[Bullseye]

My 2018 Lariat went to the dealer yesterday for an oil change. Mileage is 16,600 currently. While it was there I asked them to look at my trans and reflash it as it shifts hard to/from 3rd and 7th gear, and hard into reverse.

I got a call today that my torque converter is toast and that’s why I was getting hard shifts. Apparently there is a service bulletin brewing. I read up on the 10 speed trans and from what I saw, harder shifting is common with this trans. That’s why I didn’t think a whole lot on the hard shifts. With this in mind, if you notice any hard shifts it may not be a bad idea to take it in. For now I’m in a loaner until next Friday. This is the second time I will have had a loaner car (first being the EGR recall).

I’m less than thrilled about the whole thing but my dealer is taking good care of me. Just wanted to pass on what I learned today.

 

[Dunrollin]

I really like the 6 speed 6R80 in my 2013, not sure the 10 speed is an improvement. In my opinion the 6 is smoother and it has a proven record of reliability.

I know, I am living in the past LOL

 

[kdjasper]

@Bullseye thanks for posting this and sharing with the forum, as we all benefit--especially from these types of heads-up posts.

 

[hydrex]

Smoother shifting may not mean more durable. The old Dodge 545RFE and 645RFE's shifted very smoothly but had a fair bit of problems from slipping the clutches. I drag raced my old 2005 Ram with 545 RFE, but had line pressure raised, shifts raised to 6,200 and ran it 276,000 miles without an issue. I know of a few "pull trucks with nitrous injected 426 hemi strokers running that so called weak transmission without issue. I believe someone out there has the know how to raise line pressures in the Ford 10 speed. If not now, GDE, probably will have transmission tuning soon. Ram guys are raving about GDE's tuning for the ZF 8 speeds . I don't have it yet, happy with stock tuning so far.

 

[wreedsvt]

Share the TSB if you get it from the dealer. I wonder if this applies to all F150s? I had a 2017 Raptor with the 10 speed that shifted hard when cold. I complained and a new software update was applied and it was great after that. Luckily I do not have any issues with this new diesel. Trans is smooth all the time.

 

[Bullseye]

I will post info as I get it for sure. The impression I got was multiple 150s have come in with the same issue. Dark trans fluid is an indicator. Hopefully it doesn’t damage the rest of my trans/affect other parts they aren’t replacing. In the 16,000 miles I’ve put on it it, this truck has had more time on a lift for warranty service (between the EGR warranty work and now this) than my Toyota did at 100,000 miles. Hopefully it will be a reliable truck. I’m a first time ford owner and I hope I’m not a last time ford owner by the end of it. Fingers crossed!

 

[Bullseye]

An update for anyone interested. The new torque converter was installed and things seemed better. They did a trans relearn and it was smoother, and has been up to now.

Fast forward to Tuesday morning, I'm driving to work and my truck throws a code. P2A01. Very shortly after it went into regen and stayed there, even with DPF at 0%. Stuck in regen the entire hour drive to me was unsafe so I pulled over and threw it in park to see if that would kick it out of regen. It did. After that happened I immediately tookmy truck in to the nearest dealer. They didn't have time to look until today. They scanned the codes for the engine light and it came back with codes for "slow to respond" on the o2 sensors which led them to perform a pinpoint test for the Nox module (which reads the o2 sensor data.) That gave them the response to replace the Nox module.

Back to the transmission. Still not shifting right but better than before. After getting yet another loaner truck, the shifting in the loaner was so much different than what I'm used to I called my service rep and I asked them to look at my trans again. They somehow came to the conclusion that it was related to the nox sensor as "they control flow through the system and could be affecting the shifting." The new Nox module will be here in four days. This is the 5th time my truck has been in the shop since I bought it new in December.

I am not sure whether or not to Lemon Law this truck. I want to love it. But this is insanity.

 

[Dunrollin]

Hopefully the new module will solve it. Could be once you get that it will run perfect.

I did the lemon thing earlier this year and seriously if the fix works don't look back. Ford makes a buy back as difficult as possible. I am still awaiting a refund on my loan- they drag everything out as long as they can. Hoping for the best for you.

 

[Bullseye]

Thank you. It’s frustrating for sure. I have a case number and have started working with corporate Ford about it so I hope they will make it right. I just want a reliable truck!!

 

[Bullseye]

An update.. The after calling Corporate Ford and opening a case, they looked into it with dealer I took my truck to for the CEL. The long and short of it is, Ford has agreed to buy the truck back. Currently starting that process with them. Now trying to figure out whether or not I stick with the 3.0 or go another direction. Going to think on it pretty hard. Just trying to be transparent with my issues with this truck and my experience to date.

 

[Dunrollin]

Good to hear you are moving toward a resolution. I hope your new vehicle is exactly what you want and serves you well.

It may be a lengthy journey although I hope it is quicker for you than me. I began my buy back process back in late March. Ford sent a letter advising they would buy it back on May 3rd. Yesterday the file was completely closed when I got my final check from them to reimburse me for my loan overpayment.

Be on the watch for the mileage charge. On mine they charged me $1,309 for mileage but I was down at maybe 3,000 miles or so while you are over 16,000.

Again, all the best and at least this is the first successful step in moving on!

 

[FordTruck97]

My 2018 Lariat went to the dealer yesterday for an oil change. Mileage is 16,600 currently. While it was there I asked them to look at my trans and reflash it as it shifts hard to/from 3rd and 7th gear, and hard into reverse.

I got a call today that my torque converter is toast and that’s why I was getting hard shifts. Apparently there is a service bulletin brewing. I read up on the 10 speed trans and from what I saw, harder shifting is common with this trans. That’s why I didn’t think a whole lot on the hard shifts. With this in mind, if you notice any hard shifts it may not be a bad idea to take it in. For now I’m in a loaner until next Friday. This is the second time I will have had a loaner car (first being the EGR recall).

I’m less than thrilled about the whole thing but my dealer is taking good care of me. Just wanted to pass on what I learned today.

Were the hard shifts occurring consistently? I am having occasional hard shifts, almost like the transmission is struggling to decide which gear to go into.

 

[jmperlik]

@Bullseye - so they replaced the torque converter and then you had an issue with the NoX module (which they have yet to replace), and now they are willing to throw the towel in already by offering a buy-back? Seems a bit strange to me given what they put owners who Ford knew lost one or more screws in the infamous FSA 18E02 EGR By-pass valve recall...

Can I ask how many visits to your dealer and how many days you were out-of-service? This just seemed to be a pretty quick knee-jerk reaction by Ford on something you reported in ~2 months ago...

I'm glad for you that Ford is offering relief and just more surprised they folded so quickly...

An update.. The after calling Corporate Ford and opening a case, they looked into it with dealer I took my truck to for the CEL. The long and short of it is, Ford has agreed to buy the truck back. Currently starting that process with them. Now trying to figure out whether or not I stick with the 3.0 or go another direction. Going to think on it pretty hard. Just trying to be transparent with my issues with this truck and my experience to date.

 

[Laytunes]

I had a few hard shifts in mine, and had them take a look while I was having my block heater plug snipped. Turns our there was an update available for me for the PCM/TCM and NOX11. The truck definitely shifts better than it did previously, which was last updated in March 2019 (so the updated was released sometime between now and then). So if you're having some shifting issues, I would recommend getting this updated.

Also they told me still no block heater cords available as of yet.. FYI.

 

[wreedsvt]

I had a few hard shifts in mine, and had them take a look while I was having my block heater plug snipped. Turns our there was an update available for me for the PCM/TCM and NOX11. The truck definitely shifts better than it did previously, which was last updated in March 2019 (so the updated was released sometime between now and then). So if you're having some shifting issues, I would recommend getting this updated.

Also they told me still no block heater cords available as of yet.. FYI.

Do you have Forscan? Curious to know what the TCM strategy it took you to. It shows this in the log.

 

[Bullseye]

Hey all, sorry for not replying for so long. Having to deal with this has been an experience, I’ll put it that way. To answer your questions, the truck was always shifting hard. Especially hard into 3rd and 7th gear. Very hard upshifting to 3rd and downshifting to 7th gear.

I do not have the truck. It was deemed non repairable, and the dealer gave it back to me because they had no fix. So I drove it until the trans was so bad it was unsafe to drive. I’m now in a loaner. Ford approved the buyback but I have not heard from anyone in the next department since the paperwork was approved.. just waiting I guess. Less than happy with this whole situation but I will update from time to time as I get the chance.

I have not been the best with coming to the forum to report in, but the truck has been in the shop for warranty work a total of 37 days since I bought it 8 months ago. It has been to several dealers and nobody has been able to get it fixed.

 

[Dunrollin]

Sounds good. I had a tough time finding anyone at Ford until I opened a case at BBB. Hopefully you can do it without them but they were great to work with.

When corporate Ford finally turned my case over to Ford RAV communications got much better. I had a case worker name and email. He would contact me the same day I asked a question. Even at that stage though when RAV had to get a Ford approval things would grind to a halt for sometimes weeks on end.

Hoping for a quick resolution to your case. Thanks for the update.

 

[Bullseye]

Sounds good. I had a tough time finding anyone at Ford until I opened a case at BBB. Hopefully you can do it without them but they were great to work with.

When corporate Ford finally turned my case over to Ford RAV communications got much better. I had a case worker name and email. He would contact me the same day I asked a question. Even at that stage though when RAV had to get a Ford approval things would grind to a halt for sometimes weeks on end.

Hoping for a quick resolution to your case. Thanks for the update.

I am hoping the RAV team picks up the slack that’s for sure. I will try to be better with getting on here to update on the happenings. It sounds like you dealt with RAV and you’re still around on the forums so I’m assuming you went with another diesel F150? Any regrets?

 

[Dunrollin]

I am hoping the RAV team picks up the slack that’s for sure. I will try to be better with getting on here to update on the happenings. It sounds like you dealt with RAV and you’re still around on the forums so I’m assuming you went with another diesel F150? Any regrets?

Yes, we lost our wonderful Blue Jean Lariat but we bought a 2018 Ruby Red Platinum. Happy as can be. Nothing was wrong with the Blue Jean in my opinion, I personally feel an incompetent mechanic screwed up the egr recall. That truck was 100% as far as everything on it working as designed.

 

[jmperlik]

Hey all, sorry for not replying for so long. Having to deal with this has been an experience, I’ll put it that way. To answer your questions, the truck was always shifting hard. Especially hard into 3rd and 7th gear. Very hard upshifting to 3rd and downshifting to 7th gear.

I do not have the truck. It was deemed non repairable, and the dealer gave it back to me because they had no fix. So I drove it until the trans was so bad it was unsafe to drive. I’m now in a loaner. Ford approved the buyback but I have not heard from anyone in the next department since the paperwork was approved.. just waiting I guess. Less than happy with this whole situation but I will update from time to time as I get the chance.

I have not been the best with coming to the forum to report in, but the truck has been in the shop for warranty work a total of 37 days since I bought it 8 months ago. It has been to several dealers and nobody has been able to get it fixed.

@Bullseye - OK, understood -- I didn't appreciate how many problems you have had with your truck over the past 8 months, so I understand better now and concur with the buyback, as pretty much any state's Lemon Law should be providing you relief.

What I don't understand is why Ford didn't swap out the torque converter and transmission under Ford's new Low-Time-In-Service Assembly Replacement Policy (Discussed in Post #154 by @jmperlik dated 03/12/19)
a.) Effective with Repair Orders (ROs) opened on or after 03/01/19
b.) Vehicles within 12 months/12k miles from the warranty start date requiring an engine or transmission repair may be eligible for a replacement assembly
instead of forcing you to drive a vehicle with a known defective drivetrain and then have to eventually buy the entire vehicle back anyways.

I don't really understand Ford's criteria for their Low-Time-In-Service Assembly Replacement Policy, but when this new policy was announced it sounded like Ford wanted to cut-to-the-chase and just swap out the entire defective engines or transmissions to get the customer back up-and-running, reduce warranty service claims (parts and labor) and avoid at-all-costs any vehicle buybacks. The only thing wrong with your truck is the torque converter and/or transmission, so how can your vehicle be deemed "unrepairable" = just swap both out!

I would think that swapping out the drivetrain would be a lot cheaper than trying to rebuild the transmission or swapping an engine out would be cheaper/faster than any of the short block engine rebuilds they were doing for some owners affected by FSA 18E02 EGR By-pass valve replacement but alas they are buying vehicles back.

I wish you luck with your buyback, as I would definitely not be a happy camper either. I know that @Dunrollin has gone thru the buyback process, so I would PM him directly for advice.