Ford F-150 Complaints (2018)

2,327 consumer complaints on file.

#11746999June 28, 2026
POWER TRAIN
When you go to take off and pull into traffic the transmission will stall and not move. The transmission will shift into gear in about 5 seconds afterwards. Then it shifts erratic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746946June 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle: 2018 Ford F-150 3.0L Power Stroke Diesel I am submitting this complaint because my vehicle's transmission exhibits repeated and potentially dangerous operating behavior that has not been corrected despite service by a service shop. The transmission unexpectedly downshifts while driving at highway speeds without driver input. It is also consistently slow to shift into appropriate gears during normal acceleration, causing delayed power delivery followed by abrupt and harsh gear engagement. The transmission frequently shifts aggressively, resulting in severe jolts that force occupants forward in their seats. The shifting behavior is unpredictable and significantly impacts safe operation of the vehicle. I brought the vehicle to an authorized mechanic for diagnosis and repair. During the inspection, I was informed that the transmission fluid level was approximately 75% below the proper level. The diesel automotive shop performed a transmission software update and returned the vehicle to me. Despite these repairs, the transmission problems have continued and appear to have become more severe. The ongoing symptoms include: - Unexpected downshifts at highway speeds. - Delayed gear engagement and hesitation before shifting. - Harsh, abrupt shifting accompanied by violent jolts. - Unpredictable transmission behavior that reduces driver confidence and control. These conditions create a significant safety concern, particularly at highway speeds, where unexpected downshifts or delayed power response can increase the risk of a collision. Because the issue persists after dealership service and a software update, I believe there may be a defect affecting the transmission or its control system that warrants investigation. I respectfully request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate this issue to determine whether it represents a broader safety-related defect affecting other vehicles of the same model and model year.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746971June 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
UNKNOWN Transmission jerking at low gears. Transmission randomly enters neutral when in traffic at low speeds when accelerating causing dangerous safety issues. Transmission randomly downshifts causing safety hazard. No warning lamps or messages. Started about 1 year after purchase and has progressed to more often
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746767June 26, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The truck suddenly downshifts hard and the truck slows down significantly, without warning. When it goes back into gear, the whole truck jolts and the transmission shifts hard. It has always shifted hard, but the dealer blames the 10 speed transmission “just does that”. They don’t know why. This report tells me to enter a single date, but it happens about every 1 in of 5 times we drive it, and has for a few years now. Again, the dealer tells us nothing is wrong and they can’t recreate it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746152June 24, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission is failing. Up shifting it misses gears and slams into random gears. It has sent me off the road buy at 50 mph in 7th gear it randomly shifts to first gear locks the rear tires up and spins the truck out. The problem can be reproduced anytime you start driving the truck after its been off for a while. But that doesn't mean it can't start up at any time. no warning light. problem started around 78k miles. THIS IS DANGER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746279June 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, POWER TRAIN
I think that ford needs to a recall on these 10r80 transmissions, I was driving a week ago and suddenly I went to limp mode. Went to gear one now transmission is hesitating
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745829June 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Subject: Safety Defect Complaint – Sudden 10R80 Transmission Failure in 2018 Ford F-150 Dear NHTSA, I am reporting a serious safety issue with my 2018 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. The transmission failed completely at only 93,000 miles, well before Ford’s first recommended fluid change at 150,000 miles. While driving, the transmission suddenly shifted from 3rd gear directly to 7th gear, skipping intermediates. This caused severe loss of power (“gutless”) or abrupt deceleration nearly to a halt. The erratic behavior created multiple dangerous close calls in traffic. I was able to get it to a Ford dealer. They confirmed total transmission failure and referenced a Technical Service Bulletin identifying a known component (CDF clutch drum/hub) that commonly fails due to excessive heat and inadequate durability. Replacement was quoted at approximately $10,000. I contacted Ford Customer Service, described the safety risk of sudden unpredictable shifts, cited the known defect in their technical documentation, and requested assistance. Ford declined any support or remedy. This premature failure, combined with erratic shifting and loss of vehicle control, poses a clear risk of crashes. I urge NHTSA to investigate the 10R80 transmission issues in 2017–2020 F-150s and require Ford to issue a recall or extended remedies to protect public safety. Thank you for your attention. I have provided repair records, dealer notes, and further details below. Sincerely, [XXX] VIN: [XXX] Phone: [XXX] Email: [XXX] Date: 6/22/2026 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745838June 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN
transmission failure
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745841June 23, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
- Master Cylinder leaking into booster Pump. ~Lost brakes going 65MPH, had to drive into a grass area to slow down. No warning lights until I lost all brakes. - Transmission hard shifting and unreliable gear selection ~ This truck has missed gears when passing intersections and has almost caused a wreck multiple time. Transmission is unsafe for users to drive with.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745983June 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN
On 3 separate occasions while driving at highway speeds, the transmission has rapidly moved from 10th gear to 1st resulting in a rapid decline in speed. Additionally, this vehicle loses power between 3rd and 5th gear, resulting in hesitation that has nearly caused accidents on two occasions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745592June 22, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
This vehicle received a PCM update performed in strict accordance with Ford service procedures, per TSB/SSMO No. 24E12, on 1/02/26. At the time of the update, no stored or pending diagnostic trouble codes related to catalyst efficiency were present, and the vehicle was operating as designed. Pre- and post-update scan data has been retained and is available upon request. Approximately 100 miles after the recalibration, the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was returned for service within 500 miles, at which point a DTC P0420 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold) was confirmed as a mature two-trip fault. This condition was not present — and had not been detected — during the vehicle's prior 134088 miles of operation, which includes no history of catalyst-related codes. The immediate onset of this fault following the PCM recalibration strongly indicates that the updated calibration altered system monitoring thresholds in a manner that directly triggered this code. This presentation is inconsistent with an ordinary mechanical failure. The most reasonable conclusion is that the fault is either calibration-induced or that the prior calibration's monitoring parameters were insufficient to detect a borderline condition that the updated calibration now flags. In either case, the root cause is directly traceable to a Ford-mandated software update — not to customer neglect, abuse, or normal wear.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745453June 21, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Truck has reoccurring issue of shifting from 10 to 1 at highway speeds causing me to shift into neutral as to not WRECK. No check engine light or trans light, which makes proving it to dealer is impossible. Only happens once every few months. Through forscan I can see the OSS speed sensor drops voltage briefly then regains voltage. This is a very expensive yet very dangerous truck and ford needs to be held accountable before someone dies....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745477June 21, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
This safety concern is related to the rear backup camera which sometimes goes dark, blank, has funny colors and fails to operate which could lead to backing i to something or someone.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745337June 20, 2026
POWER TRAIN
While driving at 55mph in normal traffic, the transmission downshifted from 10th to 3rd gear, then shifted to neutral, then back to 10th gear. While the transmission was hunting I had to brake and pull onto the shoulder to keep from getting rear ended. Once the transmission figured out what gear to be in, I continued to drive the truck home. It has remained parked in the driveway since due to unknown reliability.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745230June 19, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I have incidents where my vehicle will downshift or upshift erratically causing my truck to jerk and cause unsafe road conditions. For example when going somewhere or driving in traffic, I can come to a stop and the truck will downshift so quickly and jerk to the point to where it increases idle and I'm worried it's going to cause me to hit another car on the road and cause an accident. Very unsafe
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745268June 19, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle stalls, slams into lower gear causing truck to slam to a stop. Vehicle will go into neutral and not change gears while going down the hwy at hwy speeds
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745305June 19, 2026
POWER TRAIN, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
My vehicle stutters and hesitates as I accelerate up to 55moh. This occurs constantly not only during first startup.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744956June 18, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transmission in my f150 sometimes will down shift harshly when coming to a stop causing a sudden jolt that is very alarming. This does not happen very often. What is very consistent are these two symptoms. During acceleration it shifts very hard going to 3rd to 5th, skipping 4th all together. When accelerating up to highway speeds and merging the shift from 7th to 8th is delayed, and the engine RPMS spike. The inconsistency in the acceleration makes me wary that an unalert driver may rear end me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744584June 16, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Purchased my F 150 2017 King Ranch New from Auto Nation in Ft Worth Texas. Started having transmission problems and dealer did several computer updates. Moved in 2020 to Caldwell Texas and problems continued. Very hard shifting between gears (loud bang and jerking of vehicle). Then twice while traveling at about 60 miles per hour the transmission appeared to shift to much lower gear and engine RPM jumped to red line on tack. Required emergency move to shoulder because speed was also reduced. New Ford Dealer in Caldwell was unable to duplicate problem but recommended I take to a transmission expert (Oliver Brothers Transmission, Bryan Texas). Had dealer change fluids in transmission and rear differential before taking to Oliver Bros. Oliver Brothers believed the transmission may have a bad valve body. At that time I was afraid of transmission down shifting at the wrong time and causing me to wreck. Took back to Ford Dealership in Caldwell and told them to replace transmission. They replaced complete transmission and the hard shifting went away and so did the down shifting, this was 06/2023. I later traded in the truck for a new 2024 F 150.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743913June 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Made an appointment with a Ford dealership to take a look at my 2018 Ford F-150 10 speed transmission on 12th May of 2026 they said everything checked out. I brought it in because the transmission was slipping and shifting very hard .they said everything checked out and was fine on the 12th of May and two days later my truck didn't want to start up. I had a notification from Ford on my Ford app saying I had a malfunction powertrain or transmission issue and a wrench symbol lit up on my dash. I took it back to Ford dealership on the 14th and they took a look at it and they could not get anything to come up on their History check so they did a hard reset after they had it for about a week .I got it back on the 19th of May and it was still continually slipping and shifting hard so I made an appointment with a local transmission shop and they inspected it and told me to transmission was shot so they installed a rebuilt transmission. At that time this said transmission only had 42,668.8 mi on it and truck does not do any towing or hauling
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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