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Ford Authority

Ford 10R80 Transmission Class Action Lawsuit Filed

Over the past few years, multiple lawsuits have been filed over alleged issues with the Ford 10R80 transmission utilized in newer Ford F-150 pickups, one of which – filed in Illinois – was later dismissed, though only partially. Now, another Ford 10R80 transmission lawsuit has been filed, though this time, it applies to a wider range of vehicles including the F-150, Ford Ranger, Ford Mustang, Ford Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator, according to Car Complaints.

This new lawsuit – Daniel McCabe v. Ford Motor Company, which was was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts – applies to 2017+ models of those aforementioned vehicles, once again claiming that the 10R80 transmission used in each tends to shift in a harsh manner, causing the vehicle to jerk, lunge, and hesitate when changing gears. The lawsuit claims that this “common design and/or manufacturing defect in Ford’s 10R80 transmissions is a potentially life-threatening safety issue, and Ford has refused to recall or replace the defective transmissions.”

The suit also points to the fact that Ford has issued multiple recalls that point to the fact that the 10R80 is, in fact, defective, including one for Ranger pickups experiencing gear shifter interlock problems, another Ranger recall over gear shift indicators showing that the vehicle is in park when it isn’t, and a recall from 2020 addressing Ranger and F-150 pickups equipped with the 10-speed automatic gearbox.

This new lawsuit claims that Ford is well aware of these issues with the 10R80 transmission, but continues to tell customers that it’s operating normally. “Because of the defect, the class vehicles are likely to suffer serious damages and potentially catch fire if accidents occur, and there is an unreasonable and extreme risk of serious bodily harm or death to the vehicle’s occupants and others in the vicinity,” the suit reads.

We’ll have more on this and all pending Ford lawsuits as soon as it’s available, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford F-Series newsFord F-150 newsFord business newsFord lawsuit news, and continuous Ford news coverage.

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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Comments

  1. Quality is Job 1…………. NOT!

    Reply
    1. I contacted Ford Motor Company about the airbag recall.Ford Motor Company told me that each dealer is independent owned.Ford told me to try another dealer.Still do not have the drivers side air bag done.

      Reply
      1. Well did you get it done? Yes, Ford doesn’t sell vehicles they make them and have dealers do the sales and service. Dealers are middlemen and if for part is backordered you’ll just have to wait. Even warranty work waits until dealers get parts.

        Reply
  2. Isnt it joint venture with GM?

    Reply
    1. Yes it is

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    2. Seems like a mostly ford design. GM doesn’t use it in that many vehicles I can only think of the Camaro. 8 or 9 spd transmissions in a lot of their stuff

      Reply
  3. I will never buy a newer 2017 or even 2023 ford f150 with a 10 speed automatic transmission until this problem is resolved in court and ford solves its problems with this transmissions by replacing all.

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    1. Guess your never buying a 17-23 f150

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    2. This is fords issues the trucks are only as strong as the weakest transmission so can they still clap FORD TOUGH

      Reply
  4. My f150 lariat v8 2018 10spd shifts bad clunks at 3rd and 6th gears it’s been rebuild my ford dealership and the engine was replaced for oil consumption the trans still clunks what can I do?

    Reply
    1. I’m wandering if changing the fluid type wouldn’t solve this. Change your ATF to Dexron HP next time, and see if anything improved. Chevrolet has had issues with their new transmissions similar to this (hard shifting, etc…) and that was a fix that seemed to work for quite a few trucks.

      Reply
      1. My Cousins Duramax had the same issue. He was told to grab a bumper pull car trailer and tow it around. He did that, and he stopped having that issue.

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      2. It’s more of a software issue than mechanical. Although damage has likely already occurred in all these trannies, I got a TCM tune and it drastically changed the way it shifted. Got rid of about 90% of the harshness and shifts normal now. Can’t really feel a shift in normal mode and sport mode autorevs to the correct rpm range when downshifting. The worst gears were 3, 5 and 8. I have a ‘19 at 41k and didn’t want to deal with all this bs. So I spent the 1000$ and hopefully resolved it. My sisters ‘19 has 80k miles and feels like the trans is about to explode. Terrible.

        Reply
  5. I had two Ford Focus’s. Both of them were recalled and transmission replaced. What a nightmare!

    Reply
    1. Different transmission different design, doesn’t function the same way this one does.

      Reply
  6. I just traded in my 2020 GT. I ran it easy and the 10 spd automatic shifted very choppy.. i have a 2023 Bronco Big Bend and so far has been a very smooth shifting automatic. Ford has had tranny problems for years and hasnt been held accountable.

    Reply
  7. What is it with ford and their automatics. Had a 1990 f150 that wouldn’t shift out of 1st among other problems. If change the fluid every 25000 mile it would help.

    Reply
    1. 1990. Clearly relevant comparison for 2023.

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      1. Your totally missing the point!

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  8. As a former Ford dealership shop foreman and a Ford flag waving guy, who also bought not one but two Mustang GT’s in the 80’s. You couldn’t pay me to buy a Ford now!
    I maintain a fleet of them for a municipality. Cop cars and trucks. The hybrid Explorers are the worst. It is so sad to see how crappy Ford vehicles have become. I was there with Granada’s, Tempo’s, Contour’s etc. This is worse. Ford quality was always up and down but now it just doesn’t go up !
    Even that bone head Farley says it will take six years to turn it around. I don’t think they have six years. I can’t believe I only drive Hondas and Toyota’s now. It makes me sick.

    Reply
    1. Maybe!!!! That’s why they are going EV•••• THEY DON’T SHIFT🙀😳

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  9. My wife has a 2020 Mustang with the 10-speed automatic. With 10 speeds, there are a lot more shifts… which may be an unexpected feeling for many customers. Some of the shifts can be harsh, a result of a calibration bias to fuel economy and performance… not for smoothness. The dealer adeptly recalibrated the transmission. We are very satisfied.

    A safety defect? No way. A quality/durability issue? Prove it! A class action law suit? That is baseless greed.

    Reply
    1. Calm down.

      If no standing judge will dismiss. If baseless and unwarranted jury will vote against.

      Reply
      1. My 2019 Ford , F150 pickup shifts real hard and when I first traded for it with about 33,000 miles it would be in park and feel like the drive shaft would turn a little bit. How can you say it may be meritless, unles you drive a newer Ford pickup or one of those other vehicles and have experienced those problems?

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        1. A had a 2002 f250 v10 automatic that did this same thing? Starting the engine cold the truck would jump forward in park . It did seem to load up the engine putting it in neutral the RPM’s went up. But only when a cold engine

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          1. I also had the same in my 2002 Chevy, start cold and truck rocked ahead 2” for sure. Now for the rest of the complaints I don’t put a lot of faith in. my 22 150 powerboost shifts like a million bucks, trailer, no trailer, mux nix anytime smoothest shifting ever and yes trans computer is programmed to skip gears at times to help with fuel economy when that gear torque is not needed. As a past mechanical engineer with Chevy we had clunking too we called it the 2/3 clunk or 3/2 clunk depending if up shifting or down it was rear differential necessary backlash no fix. 10 speed trans was a joint venture between Ford and GM and for the x Ford shop Forman I wouldn’t buy another Chevy built vehicle even if it was the last company to use rubber tires.
            Part your hair that one.

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          2. Why would putting it in neutral load the engine? You’re familiar with what open loop and closed loop operation is regarding the fuel injection? When you cold start an engine the O2 sensors are cold and it’s running in open loop till it warms up. Until then idle will be a little high, in gear it’ll be noticeable when rolling that the engine RPMs are a little higher and the vehicle might roll a lil faster. Pop it in neutral and the RPMs will be the same as if it were in park. Drops right down to normal idle once warm. I notice maybe 200-300 RPM difference in idle while in park or neural until warmed up which is maybe a few blocks driving.

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        2. I too have a 2019 F150, 5.0 4×4. At 65,000 miles I was just told by a dealer the transmission needs to be rebuilt. The transmission will delay in changing gears, slip, and is noisy as hell. Perhaps the most concerning is when changing from 1st to 2nd it will always delay, making it a safety hazard to drive in traffic. Cost to repair is $7000. The issue is defective or undersized bushing in 10R80 transmissions.

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          1. How is that delay a safety hazard? I fail to see how you need a rapid 1-2 shift in normal driving. When the truck is rolling it’ll never be shifting from first to second unless from a stop.

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    2. While I’m happy to hear that you haven’t had issues, I’d really implore you to open your mind a bit. I just sold my 2018 f150 that was impacted by a faulty transmission. It was actually somewhat dangerous to drive. I had it at the service center around 5 or 6 times before I gave up asking them for help. Always “couldn’t reproduce” or “normal operation”. They said they never heard anybody ever have the company, but that “most folks that have this problem see an improvement with a computer flash and slip joint greasing”. Never worked. I drove my truck 85000 miles over 5 years and it drove me crazy every time it clicked when downshifting. First 3 years it was 3rd-5th gears, but the last two added a crazy one when going from 10/9 down to 8th. Loved the truck, but the transmission was borderline dangerous. Sold it to CarMax for far less than I would’ve gotten private party, but I couldn’t sleep knowing I sold that to a family.

      Reply
      1. Should be “clunked” when downshifting. Mine clunked hard when downshifting, hunted for gears (super dangerous at freeway speeds), and also the transmission clunked when I started the truck. Seemed like the truck wanted to be in the highest gear possible as long as possible, but would slam down to the lower gear way too late. All my gained fuel efficiency was offset by a frustrating and dangerous drive condition

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        1. 2018 that trans computer should of been educated enough to spit out a lot of codes if there actually was faults in transmission, I’m not saying you had no concerns and you had it in 5-6 times to the shop, did they ever do a trans flush this procedure is part of regular maintenance these days. Fords LV trans fluid is top of the line oil, but because of the complicated internals such as more gears and electronics oil does not last for ever, I have did several simple trans flush’s because of concerns my trans shifts funny and slips now, and put smiles back on people’s faces, you got 85000 mi in 5 years just my opinion, I believe if there was anything seriously wrong the wheels would of flue off long before that ! I also question your dangerous safety concern there is nothing here that I can base anything on but lord knows.

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    3. I have Friend who owned 2019 Explorer (Bought New) had it for few Momths one day would not start had towed to dealership after 2 or 3 weeks replace Replaced Body module.

      I have 2019 Jeep Cherokee 2.0 liter turbo (9 speed trans) I thought I had trans issue rolling 30 mph or lower felt like hunting for gear, (I was complaining), turns out turbo inlet sensor wiring harness, (vehicle went into limp mode could not drive it had to be towed) took dealer week order and fix, new part came from ohio. Dealership said was under warranty now shifts great runs better too (stop/start was working again too strange).
      I was burning oil in Cherokee at 12,000 miles 1 quart every 3,000 miles little research and replacement of Air Filter stop burning oil.
      Sometimes simple things.
      Sometimes not even transmission.

      Reply
    4. AND that’s why SO MANY people are complaining of the same thing. It’s not normal no matter how many gears it has.

      Reply
  10. Let’s not forget that same transmission is in the Chevy Silverado‘s and Camaros.

    Reply
    1. Tony…. my 2021 2SS Camaro shifted just fine…
      2015 Eco. F-150… issues
      2020 Eco F-150…. OK
      2020 Eco Stang…. OK
      2022GT Stang…. OK
      KNOCK ON WOOD WITH ALL THE OK’s••••• still have them••••••

      Reply
      1. I know this is a relatively old comment, but I’ll reply anyway. I’ve been looking for any instance of GM 10 speeds having CDF cylinder sleeve issues and can’t. What I have come across is essentially none of the GM 10 speed 10L80e parts are interchangeable with the Ford 10R80. I know Ford revised the CDF drum, but what was different about the GM design that prevented the 10LX0 from having problems?

        Reply
  11. Have a 2018 Mustang GT and the 10speed has given me no problems whatsoever. Very satisfied.

    Reply
  12. I just purchased a 22 Mustang Mach1 with 10 speed auto. I too, have concerns about this transmission. Winning noise, erratic shifts, shuddering on down shifts and harsh down shifts when slowing down!
    Beautiful car but I should have kept my GT350!

    Reply
  13. I have a 2016 CMax, and am on my 2nd Ford Flex now (2018, previously a 2011). Not a single issue other than normal wear and tear. Love ’em!

    Reply
    1. It seems FMC is copying the GM playbook, once they build a great product, they discontinue it.

      Reply
  14. Gm has the same problem with their transmissions,JUNK! torque converter shudder! Cost me $3500 for a new trans

    Reply
  15. My 21 Mustang GT has the 10 speed and at times has harsh, erratic up and down shifts. At times it’ll stall slightly after slowing and then accelerating. In addition it’ll sometimes hold first or second gear until I shift it.
    My dealer says they can’t find a problem.

    Reply
    1. If it’s under warranty go look for the ford policies and procedures manual just to give yourself an idea of what they’re doing and give ford a call. Not the dealer, FORD because they want you happy, the dealer could care less

      Reply
  16. I bought a 2018 F150 new, it shifted fine. I put a programmer on it that remapped the shift points and it did fantastic! Honestly I believe most of the issues are in the software… I drive a 21 F150 fleet truck and the 10spd in it does ok, I prefer the remapped feel though! My wife drives a 22 Explorer and the 10spd in it is flawless can’t even tell when it shifts. I will soon be upgrading to a F250 with a 10spd, I am a huge fan of the 10spd! Never had one shift awkward and I don’t ever want to go back to a 6 or 4spd.

    Reply
  17. I wrecked my 22 f 1 50 10 speed truck because the motor ran away and couldn’t stop the truck

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    1. Doesn’t your vehicle have an ignition key, push button switch or shift lever?

      Reply
  18. I believe it had something to do with the transmission lucky I didn’t kill anybody I hit the building doing approximately 40 miles an hour

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    1. Good thing you bailed out and used your parachute.

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    2. The first thing Ford needs to do is check the nut behind the wheel ! Your heading for a brick wall at 40mph and you don’t stand on the brakes as hard as you can ii yi yi yi

      Reply
  19. As Ford does not know what to do with the truck it’s been 2 months
    I have not heard anything from Ford for 2 weeks

    Reply
    1. The building your truck hit contained the internet.

      You broke it.

      No wonder you don’t hear back.

      Reply
  20. Just replaced the lead frame and module because after the patch they put on from dealership transmission started not charging out of 1st,one time I was in 6 gear and it down shift to 1st when I was running 60mph I ended up in the other lane almost hit a car head on ford no’s they have issues with there transmission because it took 4 months to get a replacement part.

    Reply
    1. Wait what!!!!! 😂🤣😂

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    2. Sounds like your truck went into limp mode. If it don’t shift outta first take it back to be serviced. I had a car with a transmission speed sensor that went bad and driving along it would go into first and not shift out of first until I parked the car and restarted it. Whenever it lost signal from the sensor it would happen and the gear indicator on the dash would flash. It was a bit inconvenient for a couple weeks till I got the part but when it happened at 60mph it was only dangerous because of the decrease in speed. Didn’t change the vehicle dynamics but I kinda avoided the open highway if I could for those two weeks. That happened in a Mazda and in a Chevy, the Chevy it wasn’t even a transmission issue but you would be surprised what systems monitor eachother

      Reply
  21. I just bought a 22 f150 with the 5.0 I have driven it almost 700 miles now and I can say that the trans has learned a lot since day one it shifts ez now going up but down it has a little trouble some times but it’s new, I know that if the trans learns the way you normally drive and when you do something out of the ordinary it won’t like it so if your cruising for most of the time and then you floor it the trans doesn’t know any better and freaks out also never changing your fluid and filter never helps a trans shift the smoothest it possibly can

    Reply
  22. I should wish that the manufacturers of trucks would go back to a manual transmission. It’s not that they last forever but if you do maintain them they’re much more reliable than an automatic. Plus they’re fun to drive.

    Reply
  23. They left out 2021 Explorer ST.. Sold mine in 6 months, seemed like the trans was going to jump out of the frame. It was very erratic in the downshift in all modes— even ECON!!!!
    It should if never left the manufacture like that!! It had to be driven off the assembly line and the dealer used it to run back & forth from dealers in their Auto-mile …. Really didn’t want to trade it but, trans bad on a NEW TRUCK—- problems forever!!!!!!——?????••••••••
    Had “intelligent 4WD(AWD???)” WHATEVER THAT IS•••• Dealer didn’t know????■■■■■ Smarter than a 5th grader??????

    Reply
  24. I’m not saying anything!!! I DON’T want to JINX my Wife’s good luck with her 2020 Eco. Lariat 4X4•••••••
    Our 2015 4X4 Eco. Lariat had tranny troubles( so my wife said). I never noticed any when in the truck????,

    Reply
  25. Wow! I bought a 2019 Mustang GT and specifically wanted the 10R80 because of how hard it shifts. 45k miles with a smile!

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  26. Well this is what happens when you over engineer things. We don’t need 10 speed transmissions The goal is to have enough speeds for adequate acceleration and to have an overdrive gear to reduce engine speed and provide good fuel economy. We had that taken care of years ago. Another example. We had it right with sequential electronic fuel injection. 1 fuel injector for each cylinder, controlled individually. Injector sprayed fuel at the intake valve which kept it clean. If there was a misfire the pcm could shut off an injector to keep raw fuel from entering and possibly damaging the catalytic converter. But no they had to create direct fuel injection which ended up creating the problem of carbon build up on the intake valve which requires hours of work to clean the carbon off. So now they went and redesigned and put both direct and port fuel injection systems on the same engine. The port injection system to clean the intake valves. It cost more to have 2 fuel injection systems on a vehicle versus 1. I spent the last 50 years working in the automotive field and I have to say these new vehicles are over engineered, overpriced pieces of junk. I can give you alot more examples of the stupid engineering mistakes in my opinion.

    Reply
  27. If Toyota or Honda ever build a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup. It’s goodbye to Ford and Chevy.

    Reply
  28. I had 2020 ford explorer. I had an issue with the transmission at like 8,000 miles & then another problem at 44,000 miles the worse vehicle I ever brought. Ford has alot of issues to fix. I don’t see it getting better any time soon

    Reply
  29. I have a 2021 f150 with 20.000 miles on it the transmission shakes in-between gears clanking when up and down shifting it’s like it gets stuck between gear’s the steering wheel shakes when it won’t shift the dealership says it’s fine last Ford never again

    Reply
  30. One would think with as long as Ford’s been making vehicles, they could avoid these jerky transmissions and snatchy brakes. People are paying a premium for these vehicles and they ride like rickshaws.

    Reply
    1. Snatchy brakes? That’s a Toyota, what vehicle doesn’t ride like a rickshaw?

      Reply
  31. Look y’all I know you test drove your vehicle you bought before taking the keys and debt from the dealer who sold it to but you still committed to the purchase didn’t you ultimately it’s your fault you don’t try a food at Costco and say sick disgusting and then buy a package of that food. I’ve tried the new fords yeah they are bad that why I bought the lowest mileaged f150 from 2014 from my dealer ship you got duped by the dealership not Ford. Ford is aware of the problem just like dollar general sandwich cookies is in the fact it’s not like Oreos but you had be greedy and say I want the new one with luxury amenity look at u now your just as greedy as the ford company mine is great yeah the mpg is lie with 9th gen trucks but I knew that going in

    Reply
    1. This is nonsense. If you drive this car for a 10-15 minute test drive it usually does what it is supposed to do. The problems surface after some ownership time, not 10 minutes. The problems are real. But since you’re much “smarter”, “apparrently”, you never have owned or operated this transmission. The people that have had to experience the numerous problems with this transmission do own it, “apparently.” Spell check for those dumb people.

      Reply
  32. It’s called smart shopping

    Reply
  33. A few days ago my new to me 2009 left half of its transfer box on I 59 near Fort Payne Alabama. Triple A got it my drive way in Crossville TN. Where I’m wondering if it’s worth fixing. I used all my cash to purchase the truck.

    Reply
  34. I own a 2018 f150 lariat crew cab 3.0 diesel with the ten speed, I have had issues since I bought dealers said it just needed an update had two or three updates no change truck has 72,000 on it I have been stuck in Arizona since March it is now may 1st. I do have an extended warranty through Ford and they have been arguing for a rebuild rather than a replacement at my expense. I am a Ford retiree and have never experienced this kind of disregard for the customer before! Let’s just say NOT HAPPY with Ford warranty!

    Reply
  35. Wow! Hard to believe there is so many people still today with such bad grammar and penmanship. I can’t make heads tails or azz out of what most are trying to say, know wonder the dealers don’t have an idea what to fix!

    Reply
  36. I bought my 2020 F150 5.0 new. Overall I like the truck, but hate the transmission. About 3 months after buying the truck I was so fed up with the poor shift programming/shift quality that I was at a crossroads, either trade it in on another truck that isn’t a Ford, or buy a tune.. I opted to tune it. The tune corrected probably 75% of the issues I had with the transmission, the only problems it still has is the cold 3-4 shift is harsh and occasionally it still just can’t quite decide what gear to be in. Though it’s MUCH better, it’s still pathetic compared to the 8spd in the 2014 Ram that I had.
    Seeing how many years Ford has been selling vehicles with this transmission and not correcting the issues has completed soured me on the brand. My next truck will not be a Ford.

    Reply
  37. Looks like Sharonville all over again. It’s covered in great detail in the book “A Savage Factory: An Eyewitness Account of the Auto Industry Self-Destruction” by Robert J Dewar (2009). Maybe Failure Farley’s relatives were part of the management team at that plant.

    Reply
  38. I owned a 2018 Mustang eco-boost with that auto. It was a very bad experience. I called my dealer and they told me “It would be better in the GT”, which I bought a 2019. While it did improve some, both versions had the same issues. But the worst one for me was when I was crossing traffic trying to do a very fast turnabout with cars approaching me. Under most normal transmissions it would have been quick and not an issue. But the 10 speed fails by hesitating when you are trying to shift from reverse to forward. Unbelievable. Luckily, I was only honked at. I just traded my 19 GT for a 2023 BMW with an 8 speed ZF transmission. Like trying to date a hot chick that has a horrible personality, that Ford 10-speed is a POS.

    Reply
    1. Imagine dating hot chicks for their personality… they’re single for a reason and it’s not cause they’re hot

      Reply
  39. I have a 2018 F150 5.0. Transmission just went out at 80,000. WE NEED A RECALL. Said the CDF drum went bad, “common issue.” NOT OK

    Reply
  40. My 2018 Navigator, when hot, has a fluid noise that increases in intensity, with the cruise on at highway speeds. It makes this rushing noise, gets louder and louder, then the vehicle clunks into gear and the noise stops. Like clockwork it does in on roads that are somewhat flat or a slight dip, that then go into a hill, looking for more torque, and the clunk. It shakes the whole vehicle. The Dealer says they can’t replicate the problem, there are no TSB’s issued for this problem (which is bull$hit) and therefore they can’t fix it. This vehicle has a $98K sticker price. Total failure by FORD to put this $hit out on the road.

    Reply

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