It's XLT four wheel drive. The jerking started last summer. I wasn't paying attention until my friends pointed it out and suggested it might be a start of transmission problems. The jerking isn't that strong, just as if something is loose in the drivetrain and it's rather unpleasant driving experience. It mostly happens at lower speeds, rarely on the freeway. Since the truck is still under warranty, I took it to the Ford service center. They checked it agreed the problem is real and the transmission calls for an overhaul. So they took the transmission apart but it turned out some small part needed a replacement and it was on the back order indefinitely, so they just replaced the transmission with a new one. The jerking has not disappeared, however. I took the truck back to the center, they kept it for a week and said they can't locate the source of the problem, perhaps the new transmission needs to break-in, so come back after 3000-5000 miles. Which doesn't make much sense to me because the symptoms have not changed, no matter what transmission is in, old or new. And after 3000 miles the truck will be past the warranty range. Have other Ranger owners experience this problem? Was it fixed? And what other reasons, short of transmission, could be the problem here?

 

Welcome to the forum

Haven't read about that specific complaint before

What about in 4WD vs 2WD, any change in symptom?

Any noticeable tachometer change when problem occurs?

I assume you only feel it when accelerating not when decelerating

I think the warranty on a known issue is extended, but for that issue only, check with Ford

 

Tried switching from 2WD to 4WD and back - no noticeable change. Jerks are very short, doesn't look like it's the engine. The feeling it's happening in the drivetrain, not in the engine.

Both, accelerating and decelerating. You take your foot off the gas pedal and there might be a kick or two.

 

I am sure Ford techs checked but free to ask them, "is there a software update for the PCM?"
Or a reload of factory software

The part that broke in the original trans, may have been broken by a solenoid being momentarily activated by the PCM at the wrong time, causing the "jerks" and also the broken part over time, making it worse
Software is 1's and 0's if either is reversed then its a glitch that can cause all sorts of odd issues

 

I'll try, thank you.

 

Does it buck more when you make corners, especially on hard, dry surfaces? You may be stuck in 4WD.

 

No. Nothing like that.