These 5 SUVs Struggled With Significant Transmission Problems

None of this is to say these SUVs are without merit. Many of them sell in large numbers and offer capabilities that appeal to a wide range of buyers.

But transmissions sit at the core of how a vehicle feels day to day. When they falter—whether through design missteps, software calibration, or outright component failure—it tends to stick with owners in a way few other issues do.

5) Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of those vehicles that keeps resurfacing in these conversations, and not because of isolated incidents. Its well-documented issues stretch back years, particularly with models equipped with the eight-speed automatic and that controversial monostable shifter.

The design itself became the story—drivers thought they’d put the vehicle in Park, only to have it roll away. Regulators tracked hundreds of such incidents, along with dozens of injuries. Even more recent models haven’t been immune, with additional recalls tied to components like ABS sensors allowing unintended movement. Layer in newer reports of clutch failures and erratic shifting, and it’s clear this isn’t a one-generation problem.

4) Nissan Pathfinder

Nissan’s Pathfinder took a different route to notoriety, largely centered around its continuously variable transmission. The issues showed up early—almost immediately after the 2013 redesign hit the market—and persisted despite multiple software updates.

When a manufacturer’s official repair path includes replacing the entire transmission assembly on relatively new vehicles, it tells you the problem runs deeper than calibration. Owners described shuddering, power loss, and a general lack of confidence, particularly in situations like highway merging.

Nissan eventually moved away from the CVT in later versions—it's something to watch out for if you're looking at one second hand.

3) Ford Explorer

Ford’s 2020 Explorer arrived with plenty of ambition and a new rear-drive-based platform, but its transmission became tangled in a web of separate issues.

Software faults that could trigger unintended shifts into Park, mechanical failures in drivetrain components, and a steady stream of complaints about harsh or delayed gear changes all contributed to a long list of recalls.

At one point, the vehicle accumulated dozens of safety campaigns, several tied directly to drivability concerns.

2) Chevrolet Tahoe

The Chevrolet Tahoe, particularly in its more recent generations, has also found itself under scrutiny.

The 10-speed automatic, shared across several GM products, has been the subject of recalls related to rear wheel lockup and a host of drivability complaints. Technical bulletins outline symptoms that range from rough shifting to overheating under load, which is not what you want in a body-on-frame SUV often tasked with towing.

GM’s approach has largely leaned on software fixes, even as reports continued to surface, and that disconnect hasn’t gone unnoticed by owners.

1) Mercedes-Benz GLE

Then there’s the Mercedes-Benz GLE, which adds a different kind of frustration to the mix. Here, the issue isn’t just about roughness or hesitation—it’s about refinement falling short of expectation.

A recall tied to stalling during certain downshift conditions put a spotlight on the 9-speed automatic, and owner feedback has echoed similar concerns about inconsistent behavior. When you’re spending luxury money, the tolerance for quirks drops to near zero, and a transmission that feels like garbage tends to overshadow everything else the vehicle does well.