Ford Delays 2017 F-150 Deliveries To Complete 10 Speed Transmission Testing

Ford Motor Co is stockpiling 2017 model F-150 trucks, delaying delivery to dealers while it runs final tests on a new 10-speed transmission, a top executive told Reuters.

The trucks should be delivered by the end of the year, Joe Hinrichs, head of Ford's automotive operations in the Americas said in an interview on Monday.

"We are launching the new Raptor and F-150 with the new 10-speed transmission," Hinrichs said. “We continued building but we’re holding (trucks) longer so we could do more testing and make sure everything is right before we release them,” Hinrichs said.

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TomM - 12/8/2016 7:48:08 AM

+2 Boost

AS a transmission mechanic - I would suggest to all who are involved NOT to buy the first year of a new transmission. Most automatic transmissions have had early problems - that required expensive early fixes. Some often consider the THM 350 as the best transmission(not me - the THM400 was) - but first year examples had a multitude of problems - as did many others. Example - the E4OD - used in Ford trucks - which used bushings to support the weight of the shafts - rather than bearings initially - and BOY was that a mistake.

At the same time - the biggest cause of automatic transmission failure is OVERHEATING - normally caused by an outside source. IF you have the option - specifying heavy duty cooling is something I would always do - and I would also install an external Transmission cooler in line as well. THe transmission is often the most expensive repair an owner will actually do on his vehicle so it makes sense to try to extend its life.

Lastly - ALL transmissions today use SOLENOIDS to control shifting. I do not care what mechanical device you choose - if it has metal to metal contact of parts - there will be an amount of metal filings produced - and they will float around with the fluid until they reach a magnet - where they will cause poor response. SOOO - changing the fluid is something I would recommend fairly early - maybe after the first 10,000 or so miles - and every 30,000 or so thereafter. Yes - if you have damaged internal clutches already - changing the fluid may cause slipping (It is not actually caused by the fluid - it is caused by the removal of clutch material with the old fluid) - but for almost ALL - over 90% of automatic transmissions - they go from cradle to grave without any clutch problems. I still often open up powerglides (From the 1960s) that you can still read the numbers and words printed on the clutches.