My 2007 jeep compass with 251K km on it was low on transmission fluid for quite a while but I still drove it. It overheated quite a few times and a few times where I had to pull over to let it cool off because it slowed me down.

I took it in to get the transmission fluid topped off (my mechanic showed me the dipstick so I wasn't ripped off). And It never really overheated until a week later when I driving. I had to pull over multiple times and I noticed that the transmission was now whining.

I continued to drive and once I got to my destination I scanned the computer for codes and found that there was a code for the torque converter. I cleared the codes and filled up a tire that was low (15 psi) back up to 30. I drove all the way home with no issues. Everything seemed fine for a couple of weeks.

and then it overheated on my way home. I would let it cool off and then it would overheat only after a km down the road. It was so bad that I had to get it towed to my house. the next day I took it for a short drive to the library and I sure learned a lot.

it wouldn't even upshift. then on my way back I was going up a very slight hill and it was driving very slow (5km) And it was really struggling. it started shaking (chugging) in some spots. after that, I turned onto a nice flat road and it was still going slow. then suddenly it started shifting and sped up. I couldn't tell if it was back to normal because I was about to pull into my driveway. I pulled into my driveway and tried to see what Low gear would do. I put into low gear at a standstill and the car just started shaking really bad. IS THIS A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER OR A BAD TRANSMISSION?