Ford put two completely different automatic transmissions behind the same Escape badge. Order a valve body for the wrong one and nothing bolts up. The units share zero hard parts, and sellers mix them up in listings all the time. Five minutes with this guide saves you a return label.
The short answer
Model year decides most cases.
| Vehicle | 6F35 (6-speed) | 8F35 (8-speed) |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape | 2009-2019 | 2020-2024 |
| Ford Fusion | 2010-2020 (2.5L) | never used it |
| Ford Edge | not used | 2019-2024 (2.0L only) |
| Bronco Sport | not used | 2021-2024 |
| Maverick | not used | 2022-2024 (2.0L) |
| Lincoln Nautilus | not used | 2019-2023 |
| Lincoln Corsair | not used | 2020-2024 |
| Mercury Milan / Mariner | 2009-2011 | never used it |
| Mazda Tribute | 2009-2011 | never used it |
Count gears if the year sits near the changeover. Six forward gears means 6F35. Eight means 8F35. Your owner’s manual, a scan tool, or the door-jamb build sticker settles it.
One trap worth calling out: some older parts listings claim 8F35 fitment for the Fusion and Lincoln MKZ. Those cars run the 6F35. The 8F35 never went in either one.
Inside the 6F35: Gen 1 vs Gen 2
Identifying the 6F35 gets you halfway. The valve body changed at the 2013 model year, and the two designs refuse to interchange.
Gen 1 (2009-2012): casting number 9L8P-7A101 on the valve body. Escape 2.5L and 3.0L through 2012, Fusion 2.5L 2010-2012, plus the Milan, Mariner, and Tribute.
Gen 2 (2013 and up): casting number CV6P-7A101. Escape and Fusion moved here in 2013.
Read the casting off your old unit before ordering. The number sits cast into the aluminum, not printed on a sticker.
One more 6F35 fact that surprises people: the transmission has no computer inside. Shift control lives in the vehicle’s PCM. When a recycler advertises a 6F35 valve body “with TEHCM,” they mean the solenoid lead-frame assembly. A replacement still needs its solenoid strategy codes (printed on the lead-frame tag) entered into your PCM with Ford IDS, FDRS, or a capable J2534 tool. Budget for that programming step. It is not plug and play.
Inside the 8F35
The 8F35 launched for 2019 in the Nautilus and Edge, then spread to the Escape, Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Maverick. It is an 8-speed transaxle with its own valve body design, service part numbers JM5Z-7A100-D and JM5Z-7A100-E depending on build.
Because the unit is young, used hard parts are the practical repair path. Dealers mostly want to sell complete transmissions.
Buying parts without getting burned
Three checks before you pay for anything:
- Match the casting number, not the vehicle list. Vehicle lists hide mid-year splits. Castings do not lie.
- Photograph your tag. The transmission tag and the casting give a seller everything needed to confirm fitment.
- Ask. We check fitment against your VIN or tag the same business day, before you order.
Parts on the shelf
We stock used hard parts for both families, pulled from inspected donor units, photographed so you can read the castings yourself:
- 6F35 parts: valve bodies (Gen 1 and Gen 2), pumps, drums
- 8F35 parts: valve bodies, pump, differential and more
Not sure which unit you have? Call 931-264-5429 with your VIN and we will tell you, no order required.