2013 Transmission issues - I have questions!

[Catmobile]

I have one of the early 2013 SEL's with about 67k on the odometer. I love this car and outside of having to replace the backup camera (under extended warranty) have had no problems. I'd really like to keep it a few more years. However, the issue with 2013 transmissions failing has me wondering... I called Ford and they said they're not going to replace the tranny (I guess unless it fails) under the extended warranty. If this was a design flaw why didn't they do a recall? In any case, they looked up by VIN # and there was nothing re the transmission. Have all of the early 2013 transmissions been failing, or just some? I thought they had all been built in the same factory.

 

Has anyone gotten Ford to replace this before it fails?

[ptjones]

I have one of the early 2013 SEL's with about 67k on the odometer. I love this car and outside of having to replace the backup camera (under extended warranty) have had no problems. I'd really like to keep it a few more years. However, the issue with 2013 transmissions failing has me wondering... I called Ford and they said they're not going to replace the tranny (I guess unless it fails) under the extended warranty. If this was a design flaw why didn't they do a recall? In any case, they looked up by VIN # and there was nothing re the transmission. Have all of the early 2013 transmissions been failing, or just some? I thought they had all been built in the same factory.

 

Has anyone gotten Ford to replace this before it fails?

I haven't heard of anyone getting a Trans replaced without it failing. The problem isn't a design problem, we do know that it is a bearing failure which I'm pretty sure is  a heat treating issue.  This would explain why most Transmissions haven't failed. :) 

 

Paul  

[obob]

I haven't heard of anyone getting a Trans replaced without it failing. The problem isn't a design problem, we do know that it is a bearing failure which I'm pretty sure is  a heat treating issue.  This would explain why most Transmissions haven't failed. :)

 

Paul  

 

If a transmission were a $200 replacement Ford may have replaced it, but with such an expensive cost to replace Ford goes into a different mode.

 

Ford has been pretty tight lipped about why the bearings have gone bad. And apparently there was a modification in 2015 in addition to the modification in 2013 which would to me seem like they figured out where the stress on the bearing was coming from which I would call a design problem(rather than just use a stronger bearing).  They tested the transmission under test conditions but in real world conditions it failed. The way I see it they did not account for something.  Maybe the design logic for a regular automatic transmission or for the first version of the hybrid transmission didn't transfer perfectly to the C-Max hybrid transmission.  With three motors there seems to be a lot of potential vibration and stress to keep under control under various driving permutations which makes thorough testing have a lot to cover.

Edited April 2, 2018 by obob

[ptjones]

To me I don't see this as a design flaw with a small number of trans failures, we do know high HWY % mileage seems to be a common theme with trans failures from the 20's k mi.  to over 100k mi.  , Mine at 97k mi. with 80% Hwy miles. Some have mentioned that they only had a bearing replaced in the trans. :headscratch: We will probably never know for sure.

 

Paul

[homestead]

To me I don't see this as a design flaw with a small number of trans failures, we do know high HWY % mileage seems to be a common theme with trans failures from the 20's k mi.  to over 100k mi.  , Mine at 97k mi. with 80% Hwy miles. Some have mentioned that they only had a bearing replaced in the trans. :headscratch: We will probably never know for sure.

 

Paul

 

For those who have had just the bearing replaced, What is the cost of this repair?  Does the transmission need to be pulled to do this?

Wonder if it is worth it to proactively replace the bearing.

[ptjones]

For those who have had just the bearing replaced, What is the cost of this repair?  Does the transmission need to be pulled to do this?

Wonder if it is worth it to proactively replace the bearing.

The labor could be more to take apart the trans,, you will have to take out the ICE/Trans, but bearing cost wouldn't be much.

 

Paul

[Catmobile]

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to keep Miss Pearl at least until her extended warranty runs out. :)

 

BTW, I drove a Chevy Bolt (looking to possibly add an all-electric to the C-Max) and I did not like this car. It's very small and the seats were extremely uncomfortable. Went to a BMW dealership to drive an i3 but they didn't have one on the lot (they did have the shell of an i8, though, no engine). Then I saw a day or two ago where the i3 and i8 will be discontinued and replaced.

[HotPotato]

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to keep Miss Pearl at least until her extended warranty runs out. :)

 

BTW, I drove a Chevy Bolt (looking to possibly add an all-electric to the C-Max) and I did not like this car. It's very small and the seats were extremely uncomfortable. Went to a BMW dealership to drive an i3 but they didn't have one on the lot (they did have the shell of an i8, though, no engine). Then I saw a day or two ago where the i3 and i8 will be discontinued and replaced.

 

 

I had the same issue, I really wanted to like the Bolt but the hard-edged seats, narrower cabin and Fisher-Price plastics were really hard to swallow after enjoying the C-Max's perfectly proportioned thrones and entry-luxury-quality interior.

 

My C-Max is just about paid off, still drives nicely, and has a near-new transmission---every logical part of me says to keep it. However, after 72k mi in my C-Max there is so much creaking around the door frames, and a couple of squeaks inside and outside the car now too, that I have serious doubts about the long-term viability of the car---and I live in a sunny state where the roads are never salted. I'm used to German cars that are durable but unreliable. In the C-Max I have a car that's hypothetically reliable (now that we've served as guinea pigs through innumerable recalls and TSBs) but certainly doesn't seem durable. I wish there were strut tie bars or something available for it to improve the dishrag-like rigidity. No wonder the dealer gave me a lowball trade-in estimate.

 

In any case, if you like me are thinking of going more electric but want a bigger car, not a smaller one, consider the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. It's an all wheel drive CUV on the large end of compact, with a spacious interior, lovely leather seats, and Apple CarPlay. It gives you 22 miles of all-electric range, then switches over to hybrid operation. The MPG while there's still charge in the battery is an impressive 74 MPGe. The MPG once the battery is exhausted is a dismal 25 mpg, the same as a typical NON-hybrid CUV of similar size. So the key question is what percentage of your drive will be on electricity. If your commute is under 50 miles, it is more efficient than a conventional hybrid CUV; but if your commute is 50 miles or more, a conventional hybrid CUV is more efficient. If your commute is 22 miles or less, of course, you could hypothetically use no fuel at all. 

Edited April 8, 2018 by HotPotato

[fbov]

... The MPG once the battery is exhausted is a dismal 25 mpg, the same as a typical NON-hybrid CUV of similar size. ...

It has no "hybrid" operating mode that recharges the battery?

[duxracer]

Car just stopped at light never to move again can hear spinning noise in gear...heard clicking noise for weeks before in reverse from axels..transmission or is there gear box or a else

..transmission never gave any indication of trouble just stopped moving..where should I start...do transmission just go like that in these cars

[fbov]

Yes, they can. What year is your car? It could be something else. 

[SnowStorm]

Do you hear the " spinning noise in gear" only with the gasoline engine running or also in EV mode when trying to move?  The transmission never "shifts gears" (not even for reverse) and there are no clutches.  It only has the two electric motors and a bunch of gears that are always meshed.  All the transmission problems I've heard of have symptoms of noise or fluid leaks - doesn't leave you sitting.