In today’s globalized world, a single automobile can have parts made in different countries. Therefore, it can pay to know a bit about which parts are in your vehicle. If you drive a Ford, you probably want to know a bit about the key components inside it. And one of the most key components of all is the transmission. So how are Ford transmissions? Do they require extra service?
The Ford Motor Company was founded 116 years ago in Dearborn, MI, by Henry Ford. Ford’s “assembly line” technique of auto manufacturing revolutionized the industry and led to the Model T being one of the first ubiquitous makes of vehicle on the market. This same method of workers focusing on individual parts instead of a whole vehicle, led to the development of different parts being in different vehicles and is therefore partly responsible for why there are so many different transmissions out there today.
If you drive a Ford vehicle, what kind of transmission are you using? Well that depends on what Ford vehicle you’re driving. If you drive a Ford Expedition or a Lincoln Navigator (Lincoln is Ford’s luxury brand) then you’re probably driving a Ford 6R80 six-speed transmission. Interestingly, many Ford vehicles produced in the past ten years use a transmission that is also present in GM vehicles because Ford & GM co-manufactured transmissions such as the 6F35 (Ford Focus, Ford Fusion, Ford Escape), the 6F55 (Lincoln MKS, Ford Flex, Ford Taurus SHO), and the 10R80 Ford-GM 10-speed automatic transmission (in 2017 Ford F-150s, Ford Expeditions, and Ford Mustangs). If you’re driving a hybrid Ford vehicle, then you’re using the HF35 hybrid transmission.
So, do the transmissions in Ford vehicles require more transmission service than transmissions in Mazda’s, Kia’s, Chryslers, Audis, etc.? It’s hard to say, but the answer, usually, is “no”. There are subtle, but sometimes significant differences between different makes of transmission, but these differences rarely have as much effect on the efficacy or lifespan of the transmission as how you use it. Do you use your vehicle for a lot of towing? Do you go too fast too quickly, not giving your transmission a chance to warm up? Do you neglect servicing your transmission fluid often enough? All of these actions will have a greater effect than the type of Ford transmission you drive. However, there is a notable exception to this.
The 2012-16 Ford Focus and 2011-16 Ford Fiesta sedans have the DPS6 Powershift transmission. And this transmission has been, shall we say, problematic. At the time of writing, there exists a number of lawsuits against the Ford Motor Company regarding this transmission. The lawsuits allege that this transmission is defective and is susceptible to a whole host of problems.
If you think your Ford transmission requires service, or if you drive any other make of car, you can contact Mister Transmission today.
The evolution of transmissions has made these machines and systems increasingly complex. When transmission repairs are required, determining the cause and cure for what ails can be tricky.
Read More
At Mister Transmission we have access to leading-edge diagnostic equipment, enabling us to offer you the fastest and most accurate findings about what’s going on inside your vehicle’s transmission.
Read More
Just as you have other parts of your car serviced, your transmission needs maintenance to ensure a long life and avoid transmission problems.
Read More