The Classic 10 Speed Reliability Question

[Spang550]

Hey just had a question about people’s experiences with higher mileage 10 speed mustangs (25k plus, not to be mean but I frankly don’t care that your 10k car has been perfect). Has it been problem free for you or has it given you issues? I am most likely getting rid of my current Mustang GT PP1 10 speed because it’s had other non trans issues and want to get into a Mach 1. My preference is another 10 speed but I seem to read more and more horror stories about it. How’s your experiences been?

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[al3bbasi]

My 10 speed had issues as early as 1000 miles believe it or not, had issues where the gear would be stuck at a 6th when I was driving as low as >10 mph, when it was stuck it would do this horrifying scraping sound.

Took the car to dealer and demanded them to either replace the transmission or to replace the car, they wouldn’t agree to either telling me that my issues weren’t real even though I had recorded evidence (I could share them on here if you want lol). At 2000 miles the transmission failed on me. Was driving on an empty straightaway and the car shifted from 10th all the way to 1st gear and keep in mind I was driving at atleast 60 mph, yes the g force was strong lol. If this was on a busy highway it could’ve been dangerous and I’m sure the dealers wouldn’t take responsibility.

They finally gave in to fix the issue and told me they’d deliver me a transmission in around 5 months which was completely unacceptable to me. Car was only at 2000 miles and it’s been at the dealership more than it has been with me, and now I have to wait 5 months for a transmission just to drive my car? Bullshit. So their only solution was to take the transmission out of a 2020 Race Red GT off the showroom floor and put it in my car, and the transmission they ordered was put in the 2020 GT. Later sold the car to the Bahrain International Circuit to probably avoid lawsuits lol, you might see it as the escort car in some races or on their instagram page.

Long story short, made me hate all automatic transmissions lol. Car is perfect now, still has the wonky traits of all 10 speeds when driving in stop and go traffic. I do love my car and it has extreme sentimental value to me, and I know 10 speeds are fun. But my next and all future mustangs will have a 6 speed manual only. I still question the 10r80s long term reliability here and there if I’m honest.

 

[skinnyb]

I had to get a TCM reflash at 10K for a torque converter surging issue, has been flawless since (13K). That said, I had an 18 F150 with the Gen 3 Coytote and 10 speed and put 100K on it with zero issues before trading for the Mustang. Not a Mustang but still it was an early build 10 speed and did great.

 

[al3bbasi]

Glimpse of the scraping sound and when the transmission failed.

 

[The Insomnimaniac]

Hey just had a question about people’s experiences with higher mileage 10 speed mustangs (25k plus, not to be mean but I frankly don’t care that your 10k car has been perfect). Has it been problem free for you or has it given you issues? I am most likely getting rid of my current Mustang GT PP1 10 speed because it’s had other non trans issues and want to get into a Mach 1. My preference is another 10 speed but I seem to read more and more horror stories about it. How’s your experiences been?

This may not be helpful for you, but my 10 speed has about 36k miles. I bought it at 28k. I think it was low on fluid when I got it. It’s been wonky and weird since I’ve had it, complete with every complaint lodged against the 10 speed and an added bonus of doing this jarring pop/bang on startup sometimes. It gets me where I need to go and is very fun when it acts right, but I too question the reliability of it in the longer term. I wouldn’t be inclined to keep it without my extended warranty.

 

[The Insomnimaniac]

Glimpse of the scraping sound and when the transmission failed.

I’d be 38 hot if mine were making that sound. Did they ever determine what caused it?

 

[al3bbasi]

I’d be 38 hot if mine were making that sound. Did they ever determine what caused it?

At first they told me I was lying. Then they told me I didn’t know how to drive the car. It’s an automatic? After that they tried throwing the blame on me telling me I was probably using the paddle shifts and holding it in one gear for minutes on purpose even though the video clearly shows that the car was shifting by itself. Why would I even do that. Then when the transmission finally failed, they opened it up and informed that I had a factory defect. I forgot what exactly was the defect as it’s been 3 years. They were trying to shift the blame on me the entire time so they wouldn’t replace it under warranty and have me pay for the transmission as crazy as that sounds. And they are doing the same thing right now with another issue I’m having, water getting under the headlights.

With the new transmission replaced under warranty, it’s still clunky downshifting in stop and go traffic but it’s been more reliable that’s for sure. Still left a bitter taste in my mouth with all 10r80s even though they are quick and fun when they don’t act up.

 

[The Insomnimaniac]

At first they told me I was lying. Then they told me I didn’t know how to drive the car. It’s an automatic? After that they tried throwing the blame on me telling me I was probably using the paddle shifts and holding it in one gear for minutes on purpose even though the video clearly shows that the car was shifting by itself. Why would I even do that. Then when the transmission finally failed, they opened it up and informed that I had a factory defect. I forgot what exactly was the defect as it’s been 3 years. They were trying to shift the blame on me the entire time so they wouldn’t replace it under warranty and have me pay for the transmission as crazy as that sounds. And they are doing the same thing right now with another issue I’m having, water getting under the headlights.

With the new transmission replaced under warranty, it’s still clunky downshifting in stop and go traffic but it’s been more reliable that’s for sure. Still left a bitter taste in my mouth with all 10r80s even though they are quick and fun when they don’t act up.

Geez I hate you had to go through that. They pull out all the stops to avoid accountability. I could promise the dealers and Ford just hate us all.

 

[raydog1]

Almost 6 years old, just hit 40,000, had the Ford Performance "CALIBRATION W/COLD AIR INTAKE AND THROTTLE BODY" installed a couple years ago, and still no problems ... yet.

 

[Keeffa]

Hey just had a question about people’s experiences with higher mileage 10 speed mustangs (25k plus, not to be mean but I frankly don’t care that your 10k car has been perfect). Has it been problem free for you or has it given you issues? I am most likely getting rid of my current Mustang GT PP1 10 speed because it’s had other non trans issues and want to get into a Mach 1. My preference is another 10 speed but I seem to read more and more horror stories about it. How’s your experiences been?

I've done 70k klm no real issues. It was a bit rough changing gears and made a few noises in sport mode but after I had a tune done on the car it smoothed it out and it's been great. I changed fluid and filter at 50k klm. Changing trans fluid and filter sometimes gets forgotten but it's important for the trans health.

 

[Justpassingas]

Happy to report 46k on my A10 21 GT with no issues since day 1.

 

[ChitownStang]

2021 Mach 1 , 20k miles , 2.5 years old.
No mech issues, just wonkiness that seems to be normal.
Tuned with Livernois year ago and now that I know how to drive it I'm pretty happy with it.

 

[Qcman17]

About 23k on mine no issues other than the usual complaints of the odd rough shift. Had a tsb done a few months ago and it is better than before but still not elegant. I bought an extended warranty in part due to concerns with with its longevity but it’s been solid.

I’m convinced this is a trans you need to know how to drive not the usual press the gas and go type most are. That said I love it despite its minor annoyances.

 

[hws52]

I love my 18, the only issues I've had are intermittent rough upshift from 2-3 in sport mode at less then 50% throttle and the intermittent slight upshift hang 2-3 and 4-5 when the trans is cold.

 

[EFI]

I seem to read more and more horror stories about it. How’s your experiences been?

You're always going to get more bad stories than good, and those usually tend to be exaggerated.

The "horror" stories you hear are not of the unit exploding and not working, you usually hear of it driving like crap. Which it can as it's not exactly the smoothest transmission out there, but it's definitely not crap especially if you run it with the proper amount of oil.

My experience has been a bit harsh here and there, but it's solid as far as taking abuse. I've done dozens of track day, several thousand miles of continuous WOT driving on track and it hasn't skipped a beat.

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