5 Reasons Your Car Won’t Reverse

September 23, 2021 | By Mister Transmission

5 Reasons Your Car Won't Reverse

Trying to reverse your car and your car deciding to not reverse is, at best, annoying, and at worst, dangerous. Here are five reasons why your car might not reverse.

1. Problems With The Transmission Fluid

Insufficient quantity or quality of fluid can cause just about any transmission problem. If your car won’t reverse properly, check your fluid. If the level is too low, top it up and see if that helps. Also, look at the fluid and give it a whiff. Good automatic transmission fluid is largely translucent with a slight reddish hue and it is neutral smelling. Foul smelling or opaque fluid is indicative of a larger problem and you should bring your vehicle in for an inspection. Manual transmissions can also use transmission fluid or they use some kind of oil, and these should also be checked.

2. Faulty Sensors

There are a number of sensors within your transmission that allow it to run. When you shift an automatic transmission into reverse with the gearshift, an electronic sensor sends a message to the powertrain control module that the transmission should be go into reverse. However, if the sensor malfunctions, it might send the wrong message, or no message it all. Such a problem is often accompanied by the illumination of the check engine light. At Mister Transmission, we can interface with your vehicle’s onboard computer to deal with such a sensor issue.

3. A Damaged Valve Body (Automatic)

In automatic transmissions, the valve body directs hydraulic fluid to the valves. It looks like a big maze. The fluid allows gears to shift smoothly, but if there is an obstruction or other impairment, there could be a delay in the shift or simply no shift at all.

4. Problems With The Shifter (Manual)

If you drive a manual transmission and notice it is very difficult to shift in reverse, the shifter linkage or cables are often to blame. Sometimes the shifter bushings are the problem, which would be preferable, because replacing them is easier and cheaper, so it’s usually the first thing to try.

5. Bad Teeth!

No, you don’t need to go to the dentist. There are many interlocking “teeth” in a transmission. These teeth need to be aligned and in good shape, otherwise the gears don’t work properly. This can be a problem in manual transmission especially. Always make sure to come to a complete stop before shifting from drive to reverse, because replacing these gear teeth require the removal of the transmission, which is often expensive and time consuming.

Mister Transmission

At Mister Transmission, we can figure out why your car won’t reverse and fix the problem. To learn more, please contact us. We have a comprehensive COVID-19 policy to keep everybody safe.

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Customer Reviews
Ken 非常专业,推荐!
David Shih
Ken 非常专业,推荐!
Date: April 30, 2025
Website: Google
The front person and mechanic...
Cynthia Saunders
The front person and mechanic were awesome. Checked oil level, added and identified the problem quickly. Was very impressed with the service received. Do recommend checking them out if having issues with your transmission
Date: April 30, 2025
Website: Google
I am fearful of transmission...
Paul Legeny
I am fearful of transmission problems as they are usually very costly. I took my Jeep Cherokee to Luke's shop on Kennedy Road South. He took it for a test drive, ran diagnostics and checked the transmission fluid. He agreed that there was a hesitation when shifting out of first and second gears but noted that it gets better when it warms up. Diagnostics revealed an error code which was out of his scope as it was not a transmission issue. The fluid was good and he suggested that I take it to another shop to address the error code and bring the car back and he will have another look at it. When I asked how much for his services, no cost at all to me. Thank you Luke...I really appreciate your honesty and you truly are an ambassador for Mr. Transmission!
Date: April 30, 2025
Website: Google
I went in for a...
Toby Collins
I went in for a tire changeover, and they always look over my car making sure it’s in tip top shape. I needed a few other things this time, as they were definitely due. Very pleased how they take care of me and my car. Highly recommend! I’ve been going here for years.
Date: April 30, 2025
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Nice people to deal with....
Laura Tory
Nice people to deal with. Good service.
Date: April 30, 2025
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I had a fantastic experience...
Team Cloutier
I had a fantastic experience with Mister Transmission. They called me back right away and were able to schedule a diagnostic appointment very quickly. The whole process was clear, professional, and left me feeling genuinely well taken care of. You can tell they really care about their customers. Chris, the owner, was amazing—knowledgeable, friendly, and truly went above and beyond. Highly recommend!
Date: April 29, 2025
Website: Google
You got love Ken, very...
Abu Manal
You got love Ken, very nice guy
Date: April 29, 2025
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The service here at Mister...
Lyle Acorn
The service here at Mister Transmission was excellent. I have had problems in the past with mechanics shops, and I am so glad to have found such a trustworthy and fair shop that I can put my faith in. Highly recommend , if a 6th star was available I'd definitely give it to Jamie and his talented crew
Date: April 29, 2025
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Great company. price was awesome....
James Stuart
Great company. price was awesome. Work was done right. But they really went above and beyond when a part in the transmission went sour. After the rebuild was done. They had it in replaced and back to me in one day. Exceptional service from start to finish. Highly recommend them
Date: April 29, 2025
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Gus was friendly and helpful....
Matthew
Gus was friendly and helpful. He laid out my options clearly. When the repair was complete, they even updated my car’s computer software for free! Next-level service; would recommend!
Date: April 28, 2025
Website: Google
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