2018 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

10R80 Transmission has started to go bad like all the other complaints. CDF Drum walking, Valve Body leaking pressure, Torque Converter bearings are whining and getting louder. Flaring between gears and now at highway speeds from 9th gear to 10th gear is has a flare then goes into "Neutral Lockup" and tries to go back to 1st gear. Thankfully, it hasn't actually locked into 1st gear but this happens frequently and is a major life threatening defect now. I am afraid to drive the vehicle and Ford Motors knows there is an issue (for years) and has not created a recall for my VIN.

Issue with CDF drum in transmission. Having transmission rebuilt due to failure.

Transmission failing caused me to almost get in a collision on multiple occasions. Most recent incident failed to go into gear and was almost tboned.

I was on Spencer street at the light about to cross on Saint rose park way. When the light turned green my truck wouldn’t let me proceed and the it went into a low gear and make a lot of noise until I crossed and stoped at the Horizon ridge light. At the light I turned off the truck like I have done every time this had happened after ford said they did the recall but after they did the recall I’ve been having all these issues. I turned the vehicle back on and put into into drive and it went into reverse I immediately pressed my brakes knowing there is a car behind me. Thankfully the guy saw the truck with the hazards and going into reverse he immediately went into the next lane. I couldn’t move I was stalled. Had the shut the truck off again and then turn it back on and then I was able to go into drive and sit on the side of the road. Meanwhile I can smell like this burning smell. Now this had happened 2 days after they came out to supposedly fix the recall that was on the truck. I didn’t work the next day after they came out to fit it at my job but driving home that day it drove sort of ok I felt a little lack of going into gear. When I went to work it did a hard jerk while driving like if the transmission was going to fall out. I parked at work for my 10 hour shift and when I went to go home I turned on my truck and out it into drive and it went into reverse. Thankfully I was in park and no cars was behind me. I called ford to tell them what had happened after they came and fix it and they told me it was not part of the recall. But yet when I looked up the recall when my insurance let me know if it people was saying they was having issues going into gears and possibly stalling. This is a serious matter and they keep brushing it off and telling me that I need to pay them to look at it. I don’t feel I need to pay if it is their mistake. I took it to my warranty company and they tried to fix it and found nothing on their end. At this point I gor into almost 5accident

Sudden transmission downshifts to 1st gear during highway speeds. My truck wasn’t included in transmission recalls by ford. This problem is known but ford won’t replace. The downshift happens without warning. No engine lights or messages appear before or after the downshift. The transmission shifts harsh no matter what - this has been confirmed by multiple mechanics and the mechanics say it’s a known issue with this year transmission - 18’ - 10R80

Transmission failed at 52,120.0 miles. Erratic shifting and power loss. CDF drum failure.

There was a consumer satisfaction program # 21N03 listed for 2018 f150 2018 3.5L EcoBoost engines and for some reason my VIN wasnt included. I am currently having this issue. My truck has 40k miles on it. Please make them issue a new consumer satisfaction program to include all 2018 F-150 models.

The transmission shifts very hard into 3rd gear. Now it seems to slip going into 3rd,5th&8th gear.

The truck will downshift without warning causing an abrupt slow down in speed something is wrong with this transmission Ford should recall this transmission and make it right

The cam phasers failed somewhere between 60,000 - 70,000 miles. It is a defective part that was subject to a customer satisfaction program in 2020 or 2021 but we purchased the vehicle after this. Now, Ford is saying that we need to pay to replace the cam phasers and the timing belt. It was quoted at $5777.62, which is a significant repair cost. Also, this shouldn't happen with this part and I am seeing everywhere that other consumers are having the same problem, including some at the current dealer we are working with. Any help is appreciated.

this is the 10 speed transmission. When starting from a stop the truck will start to shift thru gears and then shift into neutral and the engine will rev very high and then slam back into a lower gear.

Was slowing down to turn, engine cut out and received an “auto start/stop, shift to P and then restart engine” error on dash. Almost got in an accident because of it.

Hard jerking in the transmission around 50 miles per hour around gears 7 to 10.

While driving approximately 40- 50mph the transmission randomly downshifts from 8th gear to 1st gear.

While driving in the fast lane on the interstate at highway speeds, my 2018 Ford F-150 with a 10-speed (10R80) transmission experienced a sudden hard jerk followed by erratic shifting. The vehicle began shifting unpredictably, including harsh downshifting behavior that caused rapid deceleration. At the same time, the transmission temperature began increasing rapidly, and the truck started overheating. We were forced to quickly move out of the fast lane to avoid traffic and pull over due to safety concerns. This occurred at night on a sketchy exit, approximately four hours from home. We had to wait for help and ended up calling 911 because the situation felt unsafe. We were stranded and had to stay in a hotel. There was no clear warning before this happened. The condition worsened quickly to the point the vehicle could not be safely driven. This created a serious safety risk due to sudden hard jerking, rapid deceleration, overheating, and the need to immediately exit the fast lane, increasing the risk of collision and loss of control at highway speeds. The vehicle previously received a PCM reprogramming update related to transmission performance based on manufacturer service guidance. Despite this, the failure still occurred suddenly and without warning. There have been reports of updated internal components in newer versions of this transmission, suggesting that improvements have been made over time. This issue appears consistent with other reports of sudden downshifting and unsafe shifting behavior in Ford F-150 transmissions.

Harsh shifting from failing clutch drum

While driving a chime rang with message “low brake fluid”. Immediately noticed brake pedal soft and braking dramatically reduced. Was able to stop the vehicle close by gas station. Purchased 2 16 ounce bottles brake fluid. The reservoir was almost empty and I put in 16 ounces. Brake warning message was gone. Proceeded home which was 5 miles away. As I neared home warning returned. Once home I checked the reservoir and it was empty. Put the other 16 ounces in and checked for leaked under the truck. Found no leaked. Did some research and saw there was a recall for the brakes. • The Defect: The master cylinder's piston cup seals can fail, causing brake fluid to leak into the brake booster, reducing hydraulic pressure, I tried to move my truck but when I pressed on the brakes the pedal went all the way to the floor. Was able to put in neutral and stop the truck safely. I had the truck towed to Honolulu Ford. Was informed my truck was not included in the recall. They replaced the brake master cylinder, brake booster, and vacuum tube. At a cost of $2490.85. I believe Ford should have fixed this at no cost because the exact issue has been addressed on 2 previous recalls . From the time I got the message of low brake fluid to not having any brakes was almost immediately. I believe this could have been much worse. Prior to this I did not have any issues with the brakes. I check fluid levels regularly and never had to add brake fluid.

While driving on the interstate, the vehicle experienced a sudden hard jerk followed by erratic shifting between gears. The transmission temperature rapidly increased (over 219°F), and transmission fluid began leaking. The vehicle became unsafe to drive and had to be pulled over. This vehicle is equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission (10R80), which has widespread reports of failure, harsh shifting, and overheating. The failure created a dangerous situation as I was stranded on the side of the road with my children

Subject: Safety Complaint – Premature Frame Failure on 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor (VIN: [XXX] ) To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding my 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor, VIN: [XXX] , with approximately 99,700 miles. My vehicle has been diagnosed by a Ford-authorized service department with severe frame corrosion and structural deterioration, including extensive rust and compromised integrity. In addition, I have obtained an independent evaluation from a private body shop, which also confirmed that the corrosion is premature and structurally significant. I have been advised that the vehicle is unsafe to operate, and the estimated repair cost is approximately $30,000, effectively rendering the vehicle unusable. This condition appears to be premature and not consistent with normal wear and tear, particularly given that the vehicle has been properly maintained and used under normal driving conditions. The failure of a vehicle’s frame represents a serious safety hazard, as it directly affects crashworthiness, structural stability, and safe operation. A failure at this level could lead to loss of control or catastrophic injury. I contacted Ford Motor Company to request assistance, but they declined to provide any support or remedy. Given the severity of this issue, I respectfully request that the NHTSA: •Investigate potential frame corrosion or structural defects in this vehicle model •Determine whether similar complaints have been reported •Evaluate whether this issue warrants a recall or manufacturer action I am prepared to provide supporting documentation, including inspection reports from both the Ford dealership and independent body shop, repair estimates, and photographs of the damage. Thank you for your attention to this matter and your commitment to public safety. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Loss of engine oil pressure. Just had engine replaced with used 6 months ago for the same issue. This new to me motor had 40k miles on it. So two motors under 121k miles oil pressure failure. Causing total engine replacement

Manufacturer recall #24E12 (PCM software update) triggered a PO430:00-ED code (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold - Bank 2) because the new software more strictly monitors the catalytic converter, causing it to detect previously ignored degradation. This reprogram scamming program makes community bothered by paying parts replacements more than 2K, even vehicle was fine before the recall. This needs resolved with FREE FIXED and FREE Catalytic Replacement. This is not right to announce a recall with unfinished repair issues left. This needs action. Thanks, So mote it be!

Truck suffers problem associated with NHTSA 22V-150 but is not included in the recall. This occurs on highway driving while on cruise control. This can occur within just a few minutes of driving or extended period. Vehicle brake warning on dash occurs and says "Check Brake System", the brake pedal becomes very stiff and reduces braking of the vehicle. The brake light remains on until vehicle is shut off and restarted. This occurred most recently on a 3,000 mile trip through the Utah national parks and presents dangerous scenarios through mountain passes.

The vehicle’s 10-speed automatic transmission is experiencing severe, erratic, and life-threatening failures at highway speeds. Erratic Shifting & Sudden Downshifts: While traveling at approximately 60 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifts from 10th gear directly to 1st gear without warning. This causes violent deceleration and risks immediate rear-wheel lockup. The vehicle also cycles randomly through gears (e.g., jumping 10-1-7-10-3) and frequently 'locks out' upper gears, making power delivery completely unpredictable. Total Loss of Motive Power: On approximately 3/10/26, while in the high-speed 'fast' lane of the highway, the vehicle experienced a complete loss of motive power. While the engine remained running, the digital gear indicator on the instrument cluster began flashing and the transmission failed to engage any gear. I was left coasting in the flow of traffic and was forced to navigate across multiple lanes to the shoulder without the ability to accelerate. Safety Hazard: These combined issues create an extreme risk of high-speed rear-end collisions and loss of vehicle control. The 'flashing' gear indicator and sudden visible on the dash 10-to-1 downshifts suggest a critical electronic, sensor or software failure that makes the vehicle unsafe for highway operation.

My 2018 Ford F-150 had 85,000 miles on it when the transmission began to slip out of gear, delays in shifting, gets stuck in neutral, and or slam back into gear. My wife was barely able to get home from work, and experienced dangerous driving conditions due to the failing transmission. Her attempts to merge onto high speed roadways became dangerous when the vehicle would suddenly lose drive during the merge. We fear what might have happened if she was attempting to make a left on green and the transmission suddenly became stuck in neutral. This truck has the infamous 10R80 Ford 10 speed transmission that thousands of people have reported as defective. Ford has refused to compensate me in anyway, and the Ford dealership has quoted me $9,000 dollars to have the transmission replaced. Ford issued a TSB on this faulty transmission, but has refused to issue a recall despite the widespread failure of this part and the safety concerns.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, shifted into neutral(N), and restarted the vehicle. The message "See Owner’s Manual" was displayed, and the transmission warning light illuminated. Additionally, the transmission skipped from fourth gear, slammed into tenth gear, and then stalled. The contact switched the vehicle from Automatic to Manual Mode to accelerate normally and drove to the residence. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. DTC: P20703-00 and P2704-00 were retrieved, indicating the CDS drum and clutch had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

Failed cam phaser. Brought truck to dealership regarding loud rattling noise on cold starts. Prior to inspection, service technician mentioned it could be the cam phaser because they have had reported problems. Ford did not issue a formal recall but issued a Customer satisfaction program 21B10 to extend warranty coverage due to the known issue but only extended through 2022. I did not have a rattling noise at that time and did not qualify. The noise started recently and there were no warning lights or messages. Only a rattling noise. After the dealership inspected the truck they deamed it unsafe to drive.

1. 10R80 (CDF DRUM BUSHING) failure. The vehicle has pressure loss when put into gear, driving or slowing down, taking your foot off the gas, sluggish when put in first gear to drive, performance, and harsh shifting- at any speed when driving, missing gears - it' jolts hard (shifting up or shifting down) when the vehicle shifts, particularly between gears 1–3, 3–4, 6 - 8 it misses 2nd and 7th gear. While driving the vehicle it goes into to neutral despite being in gear. The vehicle has stopped on the road while driving and not able to put the vehicle into gear to drive at all. Wrench Light On: Codes P0732-00, P076F-00, P07F6-00, P07F7-00, U0252-00 Yes the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. Our safety is at risk since the vehicle suddenly changes gears up or down causes major jolt sitting in the seat and abruptly slows down on the rode with traffic, or if you slow down or stop it might not go back into gear. I have had back surgery (lumbar) and it hurts my back. not to mention, the whiplash to our necks every time the vehicle jerks in and out of gear. Vehicle suddenly slows down making it dangerous for vehicle around us as well. 3. We first took the vehicle to Macon Auto Repair 2/23/2026 (no codes at this time unable to determine the problem), 2/24/26 took the vehicle to Rodney's Transmission for a second opinion - they checked the transmission fluids and added one quart of oil (still no codes to determine the problem) . The wrench appeared after the problems started and is whey we took it twice to two different shops not knowing what was the problem. When the wrench appeared we took the vehicle to Rodney's Transmission 4/2/2026 where the vehicle was inspected and the codes are from the diagnostic test done by, Rodney's Transmission, Thompsonville, KY 4. Symptoms yes, described above. Warming light not until after the problems continued to occur.

Tailgate opened

transmission is mis-shift and jerk while shfting. There's a lag between 6 and 8th gear

I started the truck including the rear and front window defroster. After about 5 minutes, I heard a loud "pop." I looked around the vehicle and noticed that back window was broken.

I was driving in town, less than 35mph, slowing down to stop at a traffic signal, when my engine stopped and a message came up on my dashboard that said something to the effect of "auto stop start, place transmission in park and restart engine". I did so and it cranked and ran fine. Hasn't happened again.

Vehicle is experiencing hard shifts pretty regularly in various gears. Look up and read several other owners experiencing the same issue regarding the hard shifts.

I was accelerating from a red light and felt like I had lost power. The RPM's of the engine increased, but I was slowing down. After about 5 seconds, the transmission engaged harshly and the wheels started spinning/squealing like burning out. I almost lost control of the vehicle. If the road would have been slippery, I would have lost control, in heavy traffic. I took my F150 into the Ford Dealership to be inspected. Afterwards, I was told I need a new transmission. The cost would be over $11,000.00 with tax for a new transmission! My truck had 75,000 miles on it, just out of warranty. There is no reason for my transmission to go out at such low mileage. I have not hauled or pulled anything heavy. I take care of my vehicles and have scheduled maintenance performed. As I researched this problem, I discovered it is a known issue on the 2018 Ford F150 vehicles. I found where people documented the same problem on YouTube and the internet. I went through dozens of cases by people with the same problem. There are probably 100's but I stopped after confirming the issue. Even Ford personnel said they were aware of it. When a customer walked up and stated they had a problem with their 2018 F150, their first thought was the transmission. This is an extreme hazard. Like in my case, the issue reveals itself while driving. There are no warning lights or indication. It is known to happen in lower gears, so usually on takeoff. There are so many scenarios where people are depending on the vehicle to accelerate, like when turning and other vehicles are approaching. If the vehicle stalls in front of the oncoming traffic, or if you lose control, the results could be catastrophic. I hope this is addressed before someone is severely hurt or killed.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 18 MPH in a storm, the driver’s side windshield wiper blade arm disconnected from the vehicle, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the round gear of the wiper arm had sheared off. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the same failure had been recalled for certain Canadian model vehicles but did not include the U.S. Market vehicles. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 88,000.

While cruising on the highway at 55 to 60mph, the transmission will suddenly and without warning rapidly downshift resulting in unstable and dangerous conditions. This has occurred multiple times on icy or frosty roads and the vehicle becomes difficult to control. My safety and that of oncoming traffic was compromised. A "wrench" light comes on in the dash following the event. Once the vehicle is power cycled, the wrench disappears.

My 2018 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission is experiencing severe slipping, delayed engagemen (1-2, 3-4), and erratic shifting. Upon inspection, I found significant gold glitter-like metal shavings in the transmission fluid/oil pan, indicating internal wear or failure of components. These symptoms create safety concerns including hesitation or loss of power during acceleration, potential sudden surges or jerks, and risk of the vehicle not responding properly in traffic or when merging, which could lead to crashes, injuries, or being stranded. I have not repaired this yet but will be replacing the transmission soon.

We were driving on the interstate and suddenly the truck increased RPMs rapidly with no acceleration when pressing the gas. The vehicle began to decelerate quickly on its own. We turned on our flashers to warn drivers around us. The truck suddenly gained back some acceleration, enough for us to move to the right, and lost full power again, and we coasted to the shoulder. If the vehicle had not gained back some acceleration after the initial deceleration, we may have been rear-ended. We had it towed to the nearest Ford Dealership. They confirmed the transmission had a total failure. They quoted around 4500 for a rebuild, or 9500 for a new transmission. The truck has only about 53,000 miles on it. I wanted to report this concern because I’m now aware there are many reported issues with this 10-speed transmission, and the sudden complete loss of power as we were driving was extremely dangerous for us and the people around us. We did sometimes experience slightly rough shifting when the truck was “cold” upon starting, however we noticed this since we bought the truck new, and we thought this was normal for it. The failure itself was sudden and unexpected.

My 2018 Ford F-150 experiences harsh, erratic, and unpredictable transmission shifting. The truck frequently hesitates during acceleration, followed by sudden and violent gear engagement. It also makes abrupt downshifts while driving, causing unexpected deceleration that can be dangerous in traffic. The truck will shift from 8th, 9th, or 10th gear down to 1st at highway speeds. This causes abrupt deceleration and significant loss of speed on the highway. On multiple occasions, the transmission has delayed engagement when shifting from a stop, creating hesitation when entering intersections or merging, followed by a sudden surge of power. This creates an unsafe driving condition and increases the risk of rear-end collision or loss of control. The shifting behavior is inconsistent and unpredictable, occurring during both in traffic and highway driving. The problem is worsening over time. Given the frequency and severity of these events, I believe this transmission behavior represents a significant safety defect that should be investigated for potential recall or corrective action.

See attached document for complaint. In November 2024 I received a letter regarding a transmission recall related to my truck. This came almost 1 year after I had to have my transmission replaced for the reason stated in the recall letter. I have now reached out twice to the Ford Motor Company to try to receive reimbursement for the out-of-pocket expense I incurred to replace the transmission without any response from the company. I’m not sure where to go from here and am requesting assistance from the NTSA. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions. As you can see, I paid an initial $7000.00 to order the transmission. The total amount after installation was $9425.38. Please see all attached documents.

My 10R80 transmission shifts very hard then goes into limp mode when im driving in 4th gear scared its gonna cause me to get in a wreck and injury myself or other drivers this has been an issue with all these transmission and this should be a recall where customers shouldn’t have to pay to get this fixed Ford should get this fixed ASAP

MY TRUCK RANDOMLY DOWNSHIFTS AND ABRUPTLY SLOWS VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING

I have a 2018 Ford F150 with a windshield wiper linkage that is seizing up. It is available for inspection upon request. I was driving down the highway after the snow last night and with all the salt and snow coming off the highway, I couldn't see and the wipers just stopped mid swing. This appears to be the same issue that Canada users are experiancing too (24S77). The dealer said they were out of the part due to many instances of this issue. It was inspected and the motor appears to still work but the linkage is seizing up and stopping. There were no warnings. It just stopped working.

The vehicle skips a beat when shifting and it jumps from 10-8 gear for no reason causing the vehicle to lag or shift rough and break

The vehicle experienced repeated transmission malfunctions involving the automatic transmission system. Symptoms began occurring consistently and included failure to properly shift between gears, particularly failure to engage 3rd gear, resulting in high engine RPM followed by a sudden and harsh engagement into gear. The transmission would also fail to downshift when coming to a stop, at times remaining stuck in higher gears such as 4th or 9th, creating hesitation and delayed acceleration from a stop. Additional symptoms included erratic and delayed shifting between 1st and 2nd gears, with high RPM and abrupt engagement. The issue was reproducible during normal driving conditions and became more frequent over time. Using tow/haul mode temporarily reduced the severity of the issue but did not resolve it. These conditions created a potential safety concern, as delayed or incorrect gear engagement could result in hesitation when accelerating into traffic or when attempting to merge, increasing the risk of a collision. The issue was discussed with a dealership service advisor, who indicated that based on the described symptoms, the transmission likely required rebuild or replacement. The vehicle was subsequently inspected and repaired by an independent transmission specialist, who confirmed internal transmission failure. The transmission required a full rebuild, including replacement of major internal components such as the CDF drum, torque converter, and servicing of the valve body. No consistent warning lights were present prior to the failure, and the condition developed progressively with increasing frequency and severity. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by an independent service center and required significant repair to restore normal operation.

Recently noticed sharp downshifting of auto transmission. Usually going up or down grade when I take foot off accelerator. Last week someone behind me needed to brake hard and change lanes in an emergency manner. The transmission change it hard and drops two or three gears. Very scary.

The cam phasers have gotten so loud that it sounds like a diesel. Ford did some software "fix" that did nothing. I am concerned about trashing the motor if the timing jumps. These defective phasers are well know problems and extremely costly to repair. Ford has advised me to do the repair but they are quoting $5-6k for a fix of something they know was a defective design. My truck has 111k miles now but the rattle has been there almost from the start.

Sync screen, music, and charging are all dead. I think it’s the apid

My truck has the same issue with the brake master cylinder bleeding back into the brake booster. Luckily I caught it before I left work. The reservoir was totally empty on the back half supplying the front brakes. At home pulled the vacuum hose and did the dip stick test and there was brake fluid in the brake booster . There is already a safety recall on the 2017-2018 f150 brake master cylinder but only with the 3.5motor. The 2.7 has the same brake master cylinder so I cannot see why only the 3.5 motor would have a recall??? Ford will not do anything about it and they don’t even have a part until sometime in March.

The transmission failed. It is available for inspection but the transmission was replaced at my cost. Traveling on the highway the vehicle bogged down and could not respond to pressing gas peddle. I had no control of the vehicle. All transpired on major highway Route 95. The problem repeated again while I was driving and it was identified by the independent service facility that the transmission failed. The vehicle was inspected by the repair facility and the fault was determined to be the failed transmission. New transmission was installed, we have all receipts. No warning lamps prior to the fault. The problem first appeared when I was traveling home on the highway from the facility I purchased the vehicle. after 1st incident the warning light appeared.

According to repairman, water made it into the rear tail light, shorting out a module that controls all lights, windows, a/c and heating controls.