Super Hard/Rough Shifting - Brand New

[Jason B]

Wow! Thanks for all of the feedback. Very surprised to see so many others experiencing this, but feeling reassured that it will potentially smooth out.

The truck must have heard me talking smack to my Internet friends. I didn’t experience a single harsh upshift in my 100+ miles of driving today. That said, the clunk at about 25mph while coming to a stop remains the same.

A new one that I hadn’t experienced yet was a much more harsh downshift while braking going downhill at probably 45mph. Somewhere in between ultra harsh upshift and clunk on the severity scale. The truck intentionally downshifting to support braking efforts on a steep grade - I am guessing it skipped a gear or two.

All told, it seems to be adapting and not nearly as gnarly as it has been over the last week. Perhaps it’s learning…

That 'clunk' when stopping sometimes means the slip yoke needs lubrication. Shouldn't have to on a new truck, but it does happen.

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[spazzyfry123]

That 'clunk' when stopping sometimes means the slip yoke needs lubrication. Shouldn't have to on a new truck, but it does happen.

At a specific speed for a specific gear downshift? I could see if it happened at slowdown with no regard to transmission gear/vehicle speed, but it only happens at a specific gear/speed.

 

[Jason B]

At a specific speed for a specific gear downshift? I could see if it happened at slowdown with no regard to transmission gear/vehicle speed, but it only happens at a specific gear/speed.

You are right, it usually happens just before the truck comes to a stop, not at speeds.
I misunderstood.

 

[ducktapeonmydesk]

I've had one upshift that was extremely harsh. I get the occasional downshift that is rough, usually when applying the throttle when the truck is trying shift from 2-1

 

[Fosii]

I found with my 2024 2.7 Lariat, if I allowed the motor to warm up and come off high idle before driving off, the transmission behaves much better and is less jerky. I have over 11000km on it now.
still definitely not the smoothest transmission..

 

[danmoochie]

I found my trans got smoother as I got more miles, only 2500 on it now, but shifts smoother. I do feel this weird clunk every once in a while, but only if I let completely off the gas, then press the gas again, it's like reengaging again, but I think that is normal?? Is it??

 

[spazzyfry123]

As a follow up to all in an effort to offer some type of closed loop, I wanted to report back. I feel that I've been doing the online car forums since the cave men created the internet after Krog requested guidance when he broke his new shiny rock wheel, and I don't want someone to find this thread in ten years thinking that the Ranger Raptor transmissions are shit.

You guys were right. Granted, my truck only has 900 miles and a long ways to go (knock on wood), I feel that the transmission is absolutely in a discovery phase. The "super hard shifting" has effectively gone away. The truck drives significantly better.

I'll say that while it is understandably difficult for a sales guy to give you a disclaimer at the point of handover for your $60k truck that it will drive like hell for a while, maybe something to bring you up to speed so you don't go through the panic of an unknown bomb going off between shifts would be nice...

...Or come up with something better at the factory level so that this is a non-issue.

All the same, all is well that ends well I suppose. Not saying that the truck is perfect from a transmission shifting perspective, but it is certainly significantly better than it was a few hundred miles ago. Although I haven't driven it in several days as it's still sitting at the dealership for a separate concern... C'est la vie...

Happy Raptorin'!

 

[Jason B]

Of course, the dealer will never tell you that, but others might say 'RTFM"

Note: Ford vehicles incorporate innovative transmissions to boost fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases, among other benefits. Optimizing performance involves balancing many vehicle attributes including acceleration, handling, shift-feel, fuel economy, or hauling and towing capacity. Designing a transmission in light of that balance and to meet varied customer expectations and preferences, from smoother shift to quick shift and everything in between, may result in what some operators could perceive as a brief jerking or shaking sensation during gear changes. That is a normal part of transmission operation. If you have concerns about your transmission, please visit your Ford-authorized dealer. If the vehicle has a malfunction during normal use because of a defect in factory-supplied materials or factory workmanship during the warranty term, Ford will service the vehicle under warranty. Transmission service may be a software modification (including calibration upgrades) to alter the subjective driving characteristics of your vehicle, such as transmission shift-feel, that may better fit your personal preferences. To the extent Ford offers a software modification to enhance customer satisfaction, the service is not evidence of the existence of a defect or to cure an impairment to the use, value or safety of the vehicle.

 

[ducktapeonmydesk]

As a follow up to all in an effort to offer some type of closed loop, I wanted to report back. I feel that I've been doing the online car forums since the cave men created the internet after Krog requested guidance when he broke his new shiny rock wheel, and I don't want someone to find this thread in ten years thinking that the Ranger Raptor transmissions are shit.

You guys were right. Granted, my truck only has 900 miles and a long ways to go (knock on wood), I feel that the transmission is absolutely in a discovery phase. The "super hard shifting" has effectively gone away. The truck drives significantly better.

I'll say that while it is understandably difficult for a sales guy to give you a disclaimer at the point of handover for your $60k truck that it will drive like hell for a while, maybe something to bring you up to speed so you don't go through the panic of an unknown bomb going off between shifts would be nice...

...Or come up with something better at the factory level so that this is a non-issue.

All the same, all is well that ends well I suppose. Not saying that the truck is perfect from a transmission shifting perspective, but it is certainly significantly better than it was a few hundred miles ago. Although I haven't driven it in several days as it's still sitting at the dealership for a separate concern... C'est la vie...

Happy Raptorin'!

For anyone reading this in the future: the transmission learns your driving habits and adapts to them overtime. It may be rough for a little while but with smooth out eventually. In normal mode, my transmission shifts like butter and I can't feel it 95% of the time unless I'm actively paying attention.

Now, if you do feel you have issues (or if it feels weird if you bought it used), you can reset the transmission adaptation with Forscan and then let it adapt to you and your driving habits. Supposedly, you can also reset the adaptation by either a) turning the ignition on without starting, hold the pedal to the floor for 15-20 seconds, let go of the pedal, turn ignition off, wait for 2 minutes, then start the vehicle or b) disconnect the negative battery terminal for 30 minutes, reconnect it, turn ignition on for 10 seconds, then start the vehicle. That being said, the transmission does continue to adapt over time, so resetting its adaptation is not strictly necessary for the majority of people.

 

[spazzyfry123]

Of course, the dealer will never tell you that, but others might say 'RTFM"

Note: Ford vehicles incorporate innovative transmissions to boost fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases, among other benefits. Optimizing performance involves balancing many vehicle attributes including acceleration, handling, shift-feel, fuel economy, or hauling and towing capacity. Designing a transmission in light of that balance and to meet varied customer expectations and preferences, from smoother shift to quick shift and everything in between, may result in what some operators could perceive as a brief jerking or shaking sensation during gear changes. That is a normal part of transmission operation. If you have concerns about your transmission, please visit your Ford-authorized dealer. If the vehicle has a malfunction during normal use because of a defect in factory-supplied materials or factory workmanship during the warranty term, Ford will service the vehicle under warranty. Transmission service may be a software modification (including calibration upgrades) to alter the subjective driving characteristics of your vehicle, such as transmission shift-feel, that may better fit your personal preferences. To the extent Ford offers a software modification to enhance customer satisfaction, the service is not evidence of the existence of a defect or to cure an impairment to the use, value or safety of the vehicle.

I'd love to "RTFM." However, they apparently don't supply those things called books any more and I'm somehow expected to sit in my truck to navigate the virtual manual on a center stack screen.

It's funny as I was having this conversation with my wife when I brought the truck home. Discussing how disappointed I was that I didn't get to read through pages and pages of technical blurb. I've owned dozens of vehicles and have always considered the "RTFM" stage a right of passage after acquiring a new vehicle. This is the first time I wasn't offered that ability as I sure as shit am not going to sit in my truck staring at a screen.

 

[Jason B]

Yeah, it's unfortunate that everything is digital, no hard copies.
In case you want to sit in front of a PC and read through, here's the online version. IMO, it's not user friendly.
2025 Ford Ranger Owner Manuals

It gives you an option to download a PDF version, for viewing or print out, all 644 pages of it.

 

[spazzyfry123]

As an additional follow up.

The 5-6 shift in Sport mode is HOT GARBAGE. If I am in Sport just driving like normal, every 5 to 6 shift feels like it is slipping and a hard transition. If you give it a little of the skinny pedal, the 5-6 seems fine. As I'm typically in Sport mode not driving like a loon to take advantage of the downshifts, I recognize it every time I drive the truck.

Really, really considering the ProCal tune (to keep warranty) if the consensus is that it will address the crap shifts.

 

[jordantii]

As an additional follow up.

The 5-6 shift in Sport mode is HOT GARBAGE. If I am in Sport just driving like normal, every 5 to 6 shift feels like it is slipping and a hard transition. If you give it a little of the skinny pedal, the 5-6 seems fine. As I'm typically in Sport mode not driving like a loon to take advantage of the downshifts, I recognize it every time I drive the truck.

Really, really considering the ProCal tune (to keep warranty) if the consensus is that it will address the crap shifts.

I have this exact same issue. It's absolutely trash. The engine and trans seen out of sync on the 5-6 shift.

 

[spazzyfry123]

I have this exact same issue. It's absolutely trash. The engine and trans seen out of sync on the 5-6 shift.

I also notice it - to a much lesser degree - on the 4-5 shift.

 

[jordantii]

I also notice it - to a much lesser degree - on the 4-5 shift.

Same here. 5-6 is the worst.

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