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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
 
#590 ·
I had the latest TSB applied and it actually got worse. We are heading out on vacation today and we are gone for a week, so we dropped the Jeep off for more work. The owner of the dealership and the lead service guy said there are "definitely some tweaks they can make" to help me out, so I'm hopeful they identify and fix the problem.


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#593 · (Edited)
I had the TSB done on my car a few weeks ago and boy was that a bad decision. The jump from 1-2 has gotten worse and now it seems I have a 5-4 bump. I'm going to call the service dept to have it looked at along with the RA4 (service phone, reboots)
 
#594 ·
Just curious if that TSB they performed included the quick relearn procedure. The shifting on mine went to total crap afterwards. After the second quick relearn the service guy said I would notice some harsh shifting as the transmission adjusted. I put up with it for a week and couldn't take the very hard shifting any longer so I rebooted the vehicle by disconnecting the battery. Made a huge difference. Keep us posted on the post service visit.
 
#595 ·
With my most recent reflash (4th), the dealership supposedly did a "full-relearn" according to the work order...didn't do a damn thing. I was getting the usual rough downshift from 2nd to 1st crawling in rt. 93 traffic right after I picked it up from the dealership.

I submitted my paperwork to a Lemon law attorney the other day...I'll keep everyone informed.
 
#599 ·
I gave up on my Grand Cherokee, the transmission must be faulty by design, I have no other explanation, otherwise Fiat/Jeep/Chrysler would have fixed it by now with all these TSB's.
It's the worst automatic transmission-engine combination I ever had, sure you can deactivate Eco, put in Sports, use paddle shifters but to be honest who does that on a constant basis?
 
#600 ·
I can't understand why they can't get it to shift like the Ram 1500. I drove one with the Hemi and 8 speed combo and it was flawless. Not a single rough shift up or down. It was kind of a weird sensation actually, my mind was so used to the 6-5 clunk that when it didn't happen it really caught my attention. I'm baffled as to why the programming for the Grand Cherokee is so far off.


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#609 ·
Took my 2014 V6 Summit in a couple of weeks ago to get a TSB done since all of a sudden at around 2500 miles the downshift from 2nd to 1st was getting bad. Jerky type shift. Had it done and drove it for a bit. That issue seems to have been fixed, however now when the trans is cold, and by cold I mean first thing in the morning and not necessarily freezing cold it does a very hard shift from 2nd to 3rd.

Anytime I gave it gas to merge or pass someone the shift would jerk you in the Jeep. Even my wife noticed it and she isn't picky on problems like I am.
So off to the dealer it went again. The Jeep has been at the dealer since last Thursday. Their tech looked it over and I was informed they were able to replicate the hard shift and contacted Chrysler engineers to assist. The first thing they are going to do is change the valve body. Hopefully I get the GC back tomorrow or by Saturday the latest.

It sucks since I love the truck and was extremely happy with the way it shifted from the day I got it last November. I traded a 14 Limited hemi for this and was not disappointed going from the V8 to V6 performance wise since for how I use it, it feels almost the same.

The dealer has been great so no complaints there at all. I got a rental (v6 Charger woot! lol) from them and they have answered all my questions. I did call and opened a case with customer care and they were real pleasant to deal with. The rep even escalated the issue.

I really hope the valve body fixes the issue but just in case I opened the case anyway. The charger has the v6 and the 8 speed trans that I imagine is in the GC. That doesn't seem to have the shifting problems.

We'll see what happens
 
#610 · (Edited)
Try to get whatever you can out of the customer service dept. if you plan on keeping that GC. I had them add onto my VIN 3yrs of free oil changes to help make up for the aggravation I went through in my 2014.

In the end it didn't matter because I was bought out my '14 and swapped into a '15. Should be any day now that i take delivery.


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#613 ·
I just received a "Please help us design your next car" e-mail from Jeep asking me to take a survey. A lot of the survey consisted on my opinions of my current vehicle, service visits, etc. It was interesting how many questions were specifically around transmission shifting. If anyone interprets the results of these surveys and didn't find that mine centered around transmission shifting issues, they must be dumb as rocks. It asked me if I would like to be contacted so we'll see if that actually happens.
 
#620 ·
I have not yet updated my 2014 v6 transmission firmware to the latest revision. I do lots of suburban driving at speeds of 45 and less. For example, my transmission could go into 8th gear as early as 44 mph and hold it as low as 40. This is great for economy. I am curious if the latest firmware changes the shift points when just cruising without rapid acceleration. If it does, I may not want to update. The only thing I would really want changed is the cold shifting. It holds gears too long when cold. Often, I will use the paddle shifters as a work around. Anyone notice if the shift points at cruising or light acceleration were changed? Is the cold shifting improved? Thanks for your help.


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#621 ·
Just back from having the radiator flushed and coolant replaced after finding sludge in coolant bottle. Apparently they put what tJA are calling a Leak down pressure test pill at the factory...

They obviously applied the flash to mine as it will go into 8th as low as 70km per hr. At 100kms she is sitting on 1600rpm where a before it was at 17-1750rpm.

28,000 kms on it and told them yesterday at a sit down with the Dealer Principal how much I loved it specifically said No Problems Ever with the transmission.

Left hand doesn't talk to the right and I was preoccupied with the above mentioned problem and they flashed it.

It felt weird cause I just towed a camper trailer around Australia and it was perfect. Now it feels almost like the 9sp Cherokee loaner.... Feels like it could get caught out easy and labouring on occasions.
I kept telling my self as I coasted into built up areas from hwy speeds right down to 40kms in 7th gear.

If you give it a bit of stick she changes smooth enough.

Yes and where I live Lots of hills and Mt ranges soon as it hit a hill back to 7th...it holds onto 8th now for much longer.

I'll be chasing the Dealer tomorrow for written info on this mysterious pressure leak down pill, the factory have been putting in some of our vehicles, when I do I be quissing them as to the refresh. I'm hoping to see a major improvement in fuel consumption.
 
#622 · (Edited)
I think I'm going to finally give in and get the jeep in for service again. They did the last flash update along with a few recalls but the transmission is worse than last time. Plus the clock won't stay correct (on GPS or not) and getting the service phone message (I'm on the latest 14.25 software). I do really like the jeep but the tranny thing is just getting old.

Update: I chatted with a support person about everything and I have to make an appointment to have it diagnosed before they will move up my problem to a case manager, has to be within the last 30 days I guess. Next Tuesday I have them looking at it along with P67 recall.
 
#623 ·
I can't complain at all. Jeep escalated my case right away from customer care. They kept in touch consistently. The dealer right away got a hold of the Chrysler engineers and without delay went ahead to change the valve body.

Case manager called me about closing the case and I told her sure, It seems fine. If there is another issue in the future we can reopen or open a new one. The notes of this case stay in the system.

I did ask her if there is anything they can do for my inconvenience of being without my Jeep for a week. She looked and said I already have the lifetime and right now I have 1 year/2 free oil changes. So she ended up giving me 4 more years or 16 oil changes.

I would have been happy with 4 years 8 oil changes but I guess I will be changing my oil every 3 months no matter the miles lol

Again, overall my experience was a good one.
 
#626 · (Edited)
Several posts in this thread, commented on seeing the trans shift speeds The only way I have been able to see that, is to pluu the upshift paddle when cruising above 45-50mph. It then shows an "8", and as I slow my speed, I can see it drop to 7, 6, etc. Of course, once I begine to accel again, I have to either manually upshift through the gears, or put it back in "Drive".

Is there any way to leave it in Drive, and see the gear attained? Someone told me that the current gear should display as a small number beside the D. But I see nothing like that on mine.
 
#627 ·
When the car is not moving, you need to go into the EVIC display and change the option to give you the D and then the gear next to it. It should be also listed in your owners manual on how to do it.
 
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#631 · (Edited)
On mine it has fixed everything. And trust me I am constantly keeping an eye out for one little off shift.

If anything changes I will let you guys know as soon as it happens. I did take it out yesterday on a longer drive and it drove great.

Up...down... slowing down or giving her gas to merge into traffic. When theybdid the first and only flash it fixed one issue but (2 to 1 shift problem) but made the other (2 to 3 ) horrible. Now it is fine.

I would open a case with customer care if you haven't already as well.
 
#632 ·
How does one know the valve body needs replacement?
Typically I'm thinking the check engine light would come on? It does come on with the slightest issue with anything, doesn't it?
Replacing could create other issues so I'm a bit scared and would the dealer even attempt to change it?...
 
#636 ·
I had my tranny re-flashed and the valvebody relearned. As of this morning, going from 1-2 has been alot better. I wouldn't say everything is buttery smooth like the dealer made it sound over the phone but it is better. Downshifting seems a tad better but nothing I would say totally fixed the issues. I'll give it a week or so and if it doesn't get better then I'll open a case with FCA.
 
#637 ·
The real concern here is that they really do not have a fix yet for these transmissions, software updates, and new valve bodies have not corrected the problems as yet, even those who had their transmissions replaced seem to be having the same problems as well as a few that have used the lemon law to get a new 2015, I think we either have to wait and see if they come up with a real cure, or just live with a great car with a a crappy transmission
 
#640 · (Edited)
I wouldn't buy another Chrysler/Jeep product solely for the poor service I've received from the 4 dealerships I've been too in my area.

Night and day compared to the awesome service my wife gets with her 2014 BMW 328i xDrive...which has only been back to the dealership for oil changes.

Either a 2016 BMW 330i xDrive (2016) or a 2015/2016 Mercedes C300 sport 4Matic will be my next vehicle.
 
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