2013 Fusion Titanium hard shift fixed

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

A tune = aftermarket TCM/PCM in essence.

[Alex640]

May be Sonnax Zip Kit 6F35-ZIP will help ? http://www.sonnax.com/parts/3686-zip-kit

[akirby]

A tune = aftermarket TCM/PCM in essence.

 

You and I know that but others may actually go looking for new hardware. Just trying to clarify.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

I know ... I guess I should have been clearer that I was addressing the OP Mea culpa!

 

You and I know that but others may actually go looking for new hardware. Just trying to clarify.

[webibeay]

I have a 2014 Titanium and have had the same issue for about a year. My dealer's telling me that they "all" do this and there's no fix and there's no problem. Now at 18,000 miles just waiting for the day the tranny going dead and I can say "I told you so!!!"

[Alex640]

Since 2015 dealers sets a new part CV6Z7A100B Auto Trans Valve Body in transmission controller. May be now controller change by dealer will help and fix. And therefore new cars do not have this problem...

[MightBeASynth]

So I managed to correct this in my car pretty much entirely however it was not exactly cheap or easy.

 

1. Lighter weight wheels to decrease un-sprung weight (really this had the most significant improvement)

2. A tune with adjusted shift points and pressures

3. A stiffer rear motor mount

 

All in all I spent about $4000 "fixing" this issue. If I was not already doing these changes for other reasons I would consider that absolutely insane.

 

There has been a lot of talk about the Sonnex fixing this but I have yet to see anyone who has done it. Interestingly in the last week I came across some folks mentioning that there is a TSB in the works covering this issue and the fix is basically the same as installing the sonnex.

 

Stay tuned, we may have a real fix for this soon.

[cyclone87]

Any updates from anyone? I've got a 2015 Fusion SE with 2.0L.. I've complained to the dealer ever since the first oil change @ 5,000 miles about the transmissions poor 2-3rd gear shift. Recently, the car began to act like it slips into neutral during downshifts under acceleration; once on the interstate and once in town. The first time I was pretty concerned because the car revved to ~5k rpm without accelerating. I had to shift to sport mode and back to drive to get the car to respond. The second time was at relatively slower speeds (~40 mph) and the car did the same thing except gear engagement was so violent it spun the tires and traction control kicked on! I'm going to also post this event in a new thread as I'm curious if anyone else has had issues.. Thankfully this car is a lease and I only have about 1.5 years left but I'm rather disappointed as I planned to purchase the new 2017 Fusion Sport and think I'm scared away at this point. I'll be taking the car to a different dealership this week.

 

Any similar experiences out there?

[cs51762]

Add me to the list. 2013 2.5L SE.

[WCKD-L8]

Hey all,

 

My '13 Fusion SE 2.0 Ecoboost just suffered some sort of catastrophic transmission failure at 54k miles last Thursday. Dealership hasn't been able to locate the cause of the issue as of yet.

 

I had a some harsh shifts here and there in the past year and half of owning the car, but nothing consistent. I noticed it happened most frequently when using the paddles to drop a gear while in traffic. This was the case when it finally "let go"... afterward, it was as though it was stuck in 5th gear. After going from park to drive, the transmission would seem to be stuck in neutral and then just SLAM into gear. The gear it would go into seemed to be 5th again, because it felt like I was trying to drive out of quicksand.

 

The dealership reported to me that the codes found in the computer have nothing in common with a transmission issue. It seems that they have exhausted all ideas and are now to the point of removing the transmission after the tech reported hearing something "clunking" inside. But because they don't know for sure it's a powertrain issue which should be warrantied, I could be on the hook for a $1800+ diagnostic bill if the problem isn't found in the transmission (and even more to keep looking for the problem I'm sure!!!).

 

I'm beyond frustrated right now... but I will try to post what the final repair to this problem is so it may help others suffering from these issues.

[Adrian87]

I just bought a Fusion 2.0L and after searching the web have found this forum for the 2 to 3 rough shift. Hoping there will be a fix, starting to regret this purchase

[KSNukified]

Purchased a 14 Fusion with the 2.0 Ecoboost at ~41,000 miles and didn't not notice hard shifting till around 42,500 or so. Brought it into dealership and they replaced a selenoid, some gaskets, and updated the TCM, and told me to wait the 1,000 mile "learning period". So far shifting between 2nd and 3rd is smoother, but still some pull when it shifts. Hopefully their fix works

[wahwahwallace]

I bought at 2016 fusion back in 2015 and since 30k miles it has began to shift hard from 1st to 2nd. I think I will take mine in this week and let y'all know what they say.

[jonjf]

I just bought a 2016 titanium with the 2.0 ecoboost and I am having very hard shifts. Originally it was 1-2 and 2-3, I took the car in and they said it was missing a QUART of trans fluid, how's that possible?!?! Anyway, they refilled the system and the 1-2 shift is fine but the 2-3 shift is uncomfortably harsh. I am not happy. I cannot wait to go back to the chevy malibu, I owned two and they were much, much better cars.

[eGuru]

I just bought a 2016 titanium with the 2.0 ecoboost and I am having very hard shifts. Originally it was 1-2 and 2-3, I took the car in and they said it was missing a QUART of trans fluid, how's that possible?!?! Anyway, they refilled the system and the 1-2 shift is fine but the 2-3 shift is uncomfortably harsh. I am not happy. I cannot wait to go back to the chevy malibu, I owned two and they were much, much better cars.

 

Your 2016 should still be under warranty. Does the dealer say that the 2-3 shift harshness can't be fixed or is "normal"?

[fmcrews]

Any updates from anyone on this topic? I have a 2015 Titanium AWD I purchased CPO about 4 weeks ago and the thing shifts like crap. Feels like you're driving a manual with someone who has never driven before, clunky, slow to shift, bangs into gears - both upshifting and downshifting. Worst seems to be the 3-4 change, but almost every gear does it noticeably.

 

I had dropped it off at the dealership and mentioned the SSM for a similar issue that's been outlined, and they said that wasn't pertinent to my issue. They cleared the adaptive learning tables, checked the fluid and fluid level, and said everything is fine. When I had first dropped it off the tech "definitely knew what I was talking about" after driving it and seeing the shifts, when I was going to pick it up he suddenly no longer could feel what I was talking about. The reset of the adaptive shift tables helped a little, but it's still awful. I have 3 other 6F35 cars in the house, so I'm not taking any dealers BS "they're all like this" as an answer because they sure as hell aren't.

[George Lugo]

Hello,

I have a 2013 ford fusion titanium 2.0l

I'm getting the hard shifting at times, but I'm feeling the downshift from 2-1. Has anyone thought it might be a faulty transmission mount? 

On another note, if I'm going downhill and I press on the brake the transmission downshifts and rpms ramp very high somewhere around 4-5000 rpm until I hit the accelerator.

This forum is great information and I would appreciate any feedback.

[akirby]

The downhill braking is normal.   It’s helping you slow down the vehicle so you don’t have to overuse the brakes.   Although yours sounds a bit more aggressive.    Are you in S mode or D?

[Call Paul]

I see there has not been any new activity on this feed, but I'll add my two cents.  Bought my 13 brand new.  After a couple of months, I noticed the hard 2-3 shift.  Been to 3 different dealerships multiple times, they all reflash the module and tell me everything is just fine.  BS.  If you're thinking of buying a Ford, don't.  Like an earlier comment above, I really like the Fusion except for the hard shift which makes it extremely frustrating and embarrassing to drive while others are in the car.

[hkycards]

Reviving this thread.  I have a 2013 Titanium that just hit 90K.  I have been dealing with the hardshift since I bought it in 2014 with 21K on her.  Always have had the hard shift. I changed the tranny fluid at 60K.  It helped a little but this is definitely the hardest shifting car I have ever owned. 

You know what they say about Fords.Fix Or Repaired Daily or Found On Road Dead. 

 

Last Ford I'll buy.  I'm using this car for trade bate in the very near future.

[TheBlueConFusion]

Hey people, gonna add my 2 cents. Just bought a 2017 2.0L Fusion with 27k on it. Didn’t notice the harsh 2-3 shift till I got home. Felt like an idiot immediately. Probably going to take it to the dealer soon to find a fix. So apparently the problem has not been fixed yet.

 

side note: i have a 2.0L escape that shifts oh-so-smooth. Which makes me even more confused why the fusion has the problem.

 

love the rest of the car, but agree with the other comments, it’s borderline embarrassing when driving other people in the car.

[bbf2530]

1 hour ago, TheBlueConFusion said:

Hey people, gonna add my 2 cents. Just bought a 2017 2.0L Fusion with 27k on it. Didn’t notice the harsh 2-3 shift till I got home. Felt like an idiot immediately. Probably going to take it to the dealer soon to find a fix. So apparently the problem has not been fixed yet.

 

side note: i have a 2.0L escape that shifts oh-so-smooth. Which makes me even more confused why the fusion has the problem.

 

love the rest of the car, but agree with the other comments, it’s borderline embarrassing when driving other people in the car.

 

Hi TBCF. Not sure if you noticed the last reply in this thread was two years ago.

 

Is your car still within the 3 year/36,000 mile Bumper to Bumper Warranty? You are well below the 36,000 mile limit. So as you said, call to make a service appointment and let the Dealer properly diagnose and fix your car.

 

Let us know how you make out and good luck.

[Fordd]

Has anyone considered taking their Fusion to a competent independent transmission shop? All this consternation with Ford dealer service departments...

(Many extended warranties allow the owner to have their car repaired at any certified facility, not only the Ford dealer. A Ford dealer may sell a third party warranty.) 

 

Would appear the Sonnax Zip Kit is in order; https://www.sonnax.com/parts/3686-zip-kit 

 

Note: A fluid change will not address a mechanical or electronic control unit problem. The various transmission fluid additives may not hurt if the transmission has high miles and needs rebuilding/replacement, otherwise avoid them. 

 

Ford now recommends against performing a transmission "flush." Definitely avoid the retail oil change outfits. Therefore the dilution change method remains. 

I believe the 6F35 is equipped with a ATF thermostat, consequently the open the cooling line and let dirty fluid run into a pan while the new fluid is added may not be effective. 

 

I believe Ford recommends 150,000 mile service life for 6F35 LV-ATF. No idea how the Ford engineers arrived at that figure. 

A prudent owner would change the ATF at 30,000 miles. 

Capacity is 7.4 qts. A series of 3 drain and fill would leave about 1qt. of the existing fluid. 

 

I use and recommend Amsoil fluids. Prior to the implementation of the LV-ATF, Amsoil ATF was tested to 90,000 miles in non-severe service vehicles.  

 

Anyone can have their engine oil, coolant or ATF analyzed. 

 Oil Analyzers. 

About $35. 

[mikeyboy101]

Hello,

 

Sorry to revive the thread AGAIN, but I as well as probably quite a few others that come across this thread would really love to find an answer. I'm sadly becoming discouraged that there is even a fix.

 

I bought a 2013 Ford Fusion Titanium about 2, maybe 2 and a half years ago @ 61,000 miles. When I bought the car, I never really noticed a very heavy shift and needless to say I had purchased an aftermarket warranty on the car for up to 95,000 or 3 years whichever comes first. I'm currently at 103,000 miles.

 

From 61k -> 95k everything seemed pretty decent. At 90-92k I had to have a tensioner pully replaced, an air conditioner compressor replaced (both $1,300 total covered under the warranty thankfully), and the pesky wheel speed sensor which took a crap in the snow I believe the second winter I had it and lit up the dash like a Christmas tree (I was so upset and relieved to realize that fix only costs $100 @ fords dealerships).

 

Anyway long story short, warranty has run out and I am noticing very hard shifts between 1-2 and 2-3 now. I have taken it to fords dealership which usually does my oil changes for me, and asked them to diagnose this issue. We determined the CV Axel (or whatever it is somehow is connected to the transmission fluid, I'm not much knowledgeable on cars) was leaking the trans fluid and my trans fluid was low 2 quarts. They fixed that, and did a drain/refill on my transmission fluid. The shifting went away for maybe 4-7 days and then it come back.

 

I was fed up, so I took it to a local reputable transmission shop to diagnose if its a transmission issue. This shop had said he's confident its not a transmission issue, but more an engine miss at heavy throttle.

 

Now its back in the shop for a wheel bearing replacement and I asked them to really look into the shifting issue. I suggested to do a tune up and maybe change the sparks/wires/coil packs. The tech has said he sees no shifting issue except for once as it was going down a hill. I'm still pretty confused on this because it happens all of the time with me....  I start driving and my whole body gets jerked around when it shifts in those gears. This is where I am at now with this situation. Tomorrow they do the tune-up service hopefully depending on the overall cost and I will see if this fixes my issues. Any suggestions/information beyond what this post already has (which isn't too much other than to replace the transmission etc etc) would be extremely helpful.

[TheBlueConFusion]

On 3/5/2020 at 9:25 PM, bbf2530 said:

 

Hi TBCF. Not sure if you noticed the last reply in this thread was two years ago.

 

Is your car still within the 3 year/36,000 mile Bumper to Bumper Warranty? You are well below the 36,000 mile limit. So as you said, call to make a service appointment and let the Dealer properly diagnose and fix your car.

 

Let us know how you make out and good luck.

Hey guys,

 

Just as an FYI, took it to the shop, the dealership tech agreed I had hard shifting, sent the shift pressures and such to Ford. The response he received is that they are normal and within limits.

The hard shifting has yet to cause any problem besides being annoying to me, but seems there isn’t much you can do even with a warranty until Ford recognizes there is a problem.