My 83 Caprice had a TH250C when I bought it with 160k miles. I replaced it with a 220k mile 2004R almost immediately for the extra fuel mileage. The 250 shifted a little weird but otherwise seemed okay. It's possible it was rebuilt at some time, who knows.
Longest lasting OEM Automatic transmissions?
- Thread starter LenZee
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I realize that
, but I thought that maybe an industry insider (e.g. someone in Ford engineering), may have indicated the proposed service life of the unit - (not that it means that the transmission will reach Ford's intended goal, but, at least we would have an idea). Regarding automatic transmissions: I have a really bad taste in my mouth, because of the high failure rate of some car transmissions. Lately, the material that I have been reading, lends me to believe that truck transmissions have a far longer service life.
I am also happy to hear that Toyota's transmissions fare well. There's a rumor that Hyundai picked up a lot of (former) Toyota engineers; I wonder how Hyundai's newer units are.
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Onto a completely different note: does anyone see the ten speed configuration as being ridiculous? I certainly do; the gear ratio's are so close together, it has me wondering if the ten speed configuration is more a "numbers boasting" game (e.g. "our unit has ten speeds, yours only has nine).
It doesn't make sense that some trucks, which are pulling 53' trailers, can make due with six speed gearboxes, but a Ranger needs a ten speed? Granted...it's been a few years since I have been behind the wheel of a tractor; I am sure that things have evolved, but...
I realize that
Regarding automatic transmissions: I have a really bad taste in my mouth, because of the high failure rate of some car transmissions. Lately, the material that I have been reading, lends me to believe that truck transmissions have a far longer service life.
I am also happy to hear that Toyota's transmissions fare well. There's a rumor that Hyundai picked up a lot of (former) Toyota engineers; I wonder how Hyundai's newer units are.
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Onto a completely different note: does anyone see the ten speed configuration as being ridiculous? I certainly do; the gear ratio's are so close together, it has me wondering if the ten speed configuration is more a "numbers boasting" game (e.g. "our unit has ten speeds, yours only has nine).
It doesn't make sense that some trucks, which are pulling 53' trailers, can make due with six speed gearboxes, but a Ranger needs a ten speed? Granted...it's been a few years since I have been behind the wheel of a tractor; I am sure that things have evolved, but...
It's about gas mileage. The 8 speed in our Jetta shifts through the gears quickly keeping the revs low and in the torque band. Brisk acceleration and stellar gas mileage.
And it's fun to drive. Big time fun.
I did a big road trip this June - 3,100 miles in a 2019 Camry. It was the 2.5l I4 with the 8-speed. Other just off the line, it was a joy to drive. Even at high speeds and loaded, it would turn in 36 to 38 mpgs. While it's an impressive 2.5l mill, the transmission and tuning made you think it was even more.
I would be totally enthused with a newer multi-speed transmission from a reputable maker.
I have read horror stories on how Toyota tuned the 8 speed in the Camry, Rav4 and Highlander.
No idea about the Rav4 and Highlander, Sienna, etc.. But an example: My mom had a 2011 Rav4 as a company car for three years; she could not WAIT to get rid of it because of the transmission tuning/programming (it was quite bad everyone agreed) -but the same transmission in another vehicle could be mated well. It was her last car before retirement and I recall at her company retirement party c.2013/2014 she commented aside at one point how pleased she was to turn over the keys for that Rav4 (and my mom is NOT a "car" person...). 
In the 2019 Camry the performance was excellent for touring; I didn't use it for daily commuting/traffic so can't comment there but I noticed nothing amiss in the occasional traffic jams I encountered in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, eastern and coastal Oregon, and the Olympic Peninsula this June (e.g. - none).
I have heard of people unhappy with them, but I didn't experience this and I drove the car hard, all day, in various road conditions, for days on end. It's a sample size of one so I can't argue against other people's experience. FWIW, car was a 2019 Camry 2.5l, had 27k on it and I subsequently put 3.1k more on it in a 10 day period. No complaints (with the transmission) other than I felt it really needed a taller 1st gear for standing starts. If you were not an intelligent driver, you could kick it down very easily (like, three gears) and then wonder why it was revving and snarling. So it does require someone who either drives gently all the time, or knows what they are doing and what they have under their right foot. Overall, I was impressed. Also I've done a lot of miles in all conditions, and on some of those same roads, in Lexus with Aisin U-series transmissions (mainly the 5's) so knew what in general to expect.
In the 2019 Camry the performance was excellent for touring; I didn't use it for daily commuting/traffic so can't comment there but I noticed nothing amiss in the occasional traffic jams I encountered in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, eastern and coastal Oregon, and the Olympic Peninsula this June (e.g. - none).
I have heard of people unhappy with them, but I didn't experience this and I drove the car hard, all day, in various road conditions, for days on end. It's a sample size of one so I can't argue against other people's experience. FWIW, car was a 2019 Camry 2.5l, had 27k on it and I subsequently put 3.1k more on it in a 10 day period. No complaints (with the transmission) other than I felt it really needed a taller 1st gear for standing starts. If you were not an intelligent driver, you could kick it down very easily (like, three gears) and then wonder why it was revving and snarling. So it does require someone who either drives gently all the time, or knows what they are doing and what they have under their right foot. Overall, I was impressed. Also I've done a lot of miles in all conditions, and on some of those same roads, in Lexus with Aisin U-series transmissions (mainly the 5's) so knew what in general to expect.
True, but if you look at the ratio spreads in most transmissions, a ten speed configuration is needlessly expensive; a six speed unit is sufficient for most.
I have never, ever had a bit of trouble out of the Ford A4LD or it's subsequent variants. Supposed to be terrible, but I've literally never replaced anything but fluid and filter and never had one shift bad. My 1997 Explorer is the first one I know the trans has been changed on because it has an add on external filter near the cooler. I really think my 94 Explorer had the original trans (at Copart due to wreck if anyone wants a 257k A4LD that shifts like new, also perfect t-case), and I know my 02 Ranger does. Also my 95 Explorer had the original trans, but rust ruined the truck at 158k. Anyway, in my experience they are fantastic transmissions. I hope the rebuilt trans in my 97 will meet expectations...the thing has been driven all over central AL since it got traded in at a Dodge dealer out in the sticks. If it's run and drive, these dirt lots will drive it back from the auction without a second thought.
Our 4T65-E just expired at about 240K miles. It had a fluid and filter change at 55K. I guess that's pretty good.
I had bad luck with all (literally) the first-generation Ford, GM and Chrysler 4 speed overdrive transmissions, much better luck with the previous 3 speeds and the later 4 speeds once they got the kinks worked out of them. I haven't had a transmission fail in under 200K since the 90's.
I had bad luck with all (literally) the first-generation Ford, GM and Chrysler 4 speed overdrive transmissions, much better luck with the previous 3 speeds and the later 4 speeds once they got the kinks worked out of them. I haven't had a transmission fail in under 200K since the 90's.
Old news from 2017-18 era. All of those issues were resolved with software.
Hmm, I am still reading complaints from 2019 models. This is one reason why I scratched the Camry off our shopping list.
I think you are referring to T-SB-0152-19 (with a few revisions) for the 18 Camry and some 19's. It is VIN specific. The fix is purely software for correcting complaints related to shift behavior.
I am not being condescending in my tone when I ask this, but how do you figure that a ten speed unit doesn't cost that much more to produce than a six speed unit?
You’re good, it doesn’t come off like that. Awhile back I compared new/remanufactured OEM prices online and they’re within a few hundred of each other. I remember a few people on a few mopar groups online saying the same thing regarding the 65RFE vs the 8hp70, 65RFE was $2,600-$3,600, 8hp70 is $2,300-$2,900.
You have gotta be kidding me; that's the surprise of the century.
Thanks for taking the time to educate me
I know there is a guy on the Ram Forums that has over 500k miles on a 1500 with the ecodiesel and a zf. He's changed the fluid in it a few times but never had any issues. Delivers airstream campers for a living with it.
Appreciate the reply.
That ZF 8 speed unit has garnered a lot of respect; my next truck will likely be a 1500 Classic.
Subaru's auto was rock solid.
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