Transmission Failure Issues?

[1ma2t]

At ~26,000 miles and 35 months of ownership, I brought my truck in for routine recalls. I was aware of known transmission concerns on this platform, so I asked them to check the transmission while it was there — mostly as preventative maintenance.

At that time, the truck shifted a bit clunky but nothing that felt like a failure. I never suspected internal wear.

The dealer later called and said the transmission needed a full rebuild. They found a burnt clutch, dark fluid that smelled burnt, and internal contamination.

Fortunately, this was still under warranty, and Ford approved a full internal rebuild without pushback.

Since getting the truck back, I’ve put a couple thousand miles on it. While it drives better than before, I’m now noticing a consistent hesitation during acceleration — a brief pause with a drop in RPM, followed by an upshift and continued acceleration.

I drive mostly in Eco mode and don’t drive aggressively. This behavior feels abnormal and not confidence-inspiring for a freshly rebuilt transmission.

And yesterday, I was driving up the canyon and at the top i smelt something slight but funny, not sure if it's clutch or AWD transfer.

My warranty has now expired last year. But I will contact my dealer soon. Just curious if this is similar to what anyone else has felt?

Sponsored

 

[icegradner]

At ~26,000 miles and 35 months of ownership, I brought my truck in for routine recalls. I was aware of known transmission concerns on this platform, so I asked them to check the transmission while it was there — mostly as preventative maintenance.

At that time, the truck shifted a bit clunky but nothing that felt like a failure. I never suspected internal wear.

The dealer later called and said the transmission needed a full rebuild. They found a burnt clutch, dark fluid that smelled burnt, and internal contamination.

Fortunately, this was still under warranty, and Ford approved a full internal rebuild without pushback.

Since getting the truck back, I’ve put a couple thousand miles on it. While it drives better than before, I’m now noticing a consistent hesitation during acceleration — a brief pause with a drop in RPM, followed by an upshift and continued acceleration.

I drive mostly in Eco mode and don’t drive aggressively. This behavior feels abnormal and not confidence-inspiring for a freshly rebuilt transmission.

And yesterday, I was driving up the canyon and at the top i smelt something slight but funny, not sure if it's clutch or AWD transfer.

My warranty has now expired last year. But I will contact my dealer soon. Just curious if this is similar to what anyone else has felt?

I'm guessing that behaviour of the new transmission (no way they did a rebuild at a dealership under warranty) may be due to computer relearning your driving habits, but that's just a guess.

 

[1ma2t]

(no way they did a rebuild at a dealership under warranty)

Could you clarify what you mean? I have the documents with all the parts.

 

[Darryl]

That's exactly what I told the guy and his only response was "not everything makes it to the internet..." I found that hilarious because we haven't seen any issues pop up on the forums/pages, and that is where you normally see more more issues than praises.

Ford

That's exactly what I told the guy and his only response was "not everything makes it to the internet..." I found that hilarious because we haven't seen any issues pop up on the forums/pages, and that is where you normally see more more issues than praises.

Ford has issued a TSB concerning the 8f35 involving a component that sometimes fails that causes it to lose reverse INTERMITTENTLY. But it's mainly because an intermittent problem would be difficult to diagnose otherwise. I think we've done one or two in a Ford escape. But in general the 8f35 has been very reliable. . They're more reliable than the 6f35 used in some of the older vehicles.

 

[icegradner]

Could you clarify what you mean? I have the documents with all the parts.

I just assume that a dealership would outright replace a transmission rather than rebuilding it. Maybe your dealership has a guy who knows that stuff and can do it.

Or did you mean the part about the computer learning your driving behaviour? If so, when the tech rest the transmission data table while testing it that would remove the learning the computer gets from reading your driving style. The computer would then have to relearn your driving style, which may take a few thousand miles or more, I’m not sure how Fords system does it.

 

[HeyBales]

I just assume that a dealership would outright replace a transmission rather than rebuilding it. Maybe your dealership has a guy who knows that stuff and can do it.

Or did you mean the part about the computer learning your driving behaviour? If so, when the tech rest the transmission data table while testing it that would remove the learning the computer gets from reading your driving style. The computer would then have to relearn your driving style, which may take a few thousand miles or more, I’m not sure how Fords system does it.

I almost thought their work description sounded like mainly a cleanout of the bad fluid from everywhere, a crack it open flush.
Plus torque converter, and valve body while in there.
I didn't think it sounded much like a rebuild either, no comment on new plates or other items.
Whole bunch of single use bolts!

 

[icegradner]

Whole bunch of single use bolts!

Way to much of that kind of stuff on the Maverick, what a waste of materials, and needless expense for anyone doing it out of warranty. I could see doing that on a 10 year old truck in the rust belt, but on a newish vehicle, just silly.

 

[bgn]

Way to much of that kind of stuff on the Maverick, what a waste of materials, and needless expense for anyone doing it out of warranty. I could see doing that on a 10 year old truck in the rust belt, but on a newish vehicle, just silly.

I believe they're called torque-to-yield/stretch bolts. They create a predictable clamping force. Once they're stretched, they're no longer usable.

I would assume that Ford wouldn't spec them if they didn't see the benefits from a performance/cost perspective. But I am not an engineer.

Sponsored