Just looking to vent and get some opinions. I drove a 2015 Lariat for several years and loved it. I got coerced into trading it for a 2018 (it was a lease, and I managed to get a slightly higher spec and a lower payment -- but that's another story). I was pumped to get LED headlights, the new SYNC stuff, and the fancy 10 speed transmission.

My experience with the 2018 so far has been awful. Right off the hop, there was a significant vibration around 90km/h. Service ultimately had to disassemble the differential and swap out some parts (I forget exactly which), and it was in the shop for about a week. A little annoying, but they managed to fix it and I was content.

Then I started noticing a floppy/clunky feeling in the steering wheel over certain bumps. Also a minor annoyance, but pretty upsetting in a 67k truck. Service couldn't reproduce it, and it's not the highest priority of my concerns -- so that is to be continued.

After a few weeks driving (and letting it "learn"), the transmission just feels like junk. It spends way too long searching for gears, and hesitates at the worst possible time. Shifting is erratic and unpredictable. It was so much smoother and more predictable in the 15 (which is strange because most people seem to adore the 10 speed).

That's still not the worst part though. It does one other thing that's driving me completely mad. When I'm braking, it often downshifts in such a way that creates engine braking which affects the deceleration. It feels almost like I'm jolting/releasing the brakes at certain points while I'm slowing down. It's annoying to me and my passengers, and I'm sure it looks like my first time driving to bystanders. Ultimately, if feels unsafe -- and I'm particularly worried about winter driving.

It basically feels like I'm downshifting in a manual, and pumping the clutch one or two times during each deceleration. Sometimes it's subtle (but still annoying), and other times it's ridiculous -- makes clunking noises and causes the nose of the truck to dip (as if I'm slamming the brakes).

The service manager at my dealership drove it around for 10 mins, felt some small ones, and then one bigger one. He acknowledged what happened, but downplayed it as just something to get used to. He said there was nothing they could do (which I can sort of understand... it's not enough to rip the transmission out I guess -- but I can't just live with it). If he (or anyone) drove it around for a day in actual daily driving conditions, I think they'd realize why this is such a problem, and how much unpredictable deceleration can affect your confidence while driving.

Anyway, just wanted to share and see if anyone had any insights or similar experiences. I'm still working with the dealership to try and find a solution (dealing with sales dept right now). Hopefully it goes somewhere.

 

Plenty of threads emulating the same concerns and issues.

Read through some of the threads on here, and check to see if you have a recall for a reflash on the trans.

 

Hmmmm mine only hard downshifts in sport mode. It has to do with the torque converter lockup torque modulation through the downshift. In sport mode it carries more torque through the downshift.

 

What drive mode are you in? Mine does not downshift in regular drive mode. Gear hunting can be handled via appropriate throttle responses. If you treat the throttle as an on-off switch, it's going to jump in and out and all around the different gears.

I second having the trans reflash done.

 

I think this is a TSB not a recall.

 

my 17 downshifts hard. Dealer blew me off about that, the delayed 1-3 shift/lunge and slow 1 to R shift, even after the TSB. The down shifts don't bother me because i have driven a manual for the last 12 years, but others have mentioned it asking if i was stabbing the brakes. You can try to do a KAM reset and let it relearn. There is a learning curve to these, i can avoid most of the annoyances with mine by how i drive.

 

I've been feverishly looking for anyone discussing a similar experience (specifically the downshifting thing). I hadn't found anything after 10's of searches. Maybe I'm using the wrong search terms or something... Any chance you could point me in the direction of any similar threads you've seen? I'll take another look as well.

Mine does it in sport mode, but it feels acceptable and normal. It's in standard mode where it drives me bonkers (and is a lot more pronounced).

Standard mode.

And I definitely know what you mean about on/off switch, but I certainly don't drive that way. It's most noticeable when I try to get a "normal" acceleration out of it. When I feather the throttle for a bit more go (to pass on a city road or whatever), it seems to either give me nothing, or downshift super aggressively and send me flying like a bat out of hell. The "normal" acceleration is there, it's just a lot harder to find/predict for some reason.

Keep in mind, I'm coming from a 15 with the 6 speed, and I had absolutely 0 complaints about that. Wishing I never upgraded

I drive a manual almost every day in the summer, and I have no problem with engine braking itself. It's that in an automatic (and my truck in particular) I don't know when or if it's going to happen, or how severe it will be, when I start braking. It really gets into my head and makes me not want to drive my beautiful new truck at all. Varying deceleration in a vehicle is just not a pleasant or confidence-inspiring feeling. I'm probably more sensitive than most people, but I also don't think it's an unreasonable thing to be unhappy with in such an expensive and new vehicle.

Thanks for your comments so far, folks. Really do appreciate the input

 

How many miles on your truck? Which engine & gear set? 4x4 or 2x4? Just curious.

Have you experimented with the other drive modes; Eco, Snow, Tow/Haul...etc...just to see the differences?

So far, My 2.7/4x4/3.55 SC, 700+ miles, has been very good. An occasional rough up or down shift, but rare. "Normal" driving it goes 1-3-5,6,7,8,9,10, only skips 2 & 4. Hard accel hits all the gears. I also came from a '15 6AT, and it was very good as well. Only difference I see for my trucks is the number of shifts, otherwise equally smooth.

Might try a different dealer if this one gives you no satisfaction.

 

Weird, my truck, same set up as yours, is opposite of yours as far as skipping gears goes. Mine hits all gears on moderate acceleration but skips on a more harsh acceleration.

 

It's got 1,700 KM's right now. I don't drive a ton cause I don't commute. It's got 2.7/3.55/4x4.

I haven't experimented much with modes aside from standard and sport. Oddly, sport mode is less aggressive with the downshifts on deceleration. I enjoy it in sport mode, but it's a bit intense for everyday driving.

I will definitely try another dealer if I end up nowhere with this one. They've been pretty good to me overall and I've bought multiple vehicles from them, so I'm hoping I have some good will left to use up!