What 1,835 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Ford F-150 Supercab Diesel

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was shifting hard between the 2nd, third and fourth gears. Additionally, the contact stated that the RPMs revved significantly while shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, and the vehicle responded after releasing the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that while his son was attempting to drive the vehicle from a complete stop on one occasion, the RPMs revved significantly, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that his son turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11560637

the transmission on my 2018 ford 150 is slipping and shifting so rough that i am somewhat afraid to drive it in traffic . this is the third time its in the shop for the same problem.. Sometimes it shifts so hard the transmission makes a clunking sound and jerks our necks. Ford seems unable to fix the problem. There were never any warning alerts of a malfunction but the problem is so bad now that i dont want to drive it. It has been doing this for about three years now.

NHTSA ODI 11560535

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. After shifting into neutral and back into drive, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission, advising the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 112,000.

NHTSA ODI 11559998

Driving down the highway my truck jumped out of gear. The 10-speed transmission indicator light was jumping all over. From 10th to 5th to 3rd. and I had no throttle power. If I pull over turn it off then start it back up it will be fine. This has happened 4 times in the last 2 months. One time on a 6-lane interstate. Very scary situation trying to get across the traffic lanes to get to a shoulder. The last time it happened I had a code reader plugged into my truck just in case. I got the code P0068. I have read on the internet of a lot of people having this problem. This needs to be taken care of. This was my dream truck but has turned into a nightmare. I called my local Ford dealership. He has 3 trucks in his shop with the same problem. He's had one of them for 2 months and can't get it fixed. I can't do without my truck that long.

NHTSA ODI 11559506

Many issues with transmission shifting hard. Transmission not downshifting while stopped, so unable to take off normally. Transmission not engaging at all while on interstate traveling 65mph, forced to pull over to avoid causing accident. Warning lights including wrench, and engine appear, then disappearing after ignition turned off and on again. When taken to dealership it was reported that the transmission needs replacement for $9100.

NHTSA ODI 11559354

The vehicle as of 12/9/2023 at 3:00pm CST is at a mileage of 79,503. We are consistently experiencing the slipping of gears when the truck is switched from park to drive. The first couple gears seem to slip as it accelerates. The speedometer will be showing at under 10mph, and the truck will jerk forward. The engine/transmission gets loud as if the car is still in a lower gear as it’s accelerating. While it’s jerking and making the loud noise, the speedometer will not go over 10mph. We are concerned that it is a problem with the powertrain control module. It seems to happen when the shift lever is moved from Park to Drive, possibly it causes 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 the Drive function. We have a column shifter.

NHTSA ODI 11559304

I own a 2018 F150 Platinum with 75,000 miles and have been experiencing transmission issues. I have the 10R80 10 speed transmission and started noticing hard shifting when it had roughly 50,000 miles. I took the truck in under warranty with 59,000 miles an Ford did the relearn repair which only lasted for 7-8,000 miles. The problem came back and got 10 times worse. Now I have had multiple near miss accidents due to the truck hesitating during acceleration at stop lights and turns, getting stuck in higher gears (stays in 6 gear and wont change until I turn the truck off), very hard shifting, jerky, jumping around from gear to gear and rough downshifting. I was able to get a dealership to check it out and they "suspects" it is from axial movement of the CDF clutch cylinder sleeve. I was told it would cost $7,100 to make the repair or $9,800 to replace the whole transmission. I reached out to Ford Customer Service and they checked to see if there were any assistance programs to help with repairs. They "politely" told me there were none available and that there was no one else I could talk to. She said she could give me the Ford mailing address if I wanted to send a letter. I have read countless articles and posts from people that have this transmission and Ford and GMC need to issue a recall before someone dies or gets seriously injured due to their defect. I'm happy to speak more on my issues if needed and appreciate any pressure you can put on Ford to issue a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11558947

This was the letter I initiattly include dthe NTHTSA.Webmaster@dot.gov to ford. Dear Ford Motor Company, I'm writing to you as a concerned parent of a 6-year-old child and consumer of your product regarding critical safety issues reported in the 2017-2020 F150 model, and I'd like to ask Ford to please take action. I compiled some research from numerous affected vehicle owners across various states, highlighting alarming and potentially hazardous health concerns and issues that pose significant risks on highways. Just so you know- I noted the same issues I am having with my vehicle and now have to take my car back to the dealer once again. •Grinding noises and pronounced thumping sensations resembling towing a trailer. •Issues reported from critical sections such as the engine solenoid, transmission, flyer axle/Cam Shaft, deceleration noise, oil consumption, leaks, power loss during turns, and truck bogging down. The research highlighted in the attached document indicates widespread reports across different states and model years (2017-2020), emphasizing the urgent need for immediate attention and resolution. I urgently request: •Initiate a thorough investigation, partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to address these reported concerns promptly. •Encourage proactive involvement from Ford's leadership, including the CEO, advisors, board members, and affiliates, to prioritize consumer safety and resolve these critical issues. •Collaborate transparently with affected consumers and stakeholders to ensure a swift and satisfactory resolution. * Plus there were oil leaks and fumes coming into the cab which can effect me Given the ongoing class action lawsuits around these or similar issues, we stress the gravity and urgency of this situation and implore swift action to prioritize consumer safety and uphold Ford's commitment to excellence. I am awaiting to hear from you and the measures to address these pressing concerns.

NHTSA ODI 11558791

Transmission sticks in 3rd gear then hard thump and jumps to 6th. Getting on highway trying to merge truck revs but doesnt accelerate then eventually locks up speed. Took to dealer several times and problem still is not fixed. They said that’s how it’s supposed to drive.

NHTSA ODI 11556681

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 77 MPH, the vehicle independently downshifted to a lower gear. The contact pulled over and allowed the vehicle to cool down before starting to return to drive the vehicle. The wrench warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 120,100.

NHTSA ODI 11556474

Purchased this used 2018, F-150 truck at a Ford Dealership on 08/26/23. Mileage was 73,110. Vehicle was covered by the manufacturer’s Ford Blue Advantage and had allegedly passed a 172 point inspection to be Gold Certified. Less than 2 months after purchase in mid October, the transmission and associated performance of the vehicle became unpredictable. Symptoms started on October 14, with hard, erratic shifting. On October 16, wrench indicator light came on. With no warning, there would be a loss of power when accelerating, an inability to shift into gear when starting from a stopped position, and erratic/hard shifting once moving. Brought the vehicle to our local licensed mechanic to assess the wrench indicator light. Four codes were noted. Two were cleared and two remaining codes indicated internal transmission component issues. After test driving the vehicle, our mechanic agreed it was not safe to drive the vehicle. Vehicle was then brought to the local Ford dealership on October 19 to further assess. It is now November 16, and dealership has just received authorization from Ford to replace the transmission.

NHTSA ODI 11555555

Randomly/erratically shifting. When stopped it may shift into 7th gear when trying to accelerate. When traveling on the highway at 60 mph it would try and downshift into 1st gear. Ford service stated they didn't know how to fix the issue until the dashboard light comes on.

NHTSA ODI 11555195

At 59,200 miles, I noticed 2nd gear being skipped due to "adaptive driving." I placed the setting to "sport mode" so that it would not adapt (but rather follow a pre-programmed shifting protocol). 2nd gear was not initiating for a set time (hi rev till it engaged but it finally would engage. No warning light appeared at the time). I then got my Transmission serviced, thinking it just needed its 60k maintenance. No better after service (but no worse). I called Ford to set an appointment (7 week wait to get in). I the mean time, I unhooked the battery for 12 hours so that the "adaptive driving" would reset. It instantly got worse and a wrench popped up warning of a need to repair (at about 60,250mi). Fast forward 2000 miles, it is now skipping 2nd, 4th and 5th, not down shifting when coming to a stop and randomly not engaging at all. Once at the dealer, I was advised the CDF drum had failed and needed to be replaced. Notes stated the Trans fluid looked "servery burnt" (in just 2000 miles since its service). I did some research and found tons of complaints on this 10 speed transmission. Even the dealer mentioned it is in their system as an ongoing issue to look for and is 1 step below a recall. My warning of concern being shared now is to hopefully push that to a recall as no transmission that has be "grandma driven" (no horsepower upgrades, never pulled a trailer, no long hauls) should fail at 60K miles as mine did (and many other owners of this transmission). Thank you

NHTSA ODI 11555009

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was not shifting into gear as intended. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting from high speed to low speed independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

NHTSA ODI 11553860

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the gear shifter independently shifted from tenth gear to first gear. The contact noticed that the RPM was raised high. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with a failed clutch system. The contact was informed that the clutch system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts needed to complete the repair were ordered. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 62,500.

NHTSA ODI 11553415

In August 2023 at less than 30,000 miles, my 2018 Ford F-150 King Ranch began displaying unintended motive behaviors resulting in the power train fault indicator (wrench symbol) being displayed for the first time since owning the vehicle. The vehicle was sluggish during gear shifting while in motion in traffic. At times there were very loud “clunky” sounds. When I made attempts to contact the dealer regarding the problem, I was informed that it would be months before their only transmission repair technician would be able to get to my vehicle as there was a backlog of transmission repairs. I was referred to another Ford dealer who has recently diagnosed the vehicle and informed me that I will need to replace the transmission at personal cost in excess of $7,000. I find this very alarming after reading about similar incidents by Ford F-150 owners (worldwide) going back as far as 2011. Also highly problematic for me as a three-time F-150 truck owner, is that in October 2017, Ford was in the process of issuing safety recall notices for their F-150 trucks containing six speed automatic transmissions—one month before purchasing my vehicle with the 10 speed automatic transmission. I am the only person who operated the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11553232

Transmission has hard shifts between 3rd and 4th gear and when reaching 10th gear dashboard show’s transmission shifting to 1st and then 7th before slamming into 9th gear. This caused a panic situation at high speeds. Vehicle has since been to the dealership and advised that a new transmission is needed. Without performing any of Fords TSB for possible problems.

NHTSA ODI 11553322

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while in seventh gear, the vehicle downshifted to first gear. While attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle failed to move forward. The transmission also shifted hard from first gear to third gear. While accelerating, the vehicle unintendedly shifted into neutral. The power train malfunction and reduce power messages were displayed. The contact called the local dealer, who stated that the failure might be due to the valve body or the transmission. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 11552961

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently down shifted from 5th to 1st gear with the accelerator pedal depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a double clutch transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 71,600.

NHTSA ODI 11551446

When I first start driving the transmission does not seem to know what gear it should be in. It will start in first, jump to four and even at a stop with remain in fourth. As I start to move it will drop back to first and then jump to eighth. It will bounce between gears like this for the first half a mile or so then seems to settle back down. When it is jumping around gears the shifting is extremely hard and causes the truck to lunge, shaking the passengers and driver. I have started to notice over the last couple weeks it is getting worse and lasting longer into the day.

NHTSA ODI 11551176

The transmission is failing on my truck. This is a known issue with my year model F150 where the 10speed transmission since I bought it brand new shifts terribly causing it to shutter and shake. It got worse over time and continued to bring it up to the dealership. Finally my last check up I said it is getting really bad and they said it was fine. Then driving it down the highway I almost get in an accident. Out of know where it downshifted from about 70 mph to almost 50 causing the car to violently jolt and the wheels squeeling. Then I couldnt accelerate again for a few seconds and luckily the car started accelerating again. Car behind me had to lock up the breaks and I honestly thought we were going to flip. Reverse stopped working and then all of a sudden after all of that a orange wrench light came on(never came on before that). When you turn the vehicle off the orange wrench goes away until you drive it for about 15 minutes. Brought it back into the SAME dealership and did a drive along with a mechanic and he said before we left the parking lot that he can tell it is the transmission and if he drove it when I brought it in before he would have known that was the issue. Even told by the mechanic that this is a known issue by Ford HQ for 2018 and 2019 models. It was fixed in 2020, but they have no real fix for my year vehicle and told me there is about a 50/50 chance that a new transmission would help. Very scary that they will not only not address it, but let people continue to drive these vehicles with this issue that could cause major accidents on the road. They now say I need a new transmission and not covered by warranty of course, pushing back on the issue so they don't have to pay is more important than my safety and the safety of my kids that were in the back. Absolutely horrible that they put $$ over safety on a well documented issue with this year vehicle. I have see hundreds of reviews out there reporting this same exact issue.

NHTSA ODI 11550872

The transmission slips and jumps into different gears while driving. When applying the accelerator from a stop the truck will not move due to it being in 7th gear, when it finally decides to move it shifts hard jolting the truck. The electric driver seat moves around, it is not stable.

NHTSA ODI 11550612

New transmission installed due to surging, “thunking “ and transmission failure light on. Approximately 300 miles after installation of new transmission while driving at 70 MPH there was another “thunk” like the truck had been rear ended. The transmission gear indicator went from 10 to 1. There was no throttle response for 5 seconds. Truck decelerated rapidly causing a potential rear end accident. Wife following, along with other drivers, smoke coming from under the truck. Pulled off freeway when able. Was not able to determine issue. Drove another 100 miles to destination. Truck has been at dealer for 3 weeks as technician seeks a diagnosis. Ford needs to address the 10 speed transmission issues. A truck with 85,000 miles should not need a new transmission, then have a secondary dangerous failure 300 miles later. Truck has been at dealerships in Georgia and Florida for 2.5 months this summer/fall as new parts are installed and diagnostic work conducted.

NHTSA ODI 11550465

Had a major Transmission Failure. Transmission 10R80. Under 60,000 miles power train warranty. I have 59000 miles on truck. Took it to a ford dealer on Sept.12th.It took them two weeks to even look at problem they were so backed up with Trans issues. They said my 5+ years ran out on Aug. 4th.Laughed at the response thought no way Ford will not honor this claim. Especially since on May 15th had the transmission serviced for the same problems as in the class action suits I>E> delayed shifting,lagging,loud clunking when it would engage. At this time there were no icons or warning lamps displayed.They said since it wasn" at Ford dealer so this did not fall under my warranty period. IT would not shift from second to third. Sometimes it would down shift from 7th down to third when I was highway driving . The wrench icon came up on display immediately took to Ford dealership on the 12th . This shifting issue put myself and my passenger's in danger. Dealer has said to me that it will be 7000 for a new transmission or 5050.00 for a rebuilt to remedy the issue. I have service tickets to back this up.

NHTSA ODI 11548652

Transmission delays switching into next gear; slips in and out of gear; slips into neutral while driving; fails to accelerate and then jerks into higher gear. All these things happen almost daily. This has been happening since I bought the truck in 2020. I took it to a transmission service provider. They noticed the delays switching into gear but no codes were displayed to help them know what to fix. No warnings were displayed. It started happening soon after I bought the truck. Now it happens almost daily. It's scary. I feel I'm not in control of the vehicle. I've read online that there is a class action lawsuit filed. I am unsure of what actions I should take.

NHTSA ODI 11546061