general problems of the 2018 Ford F-150 - part 2

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

I have a 2018 Ford f150 and the 10r80 transmission has failed on my truck. It started with hard shifts and missed gears. The Ford dealership in tracy, CA quoted me $13k to replace the transmission because of known issues with this transmission. There are multiple tech service bulletins but they are making Ford owners pay for these costly mistakes from the manufacturer. I was at a 3 way intersection on a busy highway in the morning and the transmission all of a sudden had a loss of power and wasn't in a gear when it said it was in 4th gear. Very dangerous to lose power like that in the morning at a busy intersection. I had to have my truck towed home as I couldn't not make home with all the problems that started occurring.

Harsh shifting from failing clutch drum.

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.

The transmission shifted from 10th gear to 9th gear and then to 8th gear on a flat freeway going 70 mph. It quickly reduced our speed causing vehicles behind us to brake hard so as not to crash into the back of us. Ford and the dealership have been no help because of the transmission being out of warranty. Ford knows there is a problem but refuses to fix it. Customer service and safety is not more important to them than profit. There were no warnings before it happened. It has happened more than once. It also happened on i80 in 2024.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power train independently downshifted. The contact stated that the power train warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with metal shavings in the oil pan and a failed transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle loss automotive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission fluid needed to be changed. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to get a diagnosis however, the failure cause was unidentifiable. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to get a diagnosis however, the failure cause was unidentifiable. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

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.

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 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.

About the safe issue I have the transmission when you wanna have the throttle you wanna pass a car the transmission had don’t go down and make a limp control and I scanned the transmission. It’s no code. It’s not safe when you in the highway you want a best truck or best car and switch down shift to limb control.

Cdf drum - transmission transmission unable to find gear, repeatedly skips when downshifting. Slips when engine braking. Unable to safely exit traffic on the highway. Problem is reproduced at dealer. A common issue nation-wide. Hefty repair bill on a young truck. (90,000 miles) no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms.

Vehicle is at 88k miles. Vehicle has hard shifting/delayed shifting between 1-3 and 5-7 gears. At highway speeds, vehicle tries to downshift from top gear. Have lost rpm's while driving-lasting about 3-5 seconds before engaging the gears again. Took to a dealer, was informed it was a "known" issue and would need the transmission replaced. Extended warranty will not cover since it is a known issue. No warning lamps or messages in the display center. The loss of rpm's and delayed shifting issues could cause stalling and put me and others at risk with possible loss of power/motion while moving. Especially while driving on the highway.

10 speed transmission started to have hard shifts and dead spots. Some shifting issues happened at low speeds(1 thru 5 speeds) and then others showed at highway speeds; downshifts from 10 to 8 gears. Issue with transmission stated at around 142,000 miles but became very problematic at around 145, 000 miles. At this point I had to get a new transmission; cost was approximately $10000. 00. This was a remanufactured transmission with 3 years or 100,000 miles. Note - I really like the truck but the Ford recall plans are terrible; I've already had the cam phaser replaced, front wheel bearing, and internal water pump. This probably cost another $7000. 00. A lot of money for a truck that has pretty limited miles.

While driving this truck with just 113000 it will occasionally go into neutral. While in the drive position and causes a big safety concern while pulling out into traffic or even while going down the road and I'm afraid of being in or causing an accident. Multiple times this has happened.

The vehicle intermittently experiences delayed gear engagement and hesitation during acceleration, most noticeably when the transmission is cold. During several incidents, when pulling out from a stop onto a main road and attempting to accelerate into traffic, the vehicle failed to shift or engage power normally. The engine remained running, but the vehicle did not accelerate as expected, creating a temporary loss of forward momentum. After a delay, the transmission would suddenly engage and the vehicle would accelerate normally. This condition creates a safety risk because when entering traffic from a stop sign or side road, other drivers expect normal acceleration. The hesitation or delayed engagement creates a risk of being struck by oncoming traffic. The issue occurs most frequently when the vehicle is first driven after sitting for several hours, especially in colder temperatures. After the vehicle is fully warmed up, the condition is less noticeable or may not occur. The problem has been experienced multiple times over this winter season. The behavior is intermittent but repeatable under similar cold start conditions. The condition appears to be gradually becoming more noticeable and occurring more frequently over time. Occasionally, once the transmission begins operating and partially warms up, the transmission may shift harshly or abruptly during upshifts or downshifts. The vehicle has been discussed with independent service shops familiar with this transmission model. The issue has not yet been repaired, but inspection and repair are being scheduled. No manufacturer inspection has occurred at this time. At the time of incidents, there were no consistent warning lights or messages indicating a transmission failure. No persistent diagnostic warnings have been observed. Symptoms were limited to delayed or harsh shifting and delayed acceleration response. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

The 10r80 transmission has shifting shutters and loses what gear it is in and causes loss of throttle, hanging in gear and sudden downshift at road speed causing control issues. A faulty drum in transmission is to blame is my understanding and Ford is aware of this problem for model year, replacement cost is over 10,000 dollars for a poor design. Reading online forums this is a common issue Ford is aware of.

Hard clunks when shifting hesitation or delay when accelerating rpm flares between gears jerking when slowing down or taking off slipping or feeling like the truck goes into neutral shuddering.

My 10r80 transmission on my 2018 Ford F-150 XLT failed. It started having delayed engagement from gears 1-5. The motor would increase in rpm with no transmission engagement then suddenly slam into gear. I had to have a full rebuild on the motor. This failure put me into danger when pulling out into an active road from a side street. The vehicle would start to move forward then have delayed engagement and not move. Putting me and my family in great harm.

Vehicle was having issues with acceleration. It started subtle where I could tell it was taking a little more time to catch or switch gears as I accelerated. It quickly progressed as I drove it more (within weeks of noticing the issue) that I could not safely turn on to higher speed roads from a slowed or stopped speed. For example if I turned on to a high way, whether merging or from a stop sign, I could not accelerate in a timely fashion to safely merge at high way speed and had to pull over on the shoulder to let other cars pass until the truck could accelerate. I did take it to a Ford dealership to be diagnosed and fixed. There they discovered the issue was the cdf clutch. They replaced the cdf clutch and found that a valve body had some damage as well so that was also replaced.

There's already a recall for gear down shifting for this model truck but cuts off as manufactured 8/17. My truck is doing the same thing. It's manufactured on 10/17.

The 10r80 transmission has failed at 86k miles. Very erratic shifting especially when cold. Complete loss of power coming out of 3rd gear. It would shift from 3rd to 7th then back to 1st then back to 3rd and repeat this behavior. I had a complete loss of power trying to go uphill and had to hit brakes before rolling backwards. Shifting upper gears extremely slow and causing excessive revving between shifts. It would stay in a higher gear when coming to a stop and I would have to press gas hard to get it to shift and it would slam into 1st. Very unsafe driving. I know this is the cdf drum failure but didn't know how unsafe it would be when it started failing.