Many drivers are excited that the V8 HEMI engine has returned to Ram trucks. However, owners of 2026 Ram 1500 models equipped with the HEMI engine are showing signs of transmission issues. Did the engine come back to life with new problems? 

2026 RAM 1500 HEMI owners report weird transmission problems 

Many fans jumped on the 2026 Ram 1500 after the beloved V8 HEMI engine came back to life. However, early reports indicate that something might be going on with the transmission. 

Some owners of these trucks have bought trucks with the HEMI engines multiple times in a row and are noticing hard shifts. One owner shares, “The 26 HEMI has a jerky down shift, like you shifted down a manual transmission. It’s not as intense, and it’s very minor, but noticeable.” 

Other drivers report that they’ve noticed the same thing at low speeds while coming to a stop at traffic lights or stop signs. Plus, owners shared that the transmission is laggy, and it feels like the auto start/stop timing is off. People fear that the calibration is off. 

According to Torque News, the Ram 1500 has an adaptive transmission. It’s designed to learn individual driving styles and will adjust to breaking habits and throttle input. As the transmission adjusts, it could feel rough for a while. 

However, as you break in the truck, the problem goes away. Some owners shared that they experienced rough shifting at first, but as their system adapted to their driving styles, the issue went away. 

Unfortunately, it’s a little too early to tell. These are brand new trucks that haven’t been put through the paces yet. A recall for a transmission problem could be on the way, or drivers simply have to get through the discomfort until the system adapts.