10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 11 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 13 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 22,940 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Background: I-??ve had my F150 for 7 years. For 6.x years though, the truck was operating with improper software in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) that managed the Emissions system-??s control and monitoring. This is according to the Ford Recall Notice in Feb 2025 (2E14) stating the above. To address the Recall, a Ford technician came to my house, performed the software recall update, and immediately afterwards, my check engine light came on. Days later, back at the Ford dealer, they charged me a $200 diagnostic fee, and concluded my Catalytic Converter was bad and needed replacement. And the $2000 repair would be my responsibility since my mileage was (now) over the Emissions Warranty limit. My question to them was: -??when did the Catalytic Converter fail-??? Dealer answer: Not sure. The old/incorrect software couldn-??t detect when it went bad. My comment: So the Converter may have failed in year 1,2, 3, 4 or 5 (still in warranty term) and just not flagged it back then" Dealer Answer: It-??s possible, no way to know for sure. Point is: There-??s a good chance the part actually -??failed-?? during the warranty period. How can Ford logically assign responsibility to me when the software was -??incorrect-?? for 6 years?" I DON'T LIKE DRIVING A TRUCK THAT'S POLLUTING MORE due to a failed Catalytic Converter, but the dealer wasn-??t able to explain why it failed AFTER the warranty period. I feel that Ford should replace the Converter at their cost since the point of failure was most likely during warranty, but never triggered due to the defective/recalled software that the Truck had for it's entire life. There are online people saying similar. Got the recall done, then was told they needed a $2000 repair to the Converter. I suppose many will just continue to drive with the non functioning catalytic converter.
- Farmington Hills, MI, USA
Transmission slips and goes into neutral while in heavy traffic. Ford says the cdf drum is bad and will need the updated one installed in the transmission along with a full rebuild and will not be covered under any recall or tsb.
- Buckingham, VA, USA
When driving my vehicle it would keep slipping out of gear and sometimes just stopping forward motion. Scaring the heck out of myself and my wife. I never knew when this might happen so I took it in and it was diagnosed and was told that it was jumping out of 2nd and 4th gear I believe. This vehicle only had approximately 45000miles onit. They told me I had two choices replace with rebuilt transmission or a new one I chose the new one. 8000. That was a shock considering I believe these should had covered it considering the mileage on it. Anyway that-??s my complaint. Thank you
- Ocala, FL, USA
Transmission started shuttering, driving jerky, and wouldn-??t progress through the gears correctly. This was the third occurrence, the first two happened on the highway, this time was on a back road.
- Dalton, OH, USA
The transmission shifts from 10th gear to 1st when I-??m going 70mph. Then it leaves me with no throttle control. If I get to 7th gear and approach a stop sign, it will stay in 7th gear and I can-??t accelerate until it shifts down to 4th, to 1st, then back up to 3rd. It-??s extremely dangerous, I can-??t drive like it-??s a normal car
- Gettysburg, PA, USA
Transmission starting to slip in 7th and 8th Gear when attempting to accelerate or hauling a load. I had this issue repaired once before where I was informed by the ford Transmission tech that this was so common that he had the parts list in the top of his toolbox. I am not the only F150 owner to experience this issue. There were no warning lamps. I have not returned to the dealership this time but am available if needed. This could cause loss of life, when I tried to pass another vehicle i was almost involved in a head on collision since the truck started slipping as i was trying to accelerate around and almost didnt make it in time. Thank you for your time.
- Bardstown , KY, USA
Transmission is slipping at 54k miles, ford says it-??s perfectly normal however it will jump from gear 1-4 and jerk extremely hard and occasionally make a noise as well. I took it to a mechanic they told me that fords of that year have an issue with the CDF drum slipping causing the transmission to wear down extremely fast.
- Egg Harbor City, NJ, USA
In April 2025, my 2018 Ford F150 5.0 XLT 4x4 truck began harsh shifting from 1st to 4th and 5th gears. Then as I drive it awhile it will suddenly downshift from 8th to 1st gear causing a pause in driving. I was almost rear-ended by a car behind me. I took my truck to Clement Ford in O'Fallon Mo where they recommended a software update and resetting of the adaptive drive learning program. This cost $427.81 and has not fixed the problem.
- Ofallon, MO, USA
We were driving on the highway when the truck starting jerking/shuttering and losing power. The wrench light came on, we put on the hazard lights and limped off the nearest exit.
- Boulder, CO, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the transmission intermittently slipped into another gear, and caused the vehicle to temporarily lose automotive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that several unknown parts in the transmission needed to be replaced. However, the dealer informed the contact that some of the unknown parts that needed to be replaced were discontinued. The contact researched and was became aware of an unknown NHTSA recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
- Chattanooga, TN, USA
When driving and the transmission is shifted into 10th gear the transmission automatically shifts down to 1st gear and the rpm gauge increases then decreases as the truck slows in speed.
- Inwood, WV, USA
Cam phaser Failure. Common problem with 2018 F150 ecoboost engines. Ford has confirmed that the cam phasers need to be placed. Defective from manufacturer. Ford does not offer to cover replacement.
- Oviedo, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the cam phasers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 193,000.
- Topeka, KS, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission intermittently downshifted into first gear. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the transmission. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving downhill at approximately 45 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear, causing the RPMs to elevate abnormally, and the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. Additionally, it was discovered that the vehicle would only drive uphill while using manual transmission mode and could not drive uphill in automatic transmission mode. The contact stated that later, the transmission malfunction wrench was displayed. The vehicle was towed the local dealer who discovered metal shavings inside the transmission fluid and advised the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 100,000.
- Orange, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered while shifting gear, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
- San Jose, CA, USA
When speeding up and downshifting the transmission will shift up and down rapidly and repetitive. Example, when passing another vehicle. Seems to do it when the transmission has to downshift more than one gear. Starting happening after truck got recent pcm update. Doesn-??t happen when only downshifting one gear.
- Buda, TX, USA
Since I purchsed this truck it has been to the 3 Ford garages. At first I had a vibration in 3 rd gear and 7th. Finally after spending a lot of money a Ford service said it was the drive shaft. The vibration lessoned. For the past 6 months the transmission pauses between shifts making dangrous when your moving then the truck pauses for a couple of seconds. First you could grt hit from the rear. Second if your turing onto a lane and it pauses as someone is coming. Possible accident.
- Syracuse, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer and repaired under Emission Recall: 24E12. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 50 MPH and on the exit ramp, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from 5th gear to 1st gear, and the vehicle decelerated to 15 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
- Corona, CA, USA
- Yakima, WA, USA