Manual Transmission Codes: MT82 and MT82-D4 – Check out the reasons for failure and how to fix your Ford Mustang’s manual transmission problems in our material from today.
The Ford Mustang is much more than an ordinary car model. In fact, it is folklore, an emblem of freedom, and a dream car for most of us. I always dreamed of owning one! The Mustang has been associated with power, performance, and the open road ever since its creation in 1964. And there is nothing quite like the feeling of getting behind the wheel of a manual transmission Mustang and shifting gears yourself, hearing the engine, and the thrill of the ride in every racy turn.
Yet, the pleasure of getting behind the wheel of a Mustang with stick shifted transmission was quickly dissed by some owners and fans when learning about MT82 and later MT82-D4 transmission problems in the 2011-2019 models.
The situation went to a class-action lawsuit and was considered to be a design or production weakness. In this article, we will focus on Mustang manual transmission problems its owners can experience, the reasons for such problems, and possible ways to solve them.
Table of Contents
The MT82 and MT82-D4 Transmissions: The Issue at Hand
The MT82 and MT82-D4 are installed in the Mustangs manufactured from 2011 to 2019. After the initial release, Mustang owners complained of problems associated with slippage, shuddering, rough shifting, and gear crashing, as well as early failure. It got worse and worse that consumers reported the problems of this car to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and the class-action lawsuit against Ford was initiated.
It applies to any type of car bought or rented from Ford during the calendar years 2011-2019 equipped with an MT82 or MT82-D4 manual gearbox. Design defects that have been listed in the complaint include shift forks, shift shafts, synchronizers, and clutch assemblies. Also, when one MT82 transmission malfunctions, it is exchanged with another, which has the same problems and constantly causes issues and costs for owners.
Ford’s Response: TSBs and Special Service Messages
Ever since the discovery of these problems, Ford has tried to solve the interior issues in several TSBs and SSMs. In these documents, the general issues, challenges, and recommendations that may be facing mechanics and owners are described. But, several of these appear as makeshift short term remedies, and the problem is yet to be solved.
Possible Reasons behind the failure of the MT82 and MT82-D4 Transmission
There are several possible reasons for the transmission issues faced by 2011-2019 Mustang owners, ranging from design flaws to poor manufacturing quality:
- Low-Quality Materials: This failure is felt to have been precipitated by Ford’s decision to use low standard materials or alloys in the transmission part.
- Inadequate Heat Dissipation: The MT82 and MT82-D4 might have not been developed with heat transfer in mind, therefore the transmission fluid becomes hotter and its lubrication qualities are compromised. This can lead to slippage and other performance problems as well as higher costs later on as a result of poor positioning.
- Manufacturing Defects: Various defects or variations at the production process level may have affected some of the critical transmission pieces such as the shift forks, shafts as well as synchronizers and thus led to poor performance and failure.
- Improper Design: One can also wonder if the transmission designers did not foresee the high torque output of latest generation Mustang engines and therefore the gears get worn out quicker and we then detect problems such as harsh engagement and clashing gears.
- Improper Torque Converter Clutch Application: There could be another explanation for the issue associated with MT82, especially since the clutch of the torque converter might have failed. This can lead to rapid voltage swings and even detrimental driveability.
- Insufficient Lubrication: Sometimes, oil pump goes wrong or screens are choked which results in low lubrication and subsequently rapid wearing off of important transmission parts which ultimately leads to failure of the transmission.
MT82 and MT82-D4 are transmission types that have experienced some problems in the field. Here are several ways through which one can solve the problems associated with transmission issues.
Since the nature of these issues is still unknown, more complex is the process of decreasing the pain points that Mustang owners experience. Even some of these fixes may seem cheap, they are costly merely to revert the cars’ performance to the optimum and durability. Here are some possible solutions.
Solutions / How to Fix
- Replacing Components: Worn out shift forks, shafts, synchronizers, and clutch assemblies should be replaced by high-quality aftermarket parts as a solution to the problem. However, this could not be everlasting in case the problem is with the design or the raw materials applied in developing the transmission.
- Transmission Rebuild: It could call for a complete overhaul of the transmission in which gaskets, seals bearings and clutch packs are replaced if the damage is severe. This process is very technical and demands the use of various instruments that are costly as well as costly spare parts.
- Upgrading to a High-Quality Aftermarket Transmission: The other option would be to get an aftermarket transmission such as the T-56 Magnum or the TREMEC TKO as they are stronger delivered with better performance as compared to the standard type. But this option is very expensive and might not be available to all people owning this car model, such as the Mustang.
- Installing a Cooler: An aftermarket transmission cooler placed in the cooling system can be useful in removing the lost heat so that the transmission fluid functions in the right manner of lubricating the parts.
- Regular Maintenance: Many factors determine the duration that a transmission would last on the vehicle and right maintenance is essential in lasting long. Getting or changing the clothes of the strainer, filter and the fluid of the transmission from time to time is wise in order to avoid mishappenings of a transmission system.
Some issues that MT82 and MT82-D4 manual transmission owners of 2011-2019 Ford Mustang have encountered stir many questions about the car’s reliability, performance, and manufacturer’s reliability. Despite Ford has moved some means to redress those ills with TSBs and SSMs, it still seems to be a makeshift solution rather than a remedy.
Any mechanic who services Mustang owners with these transmission problems may be forced to repair the damaged parts, rebuild the transmission, or even install a new aftermarket transmission that can offer better performance. Lastly, it is a matter of the degree of trouble and the owner’s pocket and the level of commitment in maintaining the Mustang as well as ensuring it is quite reliable.
It is not an enviable position; nonetheless, true Mustang fans want to maintain their pony cars on the road; they will do whatever it takes. For it is not only a car; it is a way of life, often called quality of life. Therefore, let’s go on, fix up our Mustangs as they deserve, and create more memories to cherish for the rest of our lives.
