Edmunds ranks full size trucks

Ford's 10 speed (the 10R-80) has been updated with far more robust parts, including the CDF drum (hub assy).

The new CDF drum is trouble free and prevents the bushing from moving out of position, exposing and covering fluid passageways and causing erratic operation. The updated drum features a lip at the top of the bushing, which secures it in place.

2022 vehicles and later feature the new CDF drum and many other improvements. If you are looking at a 2026 model year, those issues are 5 model years behind you.

NOTE: There are still reports in some 2024 model years, of clunky shifting, strange downshifts, and other issues related to programming. I've not experienced any of it. Since the transmission learns, I suspect the TCM memory needs to be cleared, a fluid change and learning drive needs to be performed.
 
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ctechbob said:
Yea, and the GM's aren't doing any better.
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That's simply not true. But I'm not getting in to a debate about it. The Ford transmission has design defects that is further "enhanced" by poor TCM management and programming.
I have owned BOTH-back to back. So-I think I have a little insight here.
 
Cujet said:
Ford's 10 speed (the 10R-80) has been updated with far more robust parts, including the CDF drum (hub assy).

The new CDF drum is trouble free and prevents the bushing from moving out of position, exposing and covering fluid passageways and causing erratic operation. The updated drum features a lip at the top of the bushing, which secures it in place.

2022 vehicles and later feature the new CDF drum and many other improvements. If you are looking at a 2026 model year, those issues are 5 model years behind you.

NOTE: There are still reports in some 2024 model years, of clunky shifting, strange downshifts, and other issues related to programming. I've not experienced any of it. Since the transmission learns, I suspect the TCM memory needs to be cleared, a fluid change and learning drive needs to be performed.
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Why did my 2022 10R80 sh*t the bed then?
The dealer said my original did NOT have the updated CDF drum but my replacement does.
My new warranty transmission was put in and I finally got my car back in February 2025. The 2025 transmission seems to be having issues also. It doesn’t always upshift. Sometimes hard shifts also.
 
Number_35 said:
@bdcardinal, is Ford still bad for discontinuing parts after just a few years?
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Ford is worse than that (I currently own four Ford trucks/ SUVs).

Ford does so many little revisions to so many of its parts, it is hard to have part availability, and even get the part "right".

An example I came across in the past 24 hours. RockAuto shows two different front fenders for 2017-2022 Ford F250/F350 (four in total in counting both driver and passenger side. What I discovered is a dually F350 has different front fenders than non dually F350s. This is not widely known, and quite possibly unnecessary as is many of Ford's crazy part challenges. I am quite sure Toyota engineers would have figured a way for not needing a different front fender between a single rear wheel and a dual rear wheel full size pickup trucks.

Who the heck is approving this craziness at Ford?
 
The two authors of the article are writers. Neither are engineers, technicians, or race car team members. Would not surprise me if both the authors still live in their parents basement. Many critical items for the article are missing. Where is the interview of truck owners that use their trucks for work, and the input of the information from truck owners.

Doesn't take much to be a "subject matter expert" today, except maybe spell check and google search engine.

Supplementally, I was very impressed by the simplicity and serviceability of GM's current full size pickups. Seemed the two authors never considered serviceability as part of their review but instead focused on screen size and the like.
 
GON said:
The two authors of the article are writers. Neither are engineers, technicians, or race car team members. Would not surprise me if both the authors still live in their parents basement. Many critical items for the article are missing. Where is the interview of truck owners that use their trucks for work, and the input of the information from truck owners.

Doesn't take much to be a "subject matter expert" today, except maybe spell check and google search engine.

Supplementally, I was very impressed by the simplicity and serviceability of GM's current full size pickups. Seemed the two authors never considered serviceability as part of their review but instead focused on screen size and the like.
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One of the car magazines back in the day used to rate serviceability/accessibility - how easy was it to change oil and filter, spark plugs, and air filter? How many grease fittings were there, and were they accessible? How easy was it to change the fan belt? I liked that.

Agreed, modern reviews are way too focused on screen size, phone connectivity, and soft-touch plastic parts.
 
Mtnbiker said:
Why did my 2022 10R80 sh*t the bed then?
The dealer said my original did NOT have the updated CDF drum but my replacement does.
My new warranty transmission was put in and I finally got my car back in February 2025. The 2025 transmission seems to be having issues also. It doesn’t always upshift. Sometimes hard shifts also.
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FORD also said my 2022 didn’t have the updated CDF drum.
 
I bought my 21 Ram 2500 new. I drove a comparable Chevrolet. The Chevy was fine, but the Ram seemed to ride better, also the ram had a 4:10 rear, Chevy had a 3:73 only.
Also the 4wd on the ram is a shift lever in the floor, not a push button.
I had electronic problems with my avalanche going into 4wd.

So I chose Ram. Ford was not in the choice with the AL bed.
 
Mtnbiker said:
Why did my 2022 10R80 sh*t the bed then?
The dealer said my original did NOT have the updated CDF drum but my replacement does.
My new warranty transmission was put in and I finally got my car back in February 2025. The 2025 transmission seems to be having issues also. It doesn’t always upshift. Sometimes hard shifts also.
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It does seem there were some 2022's that used the old parts. As you might expect, Ford won't say and the information is inferred.

As always, reset the TCM, make sure you have fresh fluid and perform a drive cycle, should help. It is good to know that the 10R-80 is a heavy duty transmission with 6 clutches and 4 planetary gearsets, designed for high torque applications. Shifting is not expected to be ultra smooth like might be experienced in a ZF-8HP, due to the way it is configured to achieve 10 forward speeds.
 
bdcardinal said:
No more than any other manufacturer. There are parts for my 2014 Mustang and 2007 F-350 that are disco duck, same with my 2003 Silverado.
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https://share.google/kpJQfJXFZJs3BBcN6

This is the story that had scared me off Ford. I can't believe that was from nine years ago.

It sounds like Ford has gotten better about maintaining a parts supply for out-of-warranty vehicles since then.

My Mazda dealer had no problem getting parts for our '97 MPV right to the end (December 2018).

Edit: In 2009 a friend had a Ford Windstar (MY 1998 if I recall correctly). The throttle cable broke and was no longer available from Ford. There was no aftermarket supply. The local wreckers cut them when they pulled the engine.

He got a shop to weld the cable. 😳
 
Cujet said:
It does seem there were some 2022's that used the old parts. As you might expect, Ford won't say and the information is inferred.

As always, reset the TCM, make sure you have fresh fluid and perform a drive cycle, should help. It is good to know that the 10R-80 is a heavy duty transmission with 6 clutches and 4 planetary gearsets, designed for high torque applications. Shifting is not expected to be ultra smooth like might be experienced in a ZF-8HP, due to the way it is configured to achieve 10 forward speeds.
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I understand you’re trying to be diplomatic
List of the latest 6 failures known for now:

If you learn better by visual and audio I have provided below links to such videos.

If you learn better by reading I Also below have provided my somewhat condensed version of the videos and information I found.

LIST OF LINKS:













When it comes to Ford 10R80 failure points, a Instructor at SIU, and a couple others I found, describes weak points for your Ford 10R80 and GM 10L80 10-speed to behave erratically and eventually fail.

CDF Drum. In earlier versions of the 10R80, a poorly designed bushing inside the CDF Drum slides out of position, allowing a Teflon seal to fail, resulting in pressure loss.
  1. Outer Shell Problems. The 10R80’s outer shells are made of aluminum, which is softer than the steel used to make the transmission’s various clutches. Sometimes these clutches stick into the divots in the outer shell, causing weird shifts.
  2. Valve Body. Valve bodies are what control the physical shifting in an automatic transmission. But if too much fine metallic contamination collects in the valve body, they behave out of spec. Which is why Dunsford always recommends replacing valve bodies anytime a 10R transmission is rebuilt.
  3. (In the 10R80, planetary gear sets and the one-way clutch are vital for maintaining smooth gear shifts and appropriate gear ratios. Deficiencies in these components can lead to improper shifting or transmission failures. A faulty one-way clutch might cause skipping of gears or failure to hold power in specific gears.

Friction clutches also play a role in this system, and their wear can exacerbate these issues. Keeping an eye on gear shifting behavior can alert you to early signs of these problems. Repairing or replacing these components early can prevent costly overhauls. From: https://cartipsdaily.com/10r80-transmission-problems )

Another gentleman and his background:
https://www.f150forum.com/f118/unique-10r80-problem-solutions-experiences-options-566008/

I’ve done a lot of reading! And watching of videos about the many problems, poorly built and design issues with the 10R80/10L80 transmission. There are multiple multiple threads and forums about how horrible these transmissions are.
Again, why did I win my lawsuit against Ford if it is such a great transmission.
Why do people have to wait months and years to get their transmission replaced? I recently communicated with a police officer (private truck) that even paif for all the extended warranties on his truck and it took them five years to finally agree to replace his transmission.

I can supply other videos and information about the horrible 10 speed transmission at Ford and Chevy made together.
 
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Cujet said:
It does seem there were some 2022's that used the old parts. As you might expect, Ford won't say and the information is inferred.

As always, reset the TCM, make sure you have fresh fluid and perform a drive cycle, should help. It is good to know that the 10R-80 is a heavy duty transmission with 6 clutches and 4 planetary gearsets, designed for high torque applications. Shifting is not expected to be ultra smooth like might be experienced in a ZF-8HP, due to the way it is configured to achieve 10 forward speeds.
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Resetting the TCM only helps for a certain period. You cannot make up for inherent design issues with a TCM reset. Shifting is not smooth-it's terrible. But yet-the GM ten speed shifts so much better. IF both transmissions share the same hard parts-it must be all in the programming.
 
Number_35 said:
https://share.google/kpJQfJXFZJs3BBcN6

This is the story that had scared me off Ford. I can't believe that was from nine years ago.

It sounds like Ford has gotten better about maintaining a parts supply for out-of-warranty vehicles since then.

My Mazda dealer had no problem getting parts for our '97 MPV right to the end (December 2018).

Edit: In 2009 a friend had a Ford Windstar (MY 1998 if I recall correctly). The throttle cable broke and was no longer available from Ford. There was no aftermarket supply. The local wreckers cut them when they pulled the engine.

He got a shop to weld the cable. 😳
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So there is no "10 year rule/law" as far as parts being required to be available. That started as an internal GM guideline decades ago. Parts have to be available throughout the warranty period and then beyond that it is based on demand and profitability to still produce/supply the part. Then you have other issues where the vendor that makes the part went under. Or we are seeing a lot of 7.3, 6.0, and 6.4 Powerstroke parts start being supplied by other vendors since Ford and International Navistar had their falling out. Mazda was famous for not making stuff obsolete, but we are seeing it more and more now.
 
bdcardinal said:
So there is no "10 year rule/law" as far as parts being required to be available. That started as an internal GM guideline decades ago. Parts have to be available throughout the warranty period and then beyond that it is based on demand and profitability to still produce/supply the part. Then you have other issues where the vendor that makes the part went under. Or we are seeing a lot of 7.3, 6.0, and 6.4 Powerstroke parts start being supplied by other vendors since Ford and International Navistar had their falling out. Mazda was famous for not making stuff obsolete, but we are seeing it more and more now.
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I think there may have been a 10-year law here for orphan cars. I heard about this when Suzuki withdrew from the Canadian market c. 2009.

I understand that Ford is under no legal obligation to provide parts beyond the warranty period, but also think it's a poor business decision. Most of my cars have been older, and I would not consider buying a vehicle for which parts are not, or will not, be available. That must hurt resale value, and, to an extent, new sales.
 
Mtnbiker said:
This article claim makes no sense RAM and Chrysler and Dodge are the same company.
It’s like claiming GM or GMC or Chevy are three different companies.
I hope ram/Chrysler/Dodge make the best truck in the world, far better than all the rest!
Do they in reality? I don’t know.
Let’s be real the bar is very low.
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The article (jalopnik) is kinda poor reporting, but JD Power did the rankings on the half tons.

In the end though, "ram" "chrysler" "dodge" is all the same thing really. They use the same engines (hemi, pentastar, hurricane), same transmission (zf 8 speed) and probably share many other components (like uconnect) where ever possible.

I don't really feel one brand is necessarily on top of the other 2 when it comes to American trucks, you basically pick your poison and hope for the best, many of us don't experience any issues regardless of brand.
 
These days unless I’m proven otherwise I think Ram trucks may be better than the Ford and the Chevy. But generally for the longest time, my impression has been that Chrysler/Dodge/ram products have been far behind the other two.
I know the ZF8 transmissions for better than the 10 speed that Ford and GM have.
I don’t know about the electrical or chassis of the trucks.
 
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