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

The 10R80 10-speed automatic F-150 Sport XLT exhibits a loud bang (metal on metal sound) noise when starting engine, shifting into reverse or drive during cold or warm operation. Transmission will stall in between gears (particular 3, 7 and 10), lose of power, not accelerating or shifting while operating. Once power is regain, shifting become jerky (whiplash like) making vehicle propel harshly and operating unsafely on highways. I've made Dealer aware of mishaps in 2019 and several times in 2021. The vehicle did not present warning lamps in 2019, but presented warnings in 2021. Dealer has re-calibrated/reprogrammed the PCM or TCM module on each service and commented that problem didn't reoccur during diagnosis. July 5th 2021, I've requested for a test ride with mechanic, immediately in front of dealership on route 7 we noticed the grinding of gears, harsh jerky shifting and loss of acceleration in heavy traffic area, which put our life along with others who where on the highway that day in jeopardy. Mechanic requested to perform a thorough diagnosis for sharing with Ford Customer Care in two weeks (July 20, 2021). This has changed due to truck unable to shift gears properly on July 9th on route 29 (heavy traffic area during rush hour) problem worsen and vehicle was not able to sustain power in between gears. Vehicle is now with Ford Dealership in Warrenton Va, awaiting a thorough transmission diagnosis. My first report of hard shifting, my vehicle had less than 15K miles and was under the 30,000 miles mechanical warranty. Per the Koons Ford mechanic, Ford is aware of this problem but do not have a fix at this time. Per reports, FORD has been aware this problem since 2017, but didn't make their consumers aware nor fixed the issue. Overall this model is unsafe to operate and attention is needed before their are critical accidents on major highways. FORD has to take action, either buy back these models or fixed the problem.

NHTSA ODI 11424535

4wheel drive actuators fail. When they fail it causes front wheels to jerk and and lock up temperary. We it happened I was pulling out in traffic. They have been replaced 3 times by 2 different Ford dealers. The warning signs is a grinding nose coming from front drive trail. I have researched this on internet and it is a common problem with newer F150s. As I stated this is the third time they have been replaced and the truck only has less than 21000 miles on it. The first time they failed 11/05/20 (14987 miles) second time 06/02/21 (19138 miles) third time 06/24/21 (20327 miles).

NHTSA ODI 11422781

TRANSMISSION GRINDS ON ACCELERATION. ALSO, RUMBLING SOUND/FEELING BETWEEN APPROX. 4TH AND 7TH GEAR. WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE LURCHES AND LOUD BANG. HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, AND ALL 3 TIMES, THEY SAY THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SOUND. I GUESS IF THEY CAN'T HEAR IT, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. DEFINITELY 100% WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS VEHICLE HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11422423

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced at the dealer for a manufacturer's power train control module reprogramming, the vehicle would shudder when switching lane, accelerating, or decelerating. The check engine light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to another dealer Bob Swope Ford, Inc. (1307 N Dixie Hwy, Elizabethtown, KY 42701) and an engine oil leakage was repaired. However, the failure recurred. The dealer Bob Swope Ford, Inc. informed the contact that there was no remedy but it was safe to drive the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,865.

NHTSA ODI 11421622

After the Ford 21b10 update the vehicle started having shifting issues. The transmission will hold higher gears at low speeds causing an engine or transmission shutter. Vehicle is sluggish and takes a lot of throttle input to down shift into correct gear. Vehicle ran perfectly fine before getting the update done.

NHTSA ODI 11418983

Transmission malfunction. Truck experiences major hard shifting, hesitation going to gears which causes lack of exceleration. Transmission was reprogrammed around $30k miles Dec 2020. On 5/20/21, I came to stop at 4 way intersection. I proceeded to go straight but truck was barely moving (less than 5 mph) and when looking at dash I could see gear indicator showing transmission still in 7th gear but truck would not excelerate as if it was in neutral. I proceeded to use my flashers and coasted to the side of the two lane road. The dealer reprogrammed the transmission a second time on 5/24/21. I picked the vehicle up from dealer on 5/25/21 and experience same failures and a see manual warning light flashed on the dash. This vehicle is currently at the dealer and I've been advised they are dropping transmission to see what is going on inside. This 10 speed transmission is a major safety issue when driving as the vehicle can become disabled at anytime

NHTSA ODI 11418605

On Thurs., May 20, 2021, about 5:00 pm Central, I was traveling south on the Edens Express in the Chicago area, traveling at highway speed (approximately 70+ mph) when all of a sudden and without warning my power train cut out and I received an error message, Check Engine and Drive Mode Not Available came up after I came to a stop, turned the vehicle off and tried to re-engage the transmission to drive off. My truck stopped forward motion and I had to coast to a stop on the right hand side of the road. I was between Exits 34 and 35, about 1.25 miles north of the Skokie/Old Orchard exit. I contacted Ford Road Service and they towed the truck to my local Ford Dealer, Napoleon Ford in Libertyville, IL. Ford Service indicated that the issue was caused by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Service re-flashed the PCM and said that was the only fix necessary. My concern is that this issue happened suddenly and without any warning while I was traveling at highway speed. While I was lucky enough to be in the right-hand lane (of the 3 lane highway), that was only because I was planning to exit at the Skokie/Old Orchard exit which was the next exit. Had I been away from the right-hand lane or someone was tailgating me when this happened (or going up a hill), the consequences might not have been so good for my personal well-being. I wanted to bring this to your attention in case this is happening to other Ford F-150 truck with similar PCMs. When I asked Ford Service what caused the error in the PCM, they could not give me a reason nor could they say what caused the error, leaving it as unknown whether this will happen again.

NHTSA ODI 11418542

2 to 4 times a day since I bought the truck new, when cold, the engine RPM's flair up 600 to 1000 RPM's before slamming into gear. This happens when shifting from 3rd to 4th gear and sometimes 5th to 4th gear. I have taken it to 2 different dealers. Both said it shifted normal. When went to pick it up from the second dealer I had the Service manager ride with me. He noticed poor shifting and said the truck was NOT shifting normally. I left it for them to give it a better look. Only 3 days later I was asked to pick it up because they "couldn't duplicate the problem", even though the Service Manager witnessed the problem.

NHTSA ODI 11418360

Transmission harsh up and down shifts and some times hangs between gears before going into gear revs when going into 6th like in N and will not go into reverse until transmission is cooled down

NHTSA ODI 11417782

My truck now has 52K + and it has started to skip gears when shifting. Seems to be once warmed up the shifting gets clunky and bangs, more like a shudder and no rhyme or reason it shift from 1st to 2nd and 3rd and skip 4th but slip almost like it is in neutral? I was pulling out of a store parking lot and it was like someone threw it in neutral and a MAC truck was coming right at me and luckily I let up off of pedal and it caught and I was able to cut over to breakdown lane as the truck laid on his air horn at me. I have taken it in for service 3 times now at Franklin Ford in Franklin Massachusetts and it is in there right now for the 4th time. The mechanic has replaced parts and given back to me after a testing stating that it was all set each time and I would get in and same slippage and shuddering and banging while shifting and still slipped into neutral. The 3rd time in they mentioned that they replaced the torque converter, got it back after over a week: Same issues. The 4th time in service now for over a week going to check in to see what they have figured out if anything? This is ridiculous, been going on since beginning of March. Why they can't just replace Transmission or Truck ? You spend so much on your truck and take very good care of and I will tell you I baby my truck. It is a beautiful truck but please do something !! Franklin Ford asked me to start a case with FORD, so I am starting here. I haven't any paperwork you would have to get from them, my service person, Ed Murphy should be able to provide you and FORD with everything that they have done along with exact dates. Thanks for listening. Kim Levya

NHTSA ODI 11417644

TRANSMISSION JUMPS FROM THIRD TO FIRST BACK TO THIRD JERKING THE VEHICLE AND SOME TIMES DELAYS THE VEHICLE FROM CLEARING LANES AND/OR VEHICLES. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND/OR AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR MORE THAN A FEW HOURS.

NHTSA ODI 11416708

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENDEDLY DOWNSHIFTED AND STALLED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE POWER TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GERVAIS INC (5 LITTLETON RD, AYER, MA 01432) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,200.

NHTSA ODI 11414442

ENGINE TICKING SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL @START UP AND DRIVING TRANSMISSION WHINING AND KICKS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11407207

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE HAULING A TRAILER. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER TWO MINUTES AND HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME WHILE REVVING THE ENGINE TO 1,500 RPM TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A REST STATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANDERSON FORD BULLHEAD CITY (2585 AZ-95, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ 86442) AND SIEMANS FORD, INC. (8961 RED ARROW HWY, BRIDGMAN, MI 49106) HOWEVER, THE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,400.

NHTSA ODI 11404210

I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN OCTOBER 2018, DOORS WOULD RANDOMLY FLY OPEN WHEN CORNERING. I BROUGHT IT IN THERE WAS A RECALL IT WAS FIXED. THEN WHEN IT IS BELOW 30 DEGREES MY REAR SENSOR DRIVERS SIDE WOULD SHOW A STEADY RED AND BEEP WHEN THERE WAS NO DANGER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE IS MOST LIKELY MOISTURE IN THE SENSOR BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE IT. THEN AT 41,000 MILES MY ENGINE BLEW A ROD. THEY TOLD ME I WAS NOT CHANGING OIL FREQUENTLY ENOUGH. I CHANGE MY OWN OIL. I PROVIDED RECEIPTS FOR OIL BUT THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY IT, I PAID $15,000 OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED. I CALLED FORD CORPORATE AND AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF INVESTIGATING THEY HAD THE DEALER REFUND MY MONEY. THEN AT 43,000 MILES I WAS ON VACATION AND THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT CLOSE. I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO SAID THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING IN THE TRACK BUT THEY WOULD NEED THE TRUCK FOR 4 DAYS AND I WAS LEAVING THE NEXT DAY. I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER UPON RETURN AND THEY CHARGED ME $4,300 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PANORAMIC ROOF RAILS AND CHASSIS. MOST RECENTLY MY 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD AND IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING THAT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED ANOTHER LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE I HAD LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW FROM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED AND CHAFING CAUSED IT TO RUN THROUGH AND CAUSE FALSE AND INTERMITTENT SIGNALS. THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE IT WAS NEGLIGENCE ON THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE. I WOULD HAVE TO GO AFTER THEM FOR THE $800 FIX. THE SAME DEALER WHO REPLACED THE HARNESS CALLED ME LATER THAT WEEK WHILE WAITING FOR THE PART, TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOW THE TRANS VALVE CORE. THEY REPLACED IT AND IT IS HAS NOT CHANGED ANYTHING. THEY ARE CURRENTLY WAITING ON DIRECTION FROM FORD. I HAVE BEEN IN A LOANER OR RENTAL FOR WELL OVER 90 DAYS CUMMULATIVLEY. UNNACCEPTABLE!

NHTSA ODI 11400118

I HAVE THE 2.7 ECOBOOST WITH 19,000 MILES ON IT AND OIL PAN IS LEAKING AND BEING REPLACED. NOT GOOD FOR A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILES ALSO THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT S REAL HARD IN MULTIPLE GEARS MAINLY 5TH AND 3RD

NHTSA ODI 11399792

THE VEHICLE DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY START WHEN RELEASING BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT. NEEDED TO BE PUT BACK INTO PARK AND TURNED OVER USING KEY. VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY BEFORE THIS TOOK PLACE AND TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS ABOVE 50 DEGREES.

NHTSA ODI 11397657

ON FEBRUARY 10 2021 AFTER I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND I PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK AND REMOVED THE KEYS TO GET OUT AS I WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE IT ROLLED FORWARD AND ALL MOST HIT MY BROTHER WHO WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK. I RESTARTED THE TRUCK BACKED UP PUT IT IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF REMOVED THE KEY WENT TO EXIT THE TRUCK AGAIN AND IT ROLLED FORWARD AGAIN. I REPEATED THE PROCEDURE AGAIN AND IT DID IT AGAIN. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY TRUCK FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR 2018 F50 TRUCKS BUILT IN THE MONTHS PRIOR TO MINE. CLEARLY FORD SHOULD INCLUDE THE RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. THE CURRENT RECALL NUMBERS ARE 18S09 AND 18S10. MY TRUCK WAS SENT FOR SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I DO NOT WANT A VEHICLE THAT COULD ROLL FORWARD WHILE IN PARK AND INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE.

NHTSA ODI 11397708

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE SNOW/WET TRANSMISSION MODE, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A MERGING VEHICLE. THE REAR END MADE A LOUD CLUNK AND THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. THIS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES - A LOUD CLUNK FOLLOWED BY THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMING ON. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE NOTICED A CLUNK AT NORMAL MODE WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. IT OCCURS WHEN DRIVING AS ONE WOULD NORMALLY DRIVE AROUND TOWN, JUST NOT AS LOUD. THE PROBLEM SEEMS INTERMITTENT, BUT CAN BE FORCED TO OCCUR BY TAPPING THE GAS IN SHORT RAPID TAPS WHICH APPEARS TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE THE REAR END. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE. THE ESTABROOK FORD DEALER WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THE SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE LIFT, BUT SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS UNDER A NO LOAD CONDITION AND NOT A TRUE INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPORTED THAT FORD CONSIDERS THIS NORMAL OPERATION FOR THE 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION, AND BY TAPPING THE GAS TO FORCE IT TO OCCUR IS NOT NORMAL. THE LOUD CLUNK ALSO OCCURRED ON ONE OCCASION WHEN I SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI 11397332

FROM NOVEMBER 2020 TO FEBRUARY 8, 2021 I HAVE EXPERIENCED 7 INCIDENTS WHERE MY TRUCK HAS HESITATED/STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IT APPEARS TO BE WORSENING. ON ONE OCCASION IT PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS POSITION IN TRAFFIC AND FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOTICED IT IS BEGINNING TO SHIFT HARDER AS WELL. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS 10R80 TRANSMISSION DOING EXACTLY THE SAME AND YET, FORD, HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. I AM TAKING MY TRUCK TO MARSHALL FORD DEALER ON FEB. 11, 2021 TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11395399

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD IN THE FIRST 5 GEARS OF THE 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION. IT IS HIT OR MISS ON WHETHER OR NOT IT DOES IT, BUT IT DOES RAISE A CONCERN ON HOW IT JERKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MY DAUGHTER THINGS I AM BRAKING HARD, BUT IT IS REALLY JUST THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11390600

AFTER TOWING FOR AN HOUR OR MORE, PULLING INTO GAS STATION, LOW RPM, ENGINE STOPS, AUTO START.STOP WARNING COMES ON, ASKED TO PUT IN PARK AND RESTART ---I HAVE TO REV GAS TO KEEP STARTED--ONLY WHEN TOWING FOR AWHILE

NHTSA ODI 11390643

CLUNKING SOUND WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, HESITATION CHANGING GEARS. LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION, NOSE DIVE, WHEN IN 10TH GEAR AND ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION GOES FROM 10 GEAR TO 3. HESITAION CHANGING GEARS, AT 30 MILES PER HOUR TRUCK SLOWS ALMOST TO A STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11386812

THE VACUUM ACTUATOR TRIES TO ENGAGE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ON IT'S OWN. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE F150S. MY TRUCK TRIES TO RANDOMLY ENGAGE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM EVERY 50-75 MILES, TYPICALLY AT 55-65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THIS OCCURS YOU CAN HEAR THE CV AXELS GRINDING AGAINST THE TRANSFER CASE GEAR UNTIL YOU SLOW DOWN OR PHYSICALLY ENGAGE THE 4X4 SYSTEM. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR OUT THE FRONT DRIVETRAIN OR WORSE, FURTHER ENGAGE UNEXPECTEDLY AND POTENTIALLY LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI 11386285

CLICKING/GRINDING NOISE ON DECELERATION BETWEEN 1000-2000 RPM. I HAD THE NECESSARY TSB 18-2354 (REPROGRAM PCM FOR NOISE COMPLAINT) COMPLETED ON VEHICLE WITH NO CHANGE. I'VE READ MANY ARTICLES ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NO ONE HAS HAD THEIR VEHICLE FIXED FROM THIS ISSUE. FORD HAS SAID THIS IS NORMAL BUT A CLICKING NOISE UNDER DECELERATION IS NEVER NORMAL ESPECIALLY WHEN IT STARTED HAPPENING AFTER DRIVING 500-1000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 22,000 MILES ON IT AND WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AT 21,000 MILES IT NEVER MADE THE NOISE UNTIL ABOUT 500 MILES INTO IT. I FEAR THAT THE NOISE COULD BE CAUSING DEBRIS TO GET INTO THE ENGINE AND OR TRANSMISSION. I WISH FORD WOULD BE MORE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2018-2019 FORD F-150 AND MUSTANGS. FORD SAYS THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC BUT IT CAN'T BE NORMAL IF THE NOISE WAS NEVER THEIR AND STARTS UP AFTER 500-1000 MILES OF DRIVING. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND IT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FIND A FIX. I JUST SPENT $33,000 ON A VEHICLE AND I DO NOT WISH TO SPEND MONEY TO REPLACE AN ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11386200