Ford F-150 Complaints

39,812 consumer complaints on file.

#11763427September 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2019 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost with the 10-speed 10R80 transmission has developed severe shifting and acceleration problems that create a safety risk. The transmission frequently appears to skip 2nd gear and bangs very hard into 3rd. This 1st-to-3rd harsh shift is persistent and does not go away after the truck warms up. I also experience delayed shifts including 3rd-4th, 6th-7th, 8th-9th and sometimes 9th-10th. Downshifts into 4th can also cause a hard bang. More concerning, the truck intermittently hesitates and loses forward momentum when accelerating. This happens with light, moderate or heavy throttle. It commonly occurs during the first 3-4 miles but can happen with a cold or warm start. It can also return after the truck has been driven, parked briefly, and restarted. This creates a serious crash risk when I pull onto a main road or merge onto a highway. After I commit to entering traffic, the truck can hesitate and lose momentum instead of accelerating. I must wait for an unusually large gap in traffic because I cannot predict whether the truck will accelerate normally. I regularly have my two young children in the vehicle and no longer feel safe driving it. There are no warning lights. An independent mechanic found the transmission fluid low and topped it off. The PCM/TCM programming was also updated. Neither corrected the problem. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Ford for this condition and is available for inspection. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this as a potential safety defect because the unpredictable loss of acceleration while entering or merging with moving traffic creates a risk of collision. The hesitation can occur without warning after I have already entered moving traffic, leaving little opportunity to avoid an approaching vehicle. I believe the unpredictable loss of acceleration creates an immediate risk of a side-impact or rear-end collision.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763476September 10, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
Driver side brake hose failure at upper crimp on the hose caused loss of brake fluid and spongy peddle
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763091September 9, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the contact attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to stop as needed and the braking distance became extended. Additionally, the brake pedal was firm while depressed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V236000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763111September 9, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard but failed to respond as intended. The contact enabled the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle had experienced catastrophic brake failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a leak in the brake master cylinder. The contact was informed that the brake master cylinder, brake booster, and brake vacuum sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763135September 9, 2026
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the horn pad on the steering wheel, the horn failed to provide an audible sound as intended. The air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,825.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763161September 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My vehicle's transmission changed gears suddenly and unexpectedly causing a slight difficulty to control. Following the sudden gear change, some lights on the dashboard began flickering erratically. I have video of the dashboard after the gear change. For this incident, I was driving about 25 MPH. I experienced similar behavior before and at highway speeds. Since then, the vehicle was serviced by Ford for a Safety Recall Notice 26S28/NHTSA Recall 26V237. The service performed under the recall did not fix the problem. The local Ford dealer told me they would charge me to have the problem investigated, so I have not brought the vehicle in to them.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763163September 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission slips gears and sometimes shifts violently. I took the truck to a Ford dealership for an assessment and was told I need to replace the whole transmission. I also have a problem with oil consumption from the engine. I was told by the same dealership that this was a known problem with the 5.0 engines built from 2019 to, I believe 2023 and that it would require an engine replacement. I bought this truck from an individual and now I am stuck with it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763169September 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I’m concerned about the 1080R transmission CDF drum issues that ford had on these year models.Mine is downshifting hard at times not every gear but more between 5-8 gears, or especially coming to a stop light it will down shift hard from 3rd to 1st. Shifting up is not as bad as the downshifting but it still does shift harder than normal.Just doing research on others that had the bad parts in their CDF drum issues seem like mine is having same issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763188September 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving, the transmission became stuck in fifth gear. The “WRENCH” warning light was illuminated at start-up. The contact stated that while shifting from neutral(N) to reverse(R), the vehicle made a clunking sound and lurched backward. The failure became progressively worse. While driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. A dealer was notified of the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762944September 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I own a 2015 Ford F-150 equipped with the 6R80 transmission. I have experienced multiple intermittent transmission problems that I believe may present a safety concern. During one freeway incident, the wrench warning light came on and the transmission went into what appeared to be failsafe/limp mode. The truck would not accelerate normally and I was unable to get the vehicle much above approximately 50 mph. I pulled over, shut the engine off, and restarted it. After restarting, the transmission operated normally again. On multiple other occasions , I had separate incidents where the transmission became stuck in a gear while I was slowing to a stop at a traffic light. When I attempted to accelerate, the engine RPM became very high but the vehicle had very little acceleration. The transmission eventually began operating normally again, but then shifted very harshly into the correct gear. The vehicle currently has DTC P0717, Turbine Shaft Speed Sensor A — No Signal. I am attaching a Ford dealer service record. The service advisor’s written description states that the truck “down shifted to 1st” and was “stck in gear.” I want to clarify that these are the service advisor’s words summarizing my report, I did not tell the advisor that I observed the transmission downshift to first gear. I explained the incident on the freeway, only later learning this was likely the transmission going into failsafe, the wrench light came on, and the truck lost normal acceleration. The same dealer record recommends replacement of the transmission molded leadframe/filter. I am concerned that an intermittent failure involving the 6R80 transmission’s sensor/leadframe system could cause unexpected transmission behavior or loss of normal acceleration while driving, creating a safety hazard.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762985September 9, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While accelerating to pass another vehicle, on numerous occasions, and at speeds of 45-65 MPH, transmission suddenly downshifts to first gear, and engine over revs, followed by a very loud slam in the drivetrain. This has happened about twenty times, once with my wife along. There is a recall on 2014, F-150’s, but my VIN was not included. The dealership is refusing to investigate because they haven’t been able to reproduce this intermittent problem. I, essentially, have been told to pick up the vehicle that I’m afraid to drive. Must I wait until I have an accident because the rear wheels lock up?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762986September 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The 10R80 transmission failed internally due to the defective CDF clutch drum assembly. Vehicle experienced dangerous gear dropping/slipping. Forced to pay out of pocket at an independent shop for a total rebuild. I have not seen anything from dealer. It was inspected by an independent shop. There was no warning prior to the failure. This happened right over 100,000 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763028September 9, 2026
PARKING BRAKE
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the parking brake activated independently. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V509000 (Parking Brake); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was contacted and stated that the repair was not covered because the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763044September 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
In September 2025 my 2015 F-150 did a hard downshift at speed. I took it in and they replaced the transmission lead frame, charging me $2,500. Since that time it has shifted hard from 1st to 2nd and 5th to 6th. In July, 2026, I received Ford Safety Recall 26S28, addressing the exact downshifting defect I paid to fix. I brought the truck in for the prescribed software remedy, in August, 2026 but the harsh shifting remained so i took it back on September 3rd, 2026 at which time they replace the valve body or lead frame and road tested it; the hard 1st to 2nd and 5th to 6th remained and the told me the transmission is "broke" and would require the entire transmission be replaced for ~$8,400. I reported this to Ford Motor Company Customer Satisfaction and it was escalated, case # CXH-09263554-W5R5T3, but was just told that "...there are no programs available to provide assistance with the repairs."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762710September 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. While the contact’s husband was reversing at 5 MPH, the transmission slammed hard into reverse. The vehicle was shifting hard into reverse, and the vehicle struck a pole, causing a dent on the rear panel of the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was operated as intended. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762766September 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fails to downshift to 1st gear when coming to a stop. Instead, it remains in 3rd gear, requiring the truck to pull away from a complete stop in 3rd gear. The dealership did perform the software update on 08/20/2026 ,yet the issues remain the same. The vehicle has set diagnostic trouble code P0722 for the transmission output speed sensor. I have been informed that the output speed sensor is molded into the transmission lead frame and cannot be replaced separately, requiring replacement of the lead frame. Today, the transmission malfunction created an immediate and potentially life-threatening safety situation. As I pulled out of my driveway, the truck remained in 1st gear and would not properly progress through the gears. It then abruptly jumped into 2nd gear and caused the vehicle to stall/lose forward progress while I was entering the roadway. Oncoming traffic was nearly upon me and I was almost struck. The vehicle eventually engaged the proper gear and continued moving, but by that time I was in a dangerous, life-threatening situation. This is not an isolated incident or an occasional inconvenience. The transmission has been repeatedly malfunctioning, including going into limp mode in 5th gear and failing to downshift appropriately when stopping. The vehicle's inability to properly select and engage the appropriate gear creates a serious risk when pulling into traffic, stopping, accelerating, or attempting to avoid another vehicle. Ford has a customer satisfaction program related to the transmission lead frame/output speed sensor issue. However, I was told that my vehicle is not covered because P0722 is not one of the diagnostic codes included for coverage.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762793September 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
In 2025 my 2017 Ford F-150 started randomly downshifting. We took the car to the ford dealer who could not assess what the problem was exactly (Rowe Ford in Westbrook, Maine). They suggested a new transmission to be safe and clearly indicated that this was not a safe truck to drive at the time. We took the truck to another ford dealer to try to get an actual determination of what was wrong (Casco Bay Ford, Maine). They also advised that no codes were being given but that the truck was clearly downshifting and not safe. With no real alternatives or clear problem, we paid $8,000+ for a new transmission. Then, months later we get the recall notice: (Campaign 26S28 / NHTSA Recall 26V237) - Ford F-150's were downshifting... We had Ford do the software update as this is now a new transmission, but when we asked about the Recall and if there was anything we could do about the $8,000 we just paid lower and upper management (we talked to both) advised that because they could not definitively put a label to the problem before we fixed the transmission that they could not attribute the downshifting to the same problem and so will not help or otherwise reimburse us for the cost of having to fix the problem that was recalled later. No remedy was offered by Ford.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762811September 8, 2026
ENGINE
My 2020 Ford F-150 (5.0L V8) experienced a sudden loss of engine power and stalled completely while I was driving. In the days leading up to this, the check engine light had illuminated, and I later discovered the vehicle had consumed a severe amount of engine oil — the dipstick read below the "add" line. Critically, no low oil pressure warning light or audible chime alerted me to the oil loss before the stall occurred. After the initial stall, the engine continued to struggle to maintain idle and stalled repeatedly whenever RPM dropped to approximately 1,000, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. I had the vehicle towed to a Ford dealership for diagnosis. The dealership's estimate confirmed the need for a full engine (long block) replacement, at a cost of approximately $19,824.56 (total estimate $21,491.04). I am aware that Ford issued Technical Service Bulletin 19-2365, which acknowledges that 2018-2020 F-150 trucks with the 5.0L engine may experience excessive oil consumption exceeding one quart per 3,000 miles with no visible external leaks, attributed to oil being drawn into the engine during deceleration fuel shut-off events. I believe this defect directly caused my vehicle's stalling and oil starvation, and that the lack of any dashboard warning prior to the failure is a separate and significant safety concern, since a driver has no way to know the engine is being damaged or that a stall is imminent.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762837September 8, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to 3rd gear. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the dealer and manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the recall, and the fault code listed in the recall was not retrieved from the vehicle. The contact stated that after the vehicle skidded on the roadway after the unexpected downshift, there was an orange WRENCH light illuminated on the instrument panel. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762867September 8, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FORD CORPORATE CASE NUMBER: CXH-09262770. My 2015 Ford F-150 has experienced sudden, dangerous transmission downshifts at highway speeds that nearly caused a fatal collision. I complied with Ford's mandatory Recall 26S28 software flash, but the dangerous hardware symptoms remain active. The vehicle is currently grounded and unsafe to drive at the dealership lot, but Ford Corporate is denying the physical lead frame replacement due to narrow diagnostic code restrictions."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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