I purchased the subject truck in September 2020. I recently noticed from a slight bump to a harsh shift during shifting in the mid-range gears. I did some online research and discovered there are many shifting issues with the 10R80 transmission. I also discovered there were two Ford Motor Company Technical Service Bulletins: 18-2274 issued 9/7/18 and 21-2315 issued 9/27/21 covering the exact issues I was experiencing. I also discovered that the 10R80 transmission is equipped with an adaptive shift strategy which allows the vehicle’s computer to learn the transmission’s unique parameters and improve shift quality. When the adaptive strategy is reset, the computer will begin the relearning process. This may result in firmer than normal upshifts and downshifts for several days. Based on this information I did the following:

1/23/23 - I contacted Banner Ford in Covington, LA to discuss my issues with my 10R80 transmission. Banner Ford scheduled me for the next day, 1/24/23.

1/24/23 – I dropped my truck to Banner Ford at 9:00 AM. They performed the following: a. Ran EEC Test, No Codes b. Verified PCM Up to Date c. Reset Keep Alive Memory d. Reset Transmission Adaptive Shift Strategy e. Road Test 5 Miles to Verify Shift Pattern Good. All Okay. About 10:00 AM, the Banner Ford Service Tech called to tell me my truck was ready. I picked up my truck around 10:10 AM. The Banner Ford Service Tech explained what they had done, and my truck was running and shifting fine. I asked the service tech if I needed to do more research for any other TSB’s or recalls on my truck. He assured me there was no need. He told me he had checked my truck from top to bottom and everything was good. I drove my truck through 1/29/23 with only occasional slight bumps in shifting. I expected this from what I learned from my research and the Technical Service Bulletin 21-2315.

1/30/23 – I drove my truck to work. I drive from Covington, LA to Harvey, LA. I drive across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge to get to Harvey. I stopped at the first traffic light after exiting the Causeway Bridge. When I accelerated to go after the light turned green, my truck did not move. This lasted 3-4 seconds then the transmission engaged with a very harsh shift. As I continued on, my truck shifted with several harsh up and down shifts. The stalling and harsh shifting continued all the way to work, about 20 minutes. My truck stalled 4-5 times going over the Mississippi River Bridge. I contacted my Banner Ford Service Tech and explained what was happening with my truck. He told me to take it back to Banner Ford that afternoon. I drove my truck to Banner Ford after work. I experienced the same stalling and harsh shifting issues I had that morning. Upon arrival at Banner Ford, I again discussed with the Banner Ford Service Tech the issues I had that day. I told him I would need to wait on the truck as I needed it to get to work the next day. I thought it would take only additional programming. The Banner Ford Service Tech told me he would need to keep it because he thought it was now a mechanical issue, not programming. I left the truck with Banner Ford.

1/31/23 – The Banner Ford Service Tech contacted me to tell me that my truck needed a new transmission, and the cost would be roughly $7,370.00. He also told me he checked on the parts and they could get them by 2/6/23 or 2/7/23 if he ordered them that day. I was shocked. I could not comprehend how my truck went from running an EEC Test with No Codes and performing a Road Test 5 Miles to Verify Shift Pattern Good. All Okay on 1/24/23 to needing a new transmission on 1/31/23. Six days later. I told the Banner Ford Service Tech to move forward with the repairs as I had no choice.

2/8/23 – I called Banner Ford to check on the status of the parts delivery for my truck. I left a message for the service tech. He returned my call about an hour later to tell me my truck was repaired and ready. He told me the mechanic had driven my truck with the new transmission for about 40 minutes and it did fine. He told me the total was $7,935.92. Although he was able to reduce the invoice slightly, this was an enormous expense I cannot afford which was caused by the defective 10R80 transmission and the harsh upshifting and downshifting.

The 10R80 10 speed transmission makes the occasional clunk noise and is hunting between gears in bumper to bumper traffic when the clunk is more prevalent. There is a lawsuit about this problem although I don't think it went anywhere. I really like this transmission compared to all the others I've driven, but this is still annoying.

Update from Jun 25, 2022: The truck now has 31,000 miles and was driven across the country once. Looks like the ailments went away. Shifts well, no longer hunting between gears and clunking. Still happy with it overall.

Well, let's just say I have always hated Ford, and now I know why. Basically the lawsuits that are going on in the States - well, it's happening here. I have all of the same problems that the people who are suing Ford have. We don't have a Class action suit going on here in Canada. And we should.

My s** box is only a year old and I am having all these problems. I don't know what gear I am in, it won't display it sometimes. My drive modes won't display and when you bring it in, they say we tested but nothing is wrong. So I ask why are there two fixes for it why can't you do it for mine and solve my problem? S, I paid a pretty penny for it - I guess they got their money, and now f* me but use the warranty that this s*** box is suppose to have help - what can I do about it???

Thanks everyone, buy Chevy. I had one for 14 years and not one problem, and never once did I have to use my warranty. An easy truck, just oil changes every 6 months, and I always use Castrol Synthetic.

I previously owned a 2008 5.4L F150. If you put the timing/oil pressure design issues aside, it was a great truck. I decided to upgrade and bought a 2018 pre-certified. I didn't notice anything during my test drive. Once I bought the truck, I started to notice that it was shifting a bit hard once it was fully warmed up. It seems to skip 4th gear often. When it shifts from 3rd to 5th, it hits hard. In Sport or Tow mode, it seems much better but it winds the gears out which is also annoying. If the truck is still in warm up, it seems to shift much better.

Also while accelerating, highway on ramp for example, when it shifts under hard acceleration, it jerks really hard similar to a manual when you dump the clutch. I worry that this is causing damage to the tranny.

I have a 2018 F150 Lariat with the 3.5L Ecoboost and the 10 speed. Every service interval has been met with service at the dealer and no modifications to the truck. Even the tires were replaced by the dealer at 40k mile intervals. I complained to my dealers service dept on many occasions that the truck would shift hard and get stuck in gears throughout the warranty lifespan of the truck. I was told by no fault of the dealer that this was a common complaint and there was nothing they could do.

At 95k miles I asked the dealer to service the transmission as I did not want expensive repairs due to lack of maintenance. Again, the truck has been serviced religiously by the dealer at Fords recommended service intervals. Long story short, at 103k miles or mostly highway driving and no towing, my truck sits with a transmission self-destructed. I was with the Ford Technician when he pulled the pan of the transmission. We found larger pieces of metal in the pan along with silver shavings. These were a result of the hard shifting and as a result destroyed the transmission costing 7 thousand dollars in damages.

When I bought the truck I crawled under it to check the driveshaft. I could push it up and down, and side to side which is a sign the support bearing was going out. I notified the sales rep and was told that sense it was a certified pre-owned it is covered and will be replaced. I also bought the extended bumper to bumper warranty but I have to own the truck for 30 days before it takes effect...

I could see the rubber around it is cracking and coming apart. I took it in to service to get it replaced. The tech said there is definitely play in the driveshaft but I was told that the bearing was not within Ford tolerances to be replaced so the warranty would not cover it. The part is on backorder so you're looking at a month out to get it and then to schedule a time to take it in to get it done. My knowledge of these carrier bearings is that when you get play like this it leads to a chain of problems into your transmission, leaks, hard shifting etc....

Why not replace it before it causes more problems? You can feel the vibration from the driveshaft on take off when you barely touch the peddle, when you push the peddle down and you get the hard shifting almost like a jerking motion when it shifts. I also have found out you can not just replace the carrier bearing, you have to replace the driveshaft. So a $60 dollar part just went up to $450 without labor. I have changed 1 on my 2003 F250, 1 on my 2003 F350 and 1 on my 2006 F250. They are not that difficult to change out and even this one wouldn't be, its the pocket book that hurts on this one...

Basically I have to wait for it to do more damage before I will be allowed to get it replaced under warranty. Do I drive it like I stole it so they can replace the transmission too?

All in all I love this truck but whom ever came up with the driveshaft where you can't replace the bearing, they need to go back to the drawing board....

Update from Mar 10, 2021: After having the vehicle 30 days after purchase I took the truck back into service and they felt the vibration this time. They hooked it up to the computer and found that the driveshaft needs to be replaced. All I can say is where is the tradesmen that made this great country gone? Vehicles are computers but even a mechanical problem can't be fixed unless a computer tells the tech to do so... I don't understand...

LOVE MY F 150 BUT HATE AUTO START -STOP. HATE IT!!! AT 100 MILES NOTICED TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTING SPECIALLY IN REVERSE. GOT WORSE IN COLD DRIVING. GRINDS WHILE SHIFTING, SKIPS 2ND GEAR AND WHEN GOING ON FREEWAY OR ANY STRAIGHT ROAD TRANNY DISENGAGES, AT TAKE OFF IS WEAK. 10 SPEED TRANNY IS A FREAKING STUPID MISTAKE BY FORD. TOOK TRUCK TWICE TO DEALER FOR PROBLEM AND MAINTENANCE. THEY CLAIM NOTHING WRONG. WITH IN LESS THAN A YEAR OF OWNING TRUCK I'M CONSIDERING TRADING IT IN AND WOULD NEVER GOING BACK TO FORD! VERY UN-PLEASED!

The new ford/gmc 10 speed transmission has what I think is a major flaw is that when it shifts from 3rd thru 7th gear, you hear a clunk sound. Reminds you of a universal joint going out.

Ford and ford dealers say this is a normal sound. I never thought of metal slamming against metal as a normal sound. The transmission

shifts just fine other than the clunk sound. For a better understanding of the issue and how spread the problem is, go to the ford forum, fordf150.net and type in 10 speed transmissions.