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

Erratic shifting with transmission seeming to lock up causing me to near crash incidents.

NHTSA ODI 11512463

Transmission would jerk in and out of 9th gear and then go from 9th gear to 1st while driving on the highway. Transmission shop reported it as a drum issue. Also said they had 3 other Ford trucks with the same transmission having the same exact issues.

NHTSA ODI 11511683

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH and making a stop, the vehicle lunged forward without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that no failure was found. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated the vehicle needed to be diagnosed and repaired. The failure mileage was 8,000.

NHTSA ODI 11511873

cam phasers are rattling very hard. It is a known recall with ford that for some reason is not showing under my VIN even through the recall is for the same year model and engine.

NHTSA ODI 11511614

The 10 speed transmission on my pickup is failing. Dropping out of gear, losing power, failing when climbing a slight hill, Loud clanking and jerking in and out of gear. Black transmission fluid. Ford dealers cannot deal with it and my dealer that does the regular service cannot schedule me for diagnostics for over a month. I finally have an appointment with an out of town dealer two week out. In the meantime, my work pickup is nearly useless.

NHTSA ODI 11510809

1. Vehicle accelerates on its own when shifting into drive and releasing the brake. 2.Vehicle lunges forward when the transmission is shifting from 1st to 2nd gear or 2nd to 3rd gear. This occurs in the lower gears only. 3. Doesn't shift into the next higher gear and the RPM's are running high which should activate a gear change but it doesn't occur. 4. The RPM's are increasing but there is very little movement of the vehicle. It feels like the transmission is slipping. 5. These problems are not consistent.It may occur once a week or 3 times a week. These problems go away if I stop moving and return the vehicle to the PARK position and they have never occurred over 40 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11510706

I noticed the truck began rattling in the mornings or when the engine was cold. I was driving on the freeway when it started losing power and the check engine light was flashing. It had been misfiring and progressively got worse. I managed to get off the freeway in time to shut the vehicle off. The vehicle has gone through diagnostic testing at a Ford dealership. The service tech informed me that the cam phasers needed to be replaced because they were sticking and the computer needed to be reprogrammed. The computer was then reprogrammed and I drove the vehicle home, 5 miles away, and it would not start again. After some research, I was made aware that the CAM PHASERS are a KNOWN ISSUE on the Ford F 150 Raptor through the Customer Satisfaction Program no. 21N03-initiated by NHTSA. This replacement covers the 2017-2020 F150 Raptor if manufactured at the Dearborn plant between March 2016-Nov 2019. I have confirmed the vehicle was built at that location in the time period mentioned. I brought this up to the tech, service manager at the Ford Dealership as well as Ford Customer Relationship Center and I was told numerous times that the VIN no. does not qualify. This is a safety issue, recognized by Ford, and should be covered. I was told to contact the NHTSA to seek qualification of my vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11510513

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while coming to a stop, the vehicle made abnormal sounds as if the engine was revving, or the transmission was attempting to shift into another gear while the brake pedal was being depressed to slow down the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The contact stated that after the initial start-up, the transmission was slightly hesitating before shifting into gear. The vehicle had been taken to a certified mechanic but was not diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11509463

Transmission slips, changes gears. Auto start slams into forward gear. Ten speed transmission not safe to drive. Taking truck to dealership for two years with no resolution. Phaser start up rattle. Taking it to dealership for two years with no resolution.

NHTSA ODI 11509260

I was pulling out into 4 lanes of traffic and the truck shut off. Dash had message "Auto StartStop Shift to P, then Restart Engine". I am stuck blocking 4 lanes of traffic on a busy street with cars coming fast. I put in park and restarted the engine. It died and gave the same message 4 more times. Finally revved the engine way up and was able to move the truck. It died twice while approaching the next stop sign even though Auto Start/Stop was disabled. Revved engine and was able to make it to the Ford dealer who had no one available to assess the problem. Several people suggested replacing the battery. I put in a new battery and reset the battery monitoring system. The problem still persists. Slamming a dead pickup into park in the middle of 4 lanes of oncoming traffic is most definitely a safety issue. I see that many Ford owners have experienced the same problem in a variety of Ford products. I don't think it is a battery issue since the engine should be able to run off the alternator and it still occurs after replacing the battery. I don't think it is an Auto Start/Stop issue since it occurred with AS/S activated or deactivated. In almost all cases the engine is warmed up and in the one instance I had driven the truck 22 miles before the failure occurred. In almost every case, I am gently accelerating from a stop or slowing down for a stop. It has failed in both Drive and Reverse. I get no other warning lights or messages.

NHTSA ODI 11508787

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at high speeds, the transmission experienced rough and erratic shifting while switching gears. Additionally, the transmission was slipping while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11507020

My vehicle shakes during shifts or has extremely hard shifts regardless of acceleration demands. I have also had the vehicle completely drop out of gear during both acceleration and with the cruse control set. I have had the vehicle either lock into to high of a gear or refuse to engage into gear while stopped and stop signs and red lights. I have had both the ECU and TCU reflashed multiple times and this issue continues.

NHTSA ODI 11505445

Vehicle shifts extremely hard, appears to shift into neutral, loses power and slows way down while driving. This has caused numerous safety issues that could cause a wreck that results in injury or death. Multiple times while on the interstate or passing a vehicle the truck has slowed down 10-20 MPH. This causes vehicle backups on the interstate and could result in death while passing a vehicle in a passing zone. The TB published did not fix the issue and the class action lawsuit filed in IL has been going on for four years. There have been multiple complaints of this issue and should result in a recall. Additionally, the dealership charged me 8.5 hours to overhaul the main control valve body when the TB states a maximum of 5.5 hours.

NHTSA ODI 11505116

The IWE was faulty. I got in my truck and put it in drive, then when I started to accelerate, a horrible grinding sound started (sounded like my tire had been taken off and the metal from the rims were dragging kind of metal sound) . I immediately had to try and pull over, and checked to make sure nothing was falling off. I put it in drive again and it did not do it until I went to leave work. Then I put it in drive and it did it again, so I put it in park and then drive and it still continued to make the noise. I parked and started to look at forums on 2018 f150s and grinding noises and seen one that said if it is the IWE, then put it in 4wd and then switch back to 2wd and it should stop. I did that and that is the only way I could get it to not make the horrid grinding sound. I could tell that there still was something going on with the vacuum because of how it drove, but I could actually drive without it sounding like it was going to fall apart. There were no warning lights that had come on when I was having the issues, and I ended up replacing the part at home. I should still have the original IWE at my house, but apparently this is a very common problems with these trucks.

NHTSA ODI 11504947

Bought new in February, 2018. Vehicle has the 3.5L EcoBoost with 10-speed transmission, currently just over 50,000 miles, regularly maintained with Ford service providers. Since ~48,000 miles, when the engine is cold it occasionally produces a grinding noise at take-off or low speeds for 10-30 seconds or until ~35-40MPH when it stops, usually with a thud or a crunching sound, and it doesn't happen again once the engine is warm. It gets worse as you apply the gas, and the RPM sticks when you let off like it can't shift up or down. Ever since they did the transmission reprogramming a couple of years ago it's gotten BAD. Since then, when the engine is warm it's occasionally really rough when shifting up or down: the RPM will stick high or low for a second before thudding into the next gear with a jerk, to the point I can tell it's coming and can brace for it. I've complained about it to Ford, but nothing was resolved. "It's just one of those things." At 37,000 miles the internal transmission sensor that tells it to shift up or down failed (according to Ford), so it had become a manual transmission, shiftable only via the "Manual" option on the gearshift and the thumb rocker. That was fixed at Ford's expense, but the grinding is new, since ~48,000 miles (and I'm getting close to the end of the powertrain warranty). Ford couldn't replicate it when I brought it in (I thought it was a bad wheel bearing until I saw the RPM sticking this last time) because it doesn't always happen. Now that it's happening again with more frequency, they gave me an appointment three weeks out...hopefully it will live that long (and they figure out what's wrong with it).

NHTSA ODI 11503820

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F150. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the transmission was not shifting gear properly. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in any recalls. The failure mileage was 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 11503648

2018 Ford F-150 Platinum has had and continues to have transmission issues even though the truck has been taken to be serviced for the same condition 4 times. This vehicle has the 10 speed automatic transmission. The first sign of transmission troubles was a loss of power while shifting from 3 to 4 gear. This was reported for service and technicians replaced the valve synchronizer and the clutches which looked worn and metal deposits were detected on the fluid. This problem disappeared for a while but started again slowly increasing as time passed. It was taken again to the shop and again the valve synchronizer and clutches were replaced again. This time the problem continued but other problem’s arose including heavy knocking while shifting, jerking and hard shifting. We have taken the truck in for servicing and problems continue and Ford is not responding indicating that the unit did not show the problem reported.

NHTSA ODI 11503492

Transmission slips when cold or hot. Had fluid flushed and filled and situation has gotten worse. Transmission shop said the valve assembly is defective and will cost $1,500+ to repair.

NHTSA ODI 11503515

My 10-speed transmission in my Ford F-150 is experiencing gear slipping, harsh shifting, jerking, sudden accleration, hesitation problems, and general loss of power. It started doing this at roughly 60,536 miles and Ford and the dealer refuse to assist with the current issue due to the vehicle being out of warranty. The dealer told me it would cost an out of pocket fee of $8,000. I have changed the transimission fluid my self and the vehicle continues to run above 245 degrees with a check engine light. The fault that I continue to see is a powertrain failure. After taking it in for a service to get my TCM updated, the technicians said it was up to date and there was nothing else they could do for it. My service history is as follows: March 15, 2022 when the dealr told me I needed a new front differential, November 28, 2022. Dec. 10, 2022.

NHTSA ODI 11502713

2018 f150 4x4 lariat the issue is 4x4 is engaging while your driving I’m on the highway speed 65 to 70 mph 4x4 trying to engage. Doing research Ford sent united state wide message to mechanic if customers bring vehicle in under this issue which is TSB technical service bulletin 22-2219 , think this is a safety issue if 4x4 engage is going to veer your vehicle in a different direction, the fix is to bypass the check valve so now your vehicle front axle is always engaged,didn’t purchase this vehicle to be all wheel drive

NHTSA ODI 11502504

The 10R80 transmission in this truck has hard shifting and finally at 120,000 miles began shifting from 7th gear to 1st gear while driving on roadways. The truck would lose power has hesitation like the gears slipping and hard downshifting. Dealership stated the Drum Clutch Basket had failed and requires a new transmission. Unknown to me the vehicle also had the motor replaced at 62,000 miles due to "oil consumption" issues. Ford has issued multiple TSBs in regards to these issues. The hesitation is so bad that the vehicle looses power and can happen at any time such as merging into traffic. The downshifting causes significant jerking of occupants.

NHTSA ODI 11500973

My 2018 Ford F150 is having problems shifting into gears and will disengage from gear while trying and rev up the engine until I take my foot off of the gas and the RPM's decrease and the transmission re-engages. Sometime this causes harsh shifting and sudden jerks of the truck. I notified the dealership and was put on a long waiting list but told to keep driving it. My place in line finally came up and was notified that the transmission was shot but the time frame to get a new transmission is 2 to 3 months. The vehicle is at the dealership right now so you would need to visit the dealership for inspection. I would say this item has put safety at risk since the vehicle will slow down while driving on the freeway. On the day I was scheduled to drop the truck off at the dealership, I had a hard shift and the check engine light finally came on.

NHTSA ODI 11500609

The 10 Speed transmission has adaptive learning software. The transmission miss gears and lurches forward as if to be struck from behind. When the truck is in the higher gears the transmission disengages and acts as if in natural. There are times when the transmission shifts from 8 to 1 causing the vehicle to "buck". This is a serious safety issue that Ford has no plan to correct.

NHTSA ODI 11500009

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that occasionally while the vehicle was parked or idling; while attempting to accelerate, the engine revved and the transmission hesitated before responding, causing the vehicle to jerk forward. The contact learned that the failure was known as hard shifting. The failure first occurred intermittently but had since become constant. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The contact was then transferred to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11498950

In October 2022, I began noticing while driving slight jerking, hesitation and apparent engine or transmission noise that appeared that my truck wanted to accelerate of when idling to a stop. A service light did come on at this point. I took my truck in to Koons Ford in Falls Church Virginia and reported my observations and concerns to Service Advisor [XXX]. [XXX] advised me that his service technician could diagnose the issue, and that the fee for this diagnostic work would be $250. I paid this fee with my credit card, but still don't have a record of this payment as it didn't appear on the invoice I received when the catalytic converters were replaced. [XXX] advised me that the issues I reported to me at the conclusion of the diagnostic testing that I needed new catalytic converters. The issue persisted and subsequently told by [XXX] after bringing my vehicle back to the dealership for almost 3 days of diagnostic work that I now needed a new transmission. I had been driving my truck and experiencing jerking and stalling to the detriment of my safety and that of my wife and grandchildren. I had to wait almost 4 weeks for the catalytic converters to come in for the catalytic converter installment. I was never advised during the period I was waiting for the catalytic converters to come in that driving the truck posed a safety risk so I drove it, albeit on a limited basis, while waiting on the parts to come in. A service light did come on at some point after the catalytic converted was installed and I coordinated a time to bring the vehicle back to Koons and as I indicated previously, after almost 3 days of presumably Ford technicians evaluating my, I was advised I needed a new transmission. I only have 80K miles on this truck that I purchased in November 2018. I understand the F-150 trucks, and late model F-150 trucks including 2018s have been found to have 10 speed transmission issues. This was not mentioned in any of my conversations with Ford. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11499046