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

I PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW IN 2018. DURING THE PAST 20 MONTHS OR SO IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THEY UPDATE THE SOFTWARE, CLEAR CODES AND THEN STATE THE VEHICLE WILL LEARN ITS PATTERNS AGAIN. NONE OF HAS HELPED. THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND THEN IT DOES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN IT SHIFTS THE FIRST 2 GEARS. ANOTHER ISSUE: AT TIMES, POSSIBLY AT LEAST 20 TIMES IN 20 MONTHS, THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND GO INTO A DEAD SPOT FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS AND THE REENGAGE, USUALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN WE ARE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE LAST ISSUE IS THAT THE VEHICLE AT TIMES IS GEAR SEARCHING AND VERY ERRATIC, SOMETIMES AT 36MPH THE RPMS ARE SO LOW IT MAKES A GROWLING NOISE. BY PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION ON SPORT MODE IT WILL KEEP THE RPMS UP AND MITIGATE THE PROBLEM. I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THIS TRUCK AND TRANSMISSION IS POSSIBLE THE SOFTWARE. THE TRANSMISSION NEVER FEELS TRULY COMFORTABLE ALWAYS DISPLAYING SOME TYPE OF DISCOMFORT OR PERHAPS RISK. WE LOVE THE TRUCK BUT FORD NEEDS TO TRULY STEP UP AND PROVIDE RELIEF TO THIS PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS SAFETY AND THEN COST ONCE WE RUN OUT OF WARRANTY. THE TRUCK JUST TURNED 31K MILES AND STRONGLY CONSIDERING DISPLACING BEFORE IT HITS 36K. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11321336

2018 FORD F-150 TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTING IS ERRATIC BOTH WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING ON THE HIGHWAY. SOME SHIFTS TAKE A LONG TIME, SOME SHIFTS SKIP A GEAR, SOME SHIFTS ARE VERY HARD, SHAKING THE TRUCK. HAPPENING MORE OFTEN WHILE ON LONG TRIPS.

NHTSA ODI 11319231

2018 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION ON EXPRESSWAY DISPLAYS LOSS OF POWER RESULTING IN VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AT 70MPH. ISSUE CAN LAST 20 SECONDS. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IS POOR AT EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS AND ALSO CAN RESULT IN DELAY SHIFTING,HIGH RPM REVING,AND ACLUNK FROM FINAL GEAR ENGAGEMENT. DANGEROUS HIGH-SPEED CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI 11317521

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION ON MY 2018 F-150 SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2018 HAVING JERKY, HARSH SHIFTS WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. ALSO CLUNKY SHIFTS AT LOW SPEEDS BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH AND 5TH AND 6TH GEARS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALSO CAN SHORTEN THE LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION. MANY OTHER FORD CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE F-150 TRUCKS WITH THE 10 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS. I CALLED FORD CORPORATE OFFICE AND FILED A COMPLAINT. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND CORRECT THE ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI 11311958

ON A RELATIVELY COLD MORNING AROUND 32 DEGREES I STARTED TRUCK LET IT WARM UP A COUPLE MINUTES THEN BACKED OUT OF GARAGE AND DROVE DOWN STREET, WHEN I WENT AROUND CORNER I SLOWED A BIT AND TRUCK JERKED AND HALF WAY AROUND CORNER I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND ENGINE RPMS REV'D UP AS IF TRANS HAD GONE INTO NEUTRAL. I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND TRANS FELT LIKE IT CLUNKED INTO A LOWER GEAR AND THEN ACCELERATED FINE. THIS HAPPENED UNDER 20MPH BUT APPEARED TO DOWNSHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR WHICH FELT LIKE THAT WASN'T THE CORRECT GEAR FOR THE SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11311327

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FILLED WITH WATER FROM THE BREATHER TUBE, TWICE, CAUSING BEARINGS TO BE REPLACED, TWICE

NHTSA ODI 11311358

ERRATIC SHIFTING, UNEXPLAINED TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTS, PAUSES BETWEEN SHIFTS. VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD AND BACKWARDS WHEN FIRST STARTED DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT). I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THIS COMPLAINT ONLY TO HEAR THAT FORD IS WORKING ON IT. THEY CLAIM TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT THE ODOMETER INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 2 TO 3 TENTHS OF A MILE.

NHTSA ODI 11310351

I FEEL THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. WHEN PARKED AND STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE IS A LOUD BANG FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. IT ALSO SHIFT HARSHLY WHEN DRIVING AT TIMES, OTHER TIMES ITS SHIFTS ARE DELAYED.

NHTSA ODI 11309496

10 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS A PRETTY CONSISTENT HISTORY OF SHIFTING ROUGHLY, ESPECIALLY, SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS 3 & 4. IT ACTUALLY FAILS TO ENGAGE FORWARD BRIEFLY AND THEN MAKES A CLANGING NOISE BEFORE IT SHIFTS INTO 4TH GEAR; IN SPORT MODE IT WILL STICK IN 6TH GEAR. I HAVE REPORTED THESE PROBLEMS AT LEAST 4 TIMES TO SHOTTENKIRK FORD IN JASPER GA WHEN I HAVE HAD SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. EVERY TIME I'VE BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE I WAS JUST TOLD A DIFFERENT EXCUSE AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE MOST RECENT SERVICE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID MY TRUCK WAS 2 QUARTS LOW ON TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. MY MOST RECENT AND MOST CONCERNING INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SWERVE BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER AND THEN IT KEPT TRYING TO SHIFT IN BETWEEN GEARS AND THEN I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY TRUCK. THE CARS THAT HAD FOLLOWED ME STARTED TO DROP BACK BECAUSE MY TRUCK WAS SPRAYING WHAT I BELIEVE TO HAVE BEEN TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT. I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP IN COLUMBIA SC AND AFTER THEY CHECKED THE DIP STICK FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CLAIMED IT HAD TOO MUCH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IT WAS NOT A WARRANTIED ITEM AND THAT MY TRUCK WAS FINE TO DRIVE. THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS BEEN QUITE AGGRAVATING BUT NOW IT POSES A SERIOUS HAZARD TO ME AND MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ODI 11307574

HARSH/ERRATIC SHUDDER WHEN SHIFTING AT APPROXIMATELY 1,100 RPM AND APPROX 38 MPH. POWER TRAIN LUGGING, SHUDDER GOES AWAY OVER 45 MPH. HARSH SHIFT FEELS LIKE BEING REAR-ENDED AND CAUSING WHIP-LASH. LOUD THUNK AND THEN SNAPPING SENSATION.

NHTSA ODI 11306922

MY 2018 F150 IN THE MORNINGS WON'T SHIFT RIGHT IF YOU STEP ON GAS PEDAL NOTHING HAPPENS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN IT LURCHES FORWARD AND BANGS IT WILL DO THE SAME THING AT NIGHT WHEN I BACK OUT OF PARKING SPOT IN REVERSE.TO GO HOME FROM WORK. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT IN TRANSMISSION THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT.THIS IS MY 6TH FORD TRUCK NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I'M SURE THIS IS NOT NORMAL OR GOING TO FIX IT SELF.

NHTSA ODI 11306928

1.) F150 SUPERCAB DRIFTS ERRATICALLY. FORD HAS ALIGNED VEHICLE TWICE, BUT ISSUE REMAINS. FEELS LIKE TRUCK IS IN A HIGH-WIND ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT IS A CALM DAY. TRUCK WILL VEER OFF ROAD UNLESS EXTREME CARE IS EXERCISED. 2.) TRANSMISSION LUGS ON ACCELERATION, PARTICULARLY @ 1100RPM AND 38MPH. 3.) HARD "CLUNK/THUMP" SENSATION AT LOW SPEEDS, CAUSING SEVERE "WHIP-LASH" ACTION TO OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLE. 4.)WHEN TAKING SLOW LEFT TURN UP A STEEP INCLINE THE TRUCK LUGS AND TRANSMISSION FEEL LIKE IT IS SLIPPING AND UNABLE TO DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER AND MOMENTUM. 5.) ENGINE STALLS WHEN LEAVING STOP LIGHT. DASH LIGHTS COME ON SAYING" AUTO STARTSTOP SHIFT TO P, THEN RESTART ENGINE."THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. I AM ATTACHING A PICTURE OF THE DASHBOARD ERROR. PLEASE NOTICE I AM STILL IN "D" DRIVE WHEN THIS MESSAGE CAME UP.

NHTSA ODI 11307075

WHILE IN MOTION, SEVERAL ITEMS OCCUR. IT BEGINS WITH FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS: "PARK BRAKE LIMITED FUNCTION" AND THE "HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE". THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING, SUDDEN DECELERATION, ENGINE STALLING, AND TRANSMISSION ERRATICALLY SHIFTING. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER TWENTY FOUR TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ON CITY STREETS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA ODI 11306700

SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASED NEW, TRUCK OFTEN LUNGES WHEN YOU FIRST COLD START THE TRUCK, PLACE IT INTO GEAR WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND PLACE IT INTO GEAR. IT ALSO APPEARS TO SEARCH FOR THE CORRECT GEAR WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. ALSO, OCCASIONS TRUCK MAY "CLUNK" INTO GEAR WHILE DRIVING. SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THEY CANNOT RECREATE THE ISSUE BUT AS I'VE STATED, ITS NOT A CONSISTENT PROBLEM AND THERE'S NO DEFINING REASON IT WOULD OCCUR.

NHTSA ODI 11306757

THIS TRUCK HAS A VERY CLUNKY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASE BUT THEY WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS TRUCK FEELS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT SHIFTS VERY HARD AND CAUSES IT TO JERK SPORADICALLY. IT ALSO MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU START THE TRUCK AS THE TRUCK ENGAGES THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11306358

LOUD CLUNK WHEN STARTING TRUCK AND DRIVE SHAFT MOVES. BROUGHT TO DEALER TWICE, JULY & OCT 2018 THEY FOUND NOTHING. WHEN AT A STOPD LIGHT/SIGN, IT HESITATES WHEN READY TO PROCEED, TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGAGING RIGHT AWAY, IT'S DELAYED. VERY DANGEROUS. MY HUSBAND NOTICED SLIGHT JERKING AT TIMES. DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROZE AND COULD NOT OPEN TWICE. HAD TO USE PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA ODI 11301966

THAT HAS A HARSH SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR REPORTED TO DEALER - PEGUES HURST FORD IN LONGVIEW TEXAS ON 10/18/2019 WITH 32,551 MILES ON VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THE TRUCK HAS A 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND THEY ARE "SQUIRRELY" AND THAT IS JUST HOW THEY ARE. 11/13/2019 FROM 20-30 MPH 3RD TO 4TH DIDNT SHIFT , WAS BETWEEN GEARS STUCK IN ROAD , THEN WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE , WHEN DID SLAMMED IN TO GEAR , SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING HAMMERING IN TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS 33,339 MILES ON IT. ONCE AGAIN, SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IS JUST HOW THE 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION IS - "SQUIRRELY". THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR OVER 36 DAYS DURING THE TWO TRIPS TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ON 1/17/2020 DROVE TO DEALER AND TALKED WITH SALES REP AND MANAGER AT PEGUES HURST FORD TO ATTEMPT TRADE AND DISCUSS THE CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION - MANAGER STATED "WE CAN ONLY FIX WHAT FORD TELLS US TO. I WOULD CALL FORD AND DISCUSS WITH THEM REPAIRING YOUR VEHICLE OR GETTING YOU INTO A NEW ONE. WHEN CROSSING US HWY 79 FROM CR 1408 IN JACKSONVILLE TEXAS, WHICH IS DONE DAILY, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND OR STOP AND THEN LURCH FORWARD WHEN CHANGING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR AND WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE THERE IS A LOUD METAL ON METAL SOUND AND ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE UNTIL LATER THAT DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11301581

THE 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION IN THIS TRUCK DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT. IT SHIFTS VERY HARD SOMETIMES NOT SHIFTING AT ALL. IT SHIFTS HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE WHIPLASH. ALSO THE DOORS WHEN IT IS COLD OUT DO NOT LATCH CAUSING THE DOOR TO REMAIN OPEN. MY CHILD ALMOST FELL OUT OF MY VEHICLE LUCKILY SHE HAD HER SEAT BELT ON

NHTSA ODI 11301376

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE DELAYED AND SOMETIMES HARSH. WHEN MAKING TURNS FROM A DEAD STOP ON PAVED STREET, THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS OR BUCKS (EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE DRIVE SYSTEM, A GUMMED UP VALVE BODY, OLD TRANS FLUID OR STICKING VALVE BODY PISTONS?)

NHTSA ODI 11299587

F150 XLT 4X4 3.5L V6 10 SPEED AUTO 56,000 MI. WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE COLD, MODERATE ACCELERATION WILL CAUSE HESITATION AND MISSED SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. IT CAUSES A HARD SHIFT WHEN IT FINALLY OCCURS, WITH A DISTINCT "CLUNK", WHICH CANNOT BE GOOD FOR TRANSMISSION OR REAR END. SAFETY ISSUE IF UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO SPEED WHEN NEEDED ON HIGHWAY RAMPS. THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR THE LAST 20,000 MILES OR SO.

NHTSA ODI 11299104

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY BAD, COLD. HESITATES, AND SHIFTS LATE.WARM, IT WILL NOT SHIFT WHEN THROTTLE IS PUSHED AFTER RELEASING THROTTLE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE REACCELERATING. LEFT FRONT DOOR FREEZES BAD IN COLD WEATHER, TWICE IN TWO DAYS NOW, TAKES 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL STAY LATCHED. NO OTHER DOORS ARE AFFECTED. SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE DRIVING.RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER YEARS. VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11290175

2018 FORD F150 RAPTOR, ORDERED AND RECEIVED APRIL 1 2018. ONLY 7000 MILES. HAS BEEN INTO FORD DEALER TWICE FOR SLIPPING TRANSMISSION ISSUES, LOUD BANGING NOISE AND TRANSMISSION RATTLING AND SLIPPING. HAVE PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND VEHICLE JUST REVS UP. ALSO CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AND ALSO CITY STREET

NHTSA ODI 11289193

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AROUND 5000 MILES. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER START UP WHEN TRANSMISSION IS COOL. DURING THE FIRST DRIVE CYCLE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 3RD-4TH GEAR, IT WILL SLIP REALLY BAD. ONCE IT DOES ACTUALLY SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REAR ENDED. AFTER MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY REPAIR, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE LAST DEALERSHIP I TOOK THE TRUCK TO CONFIRMED THE SLIP AND REPLACED THE MAIN CONTROL IN THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED THE FLUID. I PICKED UP THE TRUCK 2 WEEKS LATER AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHEN I LEFT THE THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE REPAIR. THE SERVICE TECH ADVISED ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW DAYS TO ALLOW IT TO GO THROUGH ITS ADAPTIVE LEARN CYCLE. AFTER DOING SO, THE TRANSMISSION STILL CONTINUED TO SLIP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK A WEEK LATER FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE TECH DROVE THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SLIP STILL EXISTED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY CONTACTED FORD HELP HOTLINE AND WERE INSTRUCTED TO DO A COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION. 3 WEEKS LATER I WAS TOLD THE TRUCK WAS READY. I PICKED THE TRUCK UP AND DROVE IT HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS. I LET IT SIT FOR 24 HOURS AND DROVE IT AGAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AGAIN. AFTER TWO FAILED ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE ISSUE, THIS DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT ACCORDING TO FORD HOTLINE, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TRUCK.. THE TRUCK IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING NOW AS IT DID BEFORE THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT CONSTITUTES TWO SEPARATE REPAIRS IS SUDDENLY NOT A PROBLEM ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. SO NOW I AM A FORD CUSTOMER WITH A FAULTY TRUCK THAT FORD REFUSES TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11288539

WHEN STARTING MY F-150 THERE'S WAS A LOUD POP I SUDDENLY TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE THEN TURNED IT ON AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT MAKE ANY ODD NOISES. WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT ACCELERATION WAS ACTING UP O HEARD ANOTHER POP AND MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO LIMP MODE SLOWING MY VEHICLE WAY DOWN CAUSING ME TO NEARLY GET REAR ENDED. FROM THERE I MANAGED TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE THE GUY AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I WAS ACTING FINE BUT THEY WOULD KEEP IT A COUPLE DAYS BUT SINCE IT ISN'T ACTING UP THERE WASN'T MUCH THEY COULD DO. THE TRUCK IS A YEAR OLD AND ONLY HAS 5.300 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11286729

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS SO POORLY I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL CAR ACCIDENTS TRYING TO MERGE HIGHWAYS OR MERGE ROUND-A-BOUTS. IT SHIFTS VERY HARD ON DOWN SHIFTS BUT ALSO LACKS ANY ACCELERATION AT TIMES WHICH IS DANGEROUS.

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