We dont have any hills in houston but it can depend on the transmission..if tte tranny surges when you step on the gas thers probably something wrong - I would also check the transmission fluid levels..if those are ok its probably just the way it operates...the torque converter is what controls this and it just may be the way its designed on the nitro - but like Ive said - there arent any hills here so I havent had this experience..you can always get dealer to check it out *just in case*