08 Sable transmission screwed up

Anyone else have this issue??

Bought this car in July with about 21K miles. It is the wife's car so i don't get to drive it that much but when I did, I noticed a pretty good delay/slip between upshifts, especially 1st to 2nd. Also, when it completed it's shift, it often seems to cut engine power for a moment, like a hesitation. Another issue was harsh up/down shifts when slowing down and then giving it gas again, like when taking a corner. It also rolls backwards in gear on slight inclines.

So we brought it to the dealer the other day and they "reprogrammed" the computer per a supposed TSB. I drove it home and noticed it was shifting a litttle quicker but more harshly. And that obnoxious hesitation/momentary loss of power was still present. As I continued home, it seemed to shift even harder. This is all during the 1st to 2nd shift. After an hour or so, I took it back out and it seemed to be shifting better......

But the next morning, I took it out and the 1st to 2nd shift was like waiting for paint to dry! HUGE engine flare-up and still that power drop once the shift was made. As it warms up, it seems to get better but its still not right.

I'm starting to suspect internal damage/wear. It WAS a rental car before we bought it. Coulda been beat to hell. I examined the trans dipstick and the fluid didn't look discolored and didn't smell burnt. It's still under warranty so it's going back either way but I just wanted to see if there is any info you guys may have on this before I take it back and get "that's normal" from the dealer. Thanks!

Our 2008 Sable here and there would shift hard dealer performed tsb/reflash seems fine at this point in time.

You've got a warranty.

As I mentioned above, I realize that. Just like to get as much info as possible when dealing with dealers.

Not much they can do except reflash it. Or give you a line of BS. If it still shifts like SH*t, then have the dealer put a NEW tranny in it. Except NO ifs, ands or buts from the dealer. They HAVE to warrant the NEW tranny for at least 12mos/12k miles if not longer.

New, used or remanufactured transmissions are NOT suppose to shift that way.

Since you bought yours used, you can rest assure the dealer doesn't sell his NEW cars that way?

I still have aways to go on the factory warranty plus we bought an extended (not something I usually do but now I'm thinking it might have been a good choice by the looks of things).

If they try to claim it's normal, I'll ask to drive another one on the lot to prove this is so.

BTW, is the six speed in the earlier 05-07 D3's the same as the 08+?? Thanks...

No the 05-07 six speeds were made by Aisin. I think the 08's and newer are the joint venture 6 speed tranny between Ford and GM? We had an Aisin 6 speed fail on our 05 Montego at 97,000 but we had an extended warranty. So all we paid was $100.00 of a total bill that was at least $7,000!! New tranny alone was $5441.00 not including labor, etc. Change fluid every 30k regardless of what the dealer says. Remember the Aisin's came out with the first recommended service interval from Ford at 150,000 miles. Ours didn't make it even with factory Ford service. Our tranny was downshifting very harsh, sometime loud clunking from 4th to 3rd gear.

5400 just for the trans??!!! Good god, lol. I had wondered what a fancy six speed auto would cost but I was guessing "only" 3K at the most.

Fine. Yours is the first '08, or '09, transmission complaint that we've heard here (that I can recall). A good dealer should be able to take care of it.

Wishful thinking Netty.

The Dealers are at the mercy of the Manufactures. What they say goes. Not what the owner or dealer thinks is right or demand...

HUH???

With what you said, Why would anyone buy any product?

It's not just Ford, they all set the rules. Both Foreign and Domestic.

It's the way it works today... Buyer Beware.

BS!!! Then why is a warranty even offered? Why have Lemon laws?

Don't ask me. I just turn the wrenches and get paid half of what Dealer Techs should make.
Take your fight to the top of the food chain and ask what is going on and has been for ten years running.
It's an ugly scene. Start at the top and work down. It won't take you long to figure out what happened.

I respect Texans for speaking out but sometimes they don't look at the whole picture.

RS (A knucklehead from the NE).

Huh? lol....