jmatero

Hi All

I just got a call from Customer Care regarding my request for a buy-back or replacement. The request was denied.

Kudos to my Customer Care Rep for spending a significant amount of time looking into this. She admitted to me that she (SF Bay area) and Ford (US/Canada/Mexico) are now seeing a rash of 2011 Mustangs showing up at dealers with all of the problems we're experiencing. The Ford Tech Hotline informed her that this is no longer affecting a small number of vehicles. Rather, the clutch engagement, notchy/grinding shifting, and inability to shift into gear (not related to skip-shift) have now become regular, known, wide-spread issues affecting 2011 MT82 vehicles to varying degrees.

According to Customer Care and the Tech Hotline:
Ford now has a fix for the problem. The source of the problem is not the transmission, fluid, shifter, or shifter bushing. Ford has identified the 2011 CLUTCH ASSEMBLY as the source of the problem.

A problematic clutch assembly (which in our cars consists of the clutch plate, pressure plate, throw-out bearing, and pilot bearing) would explain the main issues described here including notchy shifting, grinding, unable to engage a gear (not related to the skip shift) and inconsistent clutch engagement. They also confirmed that despite what the owners manual lists, the correct fluid for these transmissions is, in fact, the thicker QS... NOT QDC. They did, in fact, test QDC in a number of cars (including mine) but this ending up being a temporary band-aid... and a negative affect is whining from the transmission.

Customer Care in SF has a meeting that includes the tech hotline and my Rep has committed to contacting me next week with a timeline for roll-out of the fix. She ALWAYS follows up with me.

To anyone out there contemplating changing fluids, adding friction modifier, and spending $$$ on shift kits and bushings in an attempt to fix shifting issues, I would recommend waiting until next week. I'll let you know as soon as I hear from Customer Care with a timeline. It would make perfect sense that, depending on how bad an owner's clutch is, a change to a lighter fluid may help. But based on my brand new transmission running QDC, the results are short lived.

This solution would also explain why our Russian friend, who installed an expensive after-market clutch, has reported his problems gone and he is running QS with no shifter modifications at last check. It would also explain why I'm on my 3rd clutch assembly... all the same part numbers... and it did nothing to improve engagement or shifting.

So to reiterate, it appears Ford is preparing to issue a fix that would involve installing an entirely new clutch assembly.

Stay tuned...:bigthumbsup

SD6

Wow thanks a lot for this update!!

ssimaniac

I hope it's a recall...

jmatero

Recalls are for safety-related issues. I suspect this will be in the form of a TSB.

ssimaniac

But it is a safety issue...

There are so many cases with different types of issues. My initial tran kept popping out of gear when accelerating! Crazy.

Either way, as long as they freaking fix it, I'd be happy.

Ltngdrvr

Does this go for V6 owners experiencing shift quality problems too?

jmatero

I agree, it is a safety issue. When you're trying to get out of the way and can't engage a gear, it's a problem. We'll just wait and see. There are about 10 reports to the NHTSA on this.

Yes, this fix will be for any 2011 Mustang with manual transmission... they have the same transmission... and share the clutch assembly problems.

jmatero

I would advise anyone with clutch or shifting issues... who hasn't already... to contact Ford Customer Care at 800.392.FORD.

1. Provide your VIN number and explain the problem you're having with the clutch and/or shifting.

2. Request a case number.

3. Ask to be notified directly when the fix is available.

4. Ask that your dealer arrange for a courtesy vehicle during the repair

stangfoeva

Last week I experienced the "inconsistent clutch engagement" issue. It actually caused me to stall out quite a few times.

Took it in to my dealer and I had a tech drive the car. No problems could be found and now I can drive the car just fine. Good thing I have this on record so when the fix does come I can be in and out!

Keep us informed!

jmatero

That's how my problems started. "Nothing wrong with it" was told. Then we drove a new one on the lot. Perfect

Tony Alonso

John, any mentions of running changes made for the 2012 Mustangs now starting to land?

SVTJayC

Ford loves to TSB these things. It gives you the fun of waiting around for the car to strand you before you can get it fixed. Went through this with the plastic manifold on my Thunderbird 4.6

jmatero

No, but based on what I have read, Ford only recently gave the go-ahead for sales (No explanation for the delay... and 2012 owners were pretty upset... but if it is at all related to this issue, it will be worth the wait.

cdynaco

Interesting...

I used to drive a Jensen-Healey/Lotus for years and had some of those issues during the first 20k - incl the day I drove it home from the Dealer. The root of the problem was that dang pilot bearing - it was a needle bearing cage and they would often bind the input shaft which caused balky shifting, failed shifts, syncrho noise, and ultimately synchro failure. (It was the Chrysler UK 4spd, not the later Getrag 5spd)

I finally quit fooling with it and replaced it with an oilite bronze bushing on the advice of an old machinist. Drove it over 100k and never had any further problems.

Wonder if...

Itravelalot

Does anyone know if they got it fixed in time for the 2012s, or will some of them be affected? Can anyone check to see if the assemblies are listed as being different?

Five Oh Brian

I am very hopeful that my very late-built '11 GT has a new & improved clutch already in it. It was the very last new '11 Mustang to arrive at our dealership, and only after a long delay. I have 400 miles on the car now, and so far the trans/clutch has been 100% perfect.

I nearly didn't buy a manual trans due to all the reported problems, but I know Ford will make good on any problems if they are widespread.

CHDS PNY

subscribed

i have been noticing grinding shifts lately, and since this is my first manual i figured it was me

also sometimes its hard to get into reverse

Overboost

I noticed a tough 1-2 and 2-3 shift, as well as really tough shifting in cold. Are you saying I should contact Ford with these issues?

mystickeith50

For the people having this problem at what mileage did it start for you. I got my car in June but only have 1900 miles on my car and haven't had a problem.

jfrullo

this is a bunch of crap the 5.0 qne the v6 have 2 different type of clutches and a common trans with different gears.and identical issues did ford come up with 2 bad clutch designes the same year.i have a late build (12/19/10) v6 with 800 miles notchey shifts from day one.no grinding yet but have had to double shift from second to first at the stop light a few times.i have yet to drive the car over 4000 rpm.so its not an issue of being hard on it.i have been driving manual cars since 1978 so its not a driver issue.i hope they fix this issue because the clutch is a ware item and not normlly covered under warranty and that is scary to think how much a flywheel clutch and pressure plate will cost us.