2018 Ford F-150 transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

• Recall 26V375000Jun 9, 202610,742 vehicles
  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.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S42. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.

• Recall 18V213000Apr 4, 2018142 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.

  Risk: Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.

• Recall 18V214000Apr 4, 2018292,909 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions and 2018 Ford F-150 and Expedition vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions (excluding Expedition vehicles with a Rotary Gear Shift Dial on the console). The gear shift cable clip may not be properly seated, allowing the transmission to be in a different gear than indicated by the gear shift lever position.

  Risk: If the gear shift cable clip becomes unseated or dislodged, the gear shift lever position may indicate that the transmission is in 'Park' when it may be in a different gear. Additionally, despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied before the vehicle is exited, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 18S10.

• Recall 17V669000Oct 23, 201712,429 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.3L engine, a 6-speed transmission and a column mounted shift lever. 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 before the vehicle achieves Drive function.

  Risk: Unidentified or unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in a way that was not intended by the driver, increasing the risk of crash or injury.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S35.

What owners say

1. Filed Oct 6, 2026FLTransmission & Drivetrain

   Premature transmission failure under 45k miles. While driving transmission will not shift gears causing the vehicle to stall and then suddenly engaging propulsing the vehicle forward unexpectedly. Multiple complaints online, Ford will not fix.

   NHTSA complaint #11769433 · source
2. Filed Oct 6, 2026PATransmission & Drivetrain

   Hello, so while driving I am noticing a loud, hard thunk between gears. It is really noticeable when pulling our camper. When pulling our camper it is so loud and so hard I that if I have coffee in my cup holder, it would spill. We have contacted Ford about this and they are denying there is a transmission issue with their 10 speed transmissions. I feel there should be a recall on these transmissions because there are thousands of F150 owners having the same issue and…

   NHTSA complaint #11769354 · source
3. Filed Oct 5, 2026MNTransmission & Drivetrain

   2018 Ford F-150 5.0L with 10R80 10-speed transmission, approximately 86,000 miles. The transmission began exhibiting abnormal shifting, including missed shifts and loss of propulsion. On multiple occasions while traveling approximately 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power/propulsion. During these events, the gear indicator changed from 10th to 1st and engine RPM appeared to increase. I do not believe the transmission physically engaged 1st gear; the actual gear engaged is…

   NHTSA complaint #11769184 · source
4. Filed Sep 28, 202672,000 miTNTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while stopped at a stop sign and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the gear shifter independently shifted to neutral(N) and remained stuck into neutral(N). The gear shifter was shifted back and forth between park(P) and drive(D) and the vehicle responded as needed. A local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be…

   NHTSA complaint #11767384 · source
5. Filed Sep 27, 2026ILTransmission & Drivetrain

   Transmission would go from 7th gear to 1st gear causing stalling in busy traffic. Also the truck would be stuck at 7th gear when coming to a stop light and when the light turned green would not shift down to one which caused a power loss. This is a known problem with ford transmission, the dealership diagnosed the issue as a hydraulic circuit leak, which is caused by the cdf cylinder sleeve. This can be found in Ford TSB 25-2126

   NHTSA complaint #11767228 · source
6. Filed Sep 25, 2026CATransmission & Drivetrain

   I own a 2018 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. The vehicle currently has approximately 70,000 miles. The transmission has developed intermittent harsh shifting and, more concerningly, has repeatedly appeared to slip or disengage from gear while the vehicle is moving. On multiple occasions while driving at highway speeds, pressing the accelerator did not result in acceleration because the transmission was no longer effectively transferring power to…

   NHTSA complaint #11766959 · source
7. Filed Sep 24, 2026COTransmission & Drivetrain

   Driving highway I70 over Vail Pass, vehicle downshifted on it's own nearly causing someone to rear-end my vehicle. Took it to three local automotive business's for a diagnostic service; they all reported the same issue PP07F7-00 CDF drum and the 10th-gear not engaging. This should not be occurring when I've maintained service of my vehicle. I've paid for one diagnostic and shouldn't have to pay for one at my Ford dealer where it was purchased by I will have to again. I know…

   NHTSA complaint #11766743 · source
8. Filed Sep 24, 2026NCEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   The vehicle is stalling/jerking and long idling. I was told that the transmission needs to be replaced. Less than 80,000 miles. 2018 Ford 150

   NHTSA complaint #11766717 · source
9. Filed Sep 24, 2026VAEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   2018 Ford F-150 Limited with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. At approximately 60,000 miles the engine began making a rattling noise from the front of the engine on cold start, lasting several seconds. Over the last three months the noise has become progressively worse and now occurs at every cold start and lasts longer. The check engine light is currently illuminated. The vehicle has not stalled or lost power. A Ford dealer (Wynne Ford, Hampton, VA) diagnosed the condition on…

   NHTSA complaint #11766591 · source
10. Filed Sep 23, 2026TXEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

    The 10-speed automatic transmission (10R80) shifts harshly and erratically, hangs in gear, and lost 2nd gear entirely, causing unpredictable acceleration and gear engagement in traffic. First reported to a Ford dealer on 6/8/2021 at 25,883 miles (dealer called it normal). Repairs: internal teardown at 32,920 miles (damaged clutch, input shaft, torque converter hub); valve body repair under TSB 24-2101 at 63,483 miles; CDF hub and friction plate failure diagnosed at 77,584…

    NHTSA complaint #11766549 · source
11. Filed Sep 23, 2026OHTransmission & Drivetrain

    2018 Ford F-150 XLT Power Train / Transmission (10R80 10-Speed Automatic) ~100,000 miles (99,737) While accelerating, typically at neighborhood speeds, we sometimes get a hesitation/delay in shifting, which causes a pause and then a hard shift jerking forward, which makes it unreliable at times. Not getting any dashboard warning lights, and has had the transmission flushed at 80k miles by a Ford dealership. A Ford dealership diagnostic inspection confirmed an internal…

    NHTSA complaint #11766337 · source
12. Filed Sep 21, 2026108,000 miTXTransmission & Drivetrain

    The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. While approaching a light and entering a loop while driving 55 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly shifted from 7th gear to 1st gear. The vehicle stalled, was shifted into park, and restarted. There was vibration in the floor at the time of the purchase. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the torque converter was repaired under warranty. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer again, where it was diagnosed and the failure…

    NHTSA complaint #11765754 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology