Ford is a well-respected name of vehicles with a long history of producing reliable products. Yet, even these vehicles, like F-150 and Focus, can have problems. That includes concerns with specific components such as the 10-speed transmission. It’s important potential buyers know about these risks.
Are there concerns with the Ford 10-speed transmission?
Yes, there have been a number of problems with the Ford 10-speed transmission, including:
- Erratic movements and jerking
- Vehicle lunging forward
- Loss of acceleration
- Rough shifting
- Slipping into neutral
There are a lot of concerns about the Ford 10-speed transmission problems. That is why we will break down what is wrong with this vehicle and what you should know about it. Remember to always check the Vehicle History of your Ford before you buy.
The 10-Speed Transmission from Ford
The Ford F-150 is one of the vehicles that has had a significant amount of trouble with the 10-speed transmission. The problems have led to a class-action lawsuit against the company as a result.
In one example, the lawsuit states truck occupants can suffer whiplash as a result of the transmission shifts in this vehicle because they are so significant.
Whether or not that is true, there are numerous claims against this transmission. The problems have impacted the 2017 through 2020 F-150 trucks.
Not all of these vehicles are impacted — just those with the 10-speed transmission. The class action lawsuit claims the transmission has serious defects that create safety risks for drivers.
This vehicle promises to offer improved overall performance because of this upgraded transmission (previous models were 6 or 8 speed). It also was supposed to offer improved acceleration while also offering a low to mid-range of power band.
This was designed as the SelectShift automatic transmission. In all of the marketing materials for this truck, the claims were clearly to offer a better product that is more responsive as well as offering better performance.
Ford Issued a Transmission Service Bulletin for Vehicles
Ford issued more than one technical service bulletin for technicians for this transmission. The bulletins exist for the 2017 and 2018 model years for this vehicle.
They note that the transmission can show signs of a harsh or bumpy upshift or downshift. It also notes technicians should look for engagement problems.
In the bulletins to technicians, Ford notes that the vehicles have a unique adaptive transmission that has a different shift strategy. This allows the truck’s computer system to learn the transmission’s unique parameters and then improve overall shift quality.
While this is not very specific in terms of what is wrong, and it does not offer any specific recommendations for why problems exist, the bulletin did provide additional info.
It told technicians to consider resetting the adaptive strategy. By doing this, the transmission and computer will start to re-learn the process again.
That should allow for a firmer and more normal upshift and downshift in the vehicle. It also notes that this generally will only last for a few days.
The results here required dealerships working on the vehicle to reprogram the powertrain control modules.
Outcome of the Lawsuits
Though there are still some pending lawsuits at the time of this writing (September of 2020), Ford has not issued any relief for customers. This includes not offering any support through a warranty extension on the transmission. It also has not issued any type of recall on the vehicle’s transmission.
It is important to know this is not the first time that Ford has had issues and lawsuits against its powertrain vehicles. As of February of 2019, there were three recalls on the 6-speed transmissions.
These recalls impacted more than 1.5 million vehicles, including the 2011 through 2013 Ford F-150 vehicles. The problems there include concerns with shifting problems.
Additional Customer Complaints Regarding the 10-Speed Transmission
It takes just a few minutes to find numerous complaints about the 10-speed transmission. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also notes 47 official complaints about the powertrain on the 2017 Ford F-150.
While the 10-speed transmission is a key component of this due to its unique shifting methods, there are other concerns with the vehicle. Some drivers reported leaking transmission fluid in their new trucks, which has not been explained by technicians.
Other drivers report problems with the F-150 10-speed not just when it is shifting, but when it is in lower gears and being used at a low speed. Some drivers noted that they lost all ability to accelerate the vehicle when they were traveling at a high speed on the highway.
This created a safety hazard for the driver, leaving them unable to maintain speed.
Still, other consumers report the vehicle simply stalls out randomly. The transmission shifting is still the biggest concern for drivers, but there are numerous other factors buyers should consider.
Should You Buy a Ford With a 10-Speed Transmission?
It is important to do your homework. If you are thinking about purchasing a vehicle with a 10-speed transmission from Ford, be sure to do some research. Visit the NHSTA website for starters.
Enter the vehicle’s VIN or the make, model, and year. Then, read through the customer complaints related to these vehicles, especially those that relate to the powertrain.
You can also look deeper. Should Ford issue a recall for the 10-speed transmission — many people believe a recall would be due to the class action lawsuit — it will be listed on this page.
Also, note any technical service bulletins related to the vehicle. This information will give you insight into what is currently occurring with these vehicles and transmissions.