I've reported and successfully demonstrated to my dealer mechanic, that my transmission is severely downshifting, at this time mostly into fourth. The mechanic agreed that the harshness of the shift seemed hard enough to 'break something'. I agree. I am very concerned about sheering a gear.

The dealer consulted with engineering who had him run tests, flash the programing and reset the adaptive learning. After all that, I took it back in with the events continuing to occur.

At my second visit engineering was contacted again and issued a letter in response. The letter says that the concern may be a characteristic of the transmission due to the adaptive learning, and that the harshness is the transmission firmly compensating to avoid possible slippage. They referred to this as a self preservation measure. I don't think that they are listening, or understanding, the severity of the shift events. They are way beyond firm, they are like self destructive. One event in heavy traffic was so bad, I thought I'd been rear-ended.

Please contact me, if you are having similar experiences.

 

I have a 2009 XLT with the 5.4 with the same issues and the same work done at the dealership. The transmission is better after the reflash and the slip yoke being lubed but still there. The last time it was at the shop I drove the pickup with the mechanic and reproduced the hard downshift into 4th gear from 6th gear. The mechanic contacted Ford support and was given the same answer as you were. My problem started after I had the dealership flush my transmission at 45K on the truck.

 

Same problem just started happening in my truck (2009 5.4L 4x4) . I have 137,000 miles. Purchased the truck new and have performed 3 transmission flushes. The problem was so bad on yesterday's 300 mile highway trip, It was intolerable. Today, it seems fine. Too weird.. I'll change the fluid again and try some form of reset