The Lemon IndexSlipping means the engine revs but the car doesn’t speed up as it should, because a gear isn’t holding.
Fix soon. Get it checked soon. Driving on a slipping transmission makes the repair bigger.
Low or burnt transmission fluid. Then: worn clutches or bands inside the transmission; a failing torque converter.
Owners describe this in 12,978 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford Focus.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 Nissan Maxima | 192 | 13% |
| 2003 Honda Accord | 186 | 9% |
| 2014 Ford Focus | 185 | 7% |
| 2002 Honda Odyssey | 181 | 19% |
| 2002 Ford Explorer | 180 | 5% |
| 2005 Nissan Maxima | 178 | 19% |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 155 | 4% |
| 2018 Ford F-Series | 154 | 5% |
| 2002 Honda Accord | 138 | 13% |
| 2013 Ford Focus | 134 | 6% |
| 2019 Ford F-Series | 111 | 4% |
| 2003 Honda Odyssey | 100 | 11% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2002 Honda Odyssey · 19% 2005 Nissan Maxima · 19% 2006 Nissan Maxima · 16% 2004 Nissan Maxima · 13% 2002 Honda Accord · 13% 2002 Toyota RAV4 · 13% 2002 Acura TL · 12% 2020 Ford Expedition · 11%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of transmission slipping
- Low or burnt transmission fluid
- Worn clutches or bands inside the transmission
- A failing torque converter
- A shift solenoid or valve body fault
- A worn clutch (manual cars)
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with a slipping transmission?
Fix soon. Get it checked soon. Driving on a slipping transmission makes the repair bigger.
Get help right away if the car won’t move or drops out of gear; you smell burning fluid.
Of the 12,978 complaints describing it, 2% mention a crash, 1% say the car was towed, 0.5% mention a fire and 1% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: power train (92%), engine (8%), electrical system (6%), vehicle speed control (5%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 70,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (3,588), Honda (1,471), Nissan (1,368), Chevrolet (982), Dodge (657).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (4x4 & axles, transmission repairs): the middle half ran $2,300 to $5,000, typical $3,600, from 629 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
P0741 P0740 P0730 P1870 P0700 P0776 P2714 P0733
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Transmission shifting hard Transmission shudder Car won't go into gear Car jerks when accelerating RPM goes up and down Car shakes when accelerating
Quick answers
What causes transmission slipping?
Slipping means the engine revs but the car doesn’t speed up as it should, because a gear isn’t holding. Common causes: low or burnt transmission fluid; worn clutches or bands inside the transmission; a failing torque converter; a shift solenoid or valve body fault; a worn clutch (manual cars).
Is it safe to drive with a slipping transmission?
Fix soon. Get it checked soon. Driving on a slipping transmission makes the repair bigger.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford Focus, Ford F-Series and Honda Accord. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 629 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $2,300 to $5,000. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup