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Ford Source-verified model

Ford 6F 35

The 6-speed automatic transmission 6F35 (6F30) is a collaborative investment project of Ford with GM released in 2002. With regard to transmission components 6F35 is practically a complete analog of the GM 6T40- 6T45 transmission, details for manufacturing of these transmissions are unified to the fullest extent and differ only in electrical elements, filters, and pans. This transmission has been installed since 2008 on popular American FWD and AWD vehicles of Ford (Kuga, Focus, Escape, Fusion...) and Mazda (Tribute) with the engine from 1.6 up to 3 liters. There are two different…

Speeds 6
Type AT
Drive FWD/AWD
Max torque 350
ATF capacity (L) 8,5
ATF change (L) 4,8
ATF type Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF / Mercon LV/ Motorcraft XT-10-QLVC

Other and alternative codes of this transmission

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6F 35
6F35 Gen 2
6F35
6F35 Gen 3
verified naming OEM designation source name

Common problems & symptoms

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Problems and symptoms reported for this transmission, compiled from repair sources. Not a complete list.

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Erratic Harsh Gear Shifting
Erratic gear shifting with harsh engagement reported, transmission sensitive to cold ATF and load conditions.
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Slipping Out Of Gear
Transmission slips out of reverse or forward gear, most pronounced during on-road driving stuck in one gear.
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Transmission Overheating Issue
6F35 in Ford Fusion prone to overheating due to inadequate cooling system capacity affecting ATF performance.
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ATF Level Sensitivity
No dipstick fitted; incorrect ATF level causes shifting complaints. Level checked via overflow stopper method.
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Internal Friction Component Wear
Moving internal components generate excessive friction over time, leading to shifting faults requiring repair.
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Engine RPM Drag On Shift
Transmission drags engine RPM during gear shifts, particularly noticeable when towing heavy loads.
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Reluctance From Complete Stop
Hesitation or reluctance when pulling away from a stop, worsened on inclines and stop-and-go traffic.
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Cold ATF Load Sensitivity
Transmission highly sensitive to load inputs when ATF is cold, triggering shift quality complaints until warm.
⬡ Support & Market Presence Index
7.9
/10
Well covered
How widely this transmission is used, documented and supported across the Go4Trans graph.
Market presence
6.5
How widely this unit is fitted across vehicle platforms and model years
Documentation depth
10.0
How thoroughly known failure modes are catalogued for this unit
Knowledge & support
9.8
Volume of manuals, TSBs and reference material indexed for this unit

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About this transmission

Transmission general data

The 6-speed automatic transmission 6F35 (6F30) is a collaborative investment project of Ford with GM released in 2002. With regard to transmission components 6F35 is practically a complete analog of the GM 6T40- 6T45 transmission, details for manufacturing of these transmissions are unified to the fullest extent and differ only in electrical elements, filters, and pans. This transmission has been installed since 2008 on popular American FWD and AWD vehicles of Ford (Kuga, Focus, Escape, Fusion...) and Mazda (Tribute) with the engine from 1.6 up to 3 liters. There are two different modifications of the 6F35 – with engines less than 2.5 liters and 3 liters engine. The design of the 6F35 is based on the flagship model 6F50 /6F55= 6T70 /6T75, constructed on modular principle of maximum standardization and interchangeability of blocks.

Technical issues and repair guidelines

In most cases repair procedures f6F35 transmission consist of oil (DEXRON®VI or original XT-10-QLV) change and filter replacement. This transmission is very sensitive to the ATF level. It has no ATF level gauge and its levellevel is tested in compliance with the overflow stopper. As all 6-speed transmissions, the 6F35 (6F30) is sensitive to loads when the ATF is cold.

Many complaints have surfaced about erratic gear shifting, with gears harsh engagement and sometimes even slipping out of reverse or forward gear. The problem is most pronounced when the car is on the road, and happens when the transmission is stuck in one gear. It has been found that moving components within the transmission can create more friction, leading to issues requiring repair.

The 6F35 Transmission in Ford Fusion and Ford Perform cars is particularly prone to overheating issues. It is important to ensure that the control unit settings are adjusted appropriately, and also that the driver’s driving style is suitable for the vehicle. A dogged cooling system with less than optimal capacity has been found to depend on overall performance, so it may be worth removing Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) from the car.

This is one of the most common problems with 6F35 conventional 5-speeds transmission issues, and can be easily rectified by a keen driver. The 6F35 transmission offers better fuel economy than its conventional 5-speeds counterparts and covers their 6f35 cars in Ford, covering over 50,000 miles in some cases. It is also good for long run drivers as it provides a greater gear span and optimal speed load combinations with much better optimal combinations.

The 6F35 Transmission has a number of design flaws which can cause problems for drivers. One of the most common issues is that the transmission tends to drag engine rpm when shifting gears, especially when towing heavy loads. Another started problem is reluctance or little reluctance when starting off from a complete stop, especially on mountain roads or when driving in stop and go traffic on a Saturday afternoon. Towing is usually the most common cause of transmission problems as it runs the engine harder than normal and can cause significant wear on components over time. The 6F35 Transmission has been known to be reliable but certain design flaws can cause problems if not addressed properly.

One common issue is that the computer commanded 1st gear and 5th gear command will switch when read drive is commanded by the computer. This can be easily fixed by changing the range switch to read range switch and ensuring that the input speed sensor is operating properly. Another issue is when the shifter is moved, the rpm figure drops about 200 rpm from its original figure of around 2. This happens for a short time and can cause a few issues if it happens multiple times.

One of the most common 6F35 transmission problems is a failed one way clutch. This clutch can cause the wheel speed signal to be lost which will limit engine power and prevent the vehicle from moving. If this happens, it may be necessary to replace the converter. Additionally, if equipped with a problem vehicle, there may also be an issue with floor shift selector lever and display shifts. In some cases, it can even cause a push button start to not work correctly or no throttle response when starting the vehicle.

6F35 Transmission Problems And Possible Solutions can include malfunction valves, control valve, and the valve body separator plate. The malfunction can cause a compromise cooling in the heat exchanger. As a solution on transmissions, it is important to install a fluid heater in order to properly lubricate the transmission. Additionally, removing check ball is necessary to allow for proper flow of transmission fluid. It is also recommended to install a fluid cooler before any additional modifications are done. When using Mercon LV transmission fluid, it is important to note that the deleted hole must be drilled back into the valve body separator plate in order for it to pass proper flow of coolant from one side of the transmission dipstick tube over to the other side.

This external cooler bypass valve is necessary for the proper flow of coolant in order to prevent overheating and eventual transmission failure. If an experienced fluid leak is present, it can lead to a deteriorating fluid which compromises lubrication, leading to deterioration of internal components and eventually catastrophic failure of the transmission. Ford Fusion cars that are experiencing 6F35 transmission issues may be left with a failing left half shaft seal or other related issues if not addressed properly.

If you are having transmission problems, post your car in our cars section to see if others are having the same issues. Certain problems may be resolved with a simple transmission fluid flush or replacing the left half shaft seal. On our 2015 Ford Explorer, we had to completely rebuild the transmission and it was a costly endeavor. To keep track of any potential issues with your car, it is best to keep a log of when you drive your car and the mileage each time.

This can help you detect any problems with your 6F35 transmission early on. I recently had to repair my 6F35 transmission, and Ford sent me a rebuild kit to fix the inherent 6f35 problems. I took my car to the repair shop and they were able to use the kit from Ford to fix the problem. If you are not comfortable with fixing the issue yourself, I would advise you to take your vehicle into a dealership for them to look at it. They may be able to provide you with a powertrain warranty for any potential issues that may arise in the future. If this does not work, then Ford may even send your mechanic out a kit so they can use it in order to fix it up for you. However, this does not always guarantee that the problem will be fixed as some of their kits use faulty factory parts which could just postpone any inherent 6f35 problems until later down the line when they appear again.

In order to make sure that this doesn’t happen, it is a good idea to bring the car to a repair shop and have an experienced technician install the unit. The technician will also be able to use engine and transmission data as well as perform line pressure checks, hook pressure transducers, and hook cases to the mainline pressure port.

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Sources & Contribution

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Every claim on this page is backed by a structured source record — including community contributions, each with its own reference.

Type
Title
Author
Link
video
2009-2012 Ford Explorer Escape Fusion…
FordTechMakuloco
video
2013-2019 Ford Explorer Escape Fusion…
FordTechMakuloco
video
Ford Escape 6F35 Transmission LH Axle…
FordTechMakuloco
video
6F35 Rebuild
Curmudgeon Transmission
video
6F35 Highlights and Valvebody
Gary Ferraro
video
6F35 Teardown
Gary Ferraro
video
6F35 Calibration Program
Gary Ferraro
video
2009 Tribute Transmission Service…
OEMDTC
manual
d2q1ebiag300ih.cloudfront.net
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manual
sonnax.com
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manual
ebay.com
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manual
images.oreillyauto.com
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manual
transmissiondigest.com
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manual
sonnax.com
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