2016 Chrysler Town and Country: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Dec 11, 2025 · Transmission · CA

After the Chrysler dealer in Glendale CA completed Recall S44 – Transmission Oil Pump on my 2016 Chrysler Town & Country in October 3 2025, the transmission began to malfunction and eventually stopped shifting completely. The dealer drained the transmission fluid, removed both front axles, removed all transmission components, and replaced the transmission oil pump, seals, bolts, and torque converter as required by the recall. The transmission is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The vehicle became unsafe to drive when the transmission began shifting erratically and then failed to shift at all, causing sudden loss of acceleration in traffic and posing a risk to myself and others. Diagnostic Codes: Before the recall, the vehicle had code P06DE (Engine Oil Pressure Control). Chrysler has a documented TSB for P06DE requiring a PCM software update, but the dealer did not perform this update during the recall. After the recall, the vehicle developed new code P0760 (Shift Solenoid C Malfunction), which was not present prior to the recall and appeared only after the transmission was reassembled. Inspection and Confirmation: The dealer confirmed P0760 but refused further inspection or repair, stating it was “not related,” despite the failure occurring immediately after major recall-related transmission work. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer. The failure is reproducible: the transmission will not shift. Reason for Complaint: This failure happened shortly after the S44 recall, which involved complete transmission disassembly. The combination of new post-recall transmission codes, the absence of a required PCM software update, and the sudden unsafe failure raises concern that the recall work may not have been performed correctly. I request the federal safety agency review whether Recall S44 repairs are causing secondary failures or being improperly completed

Filed Sep 6, 2023 · Transmission · TX

Entered the highway and attempted to accelerate and bring car up to speed to match other cars. Car reached 55 mph but could not go faster and did not shift into higher gear. Noticed a high pitch noised coming from engine compartment. Over the course of a few hours the car would lag when shifting into reverse and would lurch forward when it did kick in. The car was taken to NAPA for a diagnostic where they diagnosed a problem with the transmission and that the car had transferred into "limp" mode. We were informed by Jet Automotive the transmission requires an overhaul.

Filed Apr 7, 2022 · Transmission · FL

Spouse drove to Publix store 1.6 miles from our home. After shopping she started to drive home but van would not shift out of first gear putting her at risk trying to get home. There was no warning before Transmission failed. Contacted a highly respected repair shop, Brandon Transmission, to have it looked at. Upon arrival I was told this particular transmission has a high failure rate, they have rebuilt a lot of these units. I don’t recall the exact date but it would’ve been close to 11/18/2021

Filed Apr 7, 2022 · Transmission · FL

While driving home from shopping, vehicle lost power and started making a high-pitched whining noise. Engine was running fine but automatic transmission would not shift. This happened on road with speed limit of 50mph and I couldn't get the vehicle to go over 20mph. No warning lamps or messages appeared on the dash and there were no symptoms of any problem prior to this event, which happened on 4/4/2022. Vehicle was towed to local licensed repair shop. They have checked vehicle out and confirmed transmission needs to be replaced at only 79,000 miles!

Filed Nov 9, 2020 · Acceleration, Electrical · 83,007 miles · CA

We we're driving home from bishop on the highway at night, when all of a sudden the van wouldn't shift to 3 gear. It wouldn't go past 40 miles per hour. Every time we tried to accelerate the RPM's would go past the red section (about section 8 or 9). It was driving fine around 65 miles per hour prior, when all of a sudden it wouldn't continue accelerating at that speed anymore. We pulled over trying to switch gears to see if it would go back to normal, but that didn't work and we also tried turning off the car and nothing worked. We pulled up at a gas station for more gas. When we turned the car back on and put it into driving gear it jolted for a second right before and after taking it out of the driving gear. We had to drive on the highway at 40 miles per hour with the emergency lights on so we wouldn't get hit from behind from coming and un coming traffic since it was pitch dark at night. Also, the left back passenger door right behind the driver seat was no longer working earlier. It won't open neither with the clicker, or by hand (inside or the outside) or by the inside automatic buttons for the door. It just doesn't unlock any more.

Filed Mar 11, 2020 · Transmission · 69,000 miles · GA

When I reach 40-50 MPH my car will not shift and it sounds like I am running over ridges in the road. Took it to dealership and they said I need to rebuild my transmission because of the torque converter. It was not throwing out a code at all. Quoted me $2,600.

Filed Dec 3, 2019 · Transmission · 70,881 miles · SC

The van lost power and would not shift above first gear. It would rev the rpms as if it were in neutral. It altogether quit moving once I was able to get it back into our neighborhood.

Filed Sep 6, 2019 · Transmission · 91,000 miles · NC

I was traveling westbound on the pa turnpike, going up a hill at 70 MPH with cruise control on when my vehicle suddenly began losing acceleration and wouldn't shift gears. The RPM gage was going very high. I quickly disabled the cruise control and pulled over onto the shoulder of the road, not an easy feat in the midst of heavy turnpike traffic (I am thankful that I was not hit by a tractor trailer). I put the vehicle in park and put on my emergency flashers. The check engine light came on. After calling my husband on the phone, I turned off the vehicle and called interstate emergency towing to take me to the nearest chrysler dealership about 20 miles away. The employee at the dealership noted that there had been a transmission-related recall on 2016 chrysler town and country minivans that were manufactured during specific months and that my minivan fell within the specified timeframe. However, at a later date I was told that my minivan VIN was not a part of the recall, even though the service department determined that there was an issue with the transmission pump which caused a loss of power (part of the initial recall problem). Please see the initial estimate that is attached. They ordered a new transmission pump, which we had to wait almost a week to come in. The day that the transmission pump arrived, my husband asked them to email him the estimate so that he could show chrysler that our van had the same issue as the initial recall. Once the dealership learned that we were contesting the recall, they claimed that they did not have to replace the transmission pump after all . When we went to pick up the van, they said that they only had to replace the torque converter (see final invoice attached). We think that they are trying to cover up the fact that our van should have been covered and fixed under the recall, and/or they do not want the recall expanded.

Filed Aug 27, 2019 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · MO

I was picking my daughter up from softball practice when my vehicle stopped shifting on the highway. We were at a stop light and pushing the gas practically did nothing. The vehicle wouldn't move. Once it did move slowly it wouldn't shift. My rpms went up to 5 at one point. My husband tried to drive it to the dealership but only made it about 2 miles from our house before we'r had to call a tow truck. I have a 2016 chrysler town and country with less than 70k miles. I called chrysler after discovering this was actually a recall issue. Oddly enough my VIN was supposedly not affected, however, my $4000 transmission rebuild receipt says differently. Of course chrysler also said my warranty didn't cover this issue.