Power Train Problems of Ford F-150 - part 1

Transmission on my f150 suddenly dropped to a lower gear as I was pulling out on a highway which significantly lowered my acceleration. Luckily the oncoming traffic slowed until I could safely get across to my lane. Eventually it jumped back into the proper gear. From what I have found on the internet this seems to be a common defect. Only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed. This is not the first time the transmission has done this. I took my f150 to the dealership to be checked and they didn’t find anything wrong. P0706 and p0707 codes.

See all problems of the 2015 Ford F-150 🔎.

I have 114,000 miles on my truck. Without warning, my truck shifted from 10 gear down to 1st while driving 70 miles per hour. The force of the downshift caused the wheels to lock up and I almost lost control of the vehicle. I took the vehicle to the dealership and the repairs was over $10k. There are countless issues detailed on the internet with transmission failures for this vehicle but yet, Ford has not owned up to the defect.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford F-150 🔎.

Warning light wrench came on truck suddenly downshifted into low gear.

The contact’s husband owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted and hesitated. The contact also stated that the vehicle began to shake abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

See all problems of the 2019 Ford F-150 🔎.

Fords 10r80 transmission is a known failure point. Why are they not recalling it?????? I bought my vehicle used from a Ford dealership with 36k miles. Quickly realized it was a lemon but nothing I could do. The biggest issue is the transmission. The transmission does not shift properly, it slips, it has major clunking and hard downshifts sometimes pushing through brake pressure, etc. I fought with two separate dealerships to take a look and after months of them trying to convince me it was fine, they tore it apart and it was damaged. Now the "rebuilt" trans is doing the same thing even leaving me in limp mode just now until I turned the vehicle off and back on. You guys need to do something about this please. Ford is not doing anything and its hurting consumers and going to cause an accident if it hasn't already.

See all problems of the 2021 Ford F-150 🔎.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v896000 (power train); however, the part required for the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the left and right rear axle shaft assemblies had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the parts were not yet available for the recall repair and needed to be ordered. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Auto start stop. This has happened on several occasions where I will be traveling at highway speeds and my 2018 F-150 10 speed 10r80 transmisson with a 5. 0-liter motor has died while traveling. I have talked to Ford engineering reps, and they say they have never heard of this. I have done research into the subject and there have been hundreds of reports of the same issue. I have an appointment scheduled for Ford to look into the issue.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v896000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that, upon routine maintenance, it was noticed by the local dealer that the axle shaft bolt had fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.

Random hard shifting and acceleration issue started after I had the vehicle put in service for recall, never had any issue like it before the recall was completed. My computer shows a p0720 and p0721 error. This makes me feel unsafe to drive the vehicle because of the random acceleration and shifting that occurs without any input from me as the driver. Crown motors of redding CA advising that the issue is not recall related and refuses to look at vehicle without doing a 300 dollar diagnostic, I’ve asked them several times if they will look at it for just the recall to make sure they have refused and have said things like “drive it for a 100 miles that should correct it”.

See all problems of the 2013 Ford F-150 🔎.

Transmission blew up and skips.

Car rolls freely when placed in park.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford F-150 🔎.

I was driving my 2015 f150 with the 5. 0 liter engine and 6 speed transmission at approximately 60 mph in 6th gear when without warning the transmission downshifted into 1st gear causing a sudden deceleration causing my passengers and myself to be thrown forward being caught by our seatbelts. The transmission then worked its way back up the gears into 2nd and then 3rd and so on. I took the truck to a dealership (cooper Ford of edmond, oklahoma) and started to tell the service manager what happened and before I even got to the downshift part he told me right away what had happened and that I will need a new main control and lead frame. It cost me $2,766. 16 to have the vehicle repaired.

Hard downshifts from 5 to 4. At low speeds, like parking lots it shifts hard from 1 to 2. At freeway speeds while attempting to pass instead of dropping a gear to passs it downshifts to 1st, rpm’s shoot up and it results in having to pull off stop and place in park. Once in park back to d and able to take off. At any speed from 30 mph or more there is a sort of “tap of brakes” feeling every . 15 of a mile.

See all problems of the 2011 Ford F-150 🔎.

Transmission: delayed shift/hesitation at low speed after take-off. Risk of loss of motion while crossing traffic. Consistently happens at low speed shift change, doesn't matter if on flat or incline. A lot of other owners complaining of same exact issue, Ford has yet to acknowledge that there's a flaw in the drivetrain.

Entering the highway, the transmission shifted into 1st, the gauges blanked out and a service light came on. Upon taking it in for inspection, Ford compliant 19n01 already existed but had limited mileage/date that has now expired. The problem and solution is the same found under 19n01.

I was driving my 2016 Ford f150 in ventura California on August 29th 2025 when my throttle began to accelerate on its own after taking my foot off the gas pedal. My truck sped up out of control, I almost lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Luckily I was able to gain control and get it into neutral and then into park. My trucks rpms raced so high it sounded as if the engine was going to explode. I put it into park and the rpms lowered to a normal level. While this was all happening a wrench icon popped up on my dash. Once the wrench icon came on I noticed my dash wasn’t telling me what gear I was in or if I was in park, neutral or drive. I pulled into the closest parking lot. I put it in park and every time I gave the truck gas the throttle would continue to accelerate on its own and would rev extremely high on its own. I also noticed as I was sitting it the parking lot at idol there is now a thumping sound/ jolt when selecting what gear to go into. I don’t know if this was caused from having to slam the car into neutral and then into park so I wouldn’t crash when the throttle accelerated. I shut my truck off and it wouldn’t turn back on. All of my electronics work but it doesn’t even want to try to start or turn over. I had to tow my truck home and it is now sitting in front of my house unusable. I have videos I can provide.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford F-150 🔎.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact shifted the gear shifter into park and turned off the vehicle; however, the vehicle rolled backwards again. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that upon inspecting under the hood, the contact became aware that the shifter cable had melted. The contact purchased a new shifter cable and replaced the shifter cable. The vehicle was started and driven to the residence. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred at night, which was dangerous for being on the side of the road. The contact stated that the shifter cable had melted again within 12 hours. The contact stated that the failure was the result of a design flaw. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 260,000.

See all problems of the 2005 Ford F-150 🔎.

Merging onto highway, the transmission stayed in-between gears and did not allow me to accelerate forcing me to ride the break down lane momentarily. I had to shift to n and then back to d to regain acceleration. As continued to the next exit the transmission shifted from 7 to 1 and then back to 7 causing a hard shift and a violent jolt of the vehicle. This happened in 9th gear as well before reaching my destination. A wrench icon was on the dash and the Ford app showed a "powertrain malfunction/reduced power" warning. There have also been countless hard shifts prior to the incident above. If there was no break down lane while merging, I would have been a hazard to the traffic on the limited access highway and may have caused an accident due to the low speed and no acceleration. I have a service appointment on sept 04, 2025 with the dealership I bought the vehicle from. (not a Ford dealer).

Transmission will either get stuck in a gear and won't accelerate or will shift down on its own and cause the car to jump and buck.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate as intended while the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, the vehicle jerked abnormally and unintendedly upshifted. The “service transmission” warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with an internal transmission failure and a fractured valve cover. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,700.

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon arriving at her destination and moving the column shifter to park(p), the brake pedal was released, and the vehicle suddenly jolted forward. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 25v512000 (power train). The VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 51,000.

See all problems of the 2023 Ford F-150 🔎.

My wife and toddler were returning from dropping off our older child at school this morning. As she approached an intersection, the rear wheels suddenly seized, causing an abrupt stop. A transmission failure code flashed on the digital gauges. The engine shut off, but the electronics remained on, as if in accessory mode. She was able to turn the truck off and then back on, which seemed to reset the system and allow her to drive forward.

I bought the truck new in 2018. In 2020, the transmission was rebuilt twice, and then a new one was installed. The automatic 10-speed transmission changes gears roughly and now I'm having the same problem with the transmission just abruptly switching gears up and down. It's a serious concern for me when I am cruising at 70 mph on I-95, and all of a sudden, the gears start randomly shifting, dropping to 3rd gear from 10th and then up to 7th, and then repeatedly shifting gears up and down.

My 2021 Ford F-150 5. 0l v8 with the 10-speed automatic transmission has ongoing and severe transmission issues that create a dangerous safety hazard. The vehicle intermittently loses power and feels like it slips completely out of gear while driving, including at highway speeds. This sudden loss of acceleration is unsafe and could easily lead to an accident. The most severe issues occur between 2nd and 4th gear. The truck slams in and out of gear, hesitates, and lurches violently. Shifting often feels like the transmission is “hunting” for the right gear, and hesitation occurs throughout other gear ranges as well. At times, it feels like a new driver learning to operate a manual transmission—jerky, unpredictable, and unsafe. This is not an isolated problem. After researching on multiple owner forums, I found many other 2021 F-150 owners reporting the exact same issues: slipping out of gear, hard shifts between 2nd–4th, hesitation, loss of power, and violent shifting. These widespread complaints strongly suggest a defect in the design or function of this 10-speed transmission. This is not just a drivability issue—it is a critical safety concern. I have lost power while merging and while traveling at highway speeds, leaving me unable to accelerate when needed. In city driving, the hesitation and gear slamming create dangerous situations when crossing intersections or pulling into traffic. Given the number of owners reporting similar problems, I believe this is a systemic defect that requires immediate investigation and action. Ford needs to address this transmission failure before it leads to crashes, injuries, or fatalities.

The cam phase shifters and timing chain have failed with only 83k miles resulting in a $7,500 repair. This is unacceptable. I would completely understand if it had 250k miles but this is a baby as far as mileage. Looking at F-150 forums this appears to be a common problem and Ford has actually changed the design of the cam phase shifters so they know they are defective. Request you loook into this issue please.

* what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? transmission/powertrain; currently available for inspection at time of submission * how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? while stopped at stop sign/stop light, the vehicle would have long hesitation before advancing forward. I would initiate hazard lights to prevent driver behind me from crashing into the back of my vehicle. The vehicle would shift harshly and untimely as well as randomly downshift from 10th gear to 1st gear (x2 on 24aug2025). I would have to pull vehicle off the road and when attempting to resume driving the vehicle would not move. The rpm’s would rev, however the vehicle would not move. I would turn off the vehicle and then restart it and the vehicle would move forward, resuming with harsh shifting. Loss of power, delayed and harsh shifting pose a safety hazard while the vehicle is in operation. * has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes; by independent service center * has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no * were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? first check engine light illuminated on August 16, 2025. (please note the check engine light disappears once the vehicle is turned off and then restarted). I took the vehicle to autozone on 25aug2025. The tech placed the code reader on the vehicle. 2 codes, p0734-00 and p07f7-00, ‘gear 4 incorrect ratio’ and ‘gear 10 incorrect ratio’ respectively were displayed. Vehicle taken to independent service center on 25aug2025 who also placed code reader on vehicle. I am not in possession of that information at time of writing. Monthly ‘my vehicle report’ has been clear with no issues whatsoever noted until report dated 25aug2025 (attached).

See all problems of the 2020 Ford F-150 🔎.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The contact stated that the rpm was raised above 3,000 rpm. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. The contact started to pull over, and the vehicle started driving, and the transmission was shifting normally. The contact stated that the software update for NHTSA campaign number: 24v444000 (power train) was performed several months prior to the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle had never experienced an unexpected downshift failure prior to the software update. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission lead frame module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

See all problems of the 2014 Ford F-150 🔎.

Transmission started shifting very erratically, skipping, and hanging in gears. The rear end would lock up and the tires would screech. On the highway, during downshifts, the vehicle would hang and shift hard, jerking the vehicle in heavy traffic. Could not maintain safe speeds.

Cruising on the highway then transmission down shift to 4th gear happened twice.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60–70 mph, the vehicle jerked and vibrated abnormally. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the vehicle was driving roughly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the instrument cluster blinked off and on. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased in 2023, the contact was informed that an unknown software recall had been performed. The contact was informed that the unknown recall was a software update for the powertrain control module. The contact stated that the failure occurred. The contact later discovered that the recall had not been performed by the dealer where the vehicle was purchased. The contact contacted an alternate dealer who provided mobile service. The unknown recall for the powertrain control module software update was performed. The contact was informed that a second software update was needed. The failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall due to mileage limitations. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

My ten speed transmission is shifting erratic and slipping. I have asked krenzen auto dealer to please diagnose and advise about the problem. They ran codes and say nothing comes up. I requested a transmission flush and was told they don't have the tools. I afraid that this could become a safety hazzard if it gets worse.

I own a 2018 Ford F-150 with the 3. 5l ecoboost. It started having idling issues that eventually required the cam phasers to be replaced. While that was frustrating and costly enough, the bigger issue came with the 10r80 transmission. Despite performing all services on schedule and maintaining the truck properly, the transmission failed. After doing research, I found that this isn’t an isolated incident. On Ford forums and owner groups, it’s clear that the 10r80 transmission has been a widespread, ongoing issue for years. Thousands of Ford owners have been forced to spend thousands of dollars to repair or replace these transmissions—something that Ford should have addressed long ago with a proper fix or recall. It’s disappointing that a company with Ford’s reputation hasn’t taken accountability for a known defect that affects so many loyal customers. Something should be done to make this right for owners who trusted Ford to deliver a reliable truck.

Slamming shifts and missing gears when driving. Went to accelerate yesterday and it completly missed 3rd gear and felt like it shut off before finally shifting into 4th after about 5 seconds.

Transmission randomly down shifts and then shifts back up a gear. Then speed control randomly drops and won’t respond.