5 cars with transmissions that are practically indestructible

When an engine fails, the loss is immediate and usually very obvious through smoke, noise and a loss of some or all power. When a transmission fails, however, it’s much more subtle and insidious, starting with the gears, a jerk here, a shudder there. The next level up would be harsh shifts, culminating in no power to the wheels. Transmission repair bills are among the highest in cars, and for older vehicles, the cost of a transmission repair can exceed the value of the car (or truck) itself. That’s why vehicles that have reliable transmissions are worth their weight in gold. Since manual transmission cars have become increasingly rare in recent years, all of the ones on this list are automatic units.

However, the transmissions we list are all wildly different from one another, sharing nothing in common other than their reliability and durability, really. I avoided new cars because I didn’t have reliable data to prove longevity in those cases. Readers are asked to note that obviously not every vehicle that has the same transmission will last the same miles; because there could be any number of differences between two vehicles that have the same transmission. A used car’s individual maintenance, upkeep and climate will have a big influence on how well its transmission will hold up. It is always prudent to do thorough research before making a purchase decision and to carefully inspect any used car before purchasing. With all that said, here are five cars that have transmissions that can’t be broken.

Read more: 5 Tips to Know Before Buying a Used JDM Engine

1995 to 2005 Tacoma and Tundra – Aisin A340

We start with the first-generation Toyota Tacoma, which ran from 1995 to 2004. Although Toyota has made pickup trucks before, the Tacoma was the first time the company named a model. The first-generation Tacoma was available with three engine choices, which included a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a 2.7-liter four-cylinder, and a 3.4-liter V6 with several different transmission options, including manual and automatic.

We want to talk specifically about the Aisin A340 transmission, which could be equipped with all three of these engines. The larger V6 engine produced an impressive 190 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque, and the first generation was available in three cab configurations: double, access and regular; with bed lengths of 5, 6 and 7 feet respectively. Regular cabs with a 6-foot bed could also be had. As for the transmission itself, the A340 was a four-speed automatic gearbox that was first launched in 1985.

The gearbox shares Toyota’s legendary reliability, because, well, Toyota actually owns Aisin, at least in part. In terms of reliability, the Tacoma (overall) has a 25.3 percent chance of lasting 250,000 miles, according to iSeeCars. That’s more than five times the average vehicle’s chance of achieving that mileage per odo, which is all there is to say about the Aisin A340. The good news for potential buyers is that even if an A340 transmission needs work, parts are cheap and help is plentiful on the internet.

2019+ RAM 2500 – Eight-speed ZF

Many people will have heard something like “this car is equipped with a ZF transmission”, and with good reason. What people don’t realize is that ZF is actually a company based in Germany that designs transmissions and then licenses them to car manufacturers around the world. We dare say that ZF, which is an acronym for the company’s full name, Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, is one of the most popular transmission manufacturers in the world. The 2019 Dodge RAM 2500 is just one of many brands that happens to use an eight-speed automatic from ZF. We’ve specifically included the RAM 2500 because it also ranks well in iSeeCars’ study of vehicles that could hit 250,000 miles, with a 17.3 percent chance of doing so.

This number is 1.3 times the average for the pickup truck segment, which is quite impressive. Only units that had the 6.4L Hemi engine option could be had with this gearbox, which is a shame as it is one of the most reliable transmissions of all time. In fact, we’ve also listed an eight-speed ZF – which mechanics rave about – before on our list of the best transmissions ever fitted to production cars. As it stands, the latest RAM 2500 models are still available with an eight-speed gearbox from ZF, albeit an updated version. It’s worth noting that the RAM 1500 actually uses the 2013 eight-speed ZF, but the 1500 ranks lower than the 2500 in the iSeeCars study.

2015 Dodge Challenger – Tremec TR-6060

Dodge has long been obsessed with making its cars the most powerful on the market. But with big power comes big torque, and Dodge (which is now one of the many brands Stellantis owns) had to come up with a gearbox that could handle all that noise. His solution for the 2015 models was to simply use an existing gearbox, which ended up being the 6060, made by a company called Tremec. The same six-speed RWD gearbox is also used in other high-performance models, such as Chevrolet’s Camaro ZL1. In both the Camaro ZL1 and the Challengers that are equipped with it, the Tremec 6060 is rated to handle 650 lb-ft of torque. At its core, the 6060 improved durability just by making many components bigger, thicker, and more bearable.

For example, some items on the 6060 that have become larger (compared to the old non-magnum T56) include the roller bearings on the input shafts, the main shaft, the teeth on the number three and four timings, and the sprockets themselves, among others. Interestingly, Tremec also markets an upgraded version of the 6060 as the T56 Magnum, which is likely an ode (but largely unrelated) to the T56 transmission that was used in the legendary Dodge Viper two decades ago. In addition, readers should note that the Challenger is not listed in the iSeeCars study, but for all the points I mentioned above, we decided to include it in our paper.

2003 to 2024 4Runner – Toyota A750

We’re back to the kings of reliability, Toyota, with this next one, as it comes in the form of the Toyota 4Runner. It’s one of their five mid-size SUVs – and contrary to popular belief, Toyota actually only makes one full-size SUV, which is the Sequoia. Back to the 4Runner though; there have only been six distinct generations of the 4runner since the model was introduced in 1984, highlighting the brand’s “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” design philosophy. We want to talk specifically about the fourth and fifth generation 4runners, which ran from 2003 to 2024 – so just over two decades – because they used the bulletproof A750 transmission.

What many people may not realize is that this box is also made by Aisin, who made the A340 we featured above. Makes sense – one would expect a very reliable car company to have very reliable transmissions, and Aisin seems to continue to deliver, at least according to owners on forums like Toyota-4runner.org. As for the unit itself, the 750 is actually branded and manufactured by Toyota, which is an important distinction as variants of the 750 are also used in cars from other companies, notably Suzuki and Mitsubishi. The Toyota A750 comes in two variants, 2WD and 4WD, designated with the suffix “E” and “F” respectively, the most serious problem apparently being a faulty solenoid. The design was so robust that it later spawned a six-speed variant called the AB60E, albeit with modifications.

Ford Super Duty 2011-2019 – Ford 6r140

It should surprise no one that the next vehicle on our list is another utility-focused one in the form of the Ford Super Duty. We want to focus specifically on the 2011-2019 model years because that’s when the F-250 came with the Ford-made 6r140 transmission. Note that there was another Ford six-speed transmission known as the 6r80 (which was also quite reliable, actually), although the 6r80 was intended for lighter applications such as Transit vans and the F-150. Additionally, the 6r80 (and unfortunately the 6r140) would eventually be dropped in favor of a 10-speed inline transmission, which had a number of issues.

And yes, the 6r140 was available in most of Ford’s Super Duty lineup, starting with the F-250 and going all the way up to the behemoth F-550. Given that the vehicles in this range are meant to be workhorses, it’s no surprise that Ford has designed them to last a long time. For example, the 6r140 can handle over 1,000 pounds of torque and has smart systems that downshift earlier when going downhill with a trailer.

That robust engineering is likely a factor in the F-450 getting a 28.5 percent chance of hitting the 250,000-mile mark on the odometer, at least according to the same iSeeCars findings. That score is 2.2 times the average truck’s chance of hitting that mileage, and interestingly, the F-150 actually performs half as well as average, with just a 5.9 percent chance of hitting that mark.

Methodology

To begin our research, we first selected a few reliable car models, then looked at the transmissions they had, then to narrow the list down, we did a few things. Let’s say we wanted to include a transmission called “X” on this list. First, I identified a model that carries that transmission and looked it up on AutoTempest. If a large number of these cars were over 100-150,000 miles, that’s check box one.

Second, we looked at iSeeCars’ “likelihood of reaching 250,000 miles” score. Third, was to look at online sources, mainly garage and mechanic reviews, and some editorial reviews where available, preferably from authors who were hands-on with the cars. Where a large number of models had the same transmission, we chose to go with the best-known or best-selling, as appropriate.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.