1500 RPM / Shifting "confusion"?

[JoeyJag]

Hello All: I'm the proud owner of a 2020 Rubicon, and full disclosure I'm a Jeep newbie, have not had one previously. I was prepared for a less refined ride, and it takes some getting used to. Several days after I bought it we drove on a family vacation to Maine from NJ, so that is the break in period! I'm loving it, and happy with the purchase.

The only concern I have is in local driving, around 1500 RPM's, I'm finding the JT feels like it's confused about shifting. There is not a smooth shift into second, seems like it wants to shift back and forth between 2nd and 1st, or it's "confused" for lack of a better term. On a steady acceleration on highway there isn't an issue, but local 25 / 30 MPH driving I notice this. Not sure if it's a Jeep thing or something I should be concerned about. I do know a few others in my town with Jeeps (not Gladiators) and was going to ask them, but figured I would start here with the experts. My father in law is a lemon law attorney so I know I have a limited window to bring it back to the dealer if there is an issue, and frankly I REALLY am hoping there isn't. I have just under 1500 miles on it, bought it 3 weeks ago. Thanks in advance, I trolled this forum quite a bit before I made the purchase and it's been an awesome resource.

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[ShadowsPapa]

No problems here - not in town, not stop and go, not taking off and driving 35 or less is easy. It starts in 1st, goes to 2nd very smoothly, then up to 3rd. There's no back and forth in the lower gears. once it's in 2nd or higher, like 3rd, it won't hit 1st again until I stop - full stop, otherwise it downshifts to 2nd and we go again. IF I make a full stop, it starts off in 1st, then 2nd and won't shift to 1st again.
Yours doesn't sound right to me. These are really smooth, smart transmissions. Yours should only shift to 1st if stopped or going really slow on a hill. Otherwise, once moving, it won't shift all the way down, not in my experience.
I only use the manual mode to prevent "hunting" on the highway - hilly areas where it keeps going from 8th to 7th, then back to 8th, then back to 7th.
But in town it's about the smoothest transmission I've ever had.

 

[jtforrester]

Hello All: I'm the proud owner of a 2020 Rubicon, and full disclosure I'm a Jeep newbie, have not had one previously. I was prepared for a less refined ride, and it takes some getting used to. Several days after I bought it we drove on a family vacation to Maine from NJ, so that is the break in period! I'm loving it, and happy with the purchase.

The only concern I have is in local driving, around 1500 RPM's, I'm finding the JT feels like it's confused about shifting. There is not a smooth shift into second, seems like it wants to shift back and forth between 2nd and 1st, or it's "confused" for lack of a better term. On a steady acceleration on highway there isn't an issue, but local 25 / 30 MPH driving I notice this. Not sure if it's a Jeep thing or something I should be concerned about. I do know a few others in my town with Jeeps (not Gladiators) and was going to ask them, but figured I would start here with the experts. My father in law is a lemon law attorney so I know I have a limited window to bring it back to the dealer if there is an issue, and frankly I REALLY am hoping there isn't. I have just under 1500 miles on it, bought it 3 weeks ago. Thanks in advance, I trolled this forum quite a bit before I made the purchase and it's been an awesome resource.

Mine does the same thing. It doesn't seem to do it when I accelerate more aggressively, but it often does under normal acceleration.

 

[Gvsukids]

take it to the dealer and replicate it for them and ask them to look in to it.

 

[Freebooter]

Mine is doing the same thing. Like you said, just slow easy driving around town and notice a rougher shift up and down in lower gears. Not clunking but just rougher. I will say something when I go in for the first oil change unless it gets worse!

I guess these things are suppose to be driven like when I was back in high school!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Really weird as I have since day one thought this was the smoothest automatic I've had - the only gripe I have is the constant hunting on the HIGHWAY. but the 3.73 gear ratio is the blame for that.
The transmission is smooth as silk and doesn't hunt at all in town.

I'd say there's a problem here.

 

[Shackleton]

Mine is doing the same thing. Like you said, just slow easy driving around town and notice a rougher shift up and down in lower gears. Not clunking but just rougher. I will say something when I go in for the first oil change unless it gets worse!

I guess these things are suppose to be driven like when I was back in high school!

I’ve only had mine for 3 days and it is my first JEEP. I have said to myself the shifting is not as smooth as my 7 year old tundra Was but I thought it might be a Jeep thing that might help make it more capable as an off-roader ( I’m not a car guy)?? I’m going to keep an eye on it now. For anyone that goes to the dealer please report back.

 

[JoeyJag]

Thanks all, will certainly bring it in to have them take a look at it. I'll update everyone once I speak with them.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Drove mine thru town again. Shifting smooth as silk and no hunting at speeds below 40

 

[Len]

I have 5400 miles on mine and I have not had issues with the shift point. Runs very smooth. I would bring it in to the dealer. It might be something as simple as them reflashing the computer or an update to your system. I have the same issue with my wife's jeep. It literally took 30 min to do the software update and we never had an issue after. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[Higher_Ground]

I don't have enough of a problem to give you anything specific, but it doesn't seem to want to cruise along at lower speeds. I drive pretty slowly in my neighborhood (someone or something always in the streets) and it feels like it wants more throttle. Not really enough of a bother or something that I feel would replicate itself on demand.

 

[Gvsukids]

Is it more with those who have the 3.73 vs 4.10 gears?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Is it more with those who have the 3.73 vs 4.10 gears?

GOOD QUESTION.
Mine of course is stock Overland 3.73 - no issues in town, transmission shifts so smooth you can't tell other than engine sound and tach. OF course as I've said it hunts badly on the highway, over 55 especially, but in town, no hunting and extremely smooth, quiet, shifts.

 

[Shackleton]

Is it more with those who have the 3.73 vs 4.10 gears?

I have max tow so 4.10. There is definitely something there but it is subtle. I’ll make mention of it in my first visit to the dealership for maintenance. I spoke with a guy today who has an Overland and he said he hasn’t noticed that at all on his

 

[jtforrester]

Well, after posting that my Gladiator does this when accelerating slowly, I've been paying more attention again and it doesn't seem to be doing it anymore. I recently added the Mopar 2" lift and 37s. I previously had 33s. The speedometer was corrected for the 33s and 37s with a Tazer and verified with GPS. I cannot explain why, but the hunting is gone now.

I have a Sport S with max tow, so 4.10 gears.

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