2021 Ford Ranger Transmission Slips

[Hawker Driver]

My wife's 2017 Explorer limited's transmission is an absolute POS. When Ford (Dorf) started making electrically controlled shifting the mode of operation, they totally destroyed their entire product line. You could not give me a new Ford today. That is very sad to say since I have been Ford loyal for most of my 60 years.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Seems like with all these issues they kind of went backwards compared to something that works.
I was looking in the shop manual diagnosis chart for the 5R55E (I realize that's a completely different trans) and it has entries for all the unwanted symptoms described for the 10 speed.
So there should be a similar manual for the new trucks.
Slipping to me would indicate torque converter clutch is involved either directly or indirectly.
Hard or soft shifting, hunting on grade, etc - those things all have causes and fixes.
I really don't know much about it, but I can see that auto trans are horribly complicated and the diagnosis charts are like 50 pages.
There could be a design flaw that isn't fixable I suppose.
I forgot again, why did we need 10 speeds? Seems like overkill.

Because for whatever reasons we use boosted 4 cylinder engines that belong lightweight sports cars to power trucks.

 

[Hawker Driver]

Because for whatever reasons we use boosted 4 cylinder engines that belong lightweight sports cars to power trucks.

You are totally correct. For example in my wife's Explorer, it was hard shifting. Ford kept telling me that it was normal. B.S. So I took it to the transmission specialist who builds my race transmissions. He took it for a drive and came back and said that it was up and down shifting so fast that it was out of sync with the power bands of the engine. Ford electric transmissions have no idea where the engine is in its power curve or the driving conditions that the vehicle is experiencing. The only way I have found to smooth out the shifting it to either be hard on the gas or the brake. Not exactly the most efficient way to drive. You don't need 10 friggin gears if the engine is matched to the total GVW of the vehicle.

 

[sgtsandman]

You are totally correct. For example in my wife's Explorer, it was hard shifting. Ford kept telling me that it was normal. B.S. So I took it to the transmission specialist who builds my race transmissions. He took it for a drive and came back and said that it was up and down shifting so fast that it was out of sync with the power bands of the engine. Ford electric transmissions have no idea where the engine is in its power curve or the driving conditions that the vehicle is experiencing. The only way I have found to smooth out the shifting it to either be hard on the gas or the brake. Not exactly the most efficient way to drive. You don't need 10 friggin gears if the engine is matched to the total GVW of the vehicle.

Part of the problem is that this transmission is used on so many different engines as well. It's not a dedicated transmission tuned for just one engine. I count 5 just in the Ford line up with a quick search. The 2.3, 2.7, 3.5, 5.0, and 3.0 diesel.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Yep. I don't get what was wrong with a v8 and a 4 speed. I do have some emissions political related conspiracy theories....lets boost and strain a tiny motor and figure out how make constantlly shifting 10 speed transmission make it work. Yea that will last.

But I got no fight in me, I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut, shake my head, and stick to old trucks.

Yamaha did the same bass ackwards logic w/ their crossplane crank generation R1.

They used an engine designed for low rpm torque to power a lightweight high speed machine. It was the worst gen ever. Idiots. It did cater to noobs that loved the unique exhaust note. Sales commenced.

I dont get why they dont use crossplane crank design engines in trucks. Probably because it makes perfect sense.

I've posted plenty of drunken rants on this topic.

 

[Blmpkn]

Hm.

Here I am... enjoyed the 'shitbox' 10r SO MUCH in the ranger I PURPOSELY sought out a Bronco that came with one and once again.... I love it.

I've historically been a manual person, because automatics have historically sucked..

The 10r changed my mind on that one. Shifts quickly.. the shifts are so smooth you either need to be paying attention or have a louder exhaust to notice them.. the super close ratios allow for both maximum efficiency AND performance..

 

[Roert42]

View attachment 96174





Hm.

Here I am... enjoyed the 'shitbox' 10r SO MUCH in the ranger I PURPOSELY sought out a Bronco that came with one and once again.... I love it.

I've historically been a manual person, because automatics have historically sucked..

The 10r changed my mind on that one. Shifts quickly.. the shifts are so smooth you either need to be paying attention or have a louder exhaust to notice them.. the super close ratios allow for both maximum efficiency AND performance..

 

[Roert42]

Boooo.

Wrong.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Part of the problem is that this transmission is used on so many different engines as well. It's not a dedicated transmission tuned for just one engine. I count 5 just in the Ford line up with a quick search. The 2.3, 2.7, 3.5, 5.0, and 3.0 diesel.

That's why in all the groups I'm in everyone says with a tune dedicated to the new Rangers it adjusts the shifts to sync up with the 2.3. Everything I've read no matter which tune (Ford Performance, 5 star, or others...) Once the tu e is installed it corre to all the transmission hiccups. But that being said. I've also read those are the guys having oil dilution and engine issues. So I guess it a win lose situation. Myself I find driving around town I run mine in Tow mode. I like the fewer shifts and the way it holds a gear at low speeds. Eliminate all the searching the ttrans is doing in 8th gear at 40mph

 

[sgtsandman]

That's why in all the groups I'm in everyone says with a tune dedicated to the new Rangers it adjusts the shifts to sync up with the 2.3. Everything I've read no matter which tune (Ford Performance, 5 star, or others...) Once the tu e is installed it corre to all the transmission hiccups. But that being said. I've also read those are the guys having oil dilution and engine issues. So I guess it a win lose situation. Myself I find driving around town I run mine in Tow mode. I like the fewer shifts and the way it holds a gear at low speeds. Eliminate all the searching the ttrans is doing in 8th gear at 40mph

I haven’t noticed much in the way of searching. It may be my driving style though. Many would classify me as driving like an old man. It comes from years of driving a bus load of people on an airport flightline between the aircraft and baggage carts.

 

[Mike-in-Kingston]

My '21 Ranger has that. I took it to the dealership a couple of weeks ago and the tech said this, "Ford knows about this problem and here is the fix". So he did a update via computer and said that everything should be fixed now. Well that only lasted a week and the issue started up again. I was in the middle of a intersection turning left and when I stepped on the gas, there was a long hesitation before I moved.....not impressed. Going back to the dealership for their next step.

 

[Hawker Driver]

My '21 Ranger has that. I took it to the dealership a couple of weeks ago and the tech said this, "Ford knows about this problem and here is the fix". So he did a update via computer and said that everything should be fixed now. Well that only lasted a week and the issue started up again. I was in the middle of a intersection turning left and when I stepped on the gas, there was a long hesitation before I moved.....not impressed. Going back to the dealership for their next step.

Once Ford went to the electric shifted multi geared transmission the light truck line in my opinion was ruined. My wife has the 2017 Exploder. That POS has the same Fuu..d up transmission that the rest of the light trucks have. Ford has lost me as a customer for new vehicles. The exploder is about to be traded off for a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. I will keep my 04 and 11 Rangers until Toyota makes the Tacoma in a FCEV. At that point, the only Fords I will have are my classic Mustangs.

 

[mercoupe50]

I have a 2021 Ford Ranger. When I start the engine and put it in drive it goes nowhere. The tranny has to warm up for a short time. The tranny lugs down when trying to shift down from 4th to 3rd on an incline. It also has a hard time downshifting from 7th to 6th.

 

[corockymtnman]

I have a 2021 Ranger Lariat with 20K miles. Had the transmission slip issue last winter and I expect it to recur this year. During very cold starts, slips between 1st and 2nd, and bucks hard when 2nd slams into place, feeling like I’ve been hit from behind (as another said). Goes away as engine/tranny warms up. Brought it into Lebanon (NH) Ford last winter to have the transmission issue checked out, and of course all is “normal”. If I warm the truck up in park for just 5 minutes, this issue does not occur. I do not need to put the transmission into N to warm it up. Park works fine.

 

[Jtstech]

I have a 2021 Ranger Tremor. Has 48k on it. For months I’ve been having slips from 1st to second gear also from a cold start. Some clunking here and there when I reverse. I’m in Cali so not too cold here. Took it to the dealership. They said there is a service bulletin and they will be rebuilding the transmission. Have to wait a month because there is 13 ( not necessarily Rangers) ahead of mine to rebuild. Seems that they know exactly what I described because they went straight to rebuild. Scared me about longevity after rebuild. Thinking of trading it for a 4runner trd.