not ideal.

MDS and the way it pulls back power when shifting gears are the 2 things that irritate me with the truck.

 

Hmmm... I got my Ram in 02/09 as well. I have no issues with MDS other than sometimes when going down a hill and then up a hill it stays in MDS for a second or two and have to mash the pedal to get it to switch out. I have no MDS indicator on my dash as the later ones do so I never even feel when it goes in or out. I think if I had the light I might notice it more often.

I never had any MDS flashes done though. Don't know what that is about.

 

Mine is early build 09 with 30,000 miles. MDS is working just fine. In fact, it is almost impossible to tell when it kicks in and out. It is seamless.

 

08/08 build on my Ram and have never had an issue with MDS. Mine seems to be seamless. One of the lucky ones I guess. I also appreciate the added mpg on long trips.

The flash for the MDS indication on early build Evics is only for display and not to change the way MDS works. If you are still under warrenty you can still get it for free.

 

Gotta say, my 12 is so seamless when MDS kicks in and out I never notice it. But I am very gentle on the throttle anyway so maybe it's just the way I drive.

 

I like MDS. Mine works great and is seamless. I play with it and see how much I can keep it in MDS, which is a lot. As low as 15 mph and as high as 80 mph. Watch the MPG click up and up in MDS. I have a Magnaflow exhaust and can hear it go in and out. Dosen't bother me a bit.

 

I've also got a 2012, and I also hate the MDS. It's not even just that, it's the lack of throttle responsiveness at all times. I'll be cruising along, start going up a hill, and the truck slows down, so I give more pressure, more pressure, nothing happening, more pressure, next thing you know I have the throttle almost 3/4 the way down and it's still not going any faster, then 1/16" of an inch further and it downshifts two gears and roars up the hill way faster than I'd like.

What I noticed is that using the Tow/Haul mode helps a LOT. It feels like a whole different truck. Obviously you lose the MDS but it's a lot nicer to drive for sure. I hope they come out with a tuner some time that lets me remove it.

 

Mds and lack of throttle response are more then likely TWO different things. My Corvette suffers from the same acceleration lack of responce you describe. Its the drive by wire. A few turners,not tunes in a box can shorten the dry by wire lack of response on GM cars. But you have to send them your ECM. No ones does such on Dodge. I really never noticed this on my Dodge truck. But as I already said I LIKE MDS. Big fuel saver and for me to me its seamless.