2020 Rubicon Automatic Transmission issues

[jmmorgan82]

I had the same issue. Started out as a slight delay from 3-4, but at normal operating temp it would be normal. Gradually got worse to where 3-4 would have a second or 2 lag then slam pretty hard. At that point, shifting into reverse either gave me a "shift into P, then R" message or would have a delay then slam into reverse. I was able to limp it back to Dallas from AZ. The dealer dropped the transmission pan and noted burnt fluid and metal shavings, and immediately ordered me a new tranny/cooler/lines/etc. If anyone reading this has any similar symptoms, have it looked at ASAP. Luckily Dodge City of McKinney only had my rig for 2 weeks.

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[Gzus]

I'm having the same exact issues with my 2020 Launch Edition (8-speed auto). I just bought mine as a "certified" used in April with 44K miles and noticed the same exact shifting issues (slipping when going from 3rd into 4th) on the evening I purchased it. I immediately talked to the dealer, and they assured me that everything was covered under the factory, certified, and Max Care warranty I purchased.


As a result, I took it to a local Jeep shop because the dealer I purchased it from is 4hrs away from my home, and they ended up replacing the valve body, per FCA recommendation. The shop then determined that it did need a full transmission replacement after finding that issues still persisted after the valve body was replaced.

That was on May 11, and they still have no ETA on when a replacement transmission will arrive. I reached out to @JeepCares, but they also have no ETA and haven't been returning my calls or emails about a loaner vehicle.

I haven't been driving it lately because the last few times I tried, it would always slip and shift hard into 4th, or randomly get completely "stuck" in 3rd gear, not go into reverse at all, or even kick out of gear when driving down the road.

Have any of you had luck getting a replacement 8-speed automatic transmission and/or know how long one typically takes to come in? I understand there are still supply chain shortages, but it stings buying this expensive of a vehicle just to find out that the transmission is shot and not be able to drive it for the first two months of ownership.

 

[me_ccie]

I'm having the same exact issues with my 2020 Launch Edition (8-speed auto). I just bought mine as a "certified" used in April with 44K miles and noticed the same exact shifting issues (slipping when going from 3rd into 4th) on the evening I purchased it. I immediately talked to the dealer, and they assured me that everything was covered under the factory, certified, and Max Care warranty I purchased.


As a result, I took it to a local Jeep shop because the dealer I purchased it from is 4hrs away from my home, and they ended up replacing the valve body, per FCA recommendation. The shop then determined that it did need a full transmission replacement after finding that issues still persisted after the valve body was replaced.

That was on May 11, and they still have no ETA on when a replacement transmission will arrive. I reached out to @JeepCares, but they also have no ETA and haven't been returning my calls or emails about a loaner vehicle.

I haven't been driving it lately because the last few times I tried, it would always slip and shift hard into 4th, or randomly get completely "stuck" in 3rd gear, not go into reverse at all, or even kick out of gear when driving down the road.

Have any of you had luck getting a replacement 8-speed automatic transmission and/or know how long one typically takes to come in? I understand there are still supply chain shortages, but it stings buying this expensive of a vehicle just to find out that the transmission is shot and not be able to drive it for the first two months of ownership.

I was without mine for 6 weeks. It took escalating to the local dealer to actually have someone from Jeep Cares call me back and hear me out. They eventually did reimburse me for a rental car. Best of luck to you

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I'm having the same exact issues with my 2020 Launch Edition (8-speed auto). I just bought mine as a "certified" used in April with 44K miles and noticed the same exact shifting issues (slipping when going from 3rd into 4th) on the evening I purchased it. I immediately talked to the dealer, and they assured me that everything was covered under the factory, certified, and Max Care warranty I purchased.


As a result, I took it to a local Jeep shop because the dealer I purchased it from is 4hrs away from my home, and they ended up replacing the valve body, per FCA recommendation. The shop then determined that it did need a full transmission replacement after finding that issues still persisted after the valve body was replaced.

That was on May 11, and they still have no ETA on when a replacement transmission will arrive. I reached out to @JeepCares, but they also have no ETA and haven't been returning my calls or emails about a loaner vehicle.

I haven't been driving it lately because the last few times I tried, it would always slip and shift hard into 4th, or randomly get completely "stuck" in 3rd gear, not go into reverse at all, or even kick out of gear when driving down the road.

Have any of you had luck getting a replacement 8-speed automatic transmission and/or know how long one typically takes to come in? I understand there are still supply chain shortages, but it stings buying this expensive of a vehicle just to find out that the transmission is shot and not be able to drive it for the first two months of ownership.

I had my 8 speed replaced in June last year.

They also told me no ETA on the trans at that time, but it ended up only taking about 2 1/2 weeks for it to come in. They had the job wrapped up in under 3 weeks.

Good luck with yours.

 

[ATL_Rubi]

I'm getting more nervous about mine. 23 w/ 8000 miles and it feels like it slips from 3 to 4th and then jolts itself into gear. Went away for a little after a recent RRT by jeep but it's back now. WIll be scheduling an appt w/ them

 

[me_ccie]

Don't fall for the Valve Body BS! I know it's a step in their t-shooting but it won't resolve the issue. I got lucky that another JT was in with the same issue so they knew they had to get me a new transmission.

 

[ATL_Rubi]

Don't fall for the Valve Body BS! I know it's a step in their t-shooting but it won't resolve the issue. I got lucky that another JT was in with the same issue so they knew they had to get me a new transmission.

Weirdly, the RRT was for the charge air sensor allegedly. Who know, their transmission tech is booked 3 weeks out, should be fun.

 

[Gzus]

UPDATE: JeepCares created a formal case for my issue in their Jeep (FCA) support system. I just got a phone call from their support team and they told me that August 14th is the earliest date that my replacement transmission will be available. This pisses me off because the dealer originally told me that it's the most common transmission and should only be 2-3 weeks to come in. After the 2-3 weeks had come and gone, they told me another 45 days (at the soonest). In the end, it will be over 3 full months from the date that my dealer placed the warranty claim/order and marked it as "escalated" because the Gladiator is not drivable.

Jeep/FCA support also had no information on a loaner and I told me to wait at least another week for a call back on that topic...

 

[SwampThing78]

Well my friend….I am so sorry to hear your and everyone’s troubles. I hope they do resolve ya’lls issue efficiently.

I guess I better schedule a visit. My ‘20 JT 32,400’ish miles just started doing this about two weeks ago, so far happening on cold starts. A bit more umph on the R, then on the up Shift i have a lag from 2-3 then 3-4. Then it goes away, I am babying it to see if I can feel anything else.

I am taking notes from every thread here. So thanks for the heads up and hope your troubles will be fixed ASAP!

 

[Brahmajoe]

Weirdly, the RRT was for the charge air sensor allegedly. Who know, their transmission tech is booked 3 weeks out, should be fun.

What was that rrt about?

 

[ATL_Rubi]

What was that rrt about?

So pulling the part numbers for the RRT it showed two different versions of Charge Air Sensors, but online, on the Mopar site, it shows that the rrt has to do with the "propeller shaft" but gives no description. So far, the issue is still there, took it to jeep last week and they couldn't recreate it so they said to keep driving until it gets worse.

 

[Sandevino]

Is this the gas trans or the diesel trans....my diesel trans seems to be doing ok, it could be a little firmer to tell you the truth

The ZF 8HP75 is damn near bulletproof.

 

[Gzus]

I received a call from my local Jeep shop 3 weeks ago and they told me that the transmission was in already and for me to drop off my Gladiator so they could get started on the work. I asked if they had a loaner I could drive while it was in the shop and they told me they would give me something.

I showed up on the morning of June 26 (Monday) and dropped off my JT. They gave me the keys to a Wagoneer, but said it would be a temporary loaner, but all they had at the current time. They called me the next day and said they had my longer-term loaner, so I drove over and swapped out the Wagoneer for a Jeep Compass (don't get me started..).

The shop has had my JT now for 2.5 weeks. When I called on Friday, June 30, they told me that there was another Jeep in line before me and they were just wrapping it up, but hadn't started mine yet. When I called on Thursday, July 6, they said it would be done by this Monday (July 10). When I called on Monday, they told me that they are still working on it between other jobs and it might be done by the end of the week. Unless I hear from them sooner, I'll call them back on Friday and see what the new ETA is.

 

[BUZZHEAD]

Last time mine was in the shop .They gave me a fk mini van to drive. I was looking for soccer moms for a couple days.

 

[zprovo]

They were looking at the valve body in my case as well. That order and test caused a few week delay. My advice is to convince them the valve body will do nothing.

Here's parts of my invoice:

Concern: CUSTOMER STATES TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ALWAYS
GO INTO REVERSE, THE "R" FLASHES. HAS TO PUT IN
PARK AND ATTEMPT AGAIN. ALSO SHIFTS HARSH INTO
REVERSE AND 3-4 UPSHIFT

Tech notes: NO DTC STORE AT PCM OR TCM BUT HAVE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR TCM. Flashing TCM from current part
number 68437962AF to targeted part number 68437962AG. PERFORM TRANS QUICK LEARN, ROAD TEST NOTE
TRANS SHIFT THROUGH ALL GEARS BUT ONLY HARSH/BUMP SHIFT IN "R" FROM "P", CHECK FLUID IN LEVEL
AND DON'T SMELL BURN. REMOVED V/B AND PERFORM TRANS CLUTCH AIR PRESSURE TESTS, ALL OTHER
PORT HOLDING PRESSURE ONLY AT PORT "D" FAR END BACK OF THE TEST PLATE FAIL, IT DIDN'T HOLD
PRESSURE. RECOMMEND REPLACE TRANS ASSEMBLY UNIT FOR INTERNAL CLUTCH FAIL.

As predicted, the valve body replacement didn't do it. The symptoms came back the next morning after the valve body replacement.
Unfortunately, I couldn't replicate the hard shifts for the tech, he said he was aware of the lag getting into reverse. He then suggested that perhaps I'm just not used to the way jeeps drive, "they drive different than other cars you know". I hate that statement.
I finally figured out that I could get the 3 to 4 slip and hard shift if I left the car over night and positioned it so I didn't have to use reverse before I took the tech for a drive. Did that and he said "yup, new transmission". He then explained that they really have no choice in the process. First you replace the valve body, then the transmission.
This was two days before I was supposed to drive from Tennessee to Maine. Luckily they were able to get me a gladiator sport (with a manual) for the trip. I got my Mojave back on Monday (two days ago) and so far everthing feels fine.

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