2021 XLT Transmission Update

[priestyboy]

I have a 21 XLT and have noticed when shifting into or from 3rd gear it’s a little bit of a hard shift, but not all of the time. I’ve seen threads talking about transmissions doing this and talked to my service advisor. I was told that if I get it in before the 60K mile powertrain warranty is up, they’ll do an update. What is this update and does it fix the hard shifts?

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[KBKEITH]

I have a 21 XLT and have noticed when shifting into or from 3rd gear it’s a little bit of a hard shift, but not all of the time. I’ve seen threads talking about transmissions doing this and talked to my service advisor. I was told that if I get it in before the 60K mile powertrain warranty is up, they’ll do an update. What is this update and does it fix the hard shifts?

You might possibly have the well known 10R80 drum issue. My brother’s 2019 had it and he took it in on the very last day of his power train warranty. They replaced his transmission

 

[PBFalcon]

I have a 21 XLT and have noticed when shifting into or from 3rd gear it’s a little bit of a hard shift, but not all of the time. I’ve seen threads talking about transmissions doing this and talked to my service advisor. I was told that if I get it in before the 60K mile powertrain warranty is up, they’ll do an update. What is this update and does it fix the hard shifts?

Do you have the 10 speed (10R80)?
The update isn't going to fix anything. Before you reach 60K you need to find a way to have them replace the CDF drum and Trashcan. Both are faulty and unless told otherwise will not be the update they do. It's an expensive repair involving parts in the center of the transmission.
I have an 18 and never got this warning. My truck doesn't go in reverse now so I'm rebuilding the transmission and likely replacing the clutch packs now as well. The dealership quoted me $10K and I'll never buy a Ford again.
Mine started just like yours, it wasn't too alarming just a wandering shift once in a while and a hard shift, but it only gets worse from there. Yours will, as sure as the sun will shine, yours will.

 

[Lakeshore Marine 1]

Just out of warrantee here! Purchased new 2020 Lariat 5.0, 10R80. Since new: random 1-4 flares, hard shifts, was very occasional at first, dealer service tech said he re-flashed it when I had it in for minor things. The service manager KC told me "They all do that, its part of the break-in period". I seen on other threads that this irratic shifting is very common with the 10R80's from 2017 to 2022. As soon as it hit 60 thousand miles, it got worse. Now it is undriveable because what ever was acting up, went south very quickly, it hits so hard even in first gear. Two months ago Ford Customer Service said they need a diagnostic on it. I scheduled it in and they said it was a CDF drum issue.
I complained about this problem under warrantee and they "band-aided" the real problem. There is a big COVER UP ABOUT THESE CDF DRUMS. Ford does not want to own up to this major problem. There is a Class Action suit against Ford for this issue in California, but I dont live there.
I am going to get the dealer to fix it and they said I have to pay a percentage of the cost showing that they are taking some responsibility for the manufacturing problem CDF drum. They are putting an updated version of the CDF drum ( standard after Nov 2022) in and an updated Reaction Cylinder {anodized for hardness} and Valve Body on my request because these other parts get torn up and jammed with friction debris from the dam thing hammering when it shifts.
TO ALL OWNERS OF FORD WITH 10r80'S GET IT IN WHILE YOUR UNDER WARRANTEE AND GET IT FIXED. HARD SHIFTS AND ERATTIC BEHAVIOR IS NOT NORMAL! If you dont push the issue you will lose and it will cost you big bucks.
FYI: The 10R80 is the transmission of the future. It is a great design and a joint venture between Ford and GM. The GM 10 speed is slightly different but basically the same.

Ford jumped the gun and wanted to offer the first 10 speed in 2017 ahead of Gm and others, and uses this as selling point. UNFORTUNATELY THEY DID NOT TEST THE 10r80 ENOUGH TO KNOW OF THE CDF DRUM ISSUES. SHAME ON FORD!!
Ford needs to restore quality in their vehicles . Ford needs to restore quality in their CUSTOMER SERVICE and not BS people and take responsibility for their manufacturing screw-ups!

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