[Elroy the Brave]

the 9-speed has been great in my Chrysler Pacifica. I've liked it a lot more than the Chrysler 62TE, which has shifted like garbage in a few vehicles I've owned.

Chrysler partnering with ZF is probably one of the smarter things they've done. They made a mistake partnering with JATCO for a bit (those CVTs were garbage). The other transmission deals (Hyundai and Aisin) have been OK.

 

[World14]

My jeep has 140,000+ on it and the 9sp has not been touched. The dealer wants to do a service on the trans. Should I have it done?

That's more-so a preference. Fill-For-Life is kind of a lie, but most also people do services well before a manufacture recommends it, even if they don't. Honestly, it's up to you. You could choose not to change the fluid/filter, and it might last longer. You can have it changed, and it might last even longer. Fresh fluid can do bad and good things.
If it makes you feel better (it 100% won't 😂), I'd do one on my Jeep. Granted, it's the Hyundai transmission, but I beat the snot out of that thing, and she keeps going.

 

[ImperialCrown]

I plan on a driveline fluid change at 60K miles (100K km), if only for peace-of-mind & to establish a baseline for wear.
Synthetics have allowed us to have 'Forever fluids'. Use fluids that meet the FCA 'MS' specs.

The 9-speed is a fluid-only service. The filter is accessed through the bell-housing, necessitating unit removal.
A dipstick can be made with a zip-tie. Fluid level changes with fluid temperature.

 

[flstc1450]

From my perspective, the ZF 9 speed isn't bad, it just wasn't programmed correctly when combined with a 2.4 lethargic engine. Overall we have experienced great fuel mileage, which was the reason I choose the 2.4 over the 3.6 at the time of purchase.
Ours is a 2015 Chrysler 200S and is a very early production unit, assembled in April 2014 and we purchased it in June 2014. Been a great car for us. The trans is orginal, and all recalls and updates have been performed. It still shifts like crap, at times it can random. Just had the latest recall, the U90, which replaced forward maniverter and O2 sensors, along with updates to the PCM and TCM.
Shifting is different, but hard to tell as our car always shifted hard when cold. The 4-5 shift can clunk at times.
As for 9th gear, I have only seen it on interstate travels when the speed reached over 70mph.
Mileage today is just coming up on 144,500.
Personally I feel many of the problems are driver related as people tend to assicate how their old car ( transmission ) shifted and performed, and they expect the same from any new car. That isn't the case.
These 9 speeds are "different" !

 

[ImperialCrown]

The U90 is very likely the latest & greatest software for the PCM/TCM. The intent of the software update was for the new catalytic converter.
A Quicklearn & PROXI may help with the harsh 4-5 shift.

 

[tdkleffman]

I'm leasing a '21 Cherokee with 2L turbo, and will add that the 9hp in my SUV "usually" shifts okay. However, it sometimes will deliver a very clunky/jerky downshift when pulling up to a stop, typically the 2-1 shift. The 1-2 upshift can also be abrupt when the tranny is cold, or at light throttle. Put your foot in it, and the trans is pretty smooth overall when upshifting. As far as I can tell, the ONLY time mine goes into the 9th ratio is when I manually put it there on the highway, never automatically. So, generally speaking I've had a decent experience with the 9hp in my Jeep.

I do have a question for ya'll. What trans is Jeep using in the '23 compass? They apparently ditched the 9hp for an 8 speed unit. Is it a Hyundai box??

 

[ImperialCrown]

It is a Hyundai-sourced unit replacing the previous Hyundai 6F24. It has a conventional & an electric oil pump to provide immediate launch from an ESS stop.
The TrailHawk gets different final drive gearing. 1st gear is a 'granny' ratio. The top 2 gears are overdrives.

8F30
The 8F30 transmission is an eight speed electronically controlled transmission. The transmission assembly a unique transmission oil to hydraulically actuate the elements needed for each gear range. Input torque is provided by a torque converter that drives the input shaft and the mechanical oil pump that supplies hydraulic pressure to actuate the clutches.
The torque converter also has an electronically modulated Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) to reduce slippage, generated heat, and increase efficiency when conditions warrant. The transmission also has an Electric Oil Pump (EOP) mounted externally to the case to support Engine Stop Start (ESS) functionality. During the restart event the EOP supplies hydraulic pressure to allow the transmission to respond almost immediately to launch the vehicle.
The transmission contains a differential assembly that allows for output torque to exit the transmission at different speeds to the left and right halfshafts. The transmission also has a provision for mounting the Power Transfer Unit to the right side of the differential housing. The transmission provides input torque to the PTU to allow for AWD or 4WD operation.
The Transmission Control Module (TCM) is bolted to the exterior of the transmission case, above the differential. The TCM directly controls solenoids located on the valve body to automatically upshift and downshift, control line pressure and the Torque Converter Clutch (TCC). The TCM uses direct inputs from the transmission such as the input and output speeds, transmission oil temperature, the Transmission Range Switch (TRS) as well as indirect inputs other modules to control when and how the transmission shifts. The TCM also monitors the various inputs and outputs for proper operation and reports DTCs when a failure is detected.

 

[David S]

... because in some cars it will be used, and it's cheaper to make it always nine speeds.

Plus CAFE, you may never trigger 9th, but the test does.

 

[David S]

Ninth gear being useless makes it sound to me like someone chose the wrong axle ratio... or maybe insufficient aerodynamics?

The 200 was better than the Renegade for aerodynamics.

 

[Dave Z]

Plus CAFE, you may never trigger 9th, but the test does.

If a real person never triggers 9th, CAFE doesn't either.

 

[valiant67]

I'm leasing a '21 Cherokee with 2L turbo, and will add that the 9hp in my SUV "usually" shifts okay. However, it sometimes will deliver a very clunky/jerky downshift when pulling up to a stop, typically the 2-1 shift. The 1-2 upshift can also be abrupt when the tranny is cold, or at light throttle. Put your foot in it, and the trans is pretty smooth overall when upshifting. As far as I can tell, the ONLY time mine goes into the 9th ratio is when I manually put it there on the highway, never automatically. So, generally speaking I've had a decent experience with the 9hp in my Jeep.

I do have a question for ya'll. What trans is Jeep using in the '23 compass? They apparently ditched the 9hp for an 8 speed unit. Is it a Hyundai box??

It’s sad to see that rough 1-2, 2-1 is still around . My 2018 Cherokee had it bad. The only time it went away was when it had a recall that required everything be reset when a new module was installed . It soon came back.

 

[Bob Lincoln]

I often shift my 62TE 6-speed manually around town, as I can get into a higher gear sooner and get better gas mileage. But the 2-1 shift in Autostick mode is rough, whereas 2-1 in Drive is very smooth and virtually unnoticeable. I have no idea why, but would love to know.

 

[flstc1450]

The U90 is very likely the latest & greatest software for the PCM/TCM. The intent of the software update was for the new catalytic converter.
A Quicklearn & PROXI may help with the harsh 4-5 shift.

Sadly, I have asked to have the service performed previously. During the W84 recall service I even told them I would pay for them to perfrom the proxi. The quick learn was supposed to be included on the recall, I believe. The mechanic even came over and told me no need to pay for the service, as it was included.
The transmission never shifted any better, or worse then before. The fuel mileage dropped with this recall and oil consumption decreased.
I have become used to this transmission and it hasn't failed me yet.
After the W90 recall, I have noticed a different shift quality. However I would need to wait until the winter cold months to find out if anything has really changed. Cold shifts have always been hard.

 

[Dave Z]

Makes me wonder if you need to change the fluid for some reason.

 

[flstc1450]

Makes me wonder if you need to change the fluid for some reason.

Been this way from new, with slight changes after each update performed.
If I were to keep this car forever, that is a service I would do. However I purchased one of those lifetime service contracts Mopar offered back then. So long as I keep the car, that trans is covered !

 

[ImperialCrown]

It’s sad to see that rough 1-2, 2-1 is still around . My 2018 Cherokee had it bad. The only time it went away was when it had a recall that required everything be reset when a new module was installed . It soon came back.

The 2-1 downshift 'bump' is the most difficult one to fix. There has been software updates & attention to L-R (D-Brake) clutch pack clearance to make it better.

Something is wrong if it is intolerably harsh.

 

[valiant67]

The 2-1 downshift 'bump' is the most difficult one to fix. There has been software updates & attention to L-R (D-Brake) clutch pack clearance to make it better.

Something is wrong if it is intolerably harsh.
View attachment 96505

These sure made the old A604 bumpshift seem like nothing.
It at times felt like another car had hit the back of the car, it was that rough. They tried to fix the Cherokee, Couldn't. I gave them another chance with a replacement Renegade. It too got rough around the same mileage, about 18k miles.
I'm doing my best to avoid the 9 speed now.

 

[Dave Z]

We used to have the occasional harsh bump-shift in our ZF 8-speed but it seems to have gone away... I wonder if that's the programming...

 

[Adventurer55]

The one thing that was kinda odd but not a big deal was this. Traveling say under 20mph, and you'd step on the gas lightly, it was in a very high gear, tach around 1k rpm. Which I thought was to high a gear, but it quickly went to a lower gear. It may just be the nature of the beast.

 

[tdkleffman]

I've always thought that Jeep should have setup the 9hp tranny programming such that said tranny would start off in 2nd gear while in NORMAL mode, like it does when in SNOW mode. That would really smooth out the overall low speed experience. Save first gear starts for SPORT mode.

Interesting what Dave said about the 8hp. When I had my Charger Scat, I was not fond of the super early 1-2 upshift when the tranny was cold. It made the car feel like it was stumbling into the next ratio immediately after starting to accelerate from a stop. After the trans was warmed up, the stumbly feeling went completely away. I never experienced bump downshifts with that tranny. IMO, another situation where the vehicle could have been programmed to start in 2nd gear, if the powertrain was in NORMAL mode.