Hard or hesitant downshifting into first gear and hesitation upon acceleration

[Canuck]

I have a 2024 XLT Ranger just over a year old with 8000 miles. The downshifting problem into first gear seems to be getting worse. It is almost as though a valve is sticking or clogged. Even upon acceleration there seems to be some stickiness. Weather or temperature have no impact. Also whether slowing down slowly or quickly, there is a noticeable clunk or resistance/hesitation into first.

Took it to the dealer a month ago and their response was "it is normal behaviour for that transmission". I am not sure what to do because it doesn't seem normal whatsoever.

In the coming months if there is no improvement I will take it to a transmission specialist for an opinion and report back.

I keep vehicles for the long haul, but having to tolerate this transmission issue for a decade or more will be a tough pill to swallow...

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[stuartmunto]

Definitely doesn’t sound normal. My RR (which I’m sure uses the same transmission) is almost unnoticeable when shifting gears (besides hearing engine RPM change). Only in sport mode or when shifting manually can you actually feel the gear shifts - but even then it’s doesn’t feel like what you’re describing, it feels more purposeful rather than a bad shift

Try another dealership maybe? Sounds like the one you went too they just put it in the too hard basket

 

[superj]

mine skips second gear alot and i hate it because it makes the shift feel funky and dips your head forward sometimes.

 

[isslandboy]

I have a 2024 XLT Ranger just over a year old with 8000 miles. The downshifting problem into first gear seems to be getting worse. It is almost as though a valve is sticking or clogged. Even upon acceleration there seems to be some stickiness. Weather or temperature have no impact. Also whether slowing down slowly or quickly, there is a noticeable clunk or resistance/hesitation into first.

Took it to the dealer a month ago and their response was "it is normal behaviour for that transmission". I am not sure what to do because it doesn't seem normal whatsoever.

In the coming months if there is no improvement I will take it to a transmission specialist for an opinion and report back.

I keep vehicles for the long haul, but having to tolerate this transmission issue for a decade or more will be a tough pill to swallow...

I wonder if you tried in all of the different modes to see if it was still there, that would eliminate or confirm software.

 

[mpcraven]

I have a mild clunk at about 3 miles/hr as I come to a stop. It doesn't seem to sync with the gear indicator (like 1st gear) and if I put it in neutral at about 20 mi/hr and coast to a stop it does the same thing. I have a service appointment at the dealer next week. I don't recall having his clunk until the last couple of thousand miles. (at 12k miles now)

 

[Bushmechanic]

My 2025 Raptor sometimes bungles it's last shift when braking. It's become much better as the transmission has adapted, but it's still happening on occasion; along with one clunk event under acceleration from a stop at a light, which felt a bit like driveline slop, to me.

 

[Alaska Steve]

I have a 2024 XLT Ranger just over a year old with 8000 miles. The downshifting problem into first gear seems to be getting worse. It is almost as though a valve is sticking or clogged. Even upon acceleration there seems to be some stickiness. Weather or temperature have no impact. Also whether slowing down slowly or quickly, there is a noticeable clunk or resistance/hesitation into first.

Took it to the dealer a month ago and their response was "it is normal behaviour for that transmission". I am not sure what to do because it doesn't seem normal whatsoever.

In the coming months if there is no improvement I will take it to a transmission specialist for an opinion and report back.

I keep vehicles for the long haul, but having to tolerate this transmission issue for a decade or more will be a tough pill to swallow...

I’m starting to have the problem when the transmission is cold (6kmi).

 

[Bushmechanic]

I'm honestly a little concerned about this issue for winter driving.

That last hard downshift, and the dead space between them all, at times, is enough to break a vehicle free on lower traction surfaces. I can see the jolt coming to a stop causing me to rear-end someone, if the surface turns particularly slick as I'm slowing down; even if I do so carefully.

 

[Depotgeorge]

24 xlt 12k. My trans is the same clunky on the down shifts that 10 speed is always shifting for an ideal poweband. In the beginning I did bring to dealer it checked out as normal for the 10spd

 

[Canuck]

I'm honestly a little concerned about this issue for winter driving.

That last hard downshift, and the dead space between them all, at times, is enough to break a vehicle free on lower traction surfaces. I can see the jolt coming to a stop causing me to rear-end someone, if the surface turns particularly slick as I'm slowing down; even if I do so carefully.

 

[Canuck]

I agree with your concern. Sometimes the drop into first from second or third is enough to cause forward momentum when braking. I took mine back to the dealer again in July and was given the same 'normal' explanation and it was suggested I buy an aftermarket tuner. The shifting is sloppy up or down - I could shift a manual transmission with less pausing between gears.

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