To be honest its well documented in the forums that almost all 2015 Chryslers on all models experience a soft shift to a hard shift from 4th to 5th gear and also from 2nd to 3rd gear. It is normal and I'm sorry to say but you'll have to maybe live with it. My 200c does the exact same thing. Granted its a soft to mild shift nothing hard but I always know when its on 3rd or 5th gear.
Harsh 4th to 5th gear
Hi,
I have a 2015 200S 2.4. Since I purchased the vehicle with 18,000 miles, it's had a really hard shift from 4th to 5th gear. This generally only happens when the trans temp is at 165. It took several trips to the dealership for them to recognize there was a problem, which they finally did. So far they've flashed, re-flashed, replaced the valvebody, and ultimately the transmission with a rebuilt one. Now - they're once again, denying my concerns. I've reached out to Chrysler and they can't help unless there is a "diagnosis." Vehicle is at 42,000 miles now - about 10,000 on the current transmission. Has anyone else had the same problem and have any idea what might be going on here? Tips on getting the dealership to help?
I have a 2015 200S 2.4. Since I purchased the vehicle with 18,000 miles, it's had a really hard shift from 4th to 5th gear. This generally only happens when the trans temp is at 165. It took several trips to the dealership for them to recognize there was a problem, which they finally did. So far they've flashed, re-flashed, replaced the valvebody, and ultimately the transmission with a rebuilt one. Now - they're once again, denying my concerns. I've reached out to Chrysler and they can't help unless there is a "diagnosis." Vehicle is at 42,000 miles now - about 10,000 on the current transmission. Has anyone else had the same problem and have any idea what might be going on here? Tips on getting the dealership to help?
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Sadly, mine does the same thing and this is transmission #3 for me. Transmission is two years old and the hard 4-5 shift didn't start for about a year after it was installed. It doesn't do it all the time, perhaps 10% of the 4-5 shifts, but when it does do it, it feels like the car has been hit in the rear by another vehicle. It is actually more pronounced than a manual transmission if your foot slips off the clutch. I can't force it to do the hard shift and the dealer never drives it enough to make it do it, so they can't document it. I am just living with it. it is no wonder to me that FCA is in trouble. They can't even fix the cars that they have on the road right now.
I didn't know FCA "is in trouble" ?Sadly, mine does the same thing and this is transmission #3 for me. Transmission is two years old and the hard 4-5 shift didn't start for about a year after it was installed. It doesn't do it all the time, perhaps 10% of the 4-5 shifts, but when it does do it, it feels like the car has been hit in the rear by another vehicle. It is actually more pronounced than a manual transmission if your foot slips off the clutch. I can't force it to do the hard shift and the dealer never drives it enough to make it do it, so they can't document it. I am just living with it. it is no wonder to me that FCA is in trouble. They can't even fix the cars that they have on the road right now.
Total sales are up year to year.
They are profitable.
Sadly, any mass produced vehicle can have problems. With the 9 speed transmission, they have tweaked and modified the software, fixed wiring issues and otherwise smoothed out some of annoying problems.
But not everyone is happy.
I still think it's one of the best cars our family has owned.
Does the transmission shift differently ?
Yes, but mostly when cold.
I would buy another one ( if they made them still ) in a heartbeat.
To that I'd add that I've personally never been unhappy with the way my transmission shifts. Mine has shifted just fine 99.5% of the time (approximatelyI didn't know FCA "is in trouble" ?
Total sales are up year to year.
They are profitable.
Sadly, any mass produced vehicle can have problems. With the 9 speed transmission, they have tweaked and modified the software, fixed wiring issues and otherwise smoothed out some of annoying problems.
But not everyone is happy.
I still think it's one of the best cars our family has owned.
Does the transmission shift differently ?
Yes, but mostly when cold.
I would buy another one ( if they made them still ) in a heartbeat.
). While there apparently is variation in performance from unit to unit, which may speak to less than perfect manufacturing quality control, and while some dealers aren't as good as they ought to be at addressing issues, overall it is a well engineered transmission. As I pointed out in an earlier post it is used in many Jeep models that continue to sell very well. Not to mention other well regarded vehicle manufacturers who use essentially the same ZF designed 9 speed transmission.
I've had 3 Chrysler 200's. The first was a 2013 200S V6, I traded that for my current 15' 200 S AWD and I leased a 2013 200 Limited V6 (previous gen. "Limited" equates to the current "C" for features and options etc...) for my wife. All three from the same dealer and salesperson.
The 15 200 S AWD has been the best one so far. It shifts fine, always has.
If they still made them, who knows, I would most likely buy a 4th one a few years from now.
FCA is doing just fine regardless of if I agree with the fact they stopped making the 200 or any mid-sized or compact sedan.
The 15 200 S AWD has been the best one so far. It shifts fine, always has.
If they still made them, who knows, I would most likely buy a 4th one a few years from now.
FCA is doing just fine regardless of if I agree with the fact they stopped making the 200 or any mid-sized or compact sedan.
I appreciate your response. I must admit - I had trouble finding anyone else with this same issue, even here on the forums. That being said - I feel like what you describe doesn't feel like what happens with mine. It honestly feels like the engine does not cut power for the shift and it just "bangs" into gear. In addition - I've heard mechanical grinding on a 5-4 downshift several times. It irritates me to "live with it" - I know several other 200 owners who DO NOT have this problem. I read in a different thread that asking the dealership to do a PROXI alignment might help, not sure if I'm willing to pay out of pocket for something that "might" help. Theboss1242 - have you ever taken yours to the dealership for the 4th to 5th gear shift?
This seems more like what I feel - I will say, it shifts smooth if I let off the gas when it shifts. I'm beyond upset with my dealership as the last time it was in the shop I got a voicemail saying "we're feeling what you're feeling - not sure what it is", then the "service manager" calls and says "we can't recreate the issue." What has been done to yours to resolve the issue so far?Sadly, mine does the same thing and this is transmission #3 for me. Transmission is two years old and the hard 4-5 shift didn't start for about a year after it was installed. It doesn't do it all the time, perhaps 10% of the 4-5 shifts, but when it does do it, it feels like the car has been hit in the rear by another vehicle. It is actually more pronounced than a manual transmission if your foot slips off the clutch. I can't force it to do the hard shift and the dealer never drives it enough to make it do it, so they can't document it. I am just living with it. it is no wonder to me that FCA is in trouble. They can't even fix the cars that they have on the road right now.
This ZF is the worst trans I've ever had on any cars, always rough, 2-3 kicks, paddle shifting is useless, it just revs up the engine instead of providing engine braking, I know, rev matching... useless feature, and if you accelerate hard and then need to brake hard, the trans will keep pushing the car like it doesn't know you're braking, so for 2-3 secs, it's like you're stepping on the brake and gas pedals at the same time, try it if you don't believe me.
Car is fine, engine is great, power is good, that all gets 9, but the trans gets a 4/10, can live with it, so I do, but I don't love it either.
Car is fine, engine is great, power is good, that all gets 9, but the trans gets a 4/10, can live with it, so I do, but I don't love it either.
I live in the Bahamas. We dont have a dealership. So I just live with it. Mines is more subtle I guess. Never heard mechanical grinding. Sometime when I brake it has this weird tendecy to slow down then gives a little jolt then slows down again
I appreciate your response. I must admit - I had trouble finding anyone else with this same issue, even here on the forums. That being said - I feel like what you describe doesn't feel like what happens with mine. It honestly feels like the engine does not cut power for the shift and it just "bangs" into gear. In addition - I've heard mechanical grinding on a 5-4 downshift several times. It irritates me to "live with it" - I know several other 200 owners who DO NOT have this problem. I read in a different thread that asking the dealership to do a PROXI alignment might help, not sure if I'm willing to pay out of pocket for something that "might" help. Theboss1242 - have you ever taken yours to the dealership for the 4th to 5th gear shift?
Sometime when I brake it has this weird tendecy to slow down then gives a little jolt then slows down again
so... when you hit the brakes it's supposed to slow down, if it doesn't there might be an issue. My point exactly when I say people don't understand their vehicle.The little jolt is when it downshifts since it thinks by you putting on the brakes... that you want to... slow down.
Quite a bit of these so called "problems" with this transmission is because people don't understand it or expect it to perform the same as their old 4 or 5 speed automatics. It won't. It wasn't designed to.
The whole car does things old cars didn't do, like detect ascent and descent, have the transmission react to braking and acceleration sooner, not slow down harshly when doing manual downshifts but increase revs then slowly let the lower gear decelerate the car to prevent damage - after all hit the brakes if you need to slow down and you will notice in sport mode, it kicks down for you and uses engine braking - it's actually impressive if you understand it, it better adjusts to your driving habits, not use the old kickdown mechanical switch or solenoid when you floor it, and not the hydraulic driven very slow downshift when decelerating like the old transmissions did.
Most newer cars are equipped with this technology now, so once people get used to it, and actually understand it the fewer "problems" they will encounter.
Think of it as the opposite of this three speed automatic equipped Comet with 4 wheel drum brakes:
If someone's car is SLAMMING into gears either up or down intermittently or otherwise, then there is an issue and it should be fixed and not lived with. Keep fighting with the dealer.
ZF8 is good, ZF9 sucks, that's it, I'm tired of people acting rationalizing the ZF 9, some of you guys work for Chrysler or something?
Well put. These transmissions have impressive programming. As I've said before, in "S" it pretty much always anticipates and performs the same shift I would make manually.The whole car does things old cars didn't do, like detect accent and decent, have the transmission react to braking and acceleration sooner, not slow down harshly when doing manual downshifts but increase revs then slowly let the lower gear decelerate the car to prevent damage - after all hit the brakes if you need to slow down and you will notice in sport mode, it kicks down for you and uses engine braking - it's actually impressive if you understand it, it better adjusts to your driving habits, not use the old kickdown mechanical switch or solenoid when you floor it, and not the hydraulic driven very slow downshift when decelerating like the old transmissions did.
I think JoeLasVegas's main point, which we've discussed before, is that when manually downshifting the transmission programming does not allow for immediate compression braking. I think he does have a point there. However, in my experience, if you hit the brakes as you're manually downshifting, this is not an issue.
To his most recent point about those of us who like the transmission. I'm hardly a fanboy who thinks everything about this car is perfect. However, to me, the transmission is an overall plus. The area where I think the car is actually under-engineered in is handling, ride and steering feel. I don't think it's anywhere up to the potential it might have reached there with more development. To me it's really not a very fun car to drive from a handling perspective, even while the ride still isn't very good on rough surfaces. Ideally they both should have been better.
Just because most of us disagree with you doesn't mean we work for Chrysler. I don't.ZF8 is good, ZF9 sucks, that's it, I'm tired of people acting rationalizing the ZF 9, some of you guys work for Chrysler or something?
The ZF9 and ZF8 are both great transmissions but the ZF8 is old news. More and more car companies are using the ZF9 now, including Audi and Acura.
I agree with Pennhaven in that no, not a perfect car - but I didn't see anything else better for the $$ at the time I bought that was brand new.
If they replaced the trans with a rebuilt one, not a new one, then it confirms the old ZF9's are crappy, supposedly the newer ones are good to go, but I'll bet you'll have a hard time convincing the dealer to put a new one in, just drive hard until it breaks, then use you powertrain warranty to get new one this time, not some old ass rebuilt unit. That's what I'm hoping for in my 200, drive it hard until it dies then get a new trans that will be nice and smooth.Hi,
I have a 2015 200S 2.4. Since I purchased the vehicle with 18,000 miles, it's had a really hard shift from 4th to 5th gear. This generally only happens when the trans temp is at 165. It took several trips to the dealership for them to recognize there was a problem, which they finally did. So far they've flashed, re-flashed, replaced the valvebody, and ultimately the transmission with a rebuilt one. Now - they're once again, denying my concerns. I've reached out to Chrysler and they can't help unless there is a "diagnosis." Vehicle is at 42,000 miles now - about 10,000 on the current transmission. Has anyone else had the same problem and have any idea what might be going on here? Tips on getting the dealership to help?
Hate to tell you this. The warranty will replace the transmission with a rebuilt unit, not a "new" one.If they replaced the trans with a rebuilt one, not a new one, then it confirms the old ZF9's are crappy, supposedly the newer ones are good to go, but I'll bet you'll have a hard time convincing the dealer to put a new one in, just drive hard until it breaks, then use you powertrain warranty to get new one this time, not some old ass rebuilt unit. That's what I'm hoping for in my 200, drive it hard until it dies then get a new trans that will be nice and smooth.
The rebuilt units have the latest updates and shouldn't have an issue either.
BTW, I don't work for Chrysler either. Just happens the 200 we have is a good car, returns excellent fuel mileage and has been problem free ( except for radio module replacement ) and the recalls were all performed.
I also have my car ( a Durango ) that uses the ZF 8 speed. It is a good transmission too.
I don't think the transmission in the 15' 2.4 is the same as the 3.6, probably the 948TE. Either way he will get a rebuilt transmission if needed. I'd actually rather have a rebuilt one because it's been gone through.If they replaced the trans with a rebuilt one, not a new one, then it confirms the old ZF9's are crappy, supposedly the newer ones are good to go, but I'll bet you'll have a hard time convincing the dealer to put a new one in, just drive hard until it breaks, then use you powertrain warranty to get new one this time, not some old ass rebuilt unit. That's what I'm hoping for in my 200, drive it hard until it dies then get a new trans that will be nice and smooth.
You're entirely correct about the rebuilt unit - that's what I got. Unfortunately, the rebuilt replacement has not corrected the issue. Which leads me to believe it is something else. Though I'm not sure what and - quite frankly - it shouldn't be my problem to figure out. I just wish Chrysler would get their act together when it comes to dealership support. I want to know that someone competent enough will take my concerns seriously, diagnose and fix the issue. Not call me and say "we can't recreate the issue." There's obviously an issue if I'm taking time out of my life to take the vehicle in. If anyone ever has a solution to this issue - please comment. Long time Mopar fan - but I'd be hard pressed to buy another one.I don't think the transmission in the 15' 2.4 is the same as the 3.6, probably the 948TE. Either way he will get a rebuilt transmission if needed. I'd actually rather have a rebuilt one because it's been gone through.
Hate to say it but try a different dealer. I had to do that once with my previous 20 the dealer did an out of warranty repair free since it failed once before while in warranty - water pump noise.
They should have record of your previous visits to the other dealer and their diagnosis/repairs etc...
They should have record of your previous visits to the other dealer and their diagnosis/repairs etc...
Not true, I have a ZF9 in my Acura and although some people are complaining about it on the Acura forums too, they just don't understand how these tranny work. People just don't drive the same and some people are very bad drivers and don't know how to accelerate and how to brake properly. These trannys are complex and the 4 to 5 hard shift is normal at lower operating temperature because this is where the dog clutch is.ZF8 is good, ZF9 sucks, that's it, I'm tired of people acting rationalizing the ZF 9, some of you guys work for Chrysler or something?
Anyways, in no way am I trying to say it is perfect but saying it is crap is not true also.
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