So, I need a new transmission.

[fordguy456]

count me in to the endless amount of people that have been victimized by this transmission problem on the 2013 energi.  i had 122k on mine.  the whining noise started maybe 50 miles before it went kaput.  received about a $6500 estimate to fix it.  seeing the car costs less than that with a working transmission, i dont think i can pay that, even though it is immaculate except the transmission.  peddle will give me $2100 for it so i guess that'll go towards my next car.

 

i seen a few people say never again or no more fords.  i have owned at least one ford since 1995.  i am on the fence about breaking my 28 year ford ownership streak but i just dont know what to say after i see how ford treated some of you who even experienced the problem before 100k.  saddens me that's for sure.  maybe those were dealership problems but putting this junk transmission in cars wasnt.

 

signed:  sleepless in sacramento

Edited April 11, 2023 by fordguy456

[Waldo]

I'm sorry, what?  An endless amount of people?  In this 6 YEAR OLD thread, I count 4 people who've had the issue, 2 of which were replaced under warranty, 1 was well beyond warranty coverage and 1, just 1, had an issue with the dealer and had questionable treatment.  So unfortunately you're now the 5th person reporting an issue, but 5 reported issues over the 10 years of existence of the vehicles doesn't really make it a "junk" transmission.

[fordguy456]

I apologize for the frustration.  I am on the third page so I thought there was more.  The 2 mechanics I received estimates from said this was a common issue and one person here mentioned Ford outsourcing this transmission to Asian parts.  I just assumed it was junk from what two mechanics said and at least one here.  On a positive note, I'm going shopping today.  ?

[Waldo]

22 hours ago, fordguy456 said:

I apologize for the frustration.  I am on the third page so I thought there was more.  The 2 mechanics I received estimates from said this was a common issue and one person here mentioned Ford outsourcing this transmission to Asian parts.  I just assumed it was junk from what two mechanics said and at least one here.  On a positive note, I'm going shopping today.  ?

 

Don't be confused between "Asian" parts and the "Aisin" company.  Aisin is a very reputable Japanese transmission company.  And trying to glean statistics from mechanics is like internet forums, mechanics only see broken cars, they don't see the thousands that don't have any problems.  That being said, Ford did publish a TSB about this issue and reading between the lines one can deduce there was some sort of manufacturing defect that was identified.  Should Ford have extended the warranty on those parts once that defect was known?  That's certainly a debatable call.  But just because a defect was found, doesn't mean every vehicle will fail.  It all comes down to manufacturing variability, tolerances, environmental conditions and all that.

[Vikingstaff]

 

Son bought a 2014 Ford Fusion SE Hybrid with 90k miles 3 days ago. One owner, trade-in. Perfect routine maintenance history every 3-4,000 miles. Drives and runs perfect. Sounds great. Interior and exterior look new - even the undercarriage. We had no concerns. 

 

Concern:
Son goes into the local Ford dealership (also where this car had been originally purchased and serviced) to check on the cost of getting a second key for it. 

 

He asked about its maintenance history. Come to find the previous owners were quoted $7600 for a new transmission replacement just 2-3 weeks ago (3400 for rebuild repair). D’oh!

 

They also flagged the rear brake pads for replacement at that time too.

 

Mind you, the car seems fine. I questioned dealership as to what the diagnosis was based on. They said the previous owners were a meticulous older couple that noticed a “new” sound recently. They brought it in for diagnosis. No dash lights. Isn’t throwing any codes. Dealership said they heard a subtle whirling sound at certain speeds decelerating (we don’t hear it at all, but…). Based on that reported sound and this 2013-16 Fusion Hybrid Transmission TSB they diagnosed it as needing the Transmission rebuilt or replaced. 

They told us this is rare and not something they really see much there. Could it be inexperience with the reported sound and the TSB alert alone “driving” this recommendation? Could it be some residual sound from rear break pads (which we also cannot hear any issue with right now) and a false transmission diagnosis. Who knows, right!?! Is there any other known way to “test” for the problem that anyone is aware of?

 

No other symptoms. Shifts just fine. No dash lights. We cannot hear anything…runs very quietly. Multiple test drives today following driving/decelerating recommendations. I swear the car sounds, well, normal. NOTHING irregular. Came to this forum for insights from FFH owners.

Really trying to decide if he should cut his potential loses and just sell it, or keep it and roll the dice on the transmission. Hard to act on the $7600 transmission replacement service advice when it seems 100% fine to us.

 

Surprised and baffled. Thoughts?

[2014FordFusionSE]

On 11/28/2023 at 3:46 PM, Vikingstaff said:

 

 

Son bought a 2014 Ford Fusion SE Hybrid with 90k miles 3 days ago. One owner, trade-in. Perfect routine maintenance history every 3-4,000 miles. Drives and runs perfect. Sounds great. Interior and exterior look new - even the undercarriage. We had no concerns. 

 

Concern:
Son goes into the local Ford dealership (also where this car had been originally purchased and serviced) to check on the cost of getting a second key for it. 

 

He asked about its maintenance history. Come to find the previous owners were quoted $7600 for a new transmission replacement just 2-3 weeks ago (3400 for rebuild repair). D’oh!

 

They also flagged the rear brake pads for replacement at that time too.

 

Mind you, the car seems fine. I questioned dealership as to what the diagnosis was based on. They said the previous owners were a meticulous older couple that noticed a “new” sound recently. They brought it in for diagnosis. No dash lights. Isn’t throwing any codes. Dealership said they heard a subtle whirling sound at certain speeds decelerating (we don’t hear it at all, but…). Based on that reported sound and this 2013-16 Fusion Hybrid Transmission TSB they diagnosed it as needing the Transmission rebuilt or replaced. 

They told us this is rare and not something they really see much there. Could it be inexperience with the reported sound and the TSB alert alone “driving” this recommendation? Could it be some residual sound from rear break pads (which we also cannot hear any issue with right now) and a false transmission diagnosis. Who knows, right!?! Is there any other known way to “test” for the problem that anyone is aware of?

 

No other symptoms. Shifts just fine. No dash lights. We cannot hear anything…runs very quietly. Multiple test drives today following driving/decelerating recommendations. I swear the car sounds, well, normal. NOTHING irregular. Came to this forum for insights from FFH owners.

Really trying to decide if he should cut his potential loses and just sell it, or keep it and roll the dice on the transmission. Hard to act on the $7600 transmission replacement service advice when it seems 100% fine to us.

 

Surprised and baffled. Thoughts?

 

I have a 2014 FFH SE with approximately the same mileage. No issues yet.

 

From what you've written here, I think the dealership was trying to make money off the previous owners/couple. They may have said this to sell them a new car and get a cheap, trade-in.

The TSB clearly mentions a thumping/grinding sound which is clearly not present from what you've described.

 

"

3. Is a thumping/rubbing or grinding noise present?

   1. Yes - proceed to Step 4.

   2. No - this article does not apply. Refer to WSM, Section 307-01 for normal diagnostics.

"

 

I would not worry about it but that's me. You could take it to another dealership for an inspection but there's a possibility that they may tell you the same thing.

 

[Vikingstaff]

19 hours ago, 2014FordFusionSE said:

 

I have a 2014 FFH SE with approximately the same mileage. No issues yet.

 

From what you've written here, I think the dealership was trying to make money off the previous owners/couple. They may have said this to sell them a new car and get a cheap, trade-in.

The TSB clearly mentions a thumping/grinding sound which is clearly not present from what you've described.

 

"

3. Is a thumping/rubbing or grinding noise present?

   1. Yes - proceed to Step 4.

   2. No - this article does not apply. Refer to WSM, Section 307-01 for normal diagnostics.

"

 

I would not worry about it but that's me. You could take it to another dealership for an inspection but there's a possibility that they may tell you the same thing.

 

 

 

Thanks for the reply and your thoughts. I think this is also where our collective thinking is at currently. His car continues to drive and ride really well with no strange sounds whatsoever, let alone the thumping/rubbing or grinding noises described in the TSB. He’s had a handful of his friends drive it in addition to us, listening for any strange sounds and or quirks with how it feels while driving. Everyone says the same too.

Edited December 1, 2023 by Vikingstaff

[JohnF100]

Hi all, 

 

Adding to this thread. Have a 14 FFH SE with the well-known bearing failure. 

-Had 2 transmission seal leaks covered by Ford under warranty happened a year apart - last time that job was done was 2 years ago..

-Last year (~90K), the well-known rubbing noise started, took it to an alternate dealership (usual dealership where the seal fix was booked 2 months out). Alternate told me it was just a brake replacement. Didn't want to argue - had a roadtrip same week - and was hoping they were right. They were wrong and i got suckered putting replacement motorcraft  rotors... live & learn  

-Finally got into my primary dealership 2 months later who told me $8600 for transmission replacement (needle bearing failure). 

-Have driven it for 11 mos after that diagnosis (now at 99,530) but I know i'm on borrowed time (now leaking fluid out of the bearing). 

 

Realize there are a lot of regional variation but has anyone done better on ~$5500 on Ford or 3rd party reman + $2500 in labor/supplies? It's fully out of warranty and i've gone around in circles with Ford reps (connecting to... disconnected... connected to...) at trying to get some sort of a bone thrown since this has been a well known defect + the other adventures i've been on with this transmission. Trying to do what i can to shave what I can off of what i know is going to be a sting of a repair. Anyone else out there doing better than $8000 on an HF35? Ideally want to go with a reman rather than risk the R&R labor on a junkyard unit. Appreciate any helpful thoughts..

Edited December 6, 2023 by JohnF100

[Vikingstaff]

On 12/5/2023 at 11:09 AM, JohnF100 said:

Realize there are a lot of regional variation but has anyone done better on ~$5500 on Ford or 3rd party reman + $2500 in labor/supplies? It's fully out of warranty and i've gone around in circles with Ford reps (connecting to... disconnected... connected to...) at trying to get some sort of a bone thrown since this has been a well known defect + the other adventures i've been on with this transmission. Trying to do what i can to shave what I can off of what i know is going to be a sting of a repair. Anyone else out there doing better than $8000 on an HF35? Ideally want to go with a reman rather than risk the R&R labor on a junkyard unit. Appreciate any helpful thoughts..

 

The Ford dealership near us quoted $7400 for new transmission (parts + labor) per the previous owners concern (see a couple posts up for our situation). So that’s slightly less than what you were quoted, but not by much. This was Morrie’s Ford in Okemos, MIchigan.

 

Now all of that said, there still are no sounds at all (or any other signs) that any of us hear/see of there being any issue, so we really think the previous vehicle owners got a bad diagnosis for whatever reason.

[kuzzi]

On 12/5/2023 at 10:09 AM, JohnF100 said:

Hi all, 

 

Adding to this thread. Have a 14 FFH SE with the well-known bearing failure. 

 

-Have driven it for 11 mos after that diagnosis (now at 99,530) but I know i'm on borrowed time (now leaking fluid out of the bearing). 

 

 

HF35 is part of the 8 year 100,000 mile hybrid powertrain warranty. Check when you first got it diagnosed or brought up the concern and push for warranty repair if you brought it up within that 8 year window from delivery.

 

I paid $1500 for a junkyard totaled (flood) low mileage 2016 HF35 and $1000 for labor in my 2013, with me providing some of the labor but using tools and expertise from others. Original transmission replaced at 130,000 miles in 2020, now at 180,000.