2021 transmission issues?

[Shooter3k]

I'm looking at buying a 2021 and reading that a lot of people seem to have transmission issues.

Were the transmission issues fixed in the 2021 version at all?

Should I stay away from buying one of these?

 

[2020FordRaptor]

I'm looking at buying a 2021 and reading that a lot of people seem to have transmission issues.

Were the transmission issues fixed in the 2021 version at all?

Should I stay away from buying one of these?

Complicated question to answer. So early 2020 models had the possibility of having transmission issues but those were only certain ones. Some got lucky, som didn’t. Fords quality got better on later ones but there was never a transmission fix, it was just better quality control. There are going to be a people who post on the forum tranny problems, but you have to remember the vast majority of us who don’t have any problems aren’t going to post threads about it.

I think you will be fine buying one of these just making sure the ST you’re looking at doesn’t have transmission problems. An ESP is always going to be your best friend also.

 

[Shooter3k]

Complicated question to answer. So early 2020 models had the possibility of having transmission issues but those were only certain ones. Some got lucky, som didn’t. Fords quality got better on later ones but there was never a transmission fix, it was just better quality control. There are going to be a people who post on the forum tranny problems, but you have to remember the vast majority of us who don’t have any problems aren’t going to post threads about it.

I think you will be fine buying one of these just making sure the ST you’re looking at doesn’t have transmission problems. An ESP is always going to be your best friend also.

Thanks for the information. That's very helpful.

What do you mean by "doesn’t have transmission problems"? How do I determine that?

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Thanks for the information. That's very helpful.

What do you mean by "doesn’t have transmission problems"? How do I determine that?

Well driving the car and making sure there isn’t abnormalities in the shifting and checking the VIN for any work done on the tranny.

 

[EDWYER]

It's not just 2021's. But the issue can be fixed.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

It's not just 2021's. But the issue can be fixed.

Yah @Shooter3k forgot to mention that too. Once the issues are fixed they usually wont pop up again.

 

[Shooter3k]

It's not just 2021's. But the issue can be fixed.

the car I'm looking at was a lease turn in. So, I'm hoping there was maintenance history. What sort of "fix" am I looking for?

 

[EDWYER]

Sorry, I'm not researching this for you. Read up in multiple threads in the maintenance section.

 

[J Grant]

I bought a 2021 Explorer ST 2 months ago used. 70,000 mi on it. Purchased an extended warrantee. Week 2 transmission issue. Trying to accelerate quickly and the trans got confused. also the cat converter broke. Dealer reprogrammed the trans and fix the converter. 3 weeks later the trans got stuck mid hwy. Thank God no cars crash into me. I am returning it tomorrow to make the dealer replace the trans. I will update you guys. $50,000 car n the trans is trash. Just a headache. Family trip planned in 3 days. may need to cancel this. Just angry.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

the car I'm looking at was a lease turn in. So, I'm hoping there was maintenance history. What sort of "fix" am I looking for?

I am not referring to a fix rather if there was any transmission work done at all like a rebuild or something like that. It is no different than if you’re buying any used car. Do your research on it, look at everything (service and maintnance records), and drive it.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

I bought a 2021 Explorer ST 2 months ago used. 70,000 mi on it. Purchased an extended warrantee. Week 2 transmission issue. Trying to accelerate quickly and the trans got confused. also the cat converter broke. Dealer reprogrammed the trans and fix the converter. 3 weeks later the trans got stuck mid hwy. Thank God no cars crash into me. I am returning it tomorrow to make the dealer replace the trans. I will update you guys. $50,000 car n the trans is trash. Just a headache. Family trip planned in 3 days. may need to cancel this. Just angry.

Well looks like you got a lemon. Sucks. Ours has had zero problems.

 

[J Grant]

Paid for carfax. Zero issues on it. Car was serviced properly. Still a head ache. It sucks I know. It's back at the dealer we'll see how long this takes.

 

[RobbieK]

Hate to pile on this buyer beware topic here but I have had my 2020 ST for 8 months now. It was a certified pre-owned from a Ford dealership and when I bought it I bought literally every extended warranty they offered for it. From Ford, not the crazy random spam calls version lol.

In 8 months it has been in the shop 3 times chasing a burning oil smell. Every time has been a royal pain in the A with the dealership. Always taking close to a week repair, issues with getting a loaner car from them, and a whole list of constant problems every time. First time it was a Turbo, wound up with 2 new ones. Next time was an axle boot leaking, 3rd time was another boot leak again. For the record, the smell does keep coming back when I'm driving it hard and it's not residue still burning off. Now, at 31K I'm getting the dreaded transmission shudder when putting it in D or R. The issue isn't new though as it has been hesitating and poorly getting a gear at low speeds then hanging forever in certain gears at higher ones. It's just getting worse with this shuddering. I joined the forum today to start trying to figure this out.

I do love this ST overall as it is a lot of fun but I have never in my lifetime of owning over 35 vehicles had this much trouble and dealership visits. Especially not in the first 8 months of ownership. I did literally everything you can do in terms of pre-purchase research and subsequent warranty purchases but this cycle is getting very old and is legitimately starting to take away from owning this thing to the point that I am starting to casually look at options to get out of this truck or at least get another one on Ford's dime. Good luck with that I know but this is getting frustrating.

 

[RobbieK]

I'm looking at buying a 2021 and reading that a lot of people seem to have transmission issues.

Were the transmission issues fixed in the 2021 version at all?

Should I stay away from buying one of these?

Honest answer? Yeah, maybe you should stay away from it. I just made a longer reply to this thread but was specifically thinking of your question here when I wrote it.

 

[bmidd]

Hate to pile on this buyer beware topic here but I have had my 2020 ST for 8 months now. It was a certified pre-owned from a Ford dealership and when I bought it I bought literally every extended warranty they offered for it. From Ford, not the crazy random spam calls version lol.

In 8 months it has been in the shop 3 times chasing a burning oil smell. Every time has been a royal pain in the A with the dealership. Always taking close to a week repair, issues with getting a loaner car from them, and a whole list of constant problems every time. First time it was a Turbo, wound up with 2 new ones. Next time was an axle boot leaking, 3rd time was another boot leak again. For the record, the smell does keep coming back when I'm driving it hard and it's not residue still burning off. Now, at 31K I'm getting the dreaded transmission shudder when putting it in D or R. The issue isn't new though as it has been hesitating and poorly getting a gear at low speeds then hanging forever in certain gears at higher ones. It's just getting worse with this shuddering. I joined the forum today to start trying to figure this out.

I do love this ST overall as it is a lot of fun but I have never in my lifetime of owning over 35 vehicles had this much trouble and dealership visits. Especially not in the first 8 months of ownership. I did literally everything you can do in terms of pre-purchase research and subsequent warranty purchases but this cycle is getting very old and is legitimately starting to take away from owning this thing to the point that I am starting to casually look at options to get out of this truck or at least get another one on Ford's dime. Good luck with that I know but this is getting frustrating.

Ours had the valve body replaced about 20K miles ago and has been issue free ever since.