Q: Car lurches and then jumps out of gear

asked by on August 04, 2016

After my car lurched and literally jumped out of gear, I went to the mechanic who told me that the code showed the problem was with the transmission range sensor. At a later day I had it replaced. The sensor failed again after only two months. Then I had it replaced again, but not all of the problems were solved. To keep the car shifting and from randomly jumping out of gear, I have to drive in 3rd. This is Very Dangerous! There have been times when I would drive onto a highway and it would jump out of gear and I would nearly get hit before being able to get to a safe area. I have found online forums where this is a known issue with my make/model. It is both a safety problem and a mechanical problem. Can you tell me what will fix my car?

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I use the CD player?
Your car is equipped with a CD player as standard equipment. This gives you the ability to listen to the music of your choice on a CD, as well as the AM/FM radio. Using the CD player is pretty simple....
Cupping on rear tires
Abnormal wear and cupping of tires can come from a misalignment of suspension components or even failed suspension components. Leaking/failed rear shock absorbers are a common item for your year model. Have a trained mechanic, like the ones here at...
Coolant finishes 3-4days
Hello. This can be caused by a number of things such as low coolant levels, a faulty thermostat, or a failing coolant fan switch. The fact that you are losing water every 3-4 days without leaks, this would suggest the...
It's running smoothly, but all of a sudden it will stop, even if you're stepping on the accelerator, it doesn't moving at all.
Hi there. Since the vehicle is new and it is not moving when you step on the accelerator, first make sure that the transmission is in gear. If the transmission is in gear, make sure that the parking brake is...
My Chevy blazer is overheating and the heater started blow cold air but now doesn't work at all what could that be?
The heater not working in some cases may be related to the overheating problem you are also having. This may be due to a faulty heater blower motor or potentially a bad heater core (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-is-not-working-inspection). As you may know, the...
Had axles and outer tie rods replaced. Now I hear loud creaking sounds coming from front near middle of van 2007 Chrysler Town & Country
Hi there - your symptoms describe possible worn strut bearing plates (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/new-gas-struts-installed-groaning-noise-like-rubber-on-metal-can-or-should-you-grease-them-by-adam-h), or a power steering rack that is worn. Both tend to "creak' a bit more during cold weather. I recommend a " steering & suspension inspection](https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brakes-steering-and-suspension-inspection) performed by...
hi i have a honda civic 2002 lx the manifold overheating it turned on red because the heat by the thermostat and the switch the
Be sure not to drive the car if it is overheating because overheating can warp the cylinder head and/or engine block causing costly damage. The most common causes of overheating include low coolant level, a faulty thermostat, a plugged radiator,...
2012 chevy sonic thermostat repair cost
Hi There, When the thermostat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/thermostat-replacement) is stuck open, this can cause problems with the engine never reaching the proper operating temperature as you may know. While the thermostat remains stuck open, this allows coolant to pass through the motor...
Hello replaced bent exhaust valve on 03 bmw 745li reassembled everything now car cranks but wont start only pending code po365
Hi there. Essentially, the P0365 code means (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0365-obd-ii-trouble-code-camshaft-position-sensor-b-circuit-bank-1-by-valerie-johnston) that there has been a lack of voltage detected from the camshaft position sensor B in bank 1 by the PCM within a few seconds of the engine starting. The camshaft position...

Related articles

Does An Automatic Transmission Have a Clutch?
Most of the time we think of a clutch in the context of a manual transmission. An automatic transmission does have...
How a Clutch Engages and Disengages
In In your car transmission, the clutch is a device that works to engage and disengage the moving parts of your drive shaft. For purposes of this discussion, we’ll focus on manual transmissions. The moving parts are the transmission input...
How Long Does a Yaw Rate Sensor Last?
While While taking a curve at a high rate of speed seems like fun, it can also be quite dangerous. Luckily, there are a number of systems on a car that can make taking hairpin turns quickly much safer. The...