I would like to express how deeply dissatisfied I am with my experience as a whole with your products how frustrated I am at what I've been through trying to get my vehicle to run as it should. I have a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 5.7L Hemi and a 545RFE transmission, I had an ATS diesel transmission installed back right around April 2016 at a shop called Chaos Fab Shop in Winchester, VA - apparently an ATS dealer - they recommended it to me as being tougher and more reliable. I've never had to have a transmission replaced before, but was excited with what I was explained to be getting. I was estimated about 2 weeks to get the transmission, about a month later it finally arrived, and the shop told me it was D.O.A - according to your notes, They lied and it was an install error - and you guys paid to have it sent back and rebuilt - if this is true, I do appreciate that extra mile to take care of me. It took about another month to get a new transmission, had it installed and it still had issues, shifted hard, had delayed shifting at full throttle, and it just never felt "right". This was while my vehicle was pretty much stock except for an K&N intake system.
NOTE: after the transmission was replaced, I had 32" tires installed and had my differentials re-geared to 4.10s to compensate for the bigger tires - so the strain on the drive train is just about stock - give or take a few percent. And still had the same issues.
Fast forward a few months, I was told my TCM may have been acting up, so I had a brand new PCM / TCM installed in my vehicle and programmed at a Jeep dealer, same issues, clunking, weird shifting, etc. Forward again to 2017, transmission failure again. Clutch material in the oil pan, and all kinds of codes. Had it warrantied by ATS, and installed by an ATRA certified shop, ATS customer service talked me into getting the Co-Pilot as well as it would drastically increase the performance and reduce any issues I had with the transmission. Had everything installed and the shop (Kens automotive in Frederick, MD) contacted ATS to verify everything, and I had nothing but issues again. The co-pilot was making my Jeep throw engine codes and losing power, etc. So I had to pay to have it removed again, and sent back for a return to ATS. Even right after my warranty rebuilt ATS trans was installed, it still didn't feel right, weird shifting, clunking, delayed shifting, etc.
Fast forward to a couple weeks ago, total failure, extreme clunking, throwing transmission codes such as p0700 and p0734, transmission going into limp mode again (only 3rd gear working I believe) and a lot of vibration. I contacted ATS customer service, I was told I could have it warrantied, but again, I'd have to pay for shipping, and pay for labor which in my area would total close to $2000 just about 2/3rds of a new / re manufactured transmission. I was also told that even though the previous time I went with a co-pilot, I should get a new co-pilot, otherwise I'd be more than likely be having the same issue all over again with clutches failing in about a year on a mostly stock Jeep Grand Cherokee. I brought it up asking, about it, then he back peddled a little saying oh well, you may be fine without a co-pilot but it still may or may not fail within 2 years without a co-pilot.
Also I would like to note, after all these transmissions and issues I have only put about 20,000 - 25,000 miles TOTAL on all of these transmissions combined.
I was hoping for a little help / reimbursement and just have a straight up dealership transmission installed since EVERY transmission I've had from ATS from day 1 has never acted right, but I was informed my only options are to pay and have it shipped, pay for labor, and have you rebuild it even though I've always had an issue with every ATS transmission from day 1 and probably fail again if I don't get a co-pilot which didn't work before (but oh wait, its been redesigned), or cover my own cost for an entire new transmission from the dealer. read more