[Rivertenderrivertender]

Forgot to mention, our rental Pacifica (8k miles)shifting is smoothly undetectable, but I have seen lots of forum posts where the problems start later, but, in all fairness, earlier too.

It appears to be a real roll of the dice.

 

[TomB985]

The fact that outright failures still seem quite rare reinforces the idea that the issues are primarily software-related. There been several updates since the Pacifica was released, which originally had far fewer issues than the 2014 Cherokee did when it was first rolled out with this transmission. My van had the latest update installed with a recall, but I never had issues with the transmission before that either.

In fact, my ZF9 pulled my 3,500-lb boat out of storage yesterday and 42 miles back home. I wish I had the ability to select gears manually, but the transmission software seems to do a decent job putting the transmission right where it wants to be. I put the throttle down and left rubber all the way through second gear accelerating into traffic yesterday, the transmission was perfect.

 

[whitepapagold]

My biggest issue with the transmission is how it works with ESS.

If you come to a stop, and ESS kicks in, IF you need to start going again as this process happens (ESS stopping the car), the transmission will LURCH forward in a truly awful way as the car kicks back on.

Like the gearing/gas injection gets going BEFORE the engine and once it does BAM... huge lurch. And I am NOT lead footing it... Its just BAD DESIGN. Period.

Ive also had this happen when driving and it changes gears back and forth- but thats been very rare.

The transmission is definitely not perfect... And I style my driving to accommodate it and ESS now.

Anyone who says NOTHING is wrong with it just hasn't noticed the issues or had anything weird happen YET... Let me drive your Pacifica and I can replicate the lurching without blinking an eye...

 

[TomB985]

Anyone who says NOTHING is wrong with it just hasn't noticed the issues or had anything weird happen YET... Let me drive your Pacifica and I can replicate the lurching without blinking an eye...

The problem is that you are describing a characteristic you don’t like is a fault in the vehicle. That’s like saying a painting is incorrect because you don’t like the shade the artist used for the backdrop. That may make it undesirable for you, but others may not be bothered by it.

I’m in the latter group. Yes, the car will jump off the line a bit with ESS, but do you adapt your driving style to it. Mine will bark the tires if I give it moderate throttle from a stop before the engine comes to life, but I’ve had other cars act similar with aggressive throttle programming. Doesn’t bother me at all, and it certainly wouldn’t prevent me from buying one.

 

[billspreston01]

BLUF / TLDR: Amazing van when it works, but ours has always had at least 1 ongoing issue and when something breaks the dealerships (yes more than one) deny it. Also, 1 year of ongoing un-diagnosed intermittent extremely harsh shifts at 15mph.

Late '17 Pacifica here and it's a beautiful machine, when it's working. We have the intermittent shift issue under light acceleration at 15mph that others have discussed. It's been to two dealers 4 times and they can't replicate the issue. I drove a tech around today for 20-25 minutes and I couldn't replicate it, which is exactly the problem with intermittent issues. Because the techs don't experience it they basically ignore the issue. I'm 100% certain it's software based since it comes in waves (like a sine wave) as it learns itself into the hard shift it becomes more frequent then learns itself out of it and it becomes less frequent. Some days it happens 5-7 times, other times it doesn't happen for a week. I've been told it's because we have two drivers (it happens to both of us) and I've been told it's how the ZF9 works. We're talking about a shift so hard it scares passengers that haven't experienced it before. Passengers including my dad (parts manager at a dealership for 25 years, hot rodder, and ex-racer) and mom (Penske dealership customer relations for 20 years). I myself have worked on cars intermittently for 20 years and now I'm a software guy. The shift feels like you got rear-ended. It's harsher than shifting my Supra with a heavy clutch banging gears in the 1/4mi. It's harsher than neutral bombing my first car trying to do burnouts decades ago. Calling this "normal" is like calling the recent crashes of the Boeing 737-MAX "normal" due to the software and faulty sensor that caused them. I'm not saying this to dissuade you. I had a newer Caravan for 2 days as a rental, what a let down after driving the Pacifica. The Pac-dawg as we call her is extremely smooth and luxurious when she works. The service you get when it doesn't work leaves a lot to be desired. I have a case open that has been escalated to "Enhanced Customer Satisfaction" for this issue. They're trying to get a flight recorder installed so we can see the logs when it happens.

-Bill

 

[Van Go]

The 9 speed is a very good transmission. For an automatic.

Seriously, when you abdicate shifting to some black box that doesn't know what you're trying to do (and only knows the outside world through its input load and the resistance to its output), sometimes it isn't going to thrill you. The 62TE was a huge improvement over the 4 and 5 speeds. The 8 and 9 speeds are even better.

We aren't sacrificing shift quality for fuel economy, we're sacrificing reliability for convenience and carelessness. The fact that someone can build a transmission that can move a minivan around really well and deliver good mileage without us having to think about it is amazing.

Anyone who says NOTHING is wrong with it just hasn't noticed the issues or had anything weird happen YET... Let me drive your Pacifica and I can replicate the lurching without blinking an eye...

So you are skilled at driving this van harshly. It's just a machine, and most everyone else could probably get into your van and drive it smoothly without realizing it was a challenge.

 

[Longtimemopar]

The 9 speed is a very good transmission. For an automatic.

Seriously, when you abdicate shifting to some black box that doesn't know what you're trying to do (and only knows the outside world through its input load and the resistance to its output), sometimes it isn't going to thrill you. The 62TE was a huge improvement over the 4 and 5 speeds. The 8 and 9 speeds are even better.

We aren't sacrificing shift quality for fuel economy, we're sacrificing reliability for convenience and carelessness. The fact that someone can build a transmission that can move a minivan around really well and deliver good mileage without us having to think about it is amazing.



So you are skilled at driving this van harshly. It's just a machine, and most everyone else could probably get into your van and drive it smoothly without realizing it was a challenge.

"...The fact that someone can build a transmission that can move a minivan around really well and deliver good mileage without us having to think about it is amazing. " true :smile2:

 

[KiddyKatPerson]

My biggest issue with the transmission is how it works with ESS.

If you come to a stop, and ESS kicks in, IF you need to start going again as this process happens (ESS stopping the car), the transmission will LURCH forward in a truly awful way as the car kicks back on.

Like the gearing/gas injection gets going BEFORE the engine and once it does BAM... huge lurch. And I am NOT lead footing it... Its just BAD DESIGN. Period.

Ive also had this happen when driving and it changes gears back and forth- but thats been very rare.

The transmission is definitely not perfect... And I style my driving to accommodate it and ESS now.

Anyone who says NOTHING is wrong with it just hasn't noticed the issues or had anything weird happen YET... Let me drive your Pacifica and I can replicate the lurching without blinking an eye...

.....And that is the reason for disabling that stupid ESS permanently.

 

[Bond007]

My 2018 has one of the smoothest transmissions I’ve had. I don’t remember ever being reminded about the transmission at any time during driving it (which is how it should be).

But I have a Mercedes which has the occasional hard shift (feeling like someone rear ended you) and poor rev matched shifting at times, so I’m aware of how a bad transmission feels like.

Thankfully my Pacifica doesn’t exhibit any of that behavior. Whatever software magic they had done to the ZF transmission, has worked.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Laura]

Clearly there is a difference in the trannys that have issues and the trannys they don't. I am a not so lucky owner but I am irritated by the lecture on how I am somehow responsible for this jerky, confused tranny that doesn't know what gear to be in. The vehicle or you do not need to school this "well"seasoned driver!!!

 

[TomB985]

Clearly there is a difference in the trannys that have issues and the trannys they don't. I am a not so lucky owner but I am irritated by the lecture on how I am somehow responsible for this jerky, confused tranny that doesn't know what gear to be in. The vehicle or you do not need to school this "well"seasoned driver!!!

I think you're confusing a lecture for a difference of opinion. What is smooth to me might not be for you, and I don't think anybody was blaming you for anything. No reason to get irritated about that or anything else on the Internet for that matter.

Shift quality isn't that important to me, in fact harsh shifts are better for transmission life then smooth ones because there is less slippage between the gears. I've never heard of a ZF9 wearing out clutches, so it's not something I'm worried about to begin with.

 

[TomB985]

I suppose my biggest concern with transmission is reliability. The infamous "slushbox" has always been the mystery component under the hood that stands to cost the hapless owner thousands when it fails without warning out of warranty. They are virtually impossible for the home mechanic to work on, and incremental repairs are generally not possible without a full rebuild.

Modern transmissions have come a long way, though. Failures are becoming increasingly rare, and your modern computer designed transmissions are more commonly lasting for the life of the vehicle. ZF builds a fantastic transmission, some of their previous designs introduced in the early 2000s are known for not failing without permission, even after hundreds of thousands of miles. This reputation, as well as a lack of physical failures, is why I have so much confidence in this transmission. I can deal with the occasional jerky shift as long as it continues to properly move my van down the road without costing me a fortune. The fantastic fuel economy is great as well.

 

[billspreston01]

Laura,
I got the same response from the dealership. Oh, it's because you have 2 drivers. Hmmm, I don't remember reading anything in the manual about that being an issue. I also go "maybe you're lifting right when the transmission tries to shift"....yup, both my wife and I exhibit that behavior at exactly 15 mph...

 

[jsmit86]

For some perspective, go check the stats on carcomplaints.com - This is probably the best website to research complaints to NHTSA.

If you research the Jeep Cherokee (also uses the 9 speed ZF), you will see a huge spike in 2014 and 2015, with the trans being the predominant issue. That has fallen off to very few issues in recent years.

Now.. go look at the Pacifica.
Hardly a peep on trans issues, and relatively few complaints in total on such a high volume vehicle.

Now go surf other models. Check out the Odyssey. You will see exactly the same trend on the ZF trans. Look at 2014 and 2015.
Honda had the same struggles with this unit. They have fallen off dramatically in recent years.

This is not to suggest the nobody ever has a problem. I have no doubt that some Chrysler and Honda owners get the occasional bad unit. But.... there are not widespread issues with the transmission in recent years for either manufacturer.

 

[Rivertenderrivertender]

OK

I did it

I swallowed hard, rolled the dice, and bought the white, ZF9 equipped 2017 Pacifica with full moon/sun roof.

So far, and it is only 7k miles on the car and I have only driven it under 200 miles, the transmission shifts are smoothly unnoticeable. I know, I know lots of the forum reported problems appeared well down the mileage road from where I am, but, hey, I am actively embracing my ZF9 honeymoon period.........hah ha.

Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts.

 

[TomB985]

Congrats on the new van! I hope she gives you many happy miles.

 

[Odyssey1!]

8700 miles on my 2019 touring l,and tranny works flawlessly.Have disabled ESS by unplugging hood open sensor,and am very pleased with this vehicle,having owned 2 Odyssey’s ?

 

[Lipster]

8700 miles on my 2019 touring l,and tranny works flawlessly.Have disabled ESS by unplugging hood open sensor,and am very pleased with this vehicle,having owned 2 Odyssey’s ?

That works, but those with remote start need to know that it is then inoperable.

 

[TomB985]

8700 miles on my 2019 touring l,and tranny works flawlessly.Have disabled ESS by unplugging hood open sensor,and am very pleased with this vehicle,having owned 2 Odyssey’s ��

Speaking of the Odyssey…

The ZF9 is lightyears ahead of the Honda 5-speed I had in my 2012 Odyssey. Never had any issues out of it, but it was nowhere near as capable of placing the engine in the power band. It did fine with the boat, but not nearly as well is my Pacifica does.

 

[PacificaSR]

2017 pacifica transmission gripes

I have 25K miles on my 2017 Pacifica. I really like the car in general. Comfort, folding seats, stable road feel, power are all great. I'm 6'5" so I fit the Pacifica much better than by old 1994 Dodge Caravan. That is important as I get older and stiffer.
My main gripe is the transmission. Occasionally it jerks between reverse and drive, and the 2 second delay is producing emergency power is a heart stopper in traffic situations.
But my main complaint is always having to kick it down to maintain speed when driving up a grade. I live in rolling foothills and if I lift the throttle for even a moment it up-shifts, then I have to kick it down to maintain speed. Very annoying!
I wish there was a button labeled performance/economy to engage in hilly driving.
The other annoyance is the Low range. It is of limited value going down a grade. My choice is select Low and over-rev the engine, or ride the brakes alot going downhill. The 94 Dodge with 4 speed overdrive transmission performed much better than this Pacifica.
Last year it had a software upgrade that improved the transmission performance from Marginal to Fair.
But I still have thoughts of selling it because of the transmission quirks.