What Causes a Truck Transmission to Fail?

Today’s truck transmissions are more similar to standard car transmissions than ever. A vast majority of vehicles on the road these days have automatic transmission systems. Manual transmissions are less common than they used to be in pickup trucks and large SUVs. That’s because older manual transmissions could handle more weight and torque than the older automatic designs. As technology continues to advance, modern automatic transmissions for larger vehicles are capable of handling just about anything.

Why Truck Transmissions Sometimes Fail

Still, truck transmissions tend to fail a little more often than those in smaller cars. The extra weight and torque still have an impact on the transmission system and its components, especially over time as more mileage is added to the vehicle. Modern transmissions are engineered well, but they can still be prone to failure if pushed too hard.

Naturally, pickup trucks and large SUVs are heavier than regular passenger cars and sports cars. The transmissions are bigger and designed to be more powerful. Many truck drivers will also carry and tow heavier loads, thus adding even more weight to the vehicle when driving. Steep grades, stop-and-go city traffic, faster acceleration capabilities and other factors can also contribute to the stress and strain put on a truck’s transmission. Again, the bigger the vehicle, the more these factors can affect the transmission, drivetrain components, brakes, wheels, tires, suspension, etc.

The Test of Time

Eventually, it all adds up and the transmission may experience internal damage that hinders performance. The torque converter is one of the automatic transmission components that tends to fail, but there are any number of parts that can wear out and weaken over time. The more you push your truck and the more mileage you pile on, there’s a good chance the transmission will ultimately start to experience some problems. Those problems can snowball quickly and the transmission may ultimately fail.

We see plenty of regular cars in our shop with failing transmissions, as well. We just tend to see more trucks and it’s not hard to understand why. The good news is the Ralph’s Transmission Modesto shop is equipped with heavy duty lifts and our technicians are experts at truck transmission service and repair.

Keeping Your Truck Transmission Healthy

It’s important to take care of your truck or SUV’s transmission system with proper maintenance. At the first sign of any transmission issues, you will want to get it inspected and repaired before it develops into something more significant. If the damage is bad enough, we may recommend a full custom transmission rebuild to get it running like new again. All rebuilds are performed in the Ralph’s Transmission shop and are backed by our industry-leading 3 Year, 100,000 Mile Warranty.

We love trucks at Ralph’s Transmission and we understand how much you love your truck or SUV. Call us today at 209.526.1909 for the best truck transmission care in the Central Valley. You can also book your service appointment online.

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