462 of the
9,504 complaints filed about the Ford F-250 SD
are about the transmission —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2020.
462
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
13
Crashes
10
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I am filing a complaint against Capital Auto Mall Premier regarding the sale of a 2019 Ford F\-250 Lariat \(VIN [XXX]\) that I purchased on XXX. The vehicle was represented as being in good working condition at the time of sale. However, almost immediately after taking possession of the vehicle, I began discovering numerous mechanical, electrical, and safety\-related defects. Due to the number of concerns, I had the vehicle independently inspected shortly after purchase. The inspection identified multiple significant issues, including transmission hard shifting, transfer case clunking during shifting, battery failure requiring replacement, steering and suspension concerns, excessive play in front suspension components, and numerous diagnostic trouble codes stored in the vehicle's systems. In addition to these findings, I discovered issues involving vehicle lighting, winch operation, and other features and equipment that were not functioning properly despite being expected to be operational at the time of sale. These issues became apparent within days of purchasing the vehicle. The quantity and severity of the defects lead me to believe that the vehicle was not in the condition represented during the sale and that material defects may not have been properly disclosed before the transaction occurred. As a result of these issues, I have incurred costs associated with inspections and diagnostics and am obtaining additional repair estimates to determine the full cost of necessary repairs. The defects significantly impact the vehicle's safety, reliability, usability, and value. I have supporting documentation, including the purchase agreement, financing documents, independent inspection reports, diagnostic findings, photographs, repair estimates, and records of communications regarding the vehicle. This documentation demonstrates that the concerns were identified almost immediately after purchase and were not the result of normal wear occurring INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
NHTSA complaint #11757517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEF heater failure will cause increased emissions. The warning light flashes. I have seen details where there are issues with the wiring harness for the DEF heater.
NHTSA complaint #11753244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
10r140 paired with 6.7 powerstroke in a 2020 f250 build date 11/19 at the Kentucky plant. My truck specs and build date and location is in the timeframe of the planetary gear recall, ford has also issued tsb’s about the cdf bushing that should have been a recall because it is a design flaw on every 2020-2022 model truck. It’s not fair that we should have to pay for a tsb bc we don’t have warranty left. My truck has 84,000 miles but is out of the 5 years warranty period. Symptoms I am having with my transmission are: Harsh engaging to drive and reverse Flair shifts bad sometimes almost like it goes into neutral between changing gears Has shifted from 4th to 1st instead of 4th to 5th or 6th, then it started shifting normal right after. Had my factory 3250rpm limiter not been moved to 4500rpm the truck would have locked the rear wheels up and possible caused driveline damage or other damaged. Also had a car been behind me when this happened I would have been in a wreck because it slammed to a low speed and the car would have rear ended me. Slips in 4th and 7th gear the most but sometimes in other gears Bumps when it shifts a lot of the gears Sometimes shudders and shakes and will almost make like a pop noise Will clunk on downshift from 5-3 Sometimes clunks when upshifting 3-5 I have had the truck looked at by an independent diesel mechanic I use and he said there is a problem somewhere in the transmission, it’s either planetary gear or cdf bushing has moved or the drum itself has cracked. The component itself has not been inspected because the only was to inspect this is to tear the transmission down. The pan has been dropped and had a lot of metal material on the magnet. No codes on the dash but my mechanic said I had dtcs stored for the transmission. I have created a case claim with Ford trying to see if they will extend the recall for the known issue but I have had zero luck with them. I have videos of the issues but can’t upload them on here.
NHTSA complaint #11752304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds over a speed bump and raising the foot off the accelerator pedal, the engine continued to rev for an additional four seconds after releasing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, while pulling into the traffic and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to immediately accelerate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions due to the failures and the throttle body and PCM was updated but the failures persisted. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 3,511.
NHTSA complaint #11751169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is a follow-up to my original complaint #XXX, filed XXX, regarding the failure of the 10R140 10-speed automatic transmission in my 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty (VIN: [XXX]). The transmission began exhibiting symptoms of gear slipping, jerking, delayed and harsh shifting, and pinging from the torque converter around 100,000 miles. These symptoms progressively worsened until the transmission suffered a catastrophic internal failure. As documented in the attached Sid Dillon Ford repair order, an authorized Ford dealer found metal contamination in the transmission fluid and confirmed that a complete transmission replacement was required. The attached Friesen Ford repair order also shows that harsh engagements were present and that a transmission flush failed to resolve the issue. I have also attached a sworn statement from [XXX], an independent automotive technician who has serviced vehicles for my family for several years. In his sworn statement, he confirms that these 10R140 transmissions have known serious ongoing issues and that many mechanics avoid working on them due to these problems. Ford Motor Company was provided with the above repair records and the sworn statement but has denied any responsibility or reimbursement for the transmission failure. The failure created a serious safety risk due to the sudden loss of propulsion while driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11750552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V256000 (Power Train); however, the recall repair could not be completed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that a thrust washer was missing from the output planetary assembly and had disintegrated, contaminating the transmission case, transfer case, torque converter, cooling lines, and radiator. The missing washer caused the planetary gear to shift and damage the transmission case. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 80,256.
NHTSA complaint #11749392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
At around 139,000 miles i started to noticed some intermittent noise coming from the drivetrain. I took it to two different repair shops and was told it was tire noise. over time the grinding noise increased to the point of shuddering and jerking while shifting with no warning lamps showing. At 144,500 miles I contacted my aftermarket warranty and they said to take it to a certified shop to get it checked out. They did not have any preferred shops in my area so I took it to US Automotive. At 145,000 miles the shop contacted the warranty company and proceeded with investigation of the issue. After inspection and tear down they confirmed the transmission had the typical failure for the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmissions. They turned over there findings and the warranty company which has agreed to the findings and has offered a replacement used transmission with 125,000 miles on it and will also not cover the full cost to install the used unit. I feel that this is fraud and outside of the warranty agreement. I am now paying the expense to put the original transmission back into the truck to try to take it the 2.5 hours back to the dealership which sold me the truck along with the warranty to see what they will do in the matter. I hope it doesn't fail on the highway on the way.
NHTSA complaint #11745407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the vehicle had become inoperable due to a transmission failure. The contact associated the transmission failure with the recall; however, the dealer advised that the transmission repair would be at the owner's expense. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11743767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
After the vehicle was jumpstarted the vehicle failed to correctly enter gear- when shifting into reverse it instead rolled forward downhill. The following systems also displayed failure warnings: ABS Traction Control Parking Brake ( Parking brake also showed as activated when it was not active- it would audibly disengage but the parking brake light stayed lit) Stability Control 4wd. The combination of the parking brake showing as active and the shifter showing the vehicle was in reverse while being able to roll forward freely is dangerous.
NHTSA complaint #11742732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My truck transmission changes gears randomly while in motion. It is terrifying when it happens in traffic and the truck stalls and looses power then kicks back in with a loud noise. I stopped driving it since March of 2026.
NHTSA complaint #11739763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving from [XXX] back to [XXX] on I-5. I was at 70mph when a slower vehicle merged into my lane and I got on the gas to pass them. The transmission locked into 10th gear and never downshifted, the engine revved, and then I lost complete power of the transmission for several seconds. I went from 70 to 55 and then it jerked back into gear. I had my 2 small kids in the back seat and wife in the truck. This happened to me with my 2020 F-150 when my wife was pregnant and then eventually got worse and worse. My transmission shifts hard when put in gear and most times will lurch forward. It bogs down in 4th gear a lot and lately all the way through 6th gear. Doesn't happen all the time but enough to worry whether its safe to keep driving with my family in it (only vehicle in the family). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11726115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission has shifting issues. Sometimes is don't down shift below 4th gear and when in an intersection truck barley moves then it shifts hard and can move . It also is constantly shifting between gears. It will shift form 10th to 5yh while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11725744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle is subject to two open safety recalls for which no repair remedy is currently available from the manufacturer: 1. Recall 24V957 (24S78) Dec 20, 2024 involves the high-pressure fuel pump and powertrain control system. The recall states the fuel pump may fail and cause extended cranking/no start or loss of motive power while driving. Loss of motive power while in traffic or while towing increases the risk of a crash. The manufacturer has stated that parts and/or software are not available to repair this defect. The vehicle is regularly used for towing a recreational trailer, which increases the safety risk if loss of power occurs during operation, especially at highway speeds or while merging. 2. Recall 25V686 (25SA8) Oct 10, 2025 involves the 360-degree/rear-view camera system. The recall states that the rear camera image may become dark in certain reversing situations when front and side cameras are exposed to significantly more light than the rear camera. Reduced visibility while reversing increases crash risk, particularly when maneuvering a large pickup truck. The manufacturer has acknowledged both recalls but has not provided a repair remedy within a reasonable timeframe. The powertrain-related recall has remained unresolved for an extended period. The vehicle has not been repaired because the manufacturer states parts/software are unavailable. At this time, the defect conditions have not resulted in a confirmed failure event, but the vehicle continues to be operated with open safety recalls that cannot be remedied. The safety risk remains present due to lack of available repair. Due to the prolonged unavailability of a repair remedy for a recall involving potential loss of motive power, I am unable to safely use the vehicle for its intended purpose of towing, as doing so would increase the risk of a crash if the defect occurs.
NHTSA complaint #11720881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power and became inoperable due to failure of the high-pressure fuel system. This VIN is subject to an active safety recall (NHTSA 24V957 / Ford 24S78) addressing high-pressure fuel pump failure that can result in loss of motive power while driving. Prior to failure, the vehicle exhibited reduced engine performance and drivability issues consistent with fuel system malfunction. No Water-In-Fuel warning or alert was displayed prior to the failure. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Ford dealership. Ford and the dealership asserted “fuel contamination” as the cause and refused to repair the vehicle under the recall or warranty unless the customer paid for diagnostic teardown. The recall repair was not performed. The vehicle remains unrepaired and was removed from the dealership. The loss of motive power created a safety risk to the occupants and other motorists. We are concerned that a recalled safety defect affecting the fuel system is not being remedied and is being mischaracterized to avoid recall repair.
NHTSA complaint #11717653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was on an overpass in the left hand lane doing 40-45mpg getting ready to make a left hand turn on an expressway on ramp. I coasted for just a bit and applied the brakes gently, then a little more. The truck was not slowing down like it should have so I applied alot more brake pedal pressure and it slowed down some then it down shifted several times and the engine was roaring, I'm guessing around 3K rpms or more and pulling me forwards. I put as much pressure as I could on the brake pedal and got it down to 4-5 mph and then as it was almost at a stop, still with the motor roaring, I slammed it into park and turned the key off. The motor turned off thank goodness. I sat there for about 20 seconds or so, luckily no one was behind me, then I turned it on again and it was idling just fine. I crept through the intersection and proceeded down the on ramp at 10mph or so and pulled over. Turned it off again and called the wife and a few friends about it. It ran ok, albeit I was super cautious, to my destination 25 minutes on down the highway. Something freaked out big time in the computer. Had there been traffic or someone in front of me it would have lead to a serious crash.
NHTSA complaint #11717225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2020 Ford F250 with 85,000 miles. We purchased new and all maintenance has been done on time and by Ford Service. Transmission began jerking when going from park to drive (or reverse). Noticeable lunging of the vehicle when putting into gear. This began in December 2025. This is a safety concern if anyone is in front of or behind the vehicle when this happens. The truck jumps. Now the transmission is not shifting gears smoothly when the truck is in motion. This is a known problem with trucks manufactured during this time period with 10R80 transmissions. Ford has been less than helpful in helping me come to a resolution. They tell me there was a TSB sent out. They attempted to reprogram software (at a cost of $424 to me). I will upload the invoice from Ford. This only made the problem worse. They quoted me a "special price" of $8,500 to replace the transmission, however their service department is SIX WEEKS out. For this reason we have chosen to have the transmission replaced at a local transmission shop. Their price is $9,932.41. I have attached that invoice. Ford needs to take accountability for this safety problem and attempt to make these vehicles safe. They should absorb at least some of the cost to fix this design problem. We paid full price to purchase a new, safe vehicle. That is not what we received. Rather than a "Technical Service Bulletin", Ford should be forced to do a recall and make this right for customers who paid top dollar for these vehicles.
NHTSA complaint #11714005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sometime sudden decrease of power , f250 truck rpm goes high while parking with engine on and now pitman arm broke off causing no control of steering . Having it push safely off the road , contact dealership but no parts to fix and timely how long it takes to get part to fix problem. 2020 ford f250 start but very unsafe to operate with no control of the steering
NHTSA complaint #11706235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Subject: Safety Recall 24V-957 – Loss of Power Risk – Dealer Mishandling I am filing a complaint regarding Ford recall 24V-957 (Ford reference 24S78) for my vehicle. The recall states the defect can cause: “Loss of driving power, increasing the risk of a crash” “Engine stall” “Loss of motive power while driving” My vehicle has shown symptoms consistent with these safety risks. When I brought the vehicle to the dealership: 1. They claimed fuel contamination but provided a fuel sample with a Dec 3 timestamp, even though they originally claimed the issue was discovered on Nov 26, raising chain-of-custody concerns. 2. They have refused to properly address the recall or escalate the matter. 3. They threatened to report my rental car as stolen, even though I have not refused to return it and the vehicle is still under an unresolved recall safety issue. 4. Ford Customer Care refuses to intervene and instructs me to deal only with the dealership, despite this being a manufacturer safety recall. This situation has left me without clear direction, without safe transportation, and with concerns about dealership misconduct and improper handling of a safety-critical recall. I am requesting NHTSA review this recall handling and ensure Ford properly manages recall repairs, towing, rental support, and dealer oversight.
NHTSA complaint #11703727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.