Slight Shudder on Slow Stops – 9G-Tronic (Gears 2-3 into Neutral?) – Mount & Fluid Ch
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
From: West New York, NJ
2020 W222 S560 4matic 86K
Slight Shudder on Slow Stops – 9G-Tronic (Gears 2-3 into Neutral?) – Mount & Fluid Ch
Hi everyone,
I wanted to get some input from others who may have experienced this. I’ve noticed a slight but consistent shudder when coming to a very slow stop, almost like a soft engagement/disengagement happening within the transmission. It’s not present during quicker stops, more aggressive deceleration, or while braking hard — only during those slow, creeping stops.
The sensation seems to occur specifically when the car is transitioning from 2nd to 1st gear or 2nd into neutral, right around the 2-3 gear area, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly. It feels like the torque converter clutch is disengaging slowly, or perhaps like what a manual transmission would feel like if you pressed the clutch in too late — that slight judder as you coast to a halt.
A few additional notes:
- The issue is less noticeable when the car is fully warmed up.
- All other gear changes are smooth. Shifts from Park to Drive or Reverse are seamless, with no harsh engagement, no vibrations, and no error codes.
- I’ve already had the transmission mount replaced, and did a transmission oil + filter change (using the correct fluid). Unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue.
The car drives perfectly otherwise — no other symptoms whatsoever.
I'm hoping this might just be a software calibration quirk with the torque converter or clutch packs in those low-speed transitions, but I’d love to hear if others have experienced anything similar or found a resolution. Could it be early signs of wear in the clutch packs for those gears, or maybe just normal behavior that becomes more noticeable under gentle deceleration?
Thanks in advance for your insights!
Let me know if you want to include details like your mileage or specific model year to make the post even more helpful.
I wanted to get some input from others who may have experienced this. I’ve noticed a slight but consistent shudder when coming to a very slow stop, almost like a soft engagement/disengagement happening within the transmission. It’s not present during quicker stops, more aggressive deceleration, or while braking hard — only during those slow, creeping stops.
The sensation seems to occur specifically when the car is transitioning from 2nd to 1st gear or 2nd into neutral, right around the 2-3 gear area, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly. It feels like the torque converter clutch is disengaging slowly, or perhaps like what a manual transmission would feel like if you pressed the clutch in too late — that slight judder as you coast to a halt.
A few additional notes:
- The issue is less noticeable when the car is fully warmed up.
- All other gear changes are smooth. Shifts from Park to Drive or Reverse are seamless, with no harsh engagement, no vibrations, and no error codes.
- I’ve already had the transmission mount replaced, and did a transmission oil + filter change (using the correct fluid). Unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue.
The car drives perfectly otherwise — no other symptoms whatsoever.
I'm hoping this might just be a software calibration quirk with the torque converter or clutch packs in those low-speed transitions, but I’d love to hear if others have experienced anything similar or found a resolution. Could it be early signs of wear in the clutch packs for those gears, or maybe just normal behavior that becomes more noticeable under gentle deceleration?
Thanks in advance for your insights!
Let me know if you want to include details like your mileage or specific model year to make the post even more helpful.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 784
Likes: 249
From: USA
That's a very common characteristic of the 9G-Tronic. It's often the torque converter clutch disengaging right before a complete stop. Many owners report this exact low-speed shudder.
Since the fluid and mount are new, the next step is a transmission adaptation reset. This lets the transmission relearn its shift points and can often smooth this out. A dealer or a good independent shop with the right scanner can do it for you.
It's rarely a sign of a major mechanical fault, just an annoying quirk of the calibration.
Since the fluid and mount are new, the next step is a transmission adaptation reset. This lets the transmission relearn its shift points and can often smooth this out. A dealer or a good independent shop with the right scanner can do it for you.
It's rarely a sign of a major mechanical fault, just an annoying quirk of the calibration.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,336
Likes: 6,315
Hi everyone,
I wanted to get some input from others who may have experienced this. I’ve noticed a slight but consistent shudder when coming to a very slow stop, almost like a soft engagement/disengagement happening within the transmission. It’s not present during quicker stops, more aggressive deceleration, or while braking hard — only during those slow, creeping stops.
The sensation seems to occur specifically when the car is transitioning from 2nd to 1st gear or 2nd into neutral, right around the 2-3 gear area, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly. It feels like the torque converter clutch is disengaging slowly, or perhaps like what a manual transmission would feel like if you pressed the clutch in too late — that slight judder as you coast to a halt.
A few additional notes:
- The issue is less noticeable when the car is fully warmed up.
- All other gear changes are smooth. Shifts from Park to Drive or Reverse are seamless, with no harsh engagement, no vibrations, and no error codes.
- I’ve already had the transmission mount replaced, and did a transmission oil + filter change (using the correct fluid). Unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue.
The car drives perfectly otherwise — no other symptoms whatsoever.
I'm hoping this might just be a software calibration quirk with the torque converter or clutch packs in those low-speed transitions, but I’d love to hear if others have experienced anything similar or found a resolution. Could it be early signs of wear in the clutch packs for those gears, or maybe just normal behavior that becomes more noticeable under gentle deceleration?
Thanks in advance for your insights!
Let me know if you want to include details like your mileage or specific model year to make the post even more helpful.
I wanted to get some input from others who may have experienced this. I’ve noticed a slight but consistent shudder when coming to a very slow stop, almost like a soft engagement/disengagement happening within the transmission. It’s not present during quicker stops, more aggressive deceleration, or while braking hard — only during those slow, creeping stops.
The sensation seems to occur specifically when the car is transitioning from 2nd to 1st gear or 2nd into neutral, right around the 2-3 gear area, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly. It feels like the torque converter clutch is disengaging slowly, or perhaps like what a manual transmission would feel like if you pressed the clutch in too late — that slight judder as you coast to a halt.
A few additional notes:
- The issue is less noticeable when the car is fully warmed up.
- All other gear changes are smooth. Shifts from Park to Drive or Reverse are seamless, with no harsh engagement, no vibrations, and no error codes.
- I’ve already had the transmission mount replaced, and did a transmission oil + filter change (using the correct fluid). Unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue.
The car drives perfectly otherwise — no other symptoms whatsoever.
I'm hoping this might just be a software calibration quirk with the torque converter or clutch packs in those low-speed transitions, but I’d love to hear if others have experienced anything similar or found a resolution. Could it be early signs of wear in the clutch packs for those gears, or maybe just normal behavior that becomes more noticeable under gentle deceleration?
Thanks in advance for your insights!
Let me know if you want to include details like your mileage or specific model year to make the post even more helpful.
That's a very common characteristic of the 9G-Tronic. It's often the torque converter clutch disengaging right before a complete stop. Many owners report this exact low-speed shudder.
Since the fluid and mount are new, the next step is a transmission adaptation reset. This lets the transmission relearn its shift points and can often smooth this out. A dealer or a good independent shop with the right scanner can do it for you.
It's rarely a sign of a major mechanical fault, just an annoying quirk of the calibration.
Since the fluid and mount are new, the next step is a transmission adaptation reset. This lets the transmission relearn its shift points and can often smooth this out. A dealer or a good independent shop with the right scanner can do it for you.
It's rarely a sign of a major mechanical fault, just an annoying quirk of the calibration.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,001
Likes: 2,196
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
That's a very common characteristic of the 9G-Tronic. It's often the torque converter clutch disengaging right before a complete stop. Many owners report this exact low-speed shudder.
Since the fluid and mount are new, the next step is a transmission adaptation reset. This lets the transmission relearn its shift points and can often smooth this out. A dealer or a good independent shop with the right scanner can do it for you.
It's rarely a sign of a major mechanical fault, just an annoying quirk of the calibration.
Since the fluid and mount are new, the next step is a transmission adaptation reset. This lets the transmission relearn its shift points and can often smooth this out. A dealer or a good independent shop with the right scanner can do it for you.
It's rarely a sign of a major mechanical fault, just an annoying quirk of the calibration.
All was good until about 43,000 miles, when it started behaving like the OP, right after a factory over the air download. It's not annoying enough for immediate attention, but I'll certainly have it addressed at my next service.
To me it seems like it's trying to Start Stop before fully stopped.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 566
Likes: 261
From: In The Woods
2019 W222 S560 4Matic/2025 Yukon Denali
These trans are wonky. Like everyone else said, that's normal.
You can do a soft reset if you have a good scanner or Xentry.
The trans will act up again after a reset so don't worry about it.
Nothing is breaking, its just how this trans shifts.
I do a reset every 20-30k miles.
You can do a soft reset if you have a good scanner or Xentry.
The trans will act up again after a reset so don't worry about it.
Nothing is breaking, its just how this trans shifts.
I do a reset every 20-30k miles.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Gle250 2018
Hi everyone,
I wanted to get some input from others who may have experienced this. I’ve noticed a slight but consistent shudder when coming to a very slow stop, almost like a soft engagement/disengagement happening within the transmission. It’s not present during quicker stops, more aggressive deceleration, or while braking hard — only during those slow, creeping stops.
The sensation seems to occur specifically when the car is transitioning from 2nd to 1st gear or 2nd into neutral, right around the 2-3 gear area, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly. It feels like the torque converter clutch is disengaging slowly, or perhaps like what a manual transmission would feel like if you pressed the clutch in too late — that slight judder as you coast to a halt.
A few additional notes:
- The issue is less noticeable when the car is fully warmed up.
- All other gear changes are smooth. Shifts from Park to Drive or Reverse are seamless, with no harsh engagement, no vibrations, and no error codes.
- I’ve already had the transmission mount replaced, and did a transmission oil + filter change (using the correct fluid). Unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue.
The car drives perfectly otherwise — no other symptoms whatsoever.
I'm hoping this might just be a software calibration quirk with the torque converter or clutch packs in those low-speed transitions, but I’d love to hear if others have experienced anything similar or found a resolution. Could it be early signs of wear in the clutch packs for those gears, or maybe just normal behavior that becomes more noticeable under gentle deceleration?
Thanks in advance for your insights!
Let me know if you want to include details like your mileage or specific model year to make the post even more helpful.
I wanted to get some input from others who may have experienced this. I’ve noticed a slight but consistent shudder when coming to a very slow stop, almost like a soft engagement/disengagement happening within the transmission. It’s not present during quicker stops, more aggressive deceleration, or while braking hard — only during those slow, creeping stops.
The sensation seems to occur specifically when the car is transitioning from 2nd to 1st gear or 2nd into neutral, right around the 2-3 gear area, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly. It feels like the torque converter clutch is disengaging slowly, or perhaps like what a manual transmission would feel like if you pressed the clutch in too late — that slight judder as you coast to a halt.
A few additional notes:
- The issue is less noticeable when the car is fully warmed up.
- All other gear changes are smooth. Shifts from Park to Drive or Reverse are seamless, with no harsh engagement, no vibrations, and no error codes.
- I’ve already had the transmission mount replaced, and did a transmission oil + filter change (using the correct fluid). Unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue.
The car drives perfectly otherwise — no other symptoms whatsoever.
I'm hoping this might just be a software calibration quirk with the torque converter or clutch packs in those low-speed transitions, but I’d love to hear if others have experienced anything similar or found a resolution. Could it be early signs of wear in the clutch packs for those gears, or maybe just normal behavior that becomes more noticeable under gentle deceleration?
Thanks in advance for your insights!
Let me know if you want to include details like your mileage or specific model year to make the post even more helpful.
slight vibration for a second or two if you stop very gently. After few minutes drive it acts as normal. I'll try to do a soft reset of the gearbox using accelerator pedal and see if it helps
