This transmission shifting and "stuttering" problem is bizarre for sure. You would think Ford would have this figured out and resolved by 2019 Model Year! The PCM and TCM might have to learn your driving habits for a couple weeks before it settles down?
I have an early 2017 Build - March 2017. It had the hard & erratic shifting, surging / stuttering (feels like it is "missing" - old school term) on medium to hard acceleration, and the erratic MPG Bar Display bouncing up and down during steady throttle.
So I brought it into Team Ford LV 2 weeks ago for the A Pillar Insulation Recall. I asked Service Advisor to check Drivability and Transmission for PCM and TCM firmware update TSB's to correct the above problems. I waited for my truck at the dealer.
2 hours later, truck was complete. Insulation Recall done but Grab Handle screw covers were not snapped back on. Service Advisor said they drove the truck and it was "operating as designed" in Normal and Sport modes. SA Mike further said that there are no TSB's for my truck, no trouble codes found. He said Tech noted that I have an Aftermarket CAI Installed that could be causing the problems. No Firmware updates were installed, no trouble found, nothing done per my work order service receipt. I told SA that there is a TSB #18-2079. He said they don't do fIxes based on blogs (FRF). I asked why the Tech cannot just install the PCM TCM Firmware updates. He said that Ford has to approve them doing a 15 minute software load and there were none for my truck anyway - that everything was current??? I objected to them trying to blame the CAI!
When I got their Ford Survey I rated them 1 - Poor / Very Unsatisfied across the board! About a week later the Team Ford Service Manager Rachel called. She defended their findings and said they could test drive my truck with me and their shop foreman if I remove the CAI first, returning the truck to stock first. I reminded her that blaming aftermarket equipment is against the law and that my truck actually runs better with the CAI vs Stock Air Cleaner. She made an appt for me to bring my truck back in for their Shop Foreman to go on a test drive with me.
In the meantime, the problems have cleared up - all 3. The trans shifting, the surging, and the erratic MPG bar display.
I went back to Team Ford today for my appt with Shop Foreman. He said their "tech could not have left off the rear grab handle screw covers because they do not remove those for the Recall".
He snapped covers back on. We looked under the hood at my CAI. He asked if it was wired into the truck. I told him there are no active changes introduced by my AFE CAI, just airflow. He mentioned that 2 Raptors have come in with blown engines caused by AFE Scorcher Power Module Black Box Tuners. He said those blown engines were not covered by warranty due to overboosting the turbos. I explained I have not made any tuning changes or installed any other after market eqpt. He asked if my 35" mud tires have affected my speedo reading. The tires have not because they are only 1/2" taller than stock. So this Ford dealer is really trying to play the blame game now!
Anyway, I told the Foreman that the problems had cleared up as if the TSB had been installed and PCM TCM updated on my last visit. I showed him my printout of TSB 18-2079. He said he is familiar with it and "maybe the first tech had installed it without noting it on the Repair Order". So who knows?!
The only thing I have done since the last service visit between a couple weeks ago and today is run a couple bottles of Fuel Injector Cleaner through it. Could that have fixed everything? I doubt it.
Bottom line - Ford has to approve TCM & PCM updates before dealer will install or they don't get paid for their 15 minutes. Also they are trying to blame Mods for issues, at least at this Dealer, so beware.
One other differrence is that since the shift and surging problems have cleared up my truck has a little less high RPM grunt above 4,000 RPM even in Sport Mode. So I really think they updated firmware last visit. Tech did it for free and did not list it on RO so he wouldnt get in trouble IMO.
Aloha, HT