1sttimeexplorerowner
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- December 6, 2020
- Messages
- 203
- Reaction score
- 40
- City, State
- Tri-state
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2020 Explorer XLT
Let's do the poll. I have an ST. My 1-2 and 2-3 shifts kind of lurch into gear for me, except when applying very light throttle. Tune helps but it's not gone. Seems less noticeable in sport mode and when manual shifting. Mine is a very early build (6/19). Already had the PCM (and other modules) updated to current calibration. It was actually worse when I got it but trans learning has helped. I still would not call it smooth and what I find in the other cars I own (Q5, Miata). Dealer says it's shifting normally. I read with interest other threads re: transmission and you do have people complaining about it in other STs. Some have legitimate problems that need fixing though so I can't separate what is bad tuning and what is a defective transmission. I don't feel mine is defective because in every other respect, it performs as it should. When others are saying their transmission is perfect, I don't know if their's are really better, their driving style is different, or they come from past Fords and it feels "normal" for them. My previous 2015 BMW X1 was lurchy in the low shifts also but was completely transformed with aftermarket transmission tuning.
So the issue is also with ST's.
If the dealer says the shifting is normal, and YOU know it isn't, that is part of the issue overall. If i worked for a dealer as a salesman, or even a service writer or technician, i couldn't do the customer like that knowing something is wrong yet i'll blatantly lie in their face and say the explorer is performing the way it should.
Honestly that is what i really thought the first 1000 miles or so with owning my XLT. The issue is, i didn't drive much, and i still don't as i have other cars. Only have 5300 miles or so and i had it a full 12 months now. I really thought the trans had to learn, but usually learning takes maybe 100 miles at most, not thousands and thousands of miles. Once the new car feeling went away, which was like 3-4 months later, is when the quirks started to really annoy me.
Fast foward to today, i am almost annoyed to drive this car whenever i think there might be traffic. Back then when i had a manual daily, i did the same thing. Plan my trip, where ever that is, and also plan my route that way my commute is the smoothest. Don't have to worry about traffic, or crazy hills etc.
I got this EX and i'm finding myself doing the same thing. Leaving work a bit earlier so i can beat the traffic, or taking a different route which prevents me from doing excessive city driving. It is really bad.