I purchased a 2014 Dodge Durango approx. 1 year ago from a dealership. I previously owned a 2013 with no issues when it was totaled in a rollover accident. From the start the 2014 didn't seem to accelerate properly, there was alway a delay in when you pressed the gas until it responded but I was told it was probably because it had a larger engine and the 2014 had a transmission with more gears (8 as opposed to 5). Then it started not shifting properly in automatic. Between 1st and 2nd gear it would shift very hard and throw your head back and shifting out of 5th gear would do the same thing. Eventually it would not shift higher than 5th gear in automatic or manual... then it wouldn't shift out of 1st in automatic all together, but you could get it to 5th (sometimes in manual) but not often. I had the dealership look at it, a transmission shop and 2 auto repair shops. They all said it needed a new transmission and to flush the fluid in the transfer case. I put a new transmission in and did the flush and its still doing the same thing. It doesn't accelerate properly, shifts hard when going into 3rd gear or 5th gear. In addition to that it has flashed the error code "Service trans press brake when stopped key off engine to engage park" which it didn't do with the old trans and looking it up online seems to be related to the Dodge issue with the vehicles shifting out of park on their own. It hasn't shifted out (yet) on its own and stopped flashing that code but the transmission shifting issue still remains. Does anyone know what needs to be fixed on it? There are no error codes when hooked up to diagnostics. I don't want to have to replace the transmission again because I know its going to get to that point again if whatever else that is causing this issue isn't fixed.
2014 Dodge Durango Transmission - Not Shifting Properly, New Trans Didn't Help
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
Joined
·
8 Posts
I heard you will need to see if the dealer has any updates for the ecm. Mine was shifting a little weird as well and I spoke with a friend that owns a trans shop and he told me to go to the dealer and have it updated and it shifts great now.
Hope that helps.
First, you need to shop around for a more competent dealer and/or trans shop. You may want to have them hook up a scan tool that can data log, especially given there are no error codes present. Rather than focus on the ECM (Engine Control Module), I would begin to suspect a faulty TCM (Transmission Control Module), or electrical connector or sensor that feeds it.
Thank you both for your replies. I've only taken it back to the transmission shop that replaced the transmission and he was the one that said there were no error codes (other than a short in a tail light wire) and he couldn't get it to recreate the hard shifting in 3rd or 5th. Which I find hard to believe because he had it for 2 days and it does it at least once whenever I drive it. He also couldn't get it to show the "service trans press brake when stopped key off engine to engage park" code however it hasn't popped back up since he had it. The Dodge dealership that quoted all the repairs to begin with (with the first transmission) did run the log and they only mentioned excessive use of the manual transmission shifting - they thought maybe I had a teenager that was being rough with it but it was just me trying to get it to shift out of 1st gear and up to 5th to drive it to the dealership. I will another dealership check out the ECM and the TCM at the same time and see if that resolves the problems.
Very possible a bad or corrupted computer can cause the delay. I know on my '06 Daytona, many people were complaining of a lack of instantaneous throttle response with the earlier Hemi cars. One fix for that was to install a tune by a vendor like Diablo Sport, which solved most of the complaints. I believe there is a product Pedal Commander now that claims to help with those complaints. Have your computers checked out first. May need an update, re-flash, or replacement.
I know on my 2021 GT Plus, if you leave it in Eco mode by default, it's almost like a granny mode. It tries to shift up as quickly as possible through the gears, and initially depressing the gas pedal feels dull and delayed. I ALWAYS take it out of Eco mode, but not necessarily in Sport mode, when I drive. I actually use more gas in Eco, as I find myself tromping on the pedal to get it moving at a normal pace, whereas the sensitivity in Normal (Eco off) mode feels more like an Eco mode to me. My son (who tends to have a heavy foot) also noticed and commented on that.
Joined
·
8 Posts
Yep totally agree. Eco mode is a double edge sword. Good in gas but shift points are too early and it doesn’t feel like it’s shifting right. I drove the first year in manual as much as I drove it and now drive in auto as it seems to shift better. I work in the performance industry and know that the Banks performance throttle booster works great and even allows you to change shift points to your liking.
Hope this all helps.
Joined
·
8 Posts
Joined
·
8 Posts
Joined
·
1 Posts
Thank you guys so much I recently had my work van, and my son's truck break down and my 2014 dodge durango has done this exact thing to me yesterday! Did throw codes I had orielys check for me and he said it's something to do with the transmission mod 🤔 😂 I'm like wow thanks genius I told you that much! So glad you guys shared this gives me hope it's not my tyranny after all !!
Joined
·
1 Posts
That’s funny. We are driving in my Durango now in Montana. It keeps shifting gears on us. Mostly uphill and downhill. I was checking this out on the internet and saw your messages. We have another couple hours till we get home. Hopefully we last that long. We will get it checked when we get home. After I get all the free advice on the internet. I hope you finally got it figured out Mine is a 2005. durango. Have a great weekend😎
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
