What's the longest you've seen a transmission last?
Posted by CompetitiveLake3358@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 88 comments
Commercial semi trucks might last the long way because they are built for that, but what other vehicles? What were the conditions? Highway, or mostly city? What maintenance was done on it?
Seems like 200-400k km is the norm and the accepted reasonable length.
reesesbigcup@reddit
I knew a guy who put over 400k miles on a Saturn Ion, bought it new, automatic transmission. Idk about maintenance but he didnt have any transmission problems. He drove a lot for his job.
FNA_Couster@reddit
Are we going on mileage or age?
I know a few farmers with nearly antique F series pick ups but they only put 3-4,000 km on them a year since they're farm trucks.
Agloe_Dreams@reddit
My father has an 87 F250 with 375,000miles.
It is equipped with the iconic 300ci six and the four speed with the granny low.
My very favorite thing about that truck is that he had a two foot diameter 60ft tall tree fall on it, downright smashing the bed and roof.
He got on top of it with his chainsaw, cut the tree up, put the easily 2000lbs in the bed and drove it out to dump the load.
Got second place in a local mud bog with the 35s.
That transmission is a glutton for punishment.
fiddlythingsATX@reddit
The NP435 is indestructible but so unpleasant to actually use other than as a farm truck or offroad.
campbellsimpson@reddit
So you're saying I should swap out this bad boy for something less agricultural? š
Agloe_Dreams@reddit
Have you considered just pushing grinding until it finds home? Haha first manual I ever drove (I was like 6), granted that was off-road.
The beauty of the combo off-road though was that the truck in low was unstallable.
fiddlythingsATX@reddit
Yup, I could literally leave it in gear and walk next to it, and sometimes did. The new Tremec TR4050 has that granny but decent ratios for road, itās my current preference.
Igota31chevy@reddit
If we're going by age, I have an original Model A chassis that has been both untouched since it left the assembly line and more recently, abused by me doing dirt drags. Those transmissions are incredibly basic but also extremely tough and built for abuse.
srcorvettez06@reddit
I had a 4l60e last about 330k miles in a Silverado. That poor truck was my wifeās daily then my winter beater for years. It was really tired when the disconnecting rods created new inspection windows.
The 4l85 in my 8.1 liter Yukon has over 220k miles on it now. Fluid and filter every 50k miles. The truck pulls an 11,000 pound race trailer all over the country and is also my road/camping rig.
OpinionofanAH@reddit
My last 4l60 was shifting fine at 180k miles when I pulled it to manual swap my truck. I have an 03 suburban with 140k miles on it and the 4l60 in it shifts perfectly and a friend of mine has an 03 Silverado with 350k miles on the original transmission. They have a bad reputation but they will last if you donāt over heat them or tow in overdrive.
Smykster@reddit
You hear people say these things are the worst transmission ever. I never had a problem with them. If you keep them close to stock torque levels, they'll keep on chugging.
CabernetSauvignon@reddit
I had two give out before 60k miles.
Sun gear shell cracked on one
Valve body cracked in the other
All stock on 4.3 V6s.
srcorvettez06@reddit
I never had a 4l60e fail and Iāve had half a dozen high mileage tricks with them. I seem to have gotten pretty lucky.
Smykster@reddit
I had one in a C5 vette that I drove hard. No issues. I have a 700R4 in a 35 year old camaro that I don't even think was ever serviced 150k(new to me). Still shifting smooth. I'm actually kind of afraid to do a flush and filter on it at this point.
srcorvettez06@reddit
I have a 700r4 in my Vette and 3rd gear is realllllly tired.
mervmonster@reddit
I think it depends on the application. I have been left stranded with no cell service twice by 4l60e transmissions but they were company trucks that towed a lot.
coolguy100@reddit
Iāve heard you have to lock out overdrive when towing with them and theyāll last
Nitrothacat@reddit
Yep, I had two 4L60s in two different GMT800s. I think they shifted great for being a 4 speed automatic from the 90s. I liked how the torque converter would lock basically right off idle once warm.
Smykster@reddit
I had one in a C5 vette that I drove hard. No issues. I have a 700R4 in a 35 year old camaro that I don't even think was ever serviced 150k(new to me). Still shifting smooth. I'm actually kind of afraid to do a flush and filter on it at this point.
Seamus-Archer@reddit
Iāve had the same experience. Almost 190K on the 4L60E behind my 6.0 Yukon and itās been flawless.
ads1031@reddit
I sold an Envoy with a 4l60e to some relatives. I think it has about 350k miles on it now. It makes some funny noises, but it keeps going!
5cott@reddit
Sold my Silverado to a buddy, itās sitting at 315 on a 4l60e. The 4l85 in the Isuzu he told me has 278, going strong. We both maintained them on a tight maintenance schedule. 2004 and 2006 models respectively.
wearymicrobe@reddit
Gen 2 Prius to the heat death of the universe for most of them. I have seen 400k plus on them many times.
F150 6 speeds also seem to do well here in California. Not sure if it's the climate or that people don't tow as much here. Couple 300k+ that I have seen.
We have a local 355 Porsche owner in the club that has 700k on his car. Lots of clutch replacement and a 2nd gear synchro but not much more than that.
tbenoit94@reddit
The 6R80 is fantastic. My boss has a 16 F150 that he dogs the shit out of literally every day (sometimes while towing a boat) and he finally had to do his at about 180k. I can't believe it lasted that long with the way he drives. The 10R80 that followed it is among the worst transmissions on sale, which is a shame
KanterBama@reddit
I thought the 10R80 was godās gift to the automatic transmission based on Mustang ownerās comments online, do they work better in lighter cars, or have those owners not hit the mileage to where they become a problem?
OpinionofanAH@reddit
The 10 speed is fantastic in the trucks too. Until they have problems. Performance wise itās great but they get sloppy after a while. I bought a truck new with one and by about 11k miles it was shifting weird and a few times it just kind of just popped out of gear and revved like it was in neutral while shifting. The other truck Iāve had with one I bought used with 22k miles and by the time it hit 45k miles it was shifting very rough at times and sometimes wouldnāt pick the right gear. The 5.0 and 10 speed match well together but the long term durability is iffy. My wifeās car is an explorer with the 2.3 eco boost and 10 speed and it seems to do a bit better but it only has 8k miles on it so time will tell.
wearymicrobe@reddit
That's why I have the 2017 5.0. Gen 2 coyote and the 6 speed. Getting supercharged this year if I can find the time.
biggsteve81@reddit
The Prius transmission is just a single (or in later models, two) planetary gearset that has 2 electric motors, an engine and an output shaft attached to it, along with a parking pawl. No clutches or anything fancy to break, as long as the fluid doesn't leak out of it.
WhetBred14@reddit
+1 for the gen 2 Prius. My dad and I have a salvage car dealer, Prius sell like hotcakes and they come in with absolutely no issues as long as you look for the right signs and keep the mileage under 150k. Thatās just us tho, many customers have theirs to 400k with just oil changes and then other small stuff like spark plugs and such when needed. Absolutely amazing vehicles.
TheGT1030MasterRace@reddit
What's wrong with the Gen 1? I have a 2002 that is still running perfectly, recently replaced spark plugs and ignition coils.
Hunt3rj2@reddit
Just not as practical. 13 second 0-60 in the gen 1 vs 10 seconds in the gen 2. More cargo capacity in the gen 2. They added bells and whistles like a backup camera. Packaging-wise they improved things like the inverter. Also it's not as obviously a really expensive Echo.
WhetBred14@reddit
I donāt think necessarily thereās anything wrong with it but they basically improved upon everything for the gen 2 making it the better car for the money now that gen 2s are super cheap
goot449@reddit
The first generation seems like a sales experimental more than anything. They made like 100k of them, but the 2nd gen they made well over a million.Ā
wearymicrobe@reddit
I have been in and around the automotive industry my whole like. The Gen 2 Prius previous might be the best designed car that exists. I don't say that lightly.
Edm_swami@reddit
My '82 civic lasted to 640,000 miles. I couldn't get it into 2nd gear near the end though, but it ran fine otherwise.
jawnlerdoe@reddit
Shortest transmission life: ND Miata lol.
My civic is at 190k or so, but Iāve seen a few posts on /r/civic of the 8th gen getting over 400k on stock powertrain. Mine still runs flawlessly
CantThinkOfAnyName@reddit
ND miata is a cheat code for shortest transmission life, but hey, at least they are at their 6th (?) revision now?
jawnlerdoe@reddit
5 to my knowledge. Reputable sources say that the different āversionsā are only marginally different though.
Early cars had metallurgy issues.
2021-23 cars had syncro issues.
All cars have a weak transmission though.
CantThinkOfAnyName@reddit
Man that sucks, are these replaced after warranty at least, given the vast amount of confirmed issues?
jawnlerdoe@reddit
Nope. Mazda does a good job at replacing them under warranty.
I follow the ND community pretty closely. People who experience issues usually drop the platform, get a built transmission, or an Nc transmission.
Itās interesting the issue is inconsistent. Some drivers have three failures in 15 track days. Some get 30 track days on a problematic year with no transmission issues.
The dual mass flywheel and an ECU retune reduces harmonic oscillations and shock loads for the ND2/3. Interestingly, that dual mass flywheel sometimes breaks transmission because the clutch is springless.
My ND is at 44k no issues. There is thought in the community that driving style comes into play.
CantThinkOfAnyName@reddit
NC transmission has bunch of other issues, but at least it rarely breaks under stock power.
Probably mazda is right that driving style and mechanical empathy is the deciding factor here.
Nonetheless, sucks that almost 10 years later the issue is still very much alive, I guess I'll myself wait for NE generation to chase big power. Fingers crossed yours is reliable!
biggsteve81@reddit
My brother has a NC Miata with the automatic and well over 300k miles with no problems.
Fearless-Minimum-922@reddit
Nv1500 5 speed trans that came in the s10s were perfect for the little 4 cylinder it was mated to. I have never heard of one that failed under normal circumstances (some of those guys that stuck a turbo on the lil 2.2 broke them while dumping the clutch). Normally the 4 cylinder spins a bearing or the truck gets wrecked beforehand. Mine had 234k on it but I know a guy that daily drives one with 350k on the original drive train.
Positive_Tackle_8434@reddit
1912 model T 100+ years 1971 Nova 510,000+ mi 2002 F-150 439,000+ mi 2004 mountaineer 350,000+ mi 2004 f-150 285,000+ mi current truck All just normal maintenance engines included.
bigtexasrob@reddit
My NV4500 (5-speed, 90ās Chevy 2500 and 3500 trucks) has half a million miles and outlived the truck.
Fearless-Minimum-922@reddit
Iāve got one with probably 270k on it and it shifts smooth as fuck still. Transfer case on the other hand clanks like a mfer
campbellsimpson@reddit
It's a truck transmission, but my NP435 has 1.1 million kilometres on all the original hardware.
roman_maverik@reddit
Are we only talking about automatics?
The 5 speed MT that was in the Nissan Frontier for decades has got to be one of the most bulletproof transmissions of all time.
Hereās a guy who got 1 million miles out of his (and 700k on the original clutch):
https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/the-nissan-frontier-that-delivered-a-million-miles-and-counting
Iāve owned a couple Nissan 5 speeds. They arenāt pretty, but they will get the job done
Relative_Location_65@reddit
I have a 1995 bronco with an e40d transmission with 740,000 miles and counting, It's mostly highway miles.
akmacmac@reddit
Everybody shit on the Honda auto transmissions from the early 2000ās but my 2003 Civic with the 4spd auto lasted 300k miles with no issues
Square_Painting5099@reddit
My first car was '88 Civic. Sold it at 550k km, original transmission and engine. Clutch replaced at 330k.
redditonreddit_65@reddit
You got 330k out of a clutch?? Thatās crazy
NYCBYB@reddit
My Landcruiser has 246k miles (396k km) and is still going strong.
0peRightBehindYa@reddit
I managed to get a factory Ford AX4N past 300k in a 98 Taurus SHO before it threw a rod. Damn thing slipped at WOT and any time the air and cruise were on at the same time, and I did NOT follow recommended maintenance intervals whatsoever. I didn't even add the recommended Gen 2 SHO trans cooler.
It still outlasted the engine somehow.
It's been over a decade and I'm still gobsmacked.
AbrocomaRealistic224@reddit
Irv gordon open and shut. Volvo reigns supreme.
87RegalTurboT@reddit
300K in a V6 2006 Hyundai Sonata. Only did trans flushes every 75k miles. Do regular maintenance and things last longer than most others.
SirLoremIpsum@reddit
Most Landcruisers will have more than that in the stock transmission.
The million mile Lexus LS400 has the original transmission I believe.
Unstoppable mileage guy put north of 440,000 miles on a 2020 RAV4
https://www.reddit.com/r/Toyota/comments/13qk1e8/my_2020_toyota_rav4_xse_reached_400000_miles_today/
Eharmz@reddit
370k on my 1998.
Epotheros@reddit
The million mile Lexus had a new transmission put in around the 800k range according to Tavarish after he bought it. So it has had at least two transmissions over its life.
CO14ers@reddit
My roommate has a 93 accord that was passed down to him by his dad. Still on its original clutch at 256k miles. The clutch is at the very end of itās life span tho
jtbis@reddit
I would bet an early-mid 2000s Toyota truck holds the record for an automatic. The 5-speed units they put in Tacomas, 4Runners and Tundras are bulletproof.
CantThinkOfAnyName@reddit
I kind of wonder whether it's automatic or manual transmissions that have the highest mileage and how the distribution looks given proper maintenance. I've tried to find a study but can't find anything worthwhile.
On one hand, automatic transmissions won't have bad shifts, on the other hand, there are more moving parts and failure points.
getawombatupya@reddit
/r/millwrights
kentxflow@reddit
Buddy of mine has a Mercedes W126 260SE with a 5speed manual on LPG. Bought it like 20 years ago with a broken Tachometer and (already) 400k kilometers on it. Pre owner said it was already broken when he got it and he drove it very often and very far. My buddy drives it about 20k kilometers a year when he doesnāt visit his Family often.
That thing has likely 7 figures kilometers right now but he canāt prove itā¦
graceparagonique2024@reddit
My 1992 Thunderbird still had the original 4spd AOD in it at 278k. Never rebuilt, but I religiously changed the fluid, drained the converter and changed the filter every 30k.
bigloser42@reddit
My ZHP was just short of 300k and had just a touch of wear on the 2nd gear synchro. It was only on its second clutch, and even that only got replaced because I had to do the rear main seal and was assuming the clutch needed to be done, but it had plenty of life left.
argent_pixel@reddit
My Odyssey has 198,000 miles on it, still the OG transmission. One owner prior to myself who just did basic maintenance.
MKVIgti@reddit
I drive a stage 1 tuned 2017 GTI with a DSG tune as well. Maintained religiously.
Iām at 224,000 miles and car still purrs like a kitten. Transmission is still smooth and fast as well.
Yeah, not as many miles as youāre quoted as seeing, but I think as long as I continue proper maintenance the DSG will be fine for much longer. Hell of a gear box.
vargemp@reddit
If you could just specify the exact transmission codeā¦ DQ250?
Hutwe@reddit
I had 217k miles (~350,000 km) on the original clutch on my 2004 Acura RSX when I sold it. I canāt say how long the transmission lasted, but I can say it wasnāt giving me any problems. Still worked perfectly like the day I bought it.Ā
dang_it_bobby93@reddit
My first car 1990 Camaro with a 305 and 5 speed. Still have the car sitting at my parents. Original transmission and second clutch made it to 350k miles. 3 gear syncro didn't work quite right but that was thanks to me being a boy racer and thinking it was cool to shift and not use the clutch.Ā Fun car still at my folks house it would still be working but rats are the wiring harness sadly.Ā
binding_swamp@reddit
Allison 5-speed is all original and working fine at 440,000 miles.
Confident_Season1207@reddit
That's pretty common of them. Especially if you don't abuse it with more power
My work van had its first Allison 1000 changed out somewhere in the 500,000 mile range. It was still working, just wouldn't stop leaking after being resealed. The 2nd is at over 300,000 miles on it
StayStrong888@reddit
My 1989 NA Miata manual transmission lasted over 130k miles with no issues.
My 1994 Ford Ranger 4 speed manual went over 240k miles without needing anything.
My 1998 Ford Crown Victoria 4 speed automatic crapped out at 180k and I had to change it and drove another 60k miles then sold it. It's been going strong according to the new owner.
AwesomeBantha@reddit
Toyota A440/A343F
Slow and inefficient but I know more people with more than 275k miles on theirs than people with under 275k miles
They donāt require much/any maintenance, and this is in city, highway, offroad driving
Pretty much every one of these Iāve heard of being replaced came from the 2000 model yearā¦ so just avoid that year and youāll be set
quiksi@reddit
The Toyota A750 and AB60 transmissions have both lasted over 1M miles in the Tundra on at least a few occasions
I_amnotanonion@reddit
Iāve gotten both automatics and manuals past the 300k miles (a bit less than 500k kilometers) mark. Those were: - 2001 GMC Yukon with the 4L65e - 1979 Mercedes 240D with a 4 speed manual
Iāve also had cars, or had family members with cars, that didnāt make it to 100k miles (~160k km). Those were: - 2016 Subaru Crosstrek automatic - 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager - 2003 Honda Odyssey (buddy of mine got it cheap with like 90,000 miles because of the blown transmission
I think you are generally correct about the average transmissions length of life. There are some cars that will be huge outliers on both ends of course. I also think people will generally get rid of cars before the transmission fails because of other issues or just because the car is old. The vast majority (like 95% or more) of cars in the US never make it to 200k miles (320k km) because theyāre scrapped for a variety of reasons.
Anecdotally, I know that W123 Mercedes automatics need a rebuild at 200k miles in most cases, so your theory holds there. I only know that though because the rest of the cars hold together so well so people were able to measure that
20-20beachboy@reddit
What happened to the crosstrek?
I_amnotanonion@reddit
Iām not entirely sure. Itās my brotherās, all he told me is that it was driving funny, took it to his mechanic, they put in a new transmission and it was good
tlivingd@reddit
04 Malibu, 98 s.c. Rivera, 94 lesabre, all had over 220k miles on original transmissions. Those were mixed use. And none were babied. I and my sister learned to drive the 94. I beat the shit out of the 04. And the riv was my dadās that he was gentile but would occasionally flog it.
kingfisher-monkey-87@reddit
I had a Mazda protege with 328k miles on original manual trans and clutch when I traded it. My dad had a ford Aerostar van with 450,000 on original transmission and engine, trans fluid and filter changed religiously every 100k miles.
InsertBluescreenHere@reddit
prolly be a manual trans if you dont count clutch replacements as they are a wear item. altho the last clutch i had lasted to 208K miles in my s10 and my ranger has 254k miles on the factory clutch...
LCImpulse@reddit
GM 6L45, definition of a slushbox but itās the only part of the E9x 328iās that wonāt fall apart (yes the E9x 3 series used a GM trans for the 328i)
naf_Kar@reddit
You probably aren't looking for this information, but I daily drive a 2004 Ram 1500 with over 300,000 miles (around 490,000km) that has the original transmission and as far as I can tell just routine maintenance (fluids and filters) was done on it, along with a valve body rebuild around the 200k mile mark. I haven't had it it's whole life but all the work has been done at dealers in it's life before it got to me. I got a Carfax on it that had every service record on it, which is how I know about the valve body rebuild.
And I can already feel the "dumb American drives a big truck every day for no reason" thoughts and for the record, I don't like driving it every day, but my wife has horses which need trailered to shows and whatnot and I can't afford a second car
twinsen_x@reddit
My Honda Civic 1996 1.4.When i stopped driving it in 2019 it had 423000 kms done. But since it was 23 years old it was time to upgrade.
Drzhivago138@reddit
Anecdotal, but a cousin of mine has a Chevy 1500 he bought shortly after high school c. 1994 still in use as his beater farm truck, with upwards of 300K miles on the original 700R4.
Montreal4life@reddit
got 310k kms on my mk5 golf then i parked it... still shifting fine, taught many how to drive stick on it, lots of city driving. one clutch though.
Shienvien@reddit
I'd have to check what number was on it exactly, but there is at least one Audi 100 Avant with closer to 800'000 around. Several other vehicles we have are around the 300k mark, a couple on the original clutch, too.