Anyone else think the 12 transmission sucks ???

I went from a 2004 to this 2012 and was very disaponted in the so called 6 speed. Its the same tranny lol. All dodge did was give the two 2nd gears a choice in manual mode. It is a marketing thing and a bad one if you ask me. I really was expecting a new tranny. The 2500s actually get a real 6 speed but not the 1500s. Just a reprogreammed old one lol. I still like the tranny never had a problem with the 04 and I think its better than the 04. I really like that I can pick a gear when towing just have to remember 3rd is the alternate 2nd and is a whole 300 rpm differance from 2nd. 4th is now the real 3rd and your 1 to 1.
It does feel like its lugging around some times with the mds on. If it really bothers you turn the tow mode on, it turns off the mds but you will lose your 2nd overdrive 6th gear well actually 5th gear lol.

I've had lots of trucks over many years, most of them with auto trannys. It's a little surprising to hear such varied reports and opinion on this Ram tranny. I do not doubt that some of these reports are actual mechanical and/or software issues not intended in the design and operation of the tranny. However, a good many/most of the complaints seem to be related to the operation as designed. And it seems that some are possibly directing their complaints at the tranny when perhaps it should be directed at the feedback from the MDS.

Regardless, from my experiences with a '12 Express so far, I find this tranny to operate with excellent performance and smoothness. I've found the shifts to be seamless and consistent. This is my first Dodge. All the GM auto trannys I've had over the years didn't perform as well as this one to this point. I drove Crown Vics with a 4.6 for many years with whatever Ford tranny they came with, and I don't really consider that they performed any better than this Ram. In the cases where there's not a mechanical or software malfunction, maybe some are more sensitive to the chararacteristics of the Ram tranny.

I'm not a stars-in-the-eyes kind of vehicle owner. They all have some kind of warts and annoyances. Now, tomorrow I may find a pile aluminum and ATF under the truck after leaving a stop light, but right now I'm liking the tranny.

I have a 2012 4x2 with 3.21 axle. I love the transmission, now that I learned the shift points. I can do about 90mph in 2nd gear which is kinda like having a 4 speed tranny.

When I set my cruse at 68 and I am in 5th running about 1700 rpm. When I set my cruse at 72 and I am in 6th running about 1650. What I do is set my cruse at 72 and let it shift into 6th, then I decel back to about 68 and I run about 1500 rpm in 6th and can get very good mileage.

I actually waited to get a 2012 over the 2011 becauuse of the updated tranny.

My mds stays on alot more than the 2011 I drove with 3.92 axle. I drive alot of highway miles and I wanted the best mpg and I feel like I am getting it.

I did a 90 mile highway trip the other day at 60 mph and got 22mpg. I also did a 150 mile trip with highway and city driving and got 19mpg..

TNC said:

Regardless, from my experiences with a '12 Express so far, I find this tranny to operate with excellent performance and smoothness. I've found the shifts to be seamless and consistent.

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I find it very smooth as well. I like it. I think this trans 'issue' may be a case of personal opinion. What I see is a lot of people comparing this trans to this car or that car. Which is fine. But it's not to say this trans sucks. It's just how you reference a trans you liked or didn't like. I have 1200 miles on my Express so far and MDS stays on when I want it to and goes off when I need it to. It sometimes downshifts when I would not expect it to when I'm trying to go a bit faster, but when I do need it to downshift it always does and I watch that speed needle start goin' up real fast :smileup:. Could be that some people are just being extremely picky? I don't know. If you really don't like it you can give me your truck because I like these 4th gen Rams.

I'm interested to see if people still have the same complaints about the trans after 5k miles, 10k miles, 20k miles, 30k, 50k etc, when it's all broken in and has some miles on it. :thk:

titanman2789 said:

I find it very smooth as well. I like it. I think this trans 'issue' may be a case of personal opinion. What I see is a lot of people comparing this trans to this car or that car. Which is fine. But it's not to say this trans sucks. It's just how you reference a trans you liked or didn't like. I have 1200 miles on my Express so far and MDS stays on when I want it to and goes off when I need it to. It sometimes downshifts when I would not expect it to when I'm trying to go a bit faster, but when I do need it to downshift it always does and I watch that speed needle start goin' up real fast :smileup:. Could be that some people are just being extremely picky? I don't know. If you really don't like it you can give me your truck because I like these 4th gen Rams.

I'm interested to see if people still have the same complaints about the trans after 5k miles, 10k miles, 20k miles, 30k, 50k etc, when it's all broken in and has some miles on it. :thk:

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Actually, I'm comparing mine to my 05 and the 05 was programmed much better than this truck. I don't think there is a mechanical issue, it is just the way they programmed it for gas mileage. My biggest complaint is the MDS kicks in when the transmission already has the engine lugging at 1100 or 1200 rpm at 30-40mph and then the whole truck shudders and the exhaust gets a loud resonance in it and it just feels like something is wrong. If someone is riding with you, you feel like you need to apologize for it. Leaving it in 5th helps since it disables the MDS. If I had taken more than a 10 minute test drive, I probably would not have bought this truck. the trans is annoying and the seats are really uncomfortable- at least for me. Considering how much I loved my 05, I'm a bit disappointed. But the truck does look great...

here is a quote from an article on fuel milage on msnbc and the problem Ford had when they tuned the car for the EPA mileage cycle. I suspect that this is the problem with the transmissions in the 12's with the 6 sp. My truck is so annoying that I'm really considering trading it on something else. I'm constantly either turning the tow/haul on/off or shifting it with the switch on the gear shifter. Not what you would expect from the latest and greatest technology.

But the push for a high EPA rating can occasionally backfire. When J.D. Power and Associates downgraded Ford in its Initial Quality Survey last year, one of the reasons was a balky transmission in the new Ford Focus that had been specifically tweaked to maximize mileage. The maker has since revised the software used to balance fuel economy and ride comfort but it remains to be seen if that will drop Focus below the sought-after 40 mpg figure.