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At this point I'm most concerned about the hard shift after a cold start (even though it's warmed up). It always slams into Drive at least the first time, after that I can immediately switch back into park or reverse and back into Drive and it will be fine. Bit when it slams it's hard enough to jar the whole vehicle and everyone feels it. After I've been driving it goes in and out of drive smooth as silk. I'm starting to suspect it's the transfer case because obviously SOMETHING is warming up/lubricating and changing the behavior. I'm convinced the shudder/vibration is directly related to the hard shift issue.

My warranty is third party through WYNN. I'm not too thrilled about that as I've heard some bad things about them, however I paid a little extra for the Plus plan that covers a lot more than their Powertrain warranty. But I have 3 years/36k miles. I'm a little reluctant to change the fluid myself because of the importance of proper levels. ?

Thanks for that info! I'll start getting quotes for changing the oil and filter then. Should I have the diff fluid changed as well? About how long should rear struts last on these vehicles? I was thinking perhaps it's a worn strut or mount causing the rear end shutter. I can feel it over bumps as well as when just cruising.

Thanks for the reply! I did buy it from a local lot and not a private party. The shutter feeling seems to be coming from just the rear driver's side at this point. You say possibly the transfer case... Do you think the hard shift into Drive and the rear shutter are related? I've done some reading on trans and diff fluids and I read they can cause hard shifting, but I also know changing trans fluid can do more harm than good after a certain point.

I just bought my 2017 Dodge Journey GT AWD a few weeks ago and I'm having some issues I'm not able to pinpoint. It has 92K miles and it's a V6 AWD with all new brakes. For starters I'm having a very hard shift into Drive the first 1-2 times after a cold start. I will reverse out off my driveway or parking spot at work, put it into Drive, and bam! It shakes the whole car. After this it normally goes in and out of gear smoothly. Sometimes if I circulate between P,R,N,D after a cold start it will slam one, then again after I've actually backed up. It seems a little hesitant to shift sometimes at cruising speeds, but if I get on it there's no issue. Also, I was having a lot of vibrating and shaking yesterday on the expressway. I know more often than not shaking past 45+mph is usually tire balance so I just had all 4 balanced. On the way home I took the eway briefly and while it is better, I still feel a shutter/vibrate from the rear. I've never owned an AWD vehicle and I know they have a lot more components on the rear axle than FWD. Honestly this is even my first Dodge as I've only owned Chevy for the past 15 years. Could there be a relation between the hard shift into Drive and the rear end shutter? Bad wheel bearing? Something in the transfer case? Should I have trans and diff fluid changed out? According to the maintenance records I received, it hasn't had either changed ever. I bought an extended warranty but I'd like to gain some insight on the causes beforehand because we all know how extended warranties work ? Thanks in advance!