Erratic Shifting in Eclipse Cross, Transmission Issues?

Hey there! I have some experience working with cars, and I actually faced a similar issue with my 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander last year. The symptoms were pretty much identical to what you're describing. After taking it to my regular workshop, they diagnosed it as a faulty transmission control unit. Ended up costing me around 1000€ to get it fixed, but it's been running smoothly ever since. Before I share more specifics about my repair experience, How many miles/kilometers are on your Eclipse Cross? Are there any specific error codes showing up? Did the issue start suddenly or gradually? These details would help me better understand if you're dealing with the same problem I had. Best regards, Mike

Thanks for the response. My Eclipse Cross has 127,526 KM on it, and I just had it serviced last month. The issue started quite suddenly, was driving fine one day, and the next morning it began acting up. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get the error codes read yet, but planning to stop by my mechanic tomorrow to check that out. Your experience with the transmission control unit is really helpful to know. Did you notice any particular patterns with the shifting issues before you got it fixed? Mine seems to act up more when the engine is cold, if that helps.

Hey again! Yeah, that actually sounds very familiar to what I experienced with my Outlander! When my transmission control unit was acting up, I definitely noticed it was worse during cold starts, exactly like what you're describing. The morning shifts were particularly rough, and it would sometimes feel like the transmission was "hunting" for the right gear. In my case, before I got it fixed, I tried resetting the transmission control unit by disconnecting the battery for about 30 minutes (kind of a DIY attempt, you know?), but that only helped temporarily. The issue came back after a few days. With 127K KM, you're pretty close to where I was when my problem started (I was at about 135K KM). Definitely get those error codes checked, when I did, mine showed P0700 and P0730, which pointed directly to the transmission control unit. Just a heads up, while the parking position switch can cause similar symptoms, in my experience (and based on what you're describing), it really does sound more like the TCU. The cold start issues are particularly telling. Let me know what those error codes say when you get them checked. If they're similar to what I had, you might be looking at the same repair. Fingers crossed it's something simpler though! Mike

Thanks so much for all the detailed info. This is super helpful, especially knowing about your experience with the cold starts and the specific error codes. I'll definitely keep what you said about the TCU in mind when I get those codes checked tomorrow. The similarity between our situations is pretty striking, really appreciate you mentioning that DIY battery reset too, as I might've tried that and wasted time if you hadn't shared your experience! I'll probably update this thread once I get the codes read and find out what's actually going on. Hoping it won't be too expensive, but at least now I have a better idea of what to expect if it is the TCU. You've really helped put my mind at ease about this whole situation. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience!