Transmission Issues and Mini Chronicles

[Tinytruck1369]

Update for those of you following along at home. 6 weeks since the original problem date and still no new transmission yet.
4/8 Oringinal issues began
Multiple trips to the dealer and 3-4 days in the shop

4/21 - Quote from the service writer..."We will order you a new transmission, might take one to two weeks to get it in. If you need a loaner vehicle might be closer to 3 weeks"

April 30th - I called to check the status of the new transmission. Service writers response was "we didn't order you a transmission, we need to take it apart and take pictures for Ford to replace it"....Despite this being a completely new approach than the original course of action, I begrudgingly accept and I am told "we are looking for a loaner vehicle and call you end of the week".

May 5th, ~ a week later with no information I call and am told "we don't have a loaner car for you, we will contact you at the end of the week.

May 12th - no call. I contact them again same story and a "we will call you end of the week"

Today May 18th - 3 weeks of being ghosted and over a full month of run around, patience is running thin as the transmission is getting increasingly sketchy. Pushed the issue hard with staff, expressed my disappointment with the ghosting and overall way this has been handled. I was told "we will call you mid week".....we will see how this goes.

My venting: *feel free to ignore *
I understand dealerships are limited in resources, staff, and vehicles. I also understand the amount I paid for a full warranty to protect me from situations such as these. As the damage was caused by the dealers suggestion, and as this is my primary vehicle, in a rural area I have no alternative forms of transportation, this is a highly questionable business practice from a "hometown" dealer. I am under no delusions that the dealer sees this as a net zero transaction from their perspective, but I expected more. I will save from blasting this dealership until this ordeal is over, but I am pretty sure Ford may be getting a long winded message about my experience when this is all done.

Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk

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[Carlitos_92]

"Zooming out" a bit, I am not convinced that your issues have anything to do with you waiting until when you did to get "the flush," or even that you got "the flush" itself.

I think your dealer didn't fill your transmission correctly, plain and simple. Even the much-maligned 8F35 should not have self-immolated at 80,000 miles. The drain/fill procedure on these is laborious but not complicated. They botched it.

Good luck with whatever comes next.

 

[Tinytruck1369]

"Zooming out" a bit, I am not convinced that your issues have anything to do with you waiting until when you did to get "the flush," or even that you got "the flush" itself.

I think your dealer didn't fill your transmission correctly, plain and simple. Even the much-maligned 8F35 should not have self-immolated at 80,000 miles. The drain/fill procedure on these is laborious but not complicated. They botched it.

Good luck with whatever comes next.

Y'know, you might be onto something with that...the thought certainly has crossed my mind. I never had the slightest hiccup in the transmission with this truck and to be honest, most trouble free vehicle I have ever owned up till this event. It's why this gets under the skin even more so

Appreciate the well wishes!

 

[Finnster]

@OP,
I'm sorry to hear of your predicament!
You might consider getting Ford Customer Service involved! I know this sounds like the nuclear option, but I'm not sure you have anything to lose being a one-vehicle family.
Good luck!

 

[Tinytruck1369]

@OP,
I'm sorry to hear of your predicament!
You might consider getting Ford Customer Service involved! I know this sounds like the nuclear option, but I'm not sure you have anything to lose being a one-vehicle family.
Good luck!

I have been waffling on contacting them, but I'm certainly getting close! I'll give it a few more days, then probably break that glass!

 

[mwelby]

I’d say drain/refill (not flush) every few years or so - or just leave it in “forever”.

I’ll let AI explain what I already know:
“Automatic transmissions use clutch packs and bands that engage for shifting. Over 100k–200k+ miles (or 50,000 on a EB?) these wear down and shed friction material (metal particles, clutch lining bits) into the fluid. This suspended grit and thickened, contaminated fluid increases “grip” or friction on the now-smooth/worn clutch surfaces. It can prevent or reduce slipping in a transmission that’s already marginal”.

I added the “50,000 on an EB?” part…
I let “Jiffy Lube” do the first drain/refill on a 200,000 mile Vibe (Corolla). Shifted jerky a bit at first - but got back to normal after a few more thousand miles. Luckily there was still enough “dirty” fluid remaining in the trans. I think a drain / refill only adds about half the capacity?

I think it may be closer to 2/3. I believe the total capacity is around 6 quarts so you drain 4 1/2 quarts that means there’s a quart and a half in the torque converter. So probably closer to 2/3.

 

[Tinytruck1369]

**Final Update**

For those sadists still following at home.

The dealer finally on 5/22 let me know that a loaner car became available and provided me with an OJ Simpson white bronco sport for a 2 week loan to replace the transmission. (Not bad but the 3 cylinder leaves much to be desired btw). I watched my poor mav sit in the dealer lot for 3 weeks before I finally called for a status update. I appreciate the dealer allowing me the loaner for an extended duration, but I was still champing at the bit to get this resolved. After multiple variations of the situation over 4-5 calls I was assured the vehicle would be done by end of week 3. Long story short..31 days later I was finally able to pick up the truck with a brand new transmission. As a final *of course* moment, I get in the vehicle to drive away and the check engine light was still lit....which despite the technician claiming he cleared the codes to the service manager, he admitted "the new guy didn't do it for me". Facepalm....

Make no mistake, I'm aware frustration got the best of me at points during this process, and excessive bemoaning did leave me mouth/keyboard...but this entire process I felt a poor showing for customer service and not owning up to a dealer mistake. Mistakes happen, I understand numbers and dollars need to be hit...but for nothing else, treat people like you want to retain their business... because now 3 months later...here we are

I took advantage of the employee pricing at a different dealer, traded my 2023 fx4 in for a brand new space white 2026 XLT. Here's to hoping the evct has a long life ahead of it

Thanks for playing along and looking forward to still hanging out in the club with all the other Mav lovers

 

[Timothyd]

**Final Update**

For those sadists still following at home.

The dealer finally on 5/22 let me know that a loaner car became available and provided me with an OJ Simpson white bronco sport for a 2 week loan to replace the transmission. (Not bad but the 3 cylinder leaves much to be desired btw). I watched my poor mav sit in the dealer lot for 3 weeks before I finally called for a status update. I appreciate the dealer allowing me the loaner for an extended duration, but I was still champing at the bit to get this resolved. After multiple variations of the situation over 4-5 calls I was assured the vehicle would be done by end of week 3. Long story short..31 days later I was finally able to pick up the truck with a brand new transmission. As a final *of course* moment, I get in the vehicle to drive away and the check engine light was still lit....which despite the technician claiming he cleared the codes to the service manager, he admitted "the new guy didn't do it for me". Facepalm....

Make no mistake, I'm aware frustration got the best of me at points during this process, and excessive bemoaning did leave me mouth/keyboard...but this entire process I felt a poor showing for customer service and not owning up to a dealer mistake. Mistakes happen, I understand numbers and dollars need to be hit...but for nothing else, treat people like you want to retain their business... because now 3 months later...here we are

I took advantage of the employee pricing at a different dealer, traded my 2023 fx4 in for a brand new space white 2026 XLT. Here's to hoping the evct has a long life ahead of it

Thanks for playing along and looking forward to still hanging out in the club with all the other Mav lovers

I know about frustration. I ordered a Mav and, after months, it sat on a lot waiting for a gas tank because it "might" leak due to a defective welder. I could see it on the lot. I ordered another one and it came in before they repaired the original one.

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