KCoastie

I'm really beginning to wonder if it may be the U joint or something? I have had my car in multiple times for the transmission to be looked at with no success. It makes me think it's got to be something else that they're just not checking. Also i wrote another letter to Dodge asking for a buy back. No response yet.

Yeah I'm having the same problem now. Very elusive. I don't think my dealership believes me:( Anyway we'll see what happens

Well here's the update. About 2 weeks ago my Journey was in the shop and they found an "internal problem" something wrong with the gears overlapping and not changing smoothly and quickly enough between shifts. So they ordered and replaced the transmission. Afterwards they said it still wasn't as smooth as they would've liked so they replaced the computer as well. After we picked it back up it the shifting through 4th was much better and the clunk in Drive was gone. After more and more time has went on though, the clunk in Reverse has come back and it seems we are having issues again. Also now we are having the problem other people on the forum here are describing, where when you unlock the car, it sometimes sets the alarm off. I called the service manager and told him we wanted to do a buyback. He called his "rep" and the rep told him that they would have to get the car back in the shop to verify the problem. after that they could hopefully work something out with me. So I dropped the Journey back off today and we'll see what happens. Anybody have any experience with dealer buy backs or lemon law? Any tips or learning experiences would be Greatly appreciated! thanks guys

I took my Journey to the dealership today and the tech that rode with me immediately noticed the clunking in reverse, the slamming into Drive that only happens sometimes, and the hard shifting. I left it with them and they called me a few hours later and told me they found an internal problem, something to do with the gears overlapping. Basically they can't fix it and a new transmission is currently on its way. it should be here on wednesday so hopefully by the end of this week my Journey will be up and running with a new tranny in place. I'll keep you guys posted.

Well to let you guys know, I got a call from the dealership's service manager where he stated he got a call from the Chrysler office concering my letter I sent them. Basically I told them in the certified letter that I was very unsatisfied with my problem not getting fixed after 4 trips and my wife is asking about the lemon law. So they want to have me come in again to try and fix the tranny once and for all, I'll keep yall updated.

That's some good info, I've been wondering which filter is the correct one for a while now

yeah i'd love to find out that tsb number. that way hopefully i can take it to the dealership and they can finally fix me up

Well, here's a quick update for everyone. I'm at almost 9000 miles on my journey and I'm still getting the hard, delayed shifts between 1-2 gear and 2-3 gear, and the clunk in reverse. I've had it in to the dealership I bought it from 3 times with no results and this past weekend took it to another dealership for this problem. Wait until you hear this, they couldn't find my issue and therefore tried to charge me $45 dollars for the use of the ScanTool. Can you believe that?!?! The lady at the desk told me they always do that when someone brings in a vehicle for an issue like mine that is not throwing codes. Anyway long story short, I argued with her and didn't have to pay for it. That straw broke the camel's back and I sent a very professional certified letter to Chrysler explaining this particular incident and my dissatisfaction in general with the inability of the dealerships to fix the problem. Hopefully I will hear back sometime soon, and I will keep you all posted of the outcome.

Just an update, I reported that i thought the dealership hadn't fixed my problem because i got the clunk right away when leaving. Well after a day or two of driving i haven't had the clunk again when putting it into reverse. It seems they did fix the problem. The hard shifting between gears 1-3 or 4 is also greatly reduced. It still isn't as smooth as the auto in my '06 Magnum but it is smoother now than it was before they looked at it. Maybe just tweaking the computer and adjusting the backlash is all that is needed. the guy at the service desk told me there was a tsb for the computer, but he may have just been saying that. Anyway, i wish you guys luck.

So you think that this may just be how 6 speeds are? You are right the most I've had in the past was a 5 speed auto in and '06 Magnum. Also I've read some stuff about this tranny being a dual clutch, is that true and could that explain what we are experiencing?

Well after spending about 2 1/2 hrs at the dealership today I was told my problem was fixed. When I got into the Journey to leave, Reverse clunked right away. I went back inside and told them it wasn't fixed. I was told that the technician tweaked the backlash in reverse as well as did some work on the transmission's computer. I don't have the tech's notes, they have to mail them to me. Anyway I told them I've never felt an automatic transmission do that before and I've owned 2 other new Dodge's and 2 new Jeeps, so I'm familiar with Chrysler trannys. The service manager took me out to two other brand new Journey's they had on the lot and one of them made a small noise going into Reverse and the other didn't make any, but made a much louder clunk when going into Drive. Anyway, the problem isn't any better than when I dropped it off but I'm wondering if I'm just used to a smoother transmission and if this transmission is just going to be a little rougher than i'm accustomed to. Who knows. Anybody else had any luck?

well I've got an appointment at the dealership on thursday morning. I'll let you all know how it goes

I'm having the same issue with the clunk into reverse, not everytime but I'd say 90% of the time. I also have a "stick shift" feel between 1st and 2nd, and 2nd and 3rd. I haven't noticed any searching between 5th and 6th at all though. Haven't been to the dealership yet because the one with the good service is over an hour away. So this tranny has been used in other models right, has any other model had issues like these? I sure hope they come up with something soon to remedy this. I feel like I'm damaging the transmission everytime I drive with the hard shifts and clunk into reverse.