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If your 8spd trans is rough, put your hand up

137K views 757 replies 150 participants last post by  BHBHANY 
#1 ·
I keep seeing these rough 8 speed transmission threads, but both at the dealership and when I called Chrysler Corporate they tell me that they have NO idea this is a problem. So I'd like to get a list going and see if it's substantial. If you have a rough or unsmooth 8 speed transmission, reply here-just reply with what model you have.


as for me:
2014 GJC Limited 3.6l
 
#504 ·
Heres the latest in my 2014 SRT trans problems.... Jeep has now been at the dealership over a week.... Second trans valve body installed, now told that there is a problem with the new valve body being able to be programed to work with my Jeep... Contacted the SRT hotline and I have added them to the mix....Dealer says they have contacted Chrysler and have been waiting 2 days so far, for them to respond with a possible fix, SRT Hotline said would provide me with an update last Friday, but so far haven't heard a thing from them as was promised.... My service advisor advised on Fri, that he would be away until tues do to holiday.... So looks like my Jeep will remain out of service for at least another week, just wonderful����
 
#507 ·
My SRT has been in four times for a clunky 6-5 downshift.

1st visit got it a new valve body. No change
2nd visit confirmed all software was up to date. No change
3rd visit had transmission replaced. Seemed better for a couple hundred miles. Then back to the clunky downshift.
It's now in for the fourth time and I don't think they know what to do with it. I'm hoping they buy it back, oh also both front headlights have moisture in them now as well. Sigh.

Only about 2,250 miles on it at this point. I'm very disappointed so say the least. I wasn't even going to drive the thing in the salt this winter, but the shine is off the apple now.


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#508 ·
Again, lets see, now on second new valve body, with all the latest updates.... Is it better, yes, would I discribe it as fixed, not really... Still exibits some strange down shifts from time to time, probably still in it's learning mode... Last dealer visit, they had it for 9 days... Said they couldn't get the software programs to take, finally they said it turned out to be a problem with there programing tool.... Not sure if the AC repairs are working right yet, seems like when in auto, nothing happens, have to go into climate screen and work it from there, but to be fair, hasn't really been warm enough outside to verify.....my trans has acted so different after each repair attempt, I don't know really how it should be acting anymore.... Also climbed under my Jeep, because it smelled like hot trans fluid, after last dealer fix, to look for any leaks or spilled fluid, none found, but did find that there was no longer anything installed to support the transmission fluid lines, just hanging, and found that a cable actuator was not connected to my trans, just hanging next to where it connects.... Great workmanship..... I took care of both issues myself, one required that I epoxy a threaded stud with a nut, into a non treaded hole in the side of the trans, possibly on the new valve body, where my old one probably was treaded, this allowed me to re- hang the fluid lines, as they once were.... Sure glad I took time to get under my car and look..... As someone said, all this takes away from what otherwise is a vehicle that I Love, but all these problems certainly detract from my ownership experiance on a car with only 7k miles on it....
 
#512 ·
I think your questions are valid, and I would look to a Lemon Law Attorney for answeres and to protect your intrests... All attorney fees are paid by the vehicle manufacturer, not you, so you are not out anything by contacting one.... Just do an internet Lemon Law search to find one.... Good luck
 
#516 ·
I think your questions are valid, and I would look to a Lemon Law Attorney for answers and to protect your interests... All attorney fees are paid by the vehicle manufacturer, not you, so you are not out anything by contacting one.... Just do an internet Lemon Law search to find one.... Good luck
Thanks for the info. Sounds like it would be less costly for Chrysler in the long run to just conduct a buy back with me instead of going through my lawyer.

Fingers crossed.
 
#519 · (Edited)
Came home today to a message from Chrysler Customer Care saying to call them back at 1-800-992-1997...so I'm thinking great, resolution has been reached, and I get my buy back. Boy was I wrong.

I call the number they left me...remembering back from our last conversation when I told them to call me after 4:00PM on the weekdays since I don't get home from work until then...I noticed the time stamp of the message, 11:15AM.

So I get this rep that has all the personality of a small soap dish, and he tells me that because the last time I was at the dealership it was for a radiator replacement, and that no transmission issues were mentioned, I did not qualify for a buy back. No kidding I said, I started to have rough downshifting yet again after the radiator replacement in January, so I called you guys at Chrysler Customer Care yet again to lodge yet another new complaint, and I was given yet another new case number. So what do I do now?

What was his response?...he repeats the same bullshit line to me yet again word for word. Now I know why the original person called me early in the afternoon...because they are cowards at Chrysler Customer Care and didn't want to deal with me personally.

So I just made yet another appointment at my current dealership for March 16th to have the latest TSB reflash done (21-004-15, dated Jan 24th), and I will now have documented proof of three or more repairs to the transmission...meeting the criteria of Lemon Law for my State.

Fu$K you Chrysler, you had your chance to resolve this amicably, now I go the lawyer route...which in the end will cost you even more money.

:madder:
 
#520 ·
I'm still waiting for my case manager to call me back. She was supposed to call me back yesterday or today after she talked to my district manager. My district manager is now claiming my SRT drives just like all the rest of the SRT's. Funny, they put in a new valve body, software update, and then a new transmission and its performance has not changed. I think they are avoiding me hoping I'll go away. I'm going to give them a couple more days then I guess I'll start looking for a lemon law attorney. Mines been in 4 times now to address my hard 6-5 downshift.


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#522 ·
I have done at least five visits since purchasing my 2014 JGC Limited and had a transmission firmware update on each visit. Overall there were subtle improvements. The last visit in January 2015 included the latest update at that time and quick re-learn. Since then the transmission hangs onto gears longer but things have really gone downhill in the last month. I set my cruise at 75mph on a recent trip and the transmission never left 7th gear and I was on a stretch of highway that was either flat of slightly downhill. I hit the accelerator to downshift it into 6th and then let it go normally back to 75mph. Only then it would go into 8th gear. It did that multiple times on the trip. Also something new is when I come to a complete stop, about a second after that the transmission has one noticeable "bump" that is a little like someone "tapped" my bumper from behind. Put in a call to Jeep yesterday to get a case manager assigned before taking it back to the dealership. I'm pretty much done with firmware update guesses at this point.
 
#524 ·
I think we are all in the same ball park, I really don't think anyone knows what to do with these transmissions, and its all trial and error repairs being tried... Sadly it's a real problem for an otherwise great vehicle.... From this forum, even transmission replacements are not fixing the problems, nor are any software updates so far.... Don't know what the answer will be, for me, no point to keep taking it back to the dealer, I see three choices, invoke the lemon law, keep driving it until they possibly come up with a real cure (live with it), or keep taking it back and allow them to keep trying other things which means they have my new car more than I do and a lot of inconvience for me..... I think for me, I will just live with it until I read that someone has actually found a real permanant solution.... Mines no longer so terrible, but it certainly is also not as it should be..... Bummer to be sure on a $75k vehicle
 
#525 ·
Came to a complete stop annnnd someone just bumped my rear bumper. I look back,no one there. Fml. GC 14 sitting on 10k and it's been doing this for the past 6 months or so. Doesn't matter if it's cold or hot. I recently reinstalled the OEM intake, thinking it could have been the K&N intake. Now I'm waiting to see if it was in fact the intake. Its only been 50 miles since the intake swap. If this continues, I'll have to bring it in for a flash. If it continues, sorry Crysler, but this is the 5th time I've brought it in and in the state of IL, 4 or more times and under 12,000 miles(or less than 1 yr whichever comes first). Lemon.


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#526 · (Edited)
Make sure you have all service receipts proving you were in for the same problem. Hopefully you've opened a case with Customer Care each time you had the jeep in for service. Because without a case history in their system (showing repeat visits to a dealer) and how dissatisfied you are with your Jeep, they will just throw some free oil changes or something along those lines at you, hoping to shush you up. DO NOT accept anything they try to offer you, in their eyes it's you saying that your ok with the problem.

I've been dealing with Chrysler's Resolution Department (one step higher than Customer Care) for the past four months regarding an electrical phenomenon and transmission issue. In my case, I am only seven months into my lease and have lost possession of my jeep a total of 9 weeks!! (once for 6 consecutive weeks :mad: )

I literally have a binder full of service invoices, rental car agreements, phone call logs and emails regarding my case. It's totally insane I have to go to this extreme to prove a point to them. My case JUST went in for a "final resolution" decision yesterday and I should have an answer next week.

So trust me when I say... you won't be able to just call them and get a new car because it qualifies for your state Lemon Law. You would have to either open a case with customer care and pray they do anything for you OR get a lawyer to bypass everything I've been through.

You can PM me if you have any questions regarding the process.

Good luck!


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#527 ·
Well after 3 reflashes (latest TSB 21-004-15 performed on 3/16/15), my transmission STILL downshifts rough into 1st when crawling in bumper to bumper traffic or when slowly pulling into a parking space...the feeling is like someone just tapped my rear bumper, and the hesitation came back when accelerating at WOT when first merging onto the highway or when passing a vehicle at highway speeds.

On top of this I'm now smelling antifreeze again in the passenger compartment when driving (after engine is warmed up). My radiator was just replaced under warranty on 1/7/15. My next appointment at the dealership to hopefully get this leak fixed is 3/26/15.

I have logged complaints with Chrysler Customer Care as each problem arises, and been given multiple case numbers.
 
#528 ·
I have maybe 3500 miles on mine since they did the trans adaptive relearn procedure. I had the harsh 2-1 downshift and 2-3 upshift. The relearn stopped the harsh upshift immediately but it took about 350 miles of driving for the harsh downshifting to stop. It's been perfect since then. Hopefully it continues that way.

You have to give the relearn some time to take effect, it's not an instantaneous fix to the problem. And yes, I realize that this (as well as everything else tried) hasn't solved the issue for some.

If you're up to speed on your state lemon law and what qualifies a vehicle as such you shouldn't need an attorney. On a buyback, you're dealing directly with Chrysler... and once started, the dealer is technically no longer in the picture. That's not to say the dealer can't be helpful to you with pointers on the process but they are under no obligation to help.

I had problems with an older GC. Chrysler contacted me within the 10 day period after receiving my letter requesting a buy back under our lemon law. They didn't question the issue I was having, as I assume they had already talked to the dealer about it before calling me. They simply asked if I wanted a new vehicle or my money back. I stepped up a model year and paid the difference in MSRP, which was fair.

Ironically, the only issue I had with the whole process was with the lame assed company that Chrysler contracted with to handle the buy back paperwork. They acted like the whole thing was coming out of their own pocket. I informed them that the buy back was a done deal with Chrysler and that there was nothing for them to negotiate over. After going back and forth with them a few times and getting nowhere, one call to the Chrysler zone rep fixed that.
 
#529 ·
Are you sure it's anti freeze your smelling, after they last worked on my Trans, I had a strong smell of ATF Fluid coming thru my vents for about a week, looked under car and found no evidence of any spilled or leaking ATF fluid.... As to the shifting, I really don't think they have a real fix, they just keep trying different things to try and make us go way
 
#532 ·
Are you sure it's anti freeze your smelling?
100% positive...same exact smell from when my raditaor went. I've also noticed that the level in the expansion tank is a little lower. I cannot find a leak per sey, I'm hoping a pressure test performed at the dealership will find it.

As to the shifting, I really don't think they have a real fix, they just keep trying different things to try and make us go way
I agree. At this point though I've deceided to just ask Chrysler/Jeep for a refund because I too would not settle for the same exact vehicle...I'd want to pay the difference and step up to a Summit...but I'm afraid that since I've had transmission issues with two 2014 GCs now, I wouldn't want to chance a third. I've already asked Chrysler Customer Care for another "Buy Back" since it's been to the dealership three times now for the same issue...that and I can replicate the rough downshift anytime I want, and just recently I received an email stating they want to talk to me.

Fingers crossed again!
 
#530 ·
I too went from a buttery smooth transmission when I bought the car into harsh downshift from 3-2, that later escalated into extremely rough upshift from 2-3-4 and downshift 3-2-1, got TSB done that mostly fixed the problem except a not too harsh downshift 2-1 that I just learned to live with after I went back and ask for a new TSB and they told me the car was working as intended. :(

Until a few weeks ago, I took the car for its schedule maintenance, I just told them to updated everything but did not mention the transmission ,neither did they, they did not disconnect the battery.

When I got the car back I didn't even check for it until I was in very heavy traffic a few days ago and after a while I notice that I wasn't getting harsh downshifts at all. Been trying to replicate everything that would cause a harsh downshift and no problem at all.

So I guess you really do have to give the relearn procedure some time, but it was only until I relaxed and stop caring that I just started driving my way instead of trying to avoid the harsh downshift that I believe finally let the car sorts things out.

Hope this gives a glimmer of hope to everyone cause I know how annoying it is.
 
#533 ·
While I haven't read all 45 pages in this thread, I've read quite a few, and I have a couple basic questions that a new owner and forum user needs some help with:

I see references to a "reset" and "pulling a fuse" - can someone point me to a thread or Chrysler TSB showing how to do this?

I see talk about updating the transmission software - is there any way to know what software version my car currently has and if there is a newer version out there (short of driving to the dealership)?
 
#541 ·
Some have had luck disconnecting the battery and pumping the brakes a few times to discard any remaining charge in the system. Some have reported an improvement others only found it to be a temporary solution. I tried it several times and had no improvement.

As far as the software version goes. You will have to take it to a dealer to verify what version you have. I wish it would show it on the screen at start up, but I don't think Chrysler wants you to know what version you have. Just my .02.


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#542 ·
My JGC is back from the dealership and I have graduated into the class of transmission valve body replacements. When they called to tell me it was ready to pick up I asked them why they replaced the valve and what was wrong with it. He told me they found a short in it. When I talked to another service guy at the dealership he mentioned nothing about a short and said their is a TSB out that mentions replacing the valve body. They also updated the PCM and performed a quck re-learn. We will see what happens in the next couple of months.

While checking out I asked him about their experience with 2014 JGC transmission issues. He said they have not received in a lot of service visits and really none on the 2015 models. However he and another guy standing there agreed the 14/15 Cherokees are a nightmare. Pretty sad.
 
#545 ·
Good news! Got a call tonight from Jeep Resolution. They're going to go ahead and replace my SRT! I should be getting a call in 6-10 days from another person to work out the details. I'm just ecstatic and yes I asked her if this was an April fools day prank.


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