2018+ Expedition, Suburban/Tahoe, Sequoia

orange150

orange150

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Fairfax City, VA
Anyone have any experience with the two? I know more about the Chevy product than the Ford

Things keep failing on our beloved 2012 Suburban at a rate that I think it's time to move on.
 
I drive a 2016 Expedition. I never really owned Fords before my F250, so when I wanted a new vehicle I wasn't really even in the market for a Ford. Mostly looking at Tahoes/Yukons. After driving a few of them, decided I wasn't totally sold on it so started looking at the Expeditions. I drove one and fell in love with it. When I bought it I got them to do some paint work so they gave me a brand new Tahoe as a loaner. I hated it and couldn't wait to get my truck back. I haven't really had any issues with it other than the cylinder head temp sensor failing, which was a bitch to fix (I was out of town and the tech at Monroe and I fixed it together. :lol:)
 
Talked to a service writer about the 8spd and 10spd Chevy transmissions. He said they're garbage - the 6 speeds are much more reliable.

Which is weird, because Ford uses the same transmission.
 
Our expedition was a little older than you are asking. (2014) but....maybe just personal preference but I hated towing with the IRS.
It just never handled load shifts right and was super finicky to get trailer balanced. It did the job but I wouldnt want to do it frequently.

THey may have improved...and of course 2021+ Burbans are IRS now too.

Sequoi = Tundra. Missing out on many creature comforts of the others. Needs frequent visits to the gas station. What limited things it does it will do just as good in 10 years as it did he day it rolled off the lot. Namely crank, run, steer, brake and park.
 
shawn said:
Talked to a service writer about the 8spd and 10spd Chevy transmissions. He said they're garbage - the 6 speeds are much more reliable.

Which is weird, because Ford uses the same transmission.
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Of course every service writer said the same about TBI in 1987-1990 as well
 
shawn said:
Talked to a service writer about the 8spd and 10spd Chevy transmissions. He said they're garbage - the 6 speeds are much more reliable.

Which is weird, because Ford uses the same transmission.
Click to expand...
Trans programming can make or break its reliability. No idea what’s the actual failure rate but I know for sure the trans programming is different on both chevy and ford
 
Bebop said:
Trans programming can make or break its reliability. No idea what’s the actual failure rate but I know for sure the trans programming is different on both chevy and ford
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Sounded like the biggest problem was with the valve bodies
 
Bebop said:
Trans programming can make or break its reliability. No idea what’s the actual failure rate but I know for sure the trans programming is different on both chevy and ford
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When I worked at GM we developed a transmission with Ford, part print dimensions were almost identical, but clutch material, sprag count, metallurgy of components, and programming was different between the two platforms.

The devil is in the details I guess, think about identical house plans built by two different contractors.
 
I have a 2021 Z71 Tahoe I love it. For as big of a truck as it is, I am pulling down 20+ MPG pretty regularly with combined driving. Best 50 mile average I've had is 23 MPG. Space for the whole family and I can pull my 29' Camper
 
shawn said:
Talked to a service writer about the 8spd and 10spd Chevy transmissions. He said they're garbage - the 6 speeds are much more reliable.

Which is weird, because Ford uses the same transmission.
Click to expand...


I have a friend who just spent $5000 putting a new 6 speed trans/torque converter into his late model Sierra. He would beg to differ.
 
ManglerYJ said:
I have a friend who just spent $5000 putting a new 6 speed trans/torque converter into his late model Sierra. He would beg to differ.
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Yeah, but you do that every 130k and roll on. The service writer was talking about trucks that had new valve bodies and then new transmissions within the first 25k. Sure, that's under warranty... But who wants to spend $80k on a truck just so it can sit in the service lot?
 
ManglerYJ said:
I have a friend who just spent $5000 putting a new 6 speed trans/torque converter into his late model Sierra. He would beg to differ.
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My sons 14 1500 is on the 3rd 6l60 in 220k miles.
That’s 3 new GM transmission. 2 replacements and the original. The 3rd works manual only. Junk junk junk
 
We have a sequoia I am super happy with it. Traded my tundra for it. it’s got almost 200k, “10k” tow rating ( not sure I’d go that high with it but that’s what google says) I’ve pulled a few things with it, no more than 7-7500lbs. Lots of leg room front and back and then 3rd row I’ve been told isn’t terrible (we’ve had 3 adults on a 45min trip and was told they didn’t have a issue, they were 5’6”ish)
 
I have a 2016 Expedition and a 2019 Navigator. I much prefer the 2016 6spd over the 2019 10spd. In sub-35mph traffic, the 10spd is constantly hunting. My wife can also launch better than I can when we do a little red light racing. Both rigs a ‘tow package’ (I think that’s 9900lbs) and same/similar gears. I prefer towing with hers when the situation arises. Other than that, the Navi is just a fancier expi. When I was looking, the Navi was hands down the best all around…no way I’d pay the Escalade premium. Escalade felt like it was trying to be a premium vehicle as cheaply as possible. The suburban ranked high due to space, otherwise I still thought the Expedition ‘felt’ better than any of the GM offerings and I felt the Expedition was a little more ergonomical and less utilitarian.
 
Ron said:
My sons 14 1500 is on the 3rd 6l60 in 220k miles.
That’s 3 new GM transmission. 2 replacements and the original. The 3rd works manual only. Junk junk junk
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Lot of information missing here.
 
We've got a 2020 Expedition, just the XLT but it does have the HD tow package which was a deal breaker for me as I was searching the country for '20 leftovers early last Spring. The HD tow gives you the brake controller, 3.73 gears, a better radiator, 2-speed t-case and the "pro trailer backup assist" that I will never use because it also came with mirrors (lol). It's rated to tow up to 9,200lbs with a WDH.

Fuel economy is better than my old 2013 Tahoe. I'm averaging 17-18mpg, hand calculated, but can get closer to 20 with more highway time. I haven't towed any more than about 3500lbs with it yet, but it's been great so far. The 10 speed auto has had a handful of weird moments, but overall it does a great job of being where it needs to be when you need it to be there.

Depending on how heavy you ultimately plan to tow, you'll want to pay close attention to the payload rating. I skipped the moonroof, rear bench and a few other doodads and it really helped shed some pounds which gives more margin for error when you're towing and loaded with people/cargo at the same time.
 
Bebop said:
lot of information missing here


;)
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How so? I told y'all exactly what he told me.

Ron's post says he's got a 1500 with a 6L60, which is weird. Doesn't mention how often the fluid was changed, if any of the replacements were under warranty (should be covered for 100k), whether the replacements were done correctly, if he's fond of neutral drops, etc.
 
From what I've gathered, one of the biggest issues with the 6 speeds was the torque converter/torque converter clutch. I've seen stock (internals) do much better and live longer with a good, aftermarket converter and some tuning.

I'm not sold on GM's use of the 10 speed just yet. Ford "seems" to have it figured out a little better with aforementioned differences in software, tcm tuning, and (unbeknownst to me) some different internal parts/materials.

I do know of two guys that had '20/'22 model (1500) trucks bought back for constant transmission issues that dealerships tried to pass off as faulty injectors. Even the 10 speed "Allison" 10L1000 seems to have its share of faults.

Oh, one guy at work said his wife's transmission just crapped out. 2018 Chevy ½ ton. Said the temperature started creeping up. The "shop" told him it was a pump issue, which I don't believe. I haven't driven it, but I'm betting it's a converter issue. He said it shifts fine, but starts getting hotter the longer you drive it at highway speeds. Likely because the converter clutch came apart, partially blocked the cooler inlet passage, and since the converter can't lock, it just makes more and more heat.

It's a bit ridiculous what they charge for a stock rebuild/replacement on a 6 speed. I think he said 4200 bucks? Shoot...I'd absolutely throw some aftermarket parts in and do it myself for that kinda money!

All of this is a moot point for me, personally. I have no intentions of buying anything else or newer than what I've got. Just sharing some experiences from guys I work with.
 
shawn said:
How so? I told y'all exactly what he told me.

Ron's post says he's got a 1500 with a 6L60, which is weird. Doesn't mention how often the fluid was changed, if any of the replacements were under warranty (should be covered for 100k), whether the replacements were done correctly, if he's fond of neutral drops, etc.
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Theses a whole thread on here somehow about how awful the 6speeds are. I have one truck at work that is on trans #4. Lucky for me, they're so shitty the last 2 have gone out under warranty!
 
Ron said:
Our expedition was a little older than you are asking. (2014) but....maybe just personal preference but I hated towing with the IRS.
It just never handled load shifts right and was super finicky to get trailer balanced. It did the job but I wouldnt want to do it frequently.

THey may have improved...and of course 2021+ Burbans are IRS now too.

Sequoi = Tundra. Missing out on many creature comforts of the others. Needs frequent visits to the gas station. What limited things it does it will do just as good in 10 years as it did he day it rolled off the lot. Namely crank, run, steer, brake and park.
Click to expand...
Weird, I've towed my loaded car trailer with mine a few times and didn't really feel any issues. I mean, it doesn't tow as good as my F250 but I definitely like the way it feels better than my old 08 Tahoe.
 
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