Dodge Nitro: Auto Trans Issues (threads merged)

135220 Views 174 Replies 87 Participants Last post by rickaren, Aug 6, 2021

djdub

Discussion Starter · Nov 19, 2006

Does anyone else notice that the auto trans seems to have a hard time finding the right gear sometimes? It feel as though (when decelerating) that it almost skips a gear and makes the change feel a lot harsher.

1 - 20 of 175 Posts

Nitro_93727

· #2 · Nov 20, 2006

Re: Auto Trans Issues

Yes, it seems sometimes it keeps jumping up a gear and back down, almost like a vacuum line is leaking.. And sometimes in a parking lot it shifts hard into 2nd only doing about 10 mph..

UN4GTBL

· #3 · Nov 20, 2006

Re: Auto Trans Issues

Our van is really, really rough in its shifts, like ufeel ur in a manual car doing wot shifts, but really ur just going from 30km to like 20 km, and the van jerks hard. I should hope that the Nitro doesnt have this problem, gotta get this checked out i guess...

LVMYNITRO

· #4 · Nov 20, 2006

Re: Auto Trans Issues

I haven't experienced any hard shifting or anything in the 800 miles so far. The one thing I have noticed that seems very different from any other automatic transmission vehicle I've ever had is that it rolls back when starting off on a slope. I haven't had a chance yet thanks to traffic (LOL) to see just how far back it would roll but it seems considerable.

And when parked on a down slope, going into reverse seems to take a bit for the transmission to finally shift and grab to move backwards.

djdub

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 21, 2006

Re: Auto Trans Issues

Nitro_93727 said:
Yes, it seems sometimes it keeps jumping up a gear and back down, almost like a vacuum line is leaking.. And sometimes in a parking lot it shifts hard into 2nd only doing about 10 mph..

Yes, that's exactly it. I guess I'll have it looked when I take it in for an oil change.

Nitro_93727

· #6 · Nov 22, 2006

Re: Auto Trans Issues

I will as well

4x4

· #7 · Nov 26, 2006

Re: Auto Trans Issues

I have test driven several automatics and they all had the same problems with the transmission shifting hard, finding a gear, etc. I asked several dealers and they said that there might be a problem with the auto transmissions on the Nitro's... That's why a bought a 6 speed manual transmission and it drives alot smoother and have had no problems with it!

jacksmatrixxx

· #8 · Nov 30, 2006

trans

auto trans
any one noticed a whine from trans on 1st and second gear

jacksmatrixxx

· #9 · Nov 30, 2006

Re: Auto Trans Issues

i was told the engine and trans were from the jeep liberty or is the trans actually new for the nitro

swifty808

· #10 · Nov 30, 2006

Re: Auto Trans Issues

i think i'll go with the Standard transmission so my gf cant drive it

sdoormannn

· #11 · Nov 30, 2006

Re: trans

jacksmatrixxx said:
auto trans
any one noticed a whine from trans on 1st and second gear

yes i have had mine now for 3 weeks,same problem, there is a fix out for this , just got mine fixed,if u call dealership and give them these #'s they will fix it under warranty= tsb#18-037-06,
there is also a problem with some having thottle body leak the tsb# for this is 09-009-06, they fixed mine no problem they didnt know about them yet ,trans much better,smoother shifting to.

one thing i am having a problem with is engine surging under light throttle currious if u are having that problem?

thanks,bill

DodgeBrickHouse

· #12 · Nov 30, 2006

Re: trans

I think I may be having the same problem. When driving on highway, it feels like the Nitro is jerking back and forth even though I'm at a steady speed and the tach isn't serging.

At first I thought the road was rough and I'm not use to the solid rear axle feel of driving.

Nitro_93727

· #13 · Nov 30, 2006

Re: trans

Yes that is part of my problem as well.

sdoormannn said:
yes i have had mine now for 3 weeks,same problem, there is a fix out for this , just got mine fixed,if u call dealership and give them these #'s they will fix it under warranty= tsb#18-037-06,
there is also a problem with some having thottle body leak the tsb# for this is 09-009-06, they fixed mine no problem they didnt know about them yet ,trans much better,smoother shifting to.

one thing i am having a problem with is engine surging under light throttle currious if u are having that problem?

thanks,bill

Ragamuffin

· #14 · Nov 30, 2006 (Edited)

Re: Auto Trans Issues (threads merged)

You know, all this trans

quirkiness makes me wonder

[well not surprised though, the way so many Companies just want to hurry up and get a product out to market and worry about fixes later] about DCX [ besides others] ! I thought new cars/concepts were thoroughly tested..gruelling tests??? I've heard for example that Subaru or is it Toyota...like test a vehicle for I believe a huge amount of miles {worth [maybe a million miles] } to really see what works or what brakes and work out defects and other things ??

???

jacksmatrixxx

· #15 · Dec 1, 2006

Re: Auto Trans Issues (threads merged)

yes i have noticed this if i let off the brake in drive and idle its jerky,thanks for the tsb #s

NitroMama

· #16 · Dec 6, 2006

Transmission Problem?

My husband thinks I am crazy but I drive this car more and have noticed some things with my Nitro that bother me.
1) Sometimes it feels like the car is studdering, like it kind of jerks a little like it is running out of gas. It only does it once in a while and the car is warm when it does it.
2) The dang turn signals stick! You can put the left blinker on, turn the corner and the lever goes back to the center spot but the blinker keeps blinking, so you try to turn the right one on, move the lever back to the center spot and the right one keeps blinking! Weirdest thing!

Of course I took it back to the dealership last week and the guy in the service department got in and went for a ride with me, would the car act up? NO! So we set up a service call for it to drop it off and get a loaner for the day and we cancled it because now it does not do it!

oh! and
3) PLEASE let your car warm up in the winter time with the nitro before you drive it! I failed to do so one morning and it took me over a half of a block to come to a complete stop because the brakes were very stiff! Scared the poop out of me!

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mgmlot93

· #17 · Dec 6, 2006

re: Transmission Problem?

I haven't noticed any studdering, but I have had that turn signal problem. Unfortunately it seems that it is one of very many problems with this car - someone seems to have a new problem pop up about every day! Good luck.

Snake21j

· #18 · Dec 6, 2006

re: Transmission Problem?

There are several treads concerning the Nitro stalling or having it feel like it is surging while driving....Drivers describing symptoms like yours

Here is a thread that gives the dealer code to fix the known problems with the Throttle and Transmission, which seems to be the reasons for the problems you described.

Sorry, can't help you on the turn signal...maybe someone else can help there.

http://www.dodge-nitro.com/dodge-nit...p?t=163&page=2

Jason

Nitroboy

· #19 · Dec 6, 2006

re: Transmission Problem?

I have also noticed a shuddering at 35 mph. It feels like it is digging up tree stumps. No noise. I think the transmission is trying to find the correct gear and 35 mph is a bad speed. I will ignore it if I can.

pspc271

· #20 · Dec 6, 2006

re: Transmission Problem?

what about the head lights, anyone have a problem with them. Mine only shine about 25' down the road. On back roads its almost impossible to see anything.

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