My torque shift tranny failed at 20k on my 04 6.0!

 

A poster in the 2007 and up Expedition forum has alluded that Ford will completely redesign the Expy in 2014, offer the new and improved versions of the Ecoboost engines and role out an 8 speed tranny to boot.

I'll wager that Ford looks at any transmission failure as an issue. Likewise, I'll bet that if 500 transmissions go bad out of say 250,000 trucks then Ford isn't going to get real alarmed.

I just got my new truck 3 weeks ago and now 1100 miles on it. The build date is 1/11 and she sat on the dealers lot since 3/11. If my tranny fails, I'll no doubt be very disappointed as this is my first new truck in 25 years. But, after being a member here for the past three years, I have a better understanding of how Ford and it's dealer network do business. It'll be fixed under warranty and will no doubt be better than new.

We have tens of thousands of member here and we very commonly get the horror stories, yes they do exist and they exist with all companies. Let's cheer on the OP instead of making him feel worse then he already does.

 

I have to say I'm not a big fan of FORD transmissions after my 2011 F150 failed at 1000 miles I'm sorry but that is BS. I am a FORD man and this is the 4th FORD truck I have owned and I had good luck with the previous ones but this new truck is a POS. Just my opinion!

 

I feel your pain. However, your issues are not indicative of the entire F150 line-up. As with any mass produced item, there are going to be a few bad ones. Hopefully Ford can get your truck working correctly, or you get another one (if these issues persist).

My '08 F250 CC 4x4 V10 is a fantastic truck. Yet, I absolutally hate the design of the manual tcase shift lever. Due to NVH complaints, there are no longer perceivable gates. Instead, the shifter feels like it is in a pool of jello, and is that precise. When you fight with it, to get it into low range (you have to find it), you can't get it out.............. as you can't find high range again. Then, after you fight with it for 5 minutes to get it back to 2wd, the stick vibrates when the drivetrain is under load (like towing a trailer up a steep incline).

Unfortunately, it is just the way it is, due to the vast majority never using low range.

I love my truck, but hate my manual tcase, which cannot be fixed, because it is a design issue. My truck is not a POS due to this, however. It is a great truck, with a quirk.

The vast majority of folks with trucks just like yours, have no problems. Hopefully Ford can get yours to the same point.

 

Hope so, I'm growing tired of the mess. About to go the lemon law route if they dont get fixed!!

 

As you should. Just keep all of your documentation. Most lemon laws state that the vehicle has to be in for the same issue 3x. The tranny thing........... ok, a fluke. However, the drivability issues/mileage issues are not. They have tried once, and failed. This next time of bringing it in, will be the second attempt at a fix.

I love Fords, and would only own them. However, noone is infallible, and there will be the exception to the rule on all brands (well, except Chrysler. I wouldn't even give them a chance. Seen too much after owning an auto repair and towing business for 9 years). I am not blindly brand biased, to the point that I do not think my brand of choice can do no wrong. The quantities built mean there will be some that are not up to par. There just is no way around it.

 

It just sucks when you are in the small % with problems!

 

Yes it does.

After working on all of them, you pretty much get the opinion that all makes will have problems. I know it doesn't make you feel any better, when you are the unlucky one. Nor should it. However, just have faith that if they do lemon law your truck, the new one you get will probably be perfect. The laws of averages are in your favor. Of course, it doesn't feel that way when you just want to shoot the baby that you love so much.

 

Yeah he is def smoking crack. I bought my wife a 2011 Flex with the 3.5l ecoboost and it is friggin awesome. 350 ish horsepower holy crap this thing flies. And as for Ford's powertrain being a weak link??? WTF are you talking about Ford makes the best most advanced engines out there.

 

Better do some research on this. The SD trans from 08' and up is a stout unit. And IMO a stronger trans than the chev offering.

 

Ok, I just spent 20 minutes reading through all these posts and I'm really nervous now. I have about 900 miles on my truck and several times I've noticed a very HARD down shift when accelerating just a bit...should I be heading to the dealer.

I really don't want some service dude taking my truck out and driving the ***** out of it trying to emulate my problem..

Suggestions plz....

 

I think its just a fluke. Coming from a manufacturing background (quality and destructive testing), I know what auto manufacturers do (and what some dont do) to their product. PPMs were a BIG deal (percentage of parts failing) and everybody in the mfg chain would get involved. I worked with all 3 american auto co's and some of the foreign. It was amazing what awful things were done to try to destroy parts, engines, trannys, rear ends, etc. In fact, knowing what I know, its almost amazing to see one with premature failure. Its solely a fluke or possibly a supplier slip-up and would be small in numbers, due to the high frequency of quality samples, and traceable, due to other quality implementations.

So, having stated that, the old adage comes to play... Some vehicles are built to an expectation and some are merely built to a price. Seems that Ford has always worked to exceed standards and high levels of engineering on interiors, but laxed on the actual fit and finish. GM worked on exterior fit and finish, laxed on interior, and ensured the majority of their vehicles made it past the warranty period with few service visits. Chrysler was focused on supplier pricing.

Rule of thumb is buy a Ford FOR work, buy a Chevy to DRIVE to work, Buy a Dodge if you like to work on it.

Seems to hold true. Each is built to a quality, just not the same quality.

 

Having spent time working with both Toyota and GM, I can say first hand that there is absolutely nothing better in quality or reliability coming from Toyota when compared to the big three, even Chrysler. Anyone who believes otherwise is simply a drinker of the import maker Koolaid.

 

Where the hell are you getting this information?

Toyota's Average domestic index for a vehicle sold in the US is ~35%
Ford Average domestic index for a vehicle sold in the US is ~70%, TWICE AS MUCH!!!

Buying American still means something, but with propaganda like " Its a shame that a Toyota truck contains more american made parts than my Ford" makes people think otherwise.

The other thing to consider is when you buy a domestic vehicle you support more than three times the jobs the import makes do assembling vehicles in the US.

 

Here it sir in black and white. My 2011 F-150 has a North American parts content of 60%, 25% from Mexico and the rest from who knows where. This really chaps my a$$.

Make/Model Domestic-parts content Assembly location
Ford Taurus 90 percent Chicago
Lincoln MKS 85 percent Chicago
Toyota Sienna 85 percent Princeton, Ind.
GMC Savana 1500 82 percent Wentzville, Mo.
Chevrolet Express 1500 82 percent Wentzville, Mo.
Buick Lucerne 81 percent Detroit
Chevrolet Malibu 80 percent Kansas City, Kan.
Honda Odyssey 80 percent Lincoln, Ala.
Toyota Avalon 80 percent Georgetown, Ky.
Toyota Tundra 80 percent San Antonio
Toyota Venza 80 percent Georgetown, Ky.