Vikingstaff Report post Posted November 28, 2023 (edited) Hi Group. New here. Son bought a 2014 Ford Fusion SE Hybrid with 90k miles from a local Toyota car dealership that had recently taken it in on a trade-in. It was one owner, trade-in. Perfect routine maintenance history every 3-4,000 miles. We all thought it was a great deal, as it drove impeccably well. We figured it would be a reliable and fuel efficient vehicle for our young adult son. Background of Concern: Son went into our local Ford dealership, which is also where this car had been originally purchased and serviced, to check on a cost of getting a second key for it (the previous owners lost one of their two). When there, he asked (I followed up) if they could share any maintenance history with us. We didn’t expect to hear anything as the car sounds and runs perfectly, and looks pristine inside and out. Well, the previous owners were quoted $7600 for a transmission replacement just 2-3 weeks ago (3400 for rebuild repair). D’oh!!! We suspect this is the reason they had traded it in on a new Toyota at the other dealership. However the car seems fine. I questioned them as to what the diagnosis was based on. They said it was an older couple that noticed a usual sound. They brought it in for diagnosis as they were pretty meticulous owners. No dash lights. Isn’t throwing any codes. Dealership said they too could slightly detect a subtle whirling sound at certain speeds decelerating (we don’t hear it, 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 a rarely and not something they really see much there. Could it be inexperience with the sound and the TSB alone “driving” this recommendation? No other symptoms. Shifts just fine. No dash lights. I swear the car sounds, well, normal. NOTHING irregular. We have all driven it the past 2 days listening and no one is hearing anything irregular. Came to this forum for insight and advise. Questions: (1) Is this transmission bearing failure issue really that common in this model year Fusion hybrid? (2) Could the dealership be throwing a dart blindly at the board based on just this reported sound and the TSB above? (3) Anyone have similar experience with their 2013-14 Fusion hybrid Transmission? (4) Since we don’t hear or notice ANYTHING unusual, any risk or concern with keeping it and driving it until something definitive develops? Could it cause damage to anything else (dealership said it shouldn’t, but not sure what to think over it all)? (6) Would draining the tranny fluide and looking for discoloration or metal debris be advised? Dealership didn’t even do that in diagnosing the issue, so is this something that wouldn’t show up in that way? (5) Any other insight or advice? Thank you VERY much for any insights. Really trying to debate 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. Edited November 28, 2023 by Vikingstaff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
