A slipping transmission is one that loses its grip: the engine revs but the vehicle does not accelerate as it should. It is one of the most common signs that an automatic transmission needs attention.
Signs your transmission is slipping or going out
- Engine rpm climbs without a matching increase in speed, especially when accelerating or climbing a hill.
- Delayed, harsh or erratic shifts, or the transmission dropping out of gear.
- A delay before the vehicle moves when you select Drive or Reverse.
- A burning smell, or a transmission temperature or check engine warning.
- Red or brown fluid spots under the vehicle.
Signs of low transmission fluid
Low fluid is a common and fixable cause of slipping. Look for leaks under the vehicle, slipping or delayed engagement, rough shifting and overheating. Check the level and condition the way your owner’s manual describes: many newer transmissions have no dipstick and are checked through a fill plug at a set temperature. Dark, burnt-smelling fluid or debris points to internal wear.
Common causes
- Low or degraded fluid.
- Worn clutch packs or bands.
- A failing torque converter or lock-up clutch.
- Faulty shift solenoids or sensors.
- Overheating from towing or a failing cooler.
When it slips tells you a lot
- In one gear only: usually the clutch pack or band that applies that gear.
- In every gear: points to something shared, such as low fluid, a weak pump, a pressure problem or the torque converter.
- Only when hot: often worn clutches or fluid that has broken down; see transmission fluid color.
- Mostly when cold: hardened seals or low fluid that improve as parts expand.
- With a warning light or a locked gear: the computer may have put the transmission in limp mode after a solenoid or sensor fault.
Can a slipping transmission be fixed?
If the cause is low or degraded fluid caught early, correcting the level and servicing the fluid can help, and a failed solenoid or sensor can often be replaced on its own; see transmission solenoid symptoms. Some transmissions also receive software updates for shift-quality complaints. Worn clutch packs, bands or a damaged converter mean internal repair, and additives are only a temporary measure. Transmission rebuild vs replacement compares the options.
What to do
Stop driving hard on a slipping transmission, because continued slipping creates heat and debris that cause more damage. Have it diagnosed, including stored trouble codes. If the internal parts are worn, a replacement transmission is often the quickest repair.
See also: transmission fluid temperature · bad torque converter symptoms · transmission replacement cost · replacement transmissions by code.
Related guides: transmission fluid leak.
More guides: transmission shifting hard · delayed engagement · signs of a bad transmission · rebuilt vs used transmission · transmission line pressure · bad transmission pump symptoms · bad transmission speed sensor symptoms.
Trouble codes: P0894 Transmission Component Slipping · P0730 Incorrect Gear Ratio · P0700 Transmission Control System · P0731 Gear 1 Incorrect Ratio · P0733 Gear 3 Incorrect Ratio · P0868 Transmission Fluid Pressure Low · P0736 Reverse Incorrect Ratio · P0780 Shift Error · P0729 Gear 6 Incorrect Ratio · P0746 Pressure Control Solenoid A Performance · all OBD2 codes.
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