Questions from potential new owner

[Inkara1]

Good morning --

I'm possibly joining the Ranger family, looking at a 2020 Lariat SCrew 4x2. My dad has a 2019 Lariat SCab 4x2 that he likes a lot.

I do have a few questions to ask a wider group of owners. Yes, it's about the transmission, but searching here and elsewhere hasn't quite answered what I'm looking for.

The 2020 has 63,000 miles, so *just* out of powertrain warranty and too late to get the Ford or Grainger ESPs. I'm extremely wary about warranties purchased at the dealer after I spent $4K on one for my current truck (Ram 1500), and when I went to use it, found out the dealer canceled it 6 months after purchase and didn't tell me or refund me or the lender, so I was out that $4K plus $6K for the self-destructing A/C. (Been trying to get my money back for over a year when I have time.)

What is the actual likelihood of getting stuck with a $7K transmission bill in the next few years?

Is there something to look for on the test drive? Some driving situation I should create to have a symptom show itself?

Does 4x4 or 4x2 make a difference on failure rate?

Is there something I can do for preventative maintenance to lessen or eliminate the likelihood of getting stranded? The deeper aluminum pan, new fluid/filter, adding Lubegard, etc.?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. I'd prefer the Ranger over a 2018 Tacoma V6 for the same price because the Ranger is more comfortable, has a lot more features, gets better gas mileage and is less expensive to insure, but I also would be in a world of hurt with a catastrophic transmission failure.

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[Chris M]

I would watch for unnecessarily harsh shifts in 3-4-5 and 8th gears, as well as into and out of reverse. There can also be a weak-ish shudder at take off in 1st gear.

 

[Inkara1]

Will those show up when it's warmed up? I'm driving a long distance for the test drive at a set appointment, so I'm sure I won't get a chance to try a cold startup.

 

[Chris M]

Will those show up when it's warmed up? I'm driving a long distance for the test drive at a set appointment, so I'm sure I won't get a chance to try a cold startup.

Mine randomly did all that crap, cold or warm made no real difference.

 

[Trustable]

I would say the likelihood is more than 50%, imo it’s a big risk but for others it may not be. For me, if I knew about the transmission issues, I would never have bought this truck. I’ve already had it rebuilt once, but because they didn’t do the CDF drums the symptoms have already reappeared after 1k miles.

I think the only thing you can do to avoid being stranded is having it rebuilt with new CDF drums before it fails, maybe it will be cheaper? I don’t think anything you do besides that will provide a permanent fix.

 

[RedlandRanger]

We have had reports of transmissions failing very early (< 20k miles) and reports of trucks with well over 100k on them with no issues - and everything in between. It is hard to say what the odds are, but I would say that the higher the mileage, the higher the chance. The biggest thing you can do to prevent issues is frequent fluid changes with lubeguard platinum - it isn't going to fix everything but having clean fluid will help a great deal. You will want to buy a FitzStick to check and fill the transmission - https://mikesbuildshop.com - it is what it should have come from the Factory with.

These transmissions do NOT like to be cold-the fluid does not flow well when cold. Mine has been wonky since day 1 when it is cold. I now usually warm it up for 30 seconds or so before taking off on cold days and that has helped a great deal. Once warm, it works well for me.

For me, my truck is paid off, so I'm not too worried about the transmission - the repair bill for that would probably be what I'd end up paying if I ended up buying a new truck, so I figure it isn't worth worrying about. 6 1/2 years and 62,000 miles and haven't had any issues. It has been a GREAT truck for me.

 

[Mighty Little Blue]

Good morning --

I'm possibly joining the Ranger family, looking at a 2020 Lariat SCrew 4x2. My dad has a 2019 Lariat SCab 4x2 that he likes a lot.

I do have a few questions to ask a wider group of owners. Yes, it's about the transmission, but searching here and elsewhere hasn't quite answered what I'm looking for.

The 2020 has 63,000 miles, so *just* out of powertrain warranty and too late to get the Ford or Grainger ESPs. I'm extremely wary about warranties purchased at the dealer after I spent $4K on one for my current truck (Ram 1500), and when I went to use it, found out the dealer canceled it 6 months after purchase and didn't tell me or refund me or the lender, so I was out that $4K plus $6K for the self-destructing A/C. (Been trying to get my money back for over a year when I have time.)

What is the actual likelihood of getting stuck with a $7K transmission bill in the next few years?

Is there something to look for on the test drive? Some driving situation I should create to have a symptom show itself?

Does 4x4 or 4x2 make a difference on failure rate?

Is there something I can do for preventative maintenance to lessen or eliminate the likelihood of getting stranded? The deeper aluminum pan, new fluid/filter, adding Lubegard, etc.?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. I'd prefer the Ranger over a 2018 Tacoma V6 for the same price because the Ranger is more comfortable, has a lot more features, gets better gas mileage and is less expensive to insure, but I also would be in a world of hurt with a catastrophic transmission failure.

If you will be worried about it, maybe look into a 2023 or newer model. Would cost more, but you mentioned a warranty for the 2020 if it was available so that might even the cost some. I have a 2021 Lariat with 22k hard miles on transmission, mostly offroad only issue was 1 coil pack.
If you go with the 2020 I would do fluid and filter change with Lubegard as mentioned. Did mine at 20k and will do every 15 to 20k.
Not sure of model years, but early ones had heater box issues also. Might want to see if that has been changed or not.

 

[Burnt Money]

Here is my take on the 5G Ranger. I bought mine in October of 2020 with 24 miles on it. At 5k miles I installed the Livernois tune. Changed oil every 5k miles. Changed the differentials and transfer case at around 45k miles I think and have been doing them yearly since. Changed the transmission fluid and filter plus added lube guard around 80k miles. Also added the Fitzstick. I’m currently at 99,000 trouble free miles minus changing out the 20 dollar part from bucking/surging epidemic thread. I tow my boat year around. Towed on 1,000 mile trips twice. Drive down rutted out dirt roads all the time. Drug people out of mud holes. Been through deep water and all kinds of stuff. I honestly thought I ripped the front suspension off twice hitting ruts. I may have got a good one but it has been awesome and never been in for a warranty issue.

 

[Joeiconic]

It’s an impossible question to answer with any degree of certainty. Given your concerns, I would buy a vehicle with an available warranty.

 

[RedlandRanger]

I’m currently at 99,000 trouble free miles minus changing out the 20 dollar part from bucking/surging epidemic thread. I tow my boat year around. Towed on 1,000 mile trips twice. Drive down rutted out dirt roads all the time. Drug people out of mud holes. Been through deep water and all kinds of stuff. I honestly thought I ripped the front suspension off twice hitting ruts. I may have got a good one but it has been awesome and never been in for a warranty issue.

Mine has been similar - My favorite time was when I pulled my friend in his full size Ram pickup up a hill in the snow - he was floored I was able to do that. I've pushed mine hard at times and it has never failed to do what I've asked of it - and I use it as a truck.

If you got a good one, I did too..... Mine was one of the early ones - about 4 months after they started building them.

 

[Canadian Ranger]

I'm either going to catch a lot of flak for suggesting this or I'm going to be a hero for suggesting this, but here goes nothing.......buy a current generation Frontier. If I was in the market, that's what I'd buy.

 

[Msfitoy]

Good morning --

I'm possibly joining the Ranger family, looking at a 2020 Lariat SCrew 4x2. My dad has a 2019 Lariat SCab 4x2 that he likes a lot.

I do have a few questions to ask a wider group of owners. Yes, it's about the transmission, but searching here and elsewhere hasn't quite answered what I'm looking for.

The 2020 has 63,000 miles, so *just* out of powertrain warranty and too late to get the Ford or Grainger ESPs. I'm extremely wary about warranties purchased at the dealer after I spent $4K on one for my current truck (Ram 1500), and when I went to use it, found out the dealer canceled it 6 months after purchase and didn't tell me or refund me or the lender, so I was out that $4K plus $6K for the self-destructing A/C. (Been trying to get my money back for over a year when I have time.)

What is the actual likelihood of getting stuck with a $7K transmission bill in the next few years?

Is there something to look for on the test drive? Some driving situation I should create to have a symptom show itself?

Does 4x4 or 4x2 make a difference on failure rate?

Is there something I can do for preventative maintenance to lessen or eliminate the likelihood of getting stranded? The deeper aluminum pan, new fluid/filter, adding Lubegard, etc.?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. I'd prefer the Ranger over a 2018 Tacoma V6 for the same price because the Ranger is more comfortable, has a lot more features, gets better gas mileage and is less expensive to insure, but I also would be in a world of hurt with a catastrophic transmission failure.

You have 32K miles before your tranny explodes...plenty of time to save up $7K...

 

[GMtech]

And, since you live in California, you would need to visit your local Ford dealership to purchase an extended warranty, you will not be able to buy one online. I know, I have tried!

 

[k1w1t1m]

One thing to consider is that here you will find enthusiasts and those that have come here to solve problems. There are many, many more Rangers out on the road racking up the miles with blissful owners.

 

[CATchris]

i bought mine at 43k miles, I have done oil changes every 5k miles with Valvoline, just recently did a flush and fill with lubegard platinum and the truck has been running great no complaints so far... i plan to do a filter, oil change on trans at 90k miles im currently at 76.5k. my bank offered me a service coverage plan (SFFCU) so i took it and now im covered until 143k miles with that being said the only reason i decided to get it was because i learned about the transmission issues after i bought it. Had i known about the issues with these transmissions i would have probably looked at something else. also with that said every truck has their own problems you could be trading transmission issues for engine issues or whatever.. i say do your maintenance oil changes every 5k... trans every 15-25k and i think itll last a good while ask them if the tsb's have been done as well... in addition to feeling out every gear... floor it a few times... put some load on it.

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