Owners have filed 2,836 complaints
about the 2018 Ford F-150 with NHTSA between 2017 and 2026.
The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 33 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 100
Against the median year of the Ford F-150. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 40
7.8% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 81
47% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Body
17366.3%
Latch
228.4%
Automatic Transmission
145.4%
Latch
124.6%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
114.2%
Warnings
103.8%
Glass, Side/Rear
103.8%
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
93.4%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
604.8%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
24019.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
21216.8%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
21417.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
19215.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
13811.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
17113.6%
150,000+ miles
332.6%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Dec 2017peak 104Aug 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2018 Ford F-150
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
On July 29, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24019 to investigate complaints of low-pressure fuel pump failures in MY 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. Some consumers reported that the failure occurred without warning while driving, resulting in a complete loss of motive power with no ability to restart the engine. Ford determined that several other vehicle models contain low-pressure fuel pumps substantially similar to the 2021 Ford Bronco, including the 2022-2023 Ford Bronco, 2018-2023 Ford F-150, 2022-2023 Ford Expedition, 2019-2023 Lincoln Navigator, 2020-2023 Ford F-250-F-5...
PE18008Opened 3 Aug 2018Closed 17 Dec 2018SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
Seatbelt Pretensioner Fire
On June 18, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE18-008) to investigate complaints alleging post-crash fires at the B pillar in the area of the seat belt pretensioners on MY 2014-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab, and Super Crew Cab Vehicles. On August 24, 2018, Ford Motor Company recalled (FSA 18S27 - NHTSA #18V568) the affected population. Ford's investigation found that some front seat belt pretensioners may generate sparks during deployment in excess of Ford's specification. Sparks in the pretensioner exhaust gases inside the lower portion of the B-...
Recalls on the 2018 Ford F-150
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
26V373000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. When the headlight switch is turned from "Autolamps" to "Headlamps On," the Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) may remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
26V375000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 17V669. Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to Drive may cause a loss of gear indication on the instrument cluster display and a momentary selection of an unintended gear, such as Reverse or Neutral.
Risk: Unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
25V236000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
Risk: A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
24V852000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
22V150000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and 2016-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
Risk: A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
21V983000
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles with manual and power release tailgates. The tailgate latches may unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
Risk: Unexpected tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
21E027000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
Tenneco Automotive (DRiV) is recalling certain MOOG K500359 ball joints, for aftermarket installation on 2015-2018 Ford F-150 trucks. The ball joint may have a misaligned dust boot and may be missing alignment hole and installation warning tag, which may lead to improper alignment of the ball joint.
Risk: An incorrectly installed ball joint may cause the ball joint stud to break, which can compromise front wheel control, increasing the risk of a crash.
21V155000
TIRES
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202628812,774 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain trucks, the recall repairs completed by a Ford dealer during recall 20C03 (Transport Canada recall no. 2020-071) may not have been done correctly. As a result, a second repair is required. On certain trucks, a software problem could cause the daytime running lamps (DRLs) to remain on when switching the master lighting switch from the ''Autolamp'' position to the ''headlamp on'' position. Canadian regulations require the DRLs to turn off when the headlamps are switched on. Safety Risk: Daytime running lamps that stay on could cause glare for oncoming drivers and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your truck to a dealership to update the body control module software.
Recall 20262801,158 units in Canada
Powertrain
Issue: On certain trucks, the recall repairs completed by a Ford dealer during recall 17S35 (Transport Canada recall no. 2017-517) may not have been done correctly. As a result, a second repair is required. Under certain conditions, the transmission gear selection indicator (PRNDL) may not work. Additionally, the transmission could shift into the reverse or neutral gear. This could cause sudden and unexpected vehicle movements. Note: This recall only affects certain trucks equipped with a 3.3 L engine and a 6-speed transmission. Safety Risk: A transmission gear selection indicator that doesn't work could create confusion. A vehicle that moves unexpectedly could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your truck to a dealership to update the powertrain control module software.
Recall 2024779218,614 units in Canada
Visual System
Issue: On certain trucks, the windshield wiper linkage could corrode and seize. If this happens, the windshield wipers may not work. Safety Risk: Windshield wipers that don't work could reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your truck to a dealership to replace the windshield wiper linkage.
Recall 202177114,401 units in Canada
Structure
Issue: On certain trucks, the tailgate could unlatch and open while driving. If this happens, cargo that is not secured could fall out of the truck bed and onto the road. Safety Risk: Cargo that falls from the truck bed could create a road hazard for others. Corrective Actions: Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to dealer to replace both left and right-hand tailgate latches.
Recall 20211413,082 units in Canada
Tires
Issue: Certain vehicles were built with tires that may have been cured too long. As a result, the sidewall could crack or the tread and belts could separate. This could lead to a sudden loss of air pressure and could cause a tire failure. Note: This recall only affects certain Continental tires, with specific date codes and mold numbers. Safety Risk: A tire failure could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Ford will notify the owners by mail and instruct them to take the vehicle to a dealer to inspect and replace the tires, if necessary.
Recall 202007150,989 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain trucks, there may be a problem with the software that controls the daytime running lights (DRLs). When the DRLs are on and the master lighting switch is rotated from the “Autolamp” position to the “headlamp on” position, the DRLs do not lower to parking light brightness. Canadian regulations require that the DRLs turn off when the headlights are turned on. Note: This only affects trucks equipped with LED headlights and the Autolamp feature (automatic headlights). Safety Risk: Lights that are too bright could cause glare for oncoming drivers. Corrective Actions: Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to update the body control module (BCM) software.
Recall 202002389,472 units in Canada
Electrical
Issue: On certain trucks, the electric tailgate latch could malfunction. This may cause the tailgate to unlatch on its own. If the tailgate opens while driving, cargo that is not secured could fall out of the truck bed and onto the road. Safety Risk: Cargo that falls from the truck bed could create a road hazard for others. Corrective Actions: Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to modify the tailgate/frame wiring harnesses and will install a new tailgate handle release switch.
Recall 201943770,741 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
Issue: On certain vehicles, seats with a manual recliner may not meet the strength requirements of Canadian regulations. A seatback with reduced strength may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash. Safety Risk: A seatback that moves in a crash could increase the risk of injury. Corrective Actions: Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for an inspection of the driver and front passenger seat recliners. For 2020 model year Explorer and Aviator, dealers will inspect the rear outboard seats. The seat structures will be replaced as required.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 52,000 milesParkersburg, WVCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH and hauling a trailer, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to stop immediately. The contact drove the vehicle into a ditch to stop it. The message "Low Brake Fluid" was displayed, and the brake warning light was illuminated. The front driver's side tire was damaged from the ditch. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries sustained, and no police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V150000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
NHTSA complaint #11742248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 151,798 milesRayne, LAFire
ENGINE
The contact owns a Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving, there was an audible noise was heard and observed smoke coming from beneath the hood on the driver's side near the alternator. The contact pulled over and discovered flames coming from the engine compartment. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained and no additional property damages were reported. The vehicle was not destroyed and was later towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was ot diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was contacted but did not diagnosed or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 151,798
NHTSA complaint #11740895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nags Head, NCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Body control module catastrophic failure resulting in electrical failure while driving. Horn would not turn off, hazards would not turn off, warning modules firing off messages, burning smell coming from engine compartment. Absolute safety hazard while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11739810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mooresville, INFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving down the road and then smoke started bellowing out of the cupholder area of the center console and it smelled like burnt wires and I could hear it Cizzle so I pulled over as quick as I could and ripped out the center console to find that the connectors going to the glow rings on the cupholders had shorted out and were causing a small flame in melting the plastic so I ripped the wiring harness out that Fed the power to the cupholders .
NHTSA complaint #11736071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 167,000 milesBradford, ARCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, he was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle. The contact stated the front end of his vehicle impacted the front driver-side wheel of the other vehicle. The contact stated that not a single air bag deployed during the impact, and no brake collision warning was activated. No warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the crash. The contact stated he received a pre-collision notification on his phone approximately 30 seconds after the accident occurred, but he was unable to avoid the collision. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The contact was the only occupant in the vehicle. The contact sustained neck pain, a herniated disc, and a bulging disk in the lower back. The contact was taking no pills and undergoing physical therapy. A police report was filed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 167,000.
NHTSA complaint #11727328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 167,000 milesBradford, ARCrash1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, he was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle. The contact stated the front end of his vehicle impacted the front driver-side wheel of the other vehicle. The contact stated that not a single air bag deployed during the impact, and no brake collision warning was activated. No warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the crash. The contact stated he received a pre-collision notification on his phone approximately 30 seconds after the accident occurred, but he was unable to avoid the collision. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The contact was the only occupant in the vehicle. The contact sustained neck pain, a herniated disc, and a bulging disk in the lower back. The contact was taking no pills and undergoing physical therapy. A police report was filed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 167,000.
NHTSA complaint #11727328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 62,513 milesAurora, CO
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle lost motive power, and the brakes became inoperable. The drivetrain and wrench symbol were displayed. The ABS warning light was illuminated and DTC: U100 (Failure of Communication for Engine and Transmission) was displayed. The codes were cleared after restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a communication error with the engine and transmission computer. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The transmission upshifted from first gear to seventh. After a while, the vehicle resumed normal operations, but then the vehicle drove abnormally. The RPM increased to high, and the temperature gauge was at HOT. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed with complete transmission failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,513.
NHTSA complaint #11758290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,513 milesAurora, CO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle lost motive power, and the brakes became inoperable. The drivetrain and wrench symbol were displayed. The ABS warning light was illuminated and DTC: U100 (Failure of Communication for Engine and Transmission) was displayed. The codes were cleared after restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a communication error with the engine and transmission computer. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The transmission upshifted from first gear to seventh. After a while, the vehicle resumed normal operations, but then the vehicle drove abnormally. The RPM increased to high, and the temperature gauge was at HOT. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed with complete transmission failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,513.
NHTSA complaint #11758290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,513 milesAurora, CO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the vehicle lost motive power, and the brakes became inoperable. The drivetrain and wrench symbol were displayed. The ABS warning light was illuminated and DTC: U100 (Failure of Communication for Engine and Transmission) was displayed. The codes were cleared after restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a communication error with the engine and transmission computer. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The transmission upshifted from first gear to seventh. After a while, the vehicle resumed normal operations, but then the vehicle drove abnormally. The RPM increased to high, and the temperature gauge was at HOT. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed with complete transmission failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,513.
NHTSA complaint #11758290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glenside, PA
ENGINE
I believe there’s an ongoing lawsuit against Ford regarding these truck models, specifically their gearboxes, which are failing and slipping gears. After the initial recall for the new software gearbox mapping, my gearbox has started slipping, causing issues during downshifting, acceleration, and upshifting. There are frequent loud bangs
NHTSA complaint #11758239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to trade in the vehicle, there was a mileage discrepancy discovered. The vehicle was a private sale. The mileage at the time of the purchase was approximately 93,000 miles, which was displayed on the odometer; however, the trade-in dealer informed the contact that the vehicle history report listed the mileage at over 190,000.
NHTSA complaint #11758222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Inigoes, MD
POWER TRAIN
My 10R80 transmission has failed at 79000 miles. This tranmission has been problematic during the life of this truck. Hard shifting, delayed shift, clutch flutter. Ford refused to honor my extended warranty that covers the power train beyond the 5/60000mile base warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11757451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rolla, ND
POWER TRAIN
Truck starting missing gears when pulling onto highway. Rpms jumped high and truck wouldnt shift. Thankfully we made it across before the oncoming traffic or we would have been hit. Finally got it to go but it was missing gears causing it to drive sluggish. No prior engine lights warning me. When the incident happed I got a notification of a power train malfunction/ reduced power.
NHTSA complaint #11757273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rolla, ND
ENGINE
Truck starting missing gears when pulling onto highway. Rpms jumped high and truck wouldnt shift. Thankfully we made it across before the oncoming traffic or we would have been hit. Finally got it to go but it was missing gears causing it to drive sluggish. No prior engine lights warning me. When the incident happed I got a notification of a power train malfunction/ reduced power.
NHTSA complaint #11757273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atlanta, GA
POWER TRAIN
10R80 transmission will jerk and hard shift randomly at times. Also appears to get stuck in gear and/or downshift at inappropriate times.
NHTSA complaint #11756719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marion, OH
POWER TRAIN
Transmission shudders until it gets warm, then it slips when accelerating after it's warmed up. Sometimes it goes completely out of gear. I've had the recall update done on the TCM and it made it worse. It has been confirmed by a service center. There are no messages or warning lights and it started slipping 6-8 months ago and has gotten worse. I cannot drive it currently.
NHTSA complaint #11756744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sterling, VA
POWER TRAIN
While driving, the automatic transmission started to act up. The truck would attempt to go into 3rd gear but would bypass it to 4th, similar action around 7/8th gear. When pressing the accelerator at times, the truck would not switch gears or increase speed. A warning light did appear on the dashboard, indicating a problem. A code reader indicated two possible issues related to the transmission. These issues made the truck unsafe to drive in any traffic since I wasn't sure the truck was going to continue moving and was concerned about being either being stranded or being rear-ended. The truck was taken to a repair shop that my extended warranty works with. The shop was able to reproduce the issue. The shop indicated that there was an issue with the transmission. A warranty company technician came to the shop to run a diagnostic on the truck. After review of the technicians analysis, the warranty company approved the transmission repair and shop is waiting on parts.
NHTSA complaint #11756776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lebanon, PA
POWER TRAIN
Around 108018 miles started to experience rough, harsh, slamming shifts and skipping gears from 1 to 4 or 3 to 6 and then from 8 slamming to 1st gear at times very unsafe and erratic and through my research this transmission has been a big problem on Fords. I took to a local transmission repair shop they drove and confirmed the shifting issues and said yes the valve body/shift solenoids need replaced and also the CDF drum/cylinder is going bad they also dropped the oil pan and confirmed metal/aluminum shavings in the bottom of the pan. I was quoted $8,800 to repair and this is a huge expense that Ford knows of the problem and needs to be held accountable. there needs to be a recall to replace these bad transmissions with new updated units.
NHTSA complaint #11756402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plant City, FL
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle was traveling at highway speeds when the transmission decided to shift from 10th gear into 1st gear at 70mph. Had vehicle at dealership and the transmission had to be replaced. Could have destroyed the motor or caused massive accident on highway shifting into 1st gear at 70mph.
NHTSA complaint #11756430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Paola, KS
POWER TRAIN
I have 40,000 miles on this truck and the torque converter shutters when towing, the transmission is slow to shift fome 3-4. No one has looked at it. Since its out of warranty I am just going to run it until it fails.
NHTSA complaint #11756484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
POWER TRAIN
The internal mechanical failure of the Ford 10r80 transmission due to design fault causes unsafe driving conditions as the transmission stalls (fails to power at request) or lunges (powers forward without driver input) causing unsafe conditions for vehicle occupants and nearby vehicular & pedestrian traffic. My vehicle exhibits two well known and documented conditions; stalling and lunging forward. The most common failure is that the transmission fails to shift from 1st to 3rd gear in a low speed condition (e.g. navigating parking lots amongst pedestrians). Upon the failure to shift, the vehicles computer system senses this, overrides by raising the vehicle RPMs significantly without driver input to do so, the vehicle then hard shifts and jerks forward several feet in an uncontrollable manner. Anticipating the jerk and overriding with the brakes fails to stop the vehicle from lunging forward. The second most common failure is the transmission totally failing to provide drive. A common scenario would be sitting at a traffic light waiting to make a left turn. Upon the opportunity to make a safe left turn, the vehicle at times will roll slightly forward (in its first gear), it will then attempt a shift while the vehicle may potentially still be in cross-traffic, and the vehicle at times will fail to drive, without any inputs (brake, gas, manual shift) getting the vehicle out of the no-drive condition, and leaving the vehicle subject to a dangerous potential for collision or safety hazard. The issues with the 10r80 transmission failures are well documented, well understood by Ford Motor Company, and specific to my vehicle have been identified by a reputable dealer as requiring repair. My vehicle's transmission is exhibiting failure at 47,000 miles. No warning indications exist prior, during or after this repeatable incident. Ford has since fixed the design flaw, but refuses to address the safety issue with vehicles manufactured before the re-design.
NHTSA complaint #11756492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mercer, PA
POWER TRAIN
Cdf drum went bad had to have transmission replaced because of how hard it was shifting
NHTSA complaint #11756525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Meridian, ID
POWER TRAIN
When shifting from 3rd to 4th gear, the trucks RPM jumps and then downshifts into first gear. This happens around 40 mph and has almost caused two accidents for me.
NHTSA complaint #11756603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lehigh Acres, FL
POWER TRAIN
I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2018 Ford F-150 XLT equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly lost power and failed to engage into gear causing hesitation in the middle of driving. This occurred while in stop and go traffic, creating a potentially dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration or propulsion. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion or unpredictable shifting while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, turning, or traveling at highway speed can create a collision hazard. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed.
NHTSA complaint #11756117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Georgetown, TX
POWER TRAIN
Truck downshifted to a gear too low for the travel speed, caused the rear tires to briefly lock up, very lucky to have kept control. Unsure why the truck did it, it’s happened twice now at 89,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11756245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,089 milesLivingston, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the message "Brake Fluid Level Low" was displayed. The brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the brakes failed to work properly. The contact drove to Walmart and purchased brake fluid to add to the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The contact added more brake fluid, but the failure recurred, and the engine made a knocking sound with smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V150000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 114,089.
NHTSA complaint #11756317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anderson, SC
POWER TRAIN
10r80 transmission CDF Failure. Had repair completed though still has issues with 4/5th gear. Truck will lose power while accelerating until it finds the gear it wants to go. Multiple re-learning processes completed with no solution. V6 ecoboost - cam phasers repaired twice. 1st time by initial owner but that was not relayed to me. 2nd time by me after multiple trips to the dealership where they couldn't reproduce the issue. Took videos and finally brought the truck in with the check engine light flashing. Required entire engine rebuild.
NHTSA complaint #11756002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burton, MI
POWER TRAIN
Hello, I have a concern with my trucks transmission. I haven't had it diagnosed by Ford but am an independent tech myself. I believe the cdf drum is failing. Here are the problems I had. The biggest is the safety. I was pulling out on busy street and I accelerated. Truck moved and the transmission delayed in shifting causing truck to slow down and then slamming into gear. Oncoming traffic got very close. It has done it numerous times. I don't know when it will do it and when it won't. Transmission has also gone from 3rd gear to 8th and back to 2nd on its own.
NHTSA complaint #11756050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Berthoud, CO
POWER TRAIN
The 10 speed transmission will downshift unexpectedly at unsafe speeds. The CDF drum issues make this vehicle unsafe.
NHTSA complaint #11756060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anderson, SC
ENGINE
10r80 transmission CDF Failure. Had repair completed though still has issues with 4/5th gear. Truck will lose power while accelerating until it finds the gear it wants to go. Multiple re-learning processes completed with no solution. V6 ecoboost - cam phasers repaired twice. 1st time by initial owner but that was not relayed to me. 2nd time by me after multiple trips to the dealership where they couldn't reproduce the issue. Took videos and finally brought the truck in with the check engine light flashing. Required entire engine rebuild.
NHTSA complaint #11756002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weimar, TX
POWER TRAIN
When driving my vehicle, it severely downshifts and whiplashes/jerks you. We no longer drive it and have parked it and no longer feel safe. No lights came on dash to give us any type of warning.
NHTSA complaint #11755803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.