Transmission Models – Common Problems and Durability

The durability of modern transmissions is the number one question wise car buyers always ask themselves. But it's a huge mistake to ask yourself about it. You should ask someone knowledgeable about the longevity of a certain gearbox.

In this article, I will recap all the transmission models that we've reviewed on Cararac.com and give you prompt information about them. Also, each section will contain a couple of links for more information about the transmission you want to investigate.

I've reviewed all kinds of automatic and manual gearboxes from all over the world, so the article is going to be pretty long.

G56 transmission

G56 transmission was made by Mercedes-Benz but American buyers know it to be part of the Ram pickup truck family. This is the 6-speed manual transmission that can last as long as you want it to last and costs cheap to repair or replace.

This is actually the last manual transmission in Ra trucks - it was discontinued in 2018. The first implementation of the G56 model was noticed in 2005. This is probably one of the best heavy-duty manual transmissions you can ever find on the market. It powered Mercedes Atego and did a great job in this large truck.

G56 transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:350,000-500,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$700-$1,300
• Price for replacement:$3,500-$4,500
• Availability of parts:Good
• Common problems: Almost no serious problems registered.

46RE transmission

The 46RE model is a legendary Chrysler 4-speed automatic transmission produced between 1997 and 2003. It was exclusively used with the 5.9L Magnum engine.

The transmission is super simple in its construction - it just doesn't have anything to break and cause problems. Of course, the powerful engine with high torque still made this gearbox suffer, so the durability wasn't eternal.

Friction plates require replacement, otherwise, they will clog your transmission with waste very fast.

46RE transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:250,000-280,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:Seldom
• Price for repair after failure:$1,000-$1,800
• Price for replacement:$3,800-$5,000
• Availability of parts:Good
• Common problems: Friction plates wearing out, torque converter issues, wiring problems.

6R140 transmission

The 6R140 model is a Ford-made automatic transmission for heavy-duty use. It's implemented in large trucks and can be installed with various engines including the 6.7-liter diesel one.

The gearbox is overall good but it's killed by very high torque of heavy-duty engines, so it won't last forever. Friction plates wear out fast and fluid needs to be changed often. If not maintained, the transmission will choke itself in the waste from friction plates.

6R140 transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:180,000-210,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:Yes
• Price for repair after failure:$1,200-$1,800
• Price for replacement:$4,800-$6,000
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Overheating, friction plates wearing out, clogging if not maintained well.

4R75E transmission

The 4R75E transmission belongs to the huge AOD family of gearboxes made by Ford. The E letter in the name means that the transmission has electronic controls. The 4R75 model was made from 2002 to 2013 and powered a lot of Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln vehicles.

While the gearbox is pretty great, it has a lot of leaking options and it uses these options without any hesitation. So, the fluid level may drop and this will lead to overheating, jerking, and also friction plate wear.

4R75E transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:150,000-180,000 miles
• Reliability Score:Medium
• Prone to minor issues:Yes
• Price for repair after failure:$1,000-$1,300
• Price for replacement:$2,500-$4,000
• Availability of parts:Good
• Common problems: Leaking fluid, overheating, friction plates wear, premature failure.

5R55S transmission

While Ford was making the 5R55S transmission, the company continuously improved it and made it much more reliable. Actually, the fresher the year of this gearbox, the better the technology behind it. In 2011, the transmission was discontinued.

It was used in several Ford models including the Mustang. Also, Mazda, Mercury, Lincoln, and even Jaguar S-Type used this kind of transmission. It's not that durable and will require serious repairs at about 170,000 miles, but it will live without minor issues.

5R55S transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:150,000-170,000 miles
• Reliability Score:Medium
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$1,100-$1,400
• Price for replacement:$2,900-$4,200
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Afraid of aggressive driving, pump issues, torque converter solenoids getting clogged, afraid of overheating.

545RFE transmission

Chrysler introduced the 545RFE transmission in 2002 and used it up to 2011 in various cars of Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brands. The gearbox needs oil change pretty often which is not cheap, but other than that, it's a durable and reliable transmission with no serious problems.

Of course, it won't show a super long lifespan but you should compare it with some similar technologies and see that the 545RFE is much more durable than almost all of them. Post-2004 gearboxes are much better due to the new solenoid unit.

545RFE transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:200,000-220,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:Seldom
• Price for repair after failure:$1,000-$1,300
• Price for replacement:$3,200-$4,800
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Pump issues, friction plates aren't eternal, solenoids unit issues, control system problems.

45RFE transmission

The 45RFE transmission is the 4-speed automatic gearbox installed in several Dodge and Jeep vehicles between 1998 and 2003. This is a very simple and reliable transmission but, of course, it showed poor fuel economy because no one thought about this at the time it was engineered.

The transmission won't bother you with minor issues. Also, it can live quite long without fluid changes (although proper maintenance will enhance its life expectancy). And it's pretty cheap to repair as for the automatic transmission.

45RFE transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:220,000-240,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$800-$1,000
• Price for replacement:$2,400-$3,800
• Availability of parts:Good
• Common problems: Fluid pump issues, friction plates burning, solenoids aren't perfect, electronic control problems.

6F35 transmission

The 6F35 automatic transmission is the Ford-GM product (also known in GM cars as 6T50). The 6-speed transmission was used in a myriad of Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Mazda vehicles as well as in GM cars of all kinds. The last such transmission was installed in 2021 in the EcoSport.

The 2007-2012 model and post-2012 model are absolutely different. Though both are more or less good. To drive your vehicle long and see no troubles with the gearbox, you will need to change the fluid in this transmission at least once every 40,000 miles.

6F35 transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:190,000-210,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:Yes
• Price for repair after failure:$1,200-$1,600
• Price for replacement:$4,000-$5,000
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Fluid contamination, differential issues with 2.0L EcoBoost, wiring problems, overheating, electronic control problems.

4L80E transmission

This transmission is a real GM legend. It was first introduced in 1991 and survived up to 2014. The gearbox was used by various GM brands but, what's important, it was installed in Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, and even Bentley vehicles.

Just 4 speeds seem to be few but the flexibility of the 4L80E gearbox is superb. It could withstand almost any torque and power even after upgrades and tuning. That's why the 4L80E transmission is considered to be one of the best GM automatic gearboxes ever made by the company.

4L80E transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:230,000-250,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$900-$1,300
• Price for replacement:$2,500-$3,500
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Friction plates wear, overheating issues, high-mileage problems, fluid leaks.

700R4 (4L60) transmission

In 1982, the 700R4 transmission was introduced by GM. In 1990, this gearbox was renamed 4L60 in accordance with the new classification of GM transmissions. Almost no changes were made to the construction of the unit.

It was used up to 2014 in various vehicles and got several serious upgrades but the engineering idea is still the same - there is nothing that should be considered bad or unreliable. There are a ton of different models that used the 4L60E transmission and also its versions. I personally think this is one of the best GM gearboxes in history.

700R4 (4L60) transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:230,000-250,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$1,000-$1,400
• Price for replacement:$2,500-$3,700
• Availability of parts:Good
• Common problems: Solenoid issues, friction plates wear, fluid pump issues, overheating problems.

A750F transmission

The A750F automatic transmission is used in Toyota and Lexus vehicles. This is a pretty old conventional automatic transmission developed back in 2002. While Lexus installed it in the GX and LX models only, Toyota has been using this gearbox in dozens of models.

This is a classic Toyota engineering product that may last longer than you think and can even last with bad maintenance. Of course, good maintenance will prolong its lifespan. The 5-speed transmission causes close to zero problems up until it hits huge mileage.

A750F transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:250,000-280,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$1,200-$1,900
• Price for replacement:$2,900-$5,000
• Availability of parts:Bad
• Common problems: Friction plates issues, fluid contamination, fluid pump issues, leaks.

A761E transmission

Toyota introduced the A761E automatic transmission in 2003. It was actively used in various models up until 2016. This is a very durable and reliable transmission with almost nothing to say about common problems and minor issues.

The engineering behind this unit is also very simple and classic, so no surprises within the life of the gearbox. Of course, proper maintenance is the only key to successful long driving with zero problems. Without regular fluid changes, this transmission will develop valve body and solenoids problems quickly.

A761E transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:260,000-280,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$1,000-$1,300
• Price for replacement:$2,600-$3,700
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Issues with valve body, wiring problems, pump problems.

A650E transmission

The A650E is an old Toyota-engineered automatic transmission that was first seen in 1997. In 10 years, the gearbox model was discontinued due to pretty bad fuel economy. But this was one of the legendary transmissions with great life expectancy and wonderful technologies behind it.

Classic construction and simple engineering made this transmission durable and capable of withstanding almost any load. It was used in about a dozen of Lexus models as well as in a lot of Toyota cars. The 5-speed automatic gearbox is good to drive even when the mileage on it is pretty high.

A650E transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:250,000-280,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$1,200-$1,500
• Price for replacement:$2,400-$3,600
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Friction plates wear, clogged valve body, vibrations that kill the pump.

A340E transmission

This is the legendary old Toyota's 4-speed automatic transmission. The A340E model was the father of numerous other simple and durable Japanese transmissions that built the name of reliability for the Toyota Company.

The A340E gearbox appeared in 1983 and was only discontinued in 2019. It powered the huge amount of Lexus and Toyota cars with the last ones being HiAce and Tacoma. As you can understand, the transmission is super durable and has literally zero problems.

A340E transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:260,000-290,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$700-$1,000
• Price for replacement:$2,000-$3,200
• Availability of parts:Bad
• Common problems: Friction plates wear faster in heavy cars, fluid leaks are possible, gears are afraid of low fluid level.

A350E transmission

This transmission was a spin-off of the A340E and had one additional gear making it much more flexible and efficient. It was offered in 1991 for several JDM Toyota cars. But it was worldwide known in 1995 with the Lexus GS model.

The A350E transmission is simple, its technologies are almost the same as in the previous versions of Toyota's automatic transmissions. But this one lasts a little less and also it's harder to repair as finding parts for it is almost impossible. Also, there aren't that many used parts or transmissions for replacement.

A350E transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:240,000-260,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$900-$1,200
• Price for replacement:$3,000-$4,200
• Availability of parts:Bad
• Common problems: Friction plates wear fast, fluid leaks are possible, fluid pump may suffer.

A760F transmission

This is one of the last Toyota's automatic transmissions that could be called reliable and durable. The A760F gearbox mainly powered the Lexus GX 460 and also Toyota Sequoia and Tundra models. In 2023, it was discontinued, unfortunately.

This is the 6-speed automatic transmission for the legendary 1UR-FE engine. It's not as durable as its predecessors because engineers paid attention to the fuel economy and emissions efficiency of the powerplant, so they adjusted the transmission with these factors in mind. Other than that, this is a very good gearbox to own.

A760F transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:230,000-260,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:Seldom
• Price for repair after failure:$1,500-$2,000
• Price for replacement:$4,500-$6,000
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Torque converter friction plates wear, fast fluid contamination, jerking when shifting, overheating problems.

66RFE transmission

The 66RFE transmission was the version of the more common 65RFE for heavy-duty trucks with huge high-torque engines. This is a deeply modified 545RFE transmission prepared to withstand higher torque and give more efficiency.

It was used in Ram 2500/3500 models with the 5.7L and 6.4L engines, so the transmission had to work really hard to survive. But it appeared to be pretty durable even though a lot of owners overload these vehicles and don't always maintain them really well.

66RFE transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:190,000-210,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:Sometimes
• Price for repair after failure:$1,200-$1,600
• Price for replacement:$5,500-$6,500
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Valve body may get clogged, leaks are possible, pump isn't eternal, electronic control problems.

68RFE transmission

In 2006, Chrysler introduced the new 68RFE automatic transmission for the 6.7L Cummins diesel engine. Thus gearbox was only used in Ram 2500/3500 heavy-duty trucks. It's actually still used in these trucks with the diesel engine.

Basically, this is the updated 545RFE transmission that offers larger bell housing, is prepared for higher torque of the diesel engine, and several other modifications. This is a durable and reliable unit that can withstand even more loads than claimed by Chrysler.

68RFE transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:190,000-210,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:Sometimes
• Price for repair after failure:$1,300-$1,800
• Price for replacement:$5,500-$6,500
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Valve body may get clogged, leaks are possible, pump isn't eternal, electronic control problems.

6R80 transmission

In 2008, Ford introduced its new rear-wheel-drive transmission called 6R80. This is the 6-speed automatic gearbox that was made for Mustang and Ranger but was eventually used in a dozen Ford vehicles and also in Lincoln, Mercury, and Mazda cars.

Ford developed this transmission with ZF company and it can also be used in various other vehicles under the codename 6HP26. The transmission is pretty good and durable. But, as with any modern Ford technology, it has some flaws that should be considered by the buyer.

6R80 transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:190,000-210,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:Sometimes
• Price for repair after failure:$1,000-$1,500
• Price for replacement:$3,500-$5,000
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Control module problems, overheating problems, several sensors problems, fast fluid contamination.

850RE transmission

This is the variant of the ZF 8HP transmission used in several modern Stellantis cars. The 8-speed automatic gearbox was first introduced in 2008 but exactly the 850RE Torqueflite version appeared in 2017. Initially, it was used with the 3.6L V6 Pentastar engine but later got other applications, too.

Now, it's used in Dodge, Jeep, and Ram cars. The transmission is not extremely reliable and is hard to call problem-free. But, in comparison with modern automatic transmissions, this is a decent option.

850RE transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:180,000-200,000 miles
• Reliability Score:Medium
• Prone to minor issues:Yes
• Price for repair after failure:$1,400-$1,900
• Price for replacement:$5,000-$6,500
• Availability of parts:Bad
• Common problems: Pump problems, fluid contamination, overheating issues.

10R80 transmission

The 10R80 is the version of the 6R80 transmission but with 10 speeds. It's used in the F-Series trucks, Mustang, Ranger, Everest, and other Ford models. Also, the Lincoln Navigator uses this kind of transmission.

Unfortunately, the 10-speed automatic transmission got a lot of bad reviews. It's actually one of the worst modern Ford gearboxes that has a lot of common problems. Even though Ford tries to upgrade the software and hardware for it, I can't see this transmission improving and becoming less faulty than it is now.

10R80 transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:140,000-160,000 miles
• Reliability Score:Low
• Prone to minor issues:Yes
• Price for repair after failure:$1,300-$1,600
• Price for replacement:$5,500-$6,800
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems: Glitchy work, software problems, valve body problems, a lot of minor issues, unstable operation.

9HP48 transmission

The 9HP48 is the ZF 9-speed transmission used in Honda, Nissan, Jaguar, Land Rover cars, and also in Stellantis vehicles under the codename 948TE. This is the conventional automatic transmission with super-high flexibility.

But being really flexible and fuel-efficient, this transmission is very problematic and not durable at all. The only advantage is that it's shifting like charm - very soft and almost unnoticeable. But the transmission is going to take a lot of money out of your pocket due to problems with quality.

9HP48 transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:120,000-130,000 miles
• Reliability Score:Low
• Prone to minor issues:Yes
• Price for repair after failure:$1,600-$1,900
• Price for replacement:$4,500-$6,500
• Availability of parts:Good
• Common problems: Bad software problems, glitchy work, valve body solenoids problem, input shaft problems, fluid leaks.

MT-82 transmission

The MT-82 is the manual transmission developed by Getrag and used only in the Ford Mustang from 2011 till now. This is a very durable and reliable gearbox that I can't say anything bad about. It perfectly suits the Mustang and offers unlimited control over the vehicle's engine.

Of course, its durability is hard to predict and it only depends on how aggressively you use your vehicle.

MT-82 transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:150,000-230,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:Seldom
• Price for repair after failure:$500-$1,000
• Price for replacement:$3,500-$5,000
• Availability of parts:Good
• Common problems: Almost no common problems registered.

TF-80SC transmission

The TF-80SC is the 6-speed automatic transmission made by Aisin in Japan starting from 2001. It was discontinued in 2018 and was installed in various vehicles like Volvo, Fiat, Renault, Peugeot, and also Citroen. In the US, it's commonly known as the GM transmission AF40-6.

One weird thing is that the manufacturer doesn't recommend changing fluid. Of course, it's still needed to change fluid in these transmissions at least once every 50-60K miles (but better do this more often). While the transmission is not perfect, it can still last long and bring fun when you drive your car.

TF-80SC transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:190,000-220,000 miles
• Reliability Score:Medium
• Prone to minor issues:Seldom
• Price for repair after failure:$1,200-$1,600
• Price for replacement:$2,900-$4,500
• Availability of parts:Good
• Common problems: Valve body problems, torque converter problems, cooling issues, bearing issues.

Honda 10-speed transmission

In 2017, Honda understood that using the faulty 9-speed ZF automatic transmission was not a good option, so they introduced their own 10-speed automatic transmission. It was immediately installed in the Odyssey and Accord, later it was also used in several Acura models.

While this is not a perfect transmission, the 10-speed unit can last longer than the ZF 9-speed gearbox. Also, the Honda transmission offers more flexibility and better efficiency when you drive it. It's not super-reliable but it won't fail often. Still, this transmission is hard to compare with reliable older gearboxes Honda used to make.

Honda 10-speed transmission highlights:

• Average lifespan:150,000-170,000 miles
• Reliability Score:Medium
• Prone to minor issues:Seldom
• Price for repair after failure:$1,100-$1,500
• Price for replacement:$3,500-$4,700
• Availability of parts:Average
• Common problems:Gears slipping, sudden jerking, shifting out of gear, bearing noises, expensive maintenance.