2015 Dodge Challenger: harsh or hard shifting

5 of the 127 complaints about the 2015 Dodge Challenger describe harsh or hard shifting.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 4%
typical mileage: 20,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 56 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Harsh or hard shifting by model year

2023
1
2018
2
2016
2
2015
5
2014
1
2013
1
2010
3
2009
3

What owners say

Filed Jun 29, 2020 · Transmission · 158,560 miles · CA

Very hard shift from 4th gear to 5th and also when I put it in drive from park it takes a while for the gear to kick in. Because of this my car is running at a high coolant temp. I will be driving normally and when 4th gear switches to 5th gear the car revs up and kicks forward I almost hit the car in front of me it is unsafe.

Filed Oct 4, 2019 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · TX · 1 injury

The right shifter paddle on the steering wheel will intermittently downshift several gears instead of upshifting when the paddle is pressed. The system will also downshift unexpectedly when the right paddle shifter is held down to change over to the automatic drive system. This has been occurring since I started using the paddle shifters around 30,000 miles on the vehicle. The unexpected downshifting consistently slams the vehicle to almost a stop, abruptly forcing any occupants in the vehicle into the seatbelts. There have been many occasions where vehicles have almost hit my vehicle because the car shifts down several gears at once and slows suddenly without brake lights. The vehicle has also slid in wet conditions when it has occurred. Due to safety concerns, I have not been able to operate the paddle shifters at high speed in fear of my own safety and the safety of others. If the vehicle was to downshift several gears at speed in wet conditions, the vehicle would likely slide out of control. Additionally, the hard shifting is likely causing premature wear and tear on the transmission, drive components and tires. The vehicle has now been in the shop for this issue 8 times with no permanent fix. There are many articles and forum reports addressing this issue with dodge challenger vehicles, but dodge refuses to acknowledge the forums and claims they only address issues separately with each customer. This issue has left me without my vehicle for months at a time and is a constant safety hazard if the paddle shifters are operated. This issue is a major safety hazard to the occupants and other drivers since downshifting 2-3 gears at once can be the same as slamming on the brakes, especially in wet conditions. Here is an article that pertains to this issue: https://www.hotcars.com/charger-challenger-defect-paddle-shifters/ thanks for your help!

Filed Jan 25, 2017 · Transmission · 31,000 miles · CA

Car makes clunk noise when the 8 speed automatic gears down or up. I taken it to the dealership twice and they can't determine what is wrong. I'm afraid that warranty will run out before anything is done by fiat.chrysler.

Filed Oct 23, 2015 · Transmission · 100 miles · DE

The transmission has very harsh downshifts when lightly braking or coasting to a stop. The transmission stays engaged and bogs down the car, then frees up suddenly, causing the vehicle to lunge forward. There is an audible clunk from the rear end when this happens. On several occasions it's almost LED to fender benders with the cars in front of me.

Filed May 13, 2015 · Acceleration · 2,000 miles · CT

New 2015 dodge challenger purchased with 67 miles on it. Vehicle experienced "stuck" RPM's at 23 and 51 MPH. Hard shifts. Hard transitions. Shuttering in the transmission. Inability to shift out of 3500 RPM while accelerating onto the highway. I was at a dead stop attempting to get into the highway lane [no onramp area to merge] and the car only went to 51 MPH and would not accelerate any more. The transmission stayed at 3500 RPM. I had a passenger take a video of the issue with my camera phone to show the dealership the issue. Rally mode is even worse. Another car on has the same issue, same model, same year. I have not even made my first payment on it to chrysler capital. I have an open "star" case with dodge customer care and I have gone through two case managers already. The case manager as of today told me, that they are going to tell the dealer to drop the transmission and check the valve body for excess wear or other issues. The car has been at the dealer 3 times in the the 4 weeks I have assumed control/leased the car. This last time will make 9 days at the dealer. There is a systemic issue with these vehicles. Side note.mid dash vent clicks--refuses to close. Another dealership ordered the part for that--electrical issues all around with the 2015 dodge challenger sxt.