Looking for opinions from anyone familiar with the Ford 10R80 transmission
Looking for opinions from anyone familiar with the Ford 10R80 transmission, torque converter shudder, driveline vibrations, or dealership warranty situations.
Truck:
2023 Ford F-150 XL STX
2.7L EcoBoost
10-speed automatic (10R80)
Background:
I purchased the truck used from AutoNation. Shortly after buying it, I brought it back under their 90-day limited warranty because the truck would violently shake/vibrate around 65–70 mph.
Important detail:
Prior to the transmission rebuild, the truck did NOT have:
idle vibrations
pulsing sensations
steering wheel/floorboard/gas pedal vibrations
or general drivability vibrations outside of the original highway-speed issue.
They diagnosed internal transmission issues and performed a major transmission overhaul/rebuild. According to the paperwork they replaced:
CDF hub
planetary cylinder
main control assembly
seals/pistons/filter
fluid
The transmission was removed and rebuilt, but the torque converter was NOT replaced.
Immediately after getting the truck back from the rebuild, I noticed entirely new vibration symptoms that were never present before:
rhythmic/pulsing vibration at idle
vibration through floorboard, gas pedal, seat, and steering wheel
vibration while accelerating
gets significantly worse after driving 20–30 minutes once fully warmed up
strongest around highway speeds under load/throttle
vibrations become uncomfortable after longer drives
I took it back multiple times. One Ford dealer said they could not duplicate it. An independent shop (Expert Automotive in Jacksonville) road tested it with me twice and documented:
vibration reproduced
gets worse once transmission reaches operating temp
no obvious driveshaft/u-joint/pinion/carrier bearing issues found
suspicion of torque converter related issue/shudder after rebuild
They recommended:
fluid exchange + shudder fix additive
if no improvement, remove transmission and replace torque converter
AutoNation’s GM responded saying the torque converter was not replaced during the rebuild and therefore is not technically a “warrantied part,” but they are willing to inspect the truck again.
My concerns:
none of these new vibrations existed prior to the rebuild
symptoms began immediately after transmission work
issue has progressively worsened
I’m worried about paying thousands for teardown/labor on something that appears directly related to the rebuild timeline
Questions:
Does this sound like classic 10R80 torque converter shudder?
Would adding shudder fix / fresh ULV fluid be worth trying first?
Could a reused converter realistically develop issues after a rebuild?
Would you push harder on dealer goodwill/warranty in this situation?
Is there anything else I should have checked before authorizing teardown?
Appreciate any advice from transmission techs or anyone who’s dealt with similar Ford driveline vibration issues.