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Abrupt shifts from 1st to 2nd - 2019 Trailhawk

15K views 33 replies 11 participants last post by  sqenixs 
#1 ·
My 2019 Cherokee Trailhawk (3.2L) has always shifted quite abruptly from 1st to 2nd gear. I had hoped that the issue would disapate over time, but it remains the same after a year and half of ownership, and I'm now considering trading the vehicle in.

I have taken it to my local dealer twice to request that the TCM software be updated, but both times I was told that there was no update available.

Curious to know if anyone else who has experienced this issue has had any luck in getting it resolved?
 
#2 · (Edited)
I vote for a bad valve body in the transmission. Should be covered under warranty.
Check for ATF leaks and have the dealer check the ATF level.
Trading it in sounds like a good plan to me.
I have decided the best way to buy a Cherokee is to do a Factory Order.
You get exactly what you want and you get a vehicle that hasn't deteriorated on the dealer's lot.
You can use the "Search Community" above to find relative posts but I do not remember reading anything like your situation.
Try a Throttle Position Sensor relearn, it won't hurt anything and maybe you will get lucky.
Check this video:
 
#8 ·
Dealer will know you are pissing around with the transmission, so yes they very well could deny your warranty. Are you an authorized FCA technician authorized to do any repairs on the vehicle to keep the warranty? I'm willing to bet not at all.
 
#6 ·
My 2019 does this as well. I get a thump in the transmission when it shifts from 1st to second. Like it doesn't shift at the right point. Sometimes it's fine though. I am pretty sure it is software related.
 
#10 ·
My 2019 shifts smooth but the 1-2 shift happens very quickly (as in i wish it would shift higher up in the rpm) It will have shifted to 2nd gear before the rear of the car has past the stop sign it was stopped at. Then i am in 3rd as i am getting to the other side of the intersection.
 
#33 ·
Here is 1 of the reasons for the tranny shifing so quick.
Here is the tranny gear ratios.
(1st)4.70...(2nd)..2.84..(3rd)..1.91..(4th)..1.38..(5th)..1.00..(6th)..0.81..(7th)..0.70..(8th)..0.58..(9th)..0.48..(reverse)..3.81
OVERALL RATIOS with 3.73.
(1st)17.55..(2nd)..10.60..(3rd)..7.13..(4th)..5.15..(5th)..3.73..(6th)..3.02..(7th)..2.61..(8th)..2.16..(9th)..1.79..(reverse)..14.23
 
#12 ·
Ok so you administer the warranty for FCA vehicles then right?\
It's super easy to see when anything has been touched in these vehicles, whether its the PCM/BCM/TCM

So if FCA says any transmission work outside of the dealership it's grounds for them to deny coverage. Even I can tell with a simple program if the TCM has been manipulated in any way.

 
#14 ·
I have a 2019 3.2 Trailhawk. Sounds like we have a similar issue. Mine is jerky from 1-2 I think, always when it’s cold. Intermittent after warming up. By jerky I mean it will tend to stick in the lower a gear a little too long, hesitating until there’s an relatively weird and jerky shift from 1-2 (assuming 1-2 since early gears can go quickly). Got mine January 2019. Dealer did a transmission flash in November 2020 at my request. That seemed to smooth it temporarily. Interested if this is the nature of the transmission in how it handles lower gears to prevent greater issues or if this behavior needs a bigger fix. The issue is that it is tending to hold the gear too long and then jerking. Happy to compare notes.
 
#15 ·
Holding gears longer and firmer shifting when cold in 100% normal, There are certain specific shift patterns used during warm up when the transmission is cold, these patterns are very similar to sport mode (which holds gears long and changes torque management so it shifts faster) if it's still shifting abruptly when warm then take it back to the dealer and ask for a reflash. A proper shifting transmission will have shifts that aren't even felt at all. My 2016 you could never tell when it shifts gear, my 2021 is the same way, only my 2014 had noticeable shifts but I"ve since tuned it to shift very smooth
 
#17 ·
I have an update. I took my car to the dealer for this. The official work order from the tech says "couldn't reproduce issue" and working as designed. However the guy on the phone told me that they flashed the transmission and the problem is gone. And that a fix for hard shifts from 1-2 was one of the things specifically called out in the software update. Elsewhere on the work order for something else they wrote down "flashed PCM". Apparently there was a PCM update for the 2019 cherokee I didn't know about.

After driving around for a little while I haven't been able to reproduce the hard shift, it does seem to drive a little different. More time will tell if I like the change or not. I was able to get it (or perhaps it is the RDM) to make a hard "thud" sometimes if I did a rolling start from stopped (brake down to 0 speed, let off brake and let vehicle roll a bit, then pedal down).
 
#19 ·
After driving around some more today I was able to get the hard shift to happen. So in my opinion any PCM update they did had no effect.
 
#20 ·
It is possible a transmission "relearn" will be required after the flash.
Your Jeep dealer knows whether this is true or not.
Not sure how many miles/time it takes for the "relearn" to happen. Does anybody know?
Hopefully it will eventually start shifting better.
Try to find out the PCM update part number and TSB number if applicable.
Should be on your receipt. If not ask your Service Advisor.
Go back to the dealer and have them print a new VIP report and explain what it means to you in plain English.
Check for recalls done and not done for your VIN. You can do this on the Internet or have the Jeep dealer do it.
Post the information here for the benefit of the forum.
 
#24 ·
I think they all act a little weird when they are cold. Real cold, not a cold winter day in California cold...LOL!!!😎
 
#26 ·
I'm just going to live with it. I don't think it can be fixed by the dealer.
 
#27 ·
This is all spot on. I took mine to the dealer. Report was unable to reproduce. I expect that means they’re unable to fix at the dealer level. Perhaps there are some Jeep Cares folks in this forum and/or some Jeep Wave specialists who can see what is available at the engineering level. I have a Google drive with videos where I’ve filmed the tach on mine showing the issue. Perhaps we could stockpile an online drive documenting the evidence of this very particular but widespread issue. There are also a ton of 2019+ TH owners on social media that I follow. Might be worth reaching out to some of them with this thread to see if they have thoughts.
 
#28 ·
I'm currently traveling for work and am driving a 2020 cherokee limited with the 2.4L (not exactly an apples to apples comparison) but thought I should mention that the transmission shifts much smoother, doesn't have the 1st to 2nd issue. However, it is slow to respond to shifts sometimes, even worse than my vehicle.
 
#29 ·
You are convincing me to keep my 2014 V6 TH.
I'll just keep replacing parts instead of buying a new model.
Mine shifted fine right off of the car carrier. All of the TSBs and recalls since then haven't really improved anything.
Fortunately it still shifts just fine. At least FCA didn't make it worse.
 
#30 ·
To make a somewhat technical explanation less technical. My 2014 Cherokee has ALWAYS had an abrupt 1-2 shift. Among the 100s of different places in the TCM that control the shifting, the main changes between TCM updates has been torque management, both blanket and "dog clutch" values. Take this picture for example. This is the main torque intervention or in easy terms engine power reduction during the 1-2 shift. Since the shift was abrupt I figured I would add MORE torque management to see if that would smooth it out. Changed values on the right, vs the stock values on the left. Its very complicated to explain but when you change 1 thing you need to make changes elsewhere, anyways torque management differences in TCM programming is why some people have a great shifting transmission and others don't

 
#31 ·
This is very helpful. I’m leery to try something like this while under warranty. Thoughts on how to communicate this with a dealership? I expect they’ll be biased to stay strictly with the standard FCA programming.

You mentioned reductions in torque for 1-2 have an impact elsewhere. My bigger and related concern is: is this situation the least worst functioning of a cramped (space-wise for gearing 9 speeds) transmission or a software issue for 1-2 that needs a fix? So, by reining in torque for 1-2, does that have a domino effect that would create a problem elsewhere from 2-“9”? And, if so, would that problem be relatively worse?

Thanks!
 
#32 ·
Each individual shift 1-2 ect ect has values that can be changed, for shifting torque converter engagement everything. There is just so many different variables that are in the TCM programming and if you want to make a change you need to change other aspects of it to get the desired result. The TCM and PCM torque management go hand in hand, if you change the PCM side (engine) but don't change the TCM side (transmission) the changes are basically cancelled out. It's really an all or nothing type of situation.

As for FCA's response. Nothing they won't do anything as they use "their" values and anything else is really irrelevant to them. It's sad but I don't see it changing any time soon.
 
#34 ·
I never added this info but may be useful for some. Where I really notice the hard shift from 1st to 2nd is when accelerating from a stop while making a turn, and while the transmission is still cold shortly after starting the vehicle. I don't know why making a turn makes it shift so hard. It is much less pronounced when just going straight. I have actually trained myself to let off the gas when the shift normally occurs to reduce the hard shift.
 
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