2018 Ford F-150 Owner Complaints

At approximately 89,000 miles, my vehicle experienced a suspected CDF drum bushing failure in the Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. Symptoms included delayed, harsh, and erratic shifting, intermittent loss of gear engagement, and unexpected gear changes that created serious safety hazards. While traveling approximately 60 mph in ninth gear, the transmission unexpectedly lost engagement, indicated first gear, then abruptly returned to ninth gear with a violent jolt. This triggered TCM diagnostic code P07F6 (Gear 9 Incorrect Ratio). The transmission also repeatedly failed to engage third or fourth gear, instead fluctuating between first and fourth with little to no power. This created dangerous situations when merging into traffic and making left turns across oncoming traffic because the vehicle could not reliably accelerate when needed. An authorized transmission repair facility identified the CDF drum bushing as the likely failure point, consistent with Ford TSB 23-2250, which addresses known 10R80 transmission shifting concerns. The transmission was ultimately replaced with a remanufactured unit incorporating Ford's updated components intended to address the problem. Ford has documented awareness of these transmission issues, yet no major recall or meaningful customer assistance has addressed affected owners outside warranty coverage. I previously purchased an extended warranty and reported harsh shifting to dealership service advisors but was never informed of the applicable TSB. I was discouraged from scheduling repairs after being told there was a three-week wait and that rental coverage was uncertain if the repair was denied under warranty. The vehicle was primarily a daily commuter with minimal towing or hauling. Failure at 89,000 miles under normal driving conditions raises serious concerns about transmission reliability and safety. Unexpected loss of engagement, incorrect gear selection, and loss of acceleration at highway speeds create subst

NHTSA ID

11776841

Incident

Oct 24, 2026

At around 45 miles per hour the transmission shifted hard between gears and almost like a jerk and routinely does this now. Had diagnosed and find its known tech bulletin on this transmission. Ford now has me on hook for new transmission. Just adding my complaints to long list of others with 10r80 transmission issues. Hoping ford will turn into recall help customer.

NHTSA ID

11776716

Incident

Oct 3, 2026

Rear backup camera blurry despite all attempts at cleaning

NHTSA ID

11776345

Incident

Nov 6, 2026

My 2018 Ford F-150 is a regular-cab, long-bed pickup with a 10-speed automatic transmission and approximately 115,000 miles. The transmission frequently delays or misses both upshifts and downshifts. At times, the truck feels as if it goes into neutral for two to three seconds before the next gear engages. At low speeds, around 5 to 15 mph under light acceleration, the engine RPM rises and gear engagement is delayed. This happens under load and during ordinary driving without a trailer. The symptoms have worsened over the past several weeks. AutoNation Ford North Scottsdale inspected the truck and reproduced the problem. The transmission software has been reprogrammed twice. The repair order states that after reprogramming and clearing the adaptive settings, the technician road-tested the truck and found that it would not shift into second gear. The technician recorded findings indicating an internal transmission failure and recommended transmission replacement or teardown for inspection. A service warning light also came on during service at the dealership. The truck still does not shift properly. The delay in gear engagement makes acceleration unpredictable. If the truck briefly loses drive while I am merging or crossing traffic, I may be unable to accelerate when needed, putting me and other road users at risk. I am asking NHTSA to investigate the delayed and missed shifts and the temporary loss of drive.

NHTSA ID

11775917

Incident

Oct 29, 2026

I own a 2018 Ford truck with 77,000 miles. My truck has just experienced the widely recognized cam phaser failure—a known design defect that can cause a catastrophic engine failure to occur. Because this is a known manufacturing defect that Ford addressed with updated parts, TSB 23-2143 (or TSB 21-2119): These are the official internal Technical Service Bulletins that explicitly instruct Ford technicians on how to diagnose and repair the "cold start ticking/tapping or rattle type noise" on 2017–2020 F-150s with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. It confirms the root cause is a worn Variable Cam Timing (VCT) unit and outlines the procedure to replace all four phasers. [1, 2] Customer Satisfaction Program 21N03: While the prorated financial assistance under this program expired in January 2023, the document itself remains critical. It serves as corporate documentation where Ford explicitly acknowledges a manufacturing/design flaw in the original cam phasers. Ford refuses to replace or reimburse this repair for any vehicle that is out of warranty. This is a known safety issue acknowledged by Ford and it should be addressed as a safety concern and recalled.

NHTSA ID

11775872

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Ford F-150. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 48,201. The contact later obtained a [XXX] report and discovered that the odometer was last recorded at 112,129. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11775269

Incident

Nov 2, 2026

Mileage

112,129 mi

My wipers stopped working, the wiper linkage is seized. Ford is stating because the vehicle was made and [XXX] but resides in the [XXX], I don’t qualify for the recall INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11775202

Incident

Nov 2, 2026

1. Description of the Defect When the vehicle is placed in reverse, the center display no longer shows the area behind the truck. Instead, the image is directed downward at the trailer hitch and road surface, so the zone directly behind the vehicle — where pedestrians, children, and obstacles would be — is not visible. When I access the camera view through the vehicle's settings menu, the image appears correctly. The failure occurs in the one situation where the camera matters: backing up. In practical terms, the vehicle has no usable rear view camera. The camera image began flickering intermittently on or about July 28, 2026. On or about October 28, 2026, the image began pointing down at the hitch and road surface whenever the vehicle is in reverse, and it has stayed that way since. Mileage at onset: approximately 111,000 miles. There has been no collision, impact, or aftermarket modification to the tailgate or camera. I have confirmed that the camera's zoom and hitch-view functions are not engaged; the malfunction occurs with the standard rear view selected. 2. Ford Has Acknowledged This Failure Mode but Has Not Supplied a Remedy 3. A rear view camera is safety equipment. NHTSA's rear visibility standard, FMVSS No. 111 (49 C.F.R. § 571.111), reflects the agency's own determination that rear visibility systems are necessary to prevent backover crashes, which disproportionately injure and kill young children. A camera that displays the hitch instead of the area behind the vehicle defeats the purpose of that equipment entirely and is arguably more dangerous than a blank screen, because a driver glancing at the display may not immediately recognize that the view is wrong. Ford appears to treat the same failure mode — a blank or distorted rear camera image — as a safety recall for other vehicle populations, including Ford Safety Recall 25S89 (NHTSA Campaign No. 25V-572). But for my truck I have no recourse when Ford does not supply parts.

NHTSA ID

11774696

Incident

Jul 28, 2026

The transmission has been replaced once covered under Fords extended warranty at 90,700 miles by the previous owner in 2022. Today the transmission has 82,000 miles on it and requires to be replace again. This 10r80 Transmission has a known issue of in early models from 2017-2020. I was stopped at a stopped at a 3-way stop, and began to pull out into the intersection to make a right. Half way through the turn the truck would not go into 2nd gear and felt like as if it was in neutral and I lost power for about 6-8 seconds. During this period, another truck coming from the left, stopped at a stop sign as well, honked impatiently and then decided to go, driving in front of me. Just then my truck slipped into gear and lurched forward almost colliding with the other truck. On top of that there was a bystander waiting to cross the street, on the other side of the crossing truck, who would have sustained serious injuries if I could have not been able to stop by truck in time. Later when it would not slip into gear a wrench light came on and the transmission was stuck in 6th gear even at a stop. This light only went away once the tuck was turned off then on and the truck shifted from 1st to 3rd gear under a heavier acceleration. I took it to the dealership the next day, and they confirmed the issue and quoted ~$9,900 to rebuild the transmission. Again, this had been done previously. The service advisor mentioned they have a lot of these transmission issues with the 10r80. I noticed a gear slip over the last few weeks and found out about this "known" but neglected issue by Ford, and they have only offered resetting the Adaptive Shift Strategy in the past.

NHTSA ID

11774526

Incident

Oct 19, 2026

3 separate things recently happened. First the cam phasers went out, $4600. Second, only months later, the transmission went out, $7100. Third, it is throwing a p0420 and p0421 codes and the catalytic converts need replaced, at least $2000. All of this under 100k miles.

NHTSA ID

11774150

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

I had a recall on my replacement transmission. Recall stated it may be missing a part. I had all the problems listed. It was replace 4 years ago. The dealer said i don't qualify for the recall. Their reason was i had more then 8k miles. That average is 2000 miles a year. My truck rolls back be shifting to neutral. Please help I

NHTSA ID

11773092

Incident

Oct 31, 2025

Truck has inconsistent, erratic shifting. Transmission seems to get confused or lost for a second or two when accelerating from a stop which has been dangerous a few times due to almost being rear ended. Also has shifted from 10-1-9th gear at 60-70mph at least 10 times now leaving the 10th gear unavailable and a wrench on the dashboard. Sometimes it is violent enough slamming back into gear that if roads were icy, loss of control could result. We’re having a baby in December and I wont feel safe with the child in the truck. According to many online forums, YouTube videos and talking to mechanics this is a known issue and more or less a manufacturer defect in the cdf drum that Ford should recall but wont unless its considered a safety issue, which it should be.

NHTSA ID

11772732

Incident

Oct 20, 2026

The brake hydraulic system on my 2018 Ford F-150 failed. The vehicle rapidly lost brake fluid, the brake pedal began sinking, and there was no obvious external brake-fluid leak. An independent repair facility later replaced both the brake master cylinder and the power brake booster. I have the repair invoice and service records available. I do not know whether the removed components were retained by the repair facility. This failure created a serious safety risk because the vehicle was losing brake fluid and braking ability could have been reduced or lost. I had to repeatedly add brake fluid because the reservoir level would drop again after only a short distance. The sinking brake pedal made the vehicle unsafe to continue driving normally. The problem was confirmed and repaired by an independent service center. The master cylinder and power brake booster were replaced, along with a brake-system flush. The symptoms are similar to those described in Ford Recall 25S37 / NHTSA Recall 25V-236, which involves certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 vehicles where the master-cylinder rear seal can allow brake fluid to leak into the brake booster. My VIN is not currently included in that recall. The vehicle has not, to my knowledge, been inspected by Ford specifically for this failure. The independent repair facility performed the repair. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether this vehicle may represent the same or a similar defect occurring outside the current recall population. Before the original brake failure, I did not receive a brake-system warning lamp or message that alerted me to the rapid brake-fluid loss. The main symptoms were the brake-fluid reservoir repeatedly becoming very low and the brake pedal sinking. After the master cylinder and brake booster were replaced, a new warning began appearing stating “Park Brake Limited Function.” This warning was not present before the repair. The vehicle has been returned to the repair facility four times for this warning. T

NHTSA ID

11772703

Incident

Oct 7, 2026

Mandatory recall 24E12 reprogrammed the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to stricter emissions monitoring standards. This caused the Check Engine light to appear within 24hrs showing code P0430. There were NO codes showing and the Check Engine light was not on before the recall was performed. Ford is denying responsibility and charging me $2,500+ out of pocket to replace the converter. I feel like they a FORCING me to purchase parts because if I don't, my vehicle wont pass emissions tests and is un-drivable (legally). Ford case#: CXH0966043220H4B3 Apparently, this has happened to THOUSANDS of F150 owners and needs to be addressed ASAP!!!!!

NHTSA ID

11772031

Incident

Oct 14, 2026

Excessive oil consumption of approximately 1 qt every 1000 miles. I am filing the oil to the acceptable level monthly.

NHTSA ID

11772009

Incident

Nov 30, 2022

This vehicle is equipped with the 10 speed transmission that is know to have issues that Ford refuses to resolve. The shifting in my vehicle has become delayed and rough to the point that it is dangerous to drive. Ford says the only recourse is to have the transmission replaced or rebuilt which will cost several thousand dollars.

NHTSA ID

11771747

Incident

Oct 16, 2026

The VVT Cam Phasers had a " consumer satisfaction program" that didnt include my VIN but included the year which was 2017-2021 3.5 ECOBOOST engine that mine has. The program has now expired and my truck has this exact issue. Not fixing the issue can cause engine failure. My truck has 47k miles on it. I called Ford back in XXX to file a compliant and nothing happened. I took my truck to Germain Ford in [XXX] to get a diagnostic done October 5,2026 and they said it was the VVT cam phasers. I called Ford XXX again about the issue and they said my VIN wasn't included and there was nothing they could do. This is absolutely absurd they are ignoring an ongoing issue and they refuse to do anything about this. I will continue to fight until something is done. This repair is costing me $4400. This is where you can help. Please make them do the right thing and reimburse me and I'm sure so many others their money. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11771697

Incident

Oct 5, 2026

My F-150 previously experienced an unintended tailgate opening while the vehicle was being driven. I brought the vehicle to Sugar Loaf Ford on May 14, 2025, specifically because of this problem. According to my repair documentation from that visit, Sugar Loaf Ford performed extensive work addressing the unintended tailgate-opening condition, including: •Installed a relay jumper harness •Installed a bypass harness •Installed a body-length harness •Replaced the tailgate switch •Reprogrammed the Body Control Module (BCM) •Changed BCM parameters Despite this extensive repair, the vehicle has now experienced another unintended tailgate opening while being driven. The recent incident resulted in the loss of property from the truck. Most significantly, a Remington Model 552 Speedmaster .22-caliber rifle with a 3x9 powered scope and its hard case were lost. Firearm identification: •Make: Remington •Model: 552 Speedmaster •Caliber: .22 •Serial Number: 1443879 Upon parking the vehicle at my home, I discovered the tailgate was open and that the rifle and its case were missing. I immediately backtracked my route in an attempt to locate the firearm but was unable to find it. I then called my son, who lives very close by, and together we backtracked the route a second time to no avail. Following this second unsuccessful search, I immediately reported the firearm loss to local law enforcement and filed a police report. I sent a certified/return receipt letter explaining all of this to FORD MOTOR CO. Customer Relationship Center on 9-24-2026 (Receipt was acknowledged), and hand delivered a letter, on 9-24-2026, addressed to Mike Harrison, Parts and Service Director at Sugar Loaf Ford Inc. To date, neither Ford Motor Co. or Mike Harrison has contacted me to resolve this issue. NOTE: Winona County Sheriff (about 4-5 days afterwards) did find the gun and it's case and returned it to me. But I do NOT trust the tailgate to hold securely hold my property.

NHTSA ID

11770761

Incident

Sep 22, 2026

The VVT Cam Phasers had a " consumer satisfaction program" that didnt include my VIN but included the year which was 2017-2021 3.5 ECOBOOST engine that mine has. The program has now expired and my truck has this exact issue. Not fixing the issue can cause engine failure. My truck has 47k miles on it. I called Ford back in April 2026 to file a compliant and nothing happened. I took my truck to Germain Ford in Beavercreek, Ohio to get a diagnostic done [XXX] and they said it was the VVT cam phasers. I called Ford 10/7/2026 again about the issue and they said my VIN wasn't included and there was nothing they could do. This is absolutely absurd they are ignoring an on going issue and they refuse to do anything about this.I will continue to fight until something is done.This repair is costing me $4400. This is where you can help. Please make them do the right thing and reimburse me and I'm sure so many others their money. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11770145

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Premature transmission failure under 45k miles. While driving transmission will not shift gears causing the vehicle to stall and then suddenly engaging propulsing the vehicle forward unexpectedly. Multiple complaints online, Ford will not fix.

NHTSA ID

11769433

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Hello, so while driving I am noticing a loud, hard thunk between gears. It is really noticeable when pulling our camper. When pulling our camper it is so loud and so hard I that if I have coffee in my cup holder, it would spill. We have contacted Ford about this and they are denying there is a transmission issue with their 10 speed transmissions. I feel there should be a recall on these transmissions because there are thousands of F150 owners having the same issue and replacing a transmission the way prices are for everything, who can afford to pay thousands of dollars for a new transmission and have it replaced.

NHTSA ID

11769354

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

2018 Ford F-150 5.0L with 10R80 10-speed transmission, approximately 86,000 miles. The transmission began exhibiting abnormal shifting, including missed shifts and loss of propulsion. On multiple occasions while traveling approximately 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power/propulsion. During these events, the gear indicator changed from 10th to 1st and engine RPM appeared to increase. I do not believe the transmission physically engaged 1st gear; the actual gear engaged is UNKNOWN. The unexpected loss of propulsion at highway speed created a safety concern because the vehicle would not respond normally to accelerator input while traveling with traffic. The transmission also malfunctioned when accelerating from a stop. It would sometimes have difficulty shifting through approximately 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears and lose propulsion for approximately 3–5 seconds. I would release and reapply the accelerator trying to get the transmission to engage a gear. This could be particularly dangerous when entering or crossing traffic. An independent transmission shop inspected the vehicle and documented codes P0732, P0734, and P07F7. The shop found the transmission fluid full but dark and diagnosed an internal transmission failure requiring replacement. The transmission was replaced on October 5, 2026. To my knowledge, the original transmission was not disassembled, and the exact internal failure is UNKNOWN. The vehicle was not inspected by Ford. There was no crash or injury.

NHTSA ID

11769184

Incident

Sep 24, 2026

My truck has the 3.5 ecoBoost twin turbo engine with the known cam phaser problem. Ford dealership replaced cam phasers 4 years ago and told they were putting in new designed cam phasers to prevent this from happening again. Last week, I changed the v v t cylinder because of a p0018 code, and found that the replacement was the old cam phasers prone to break again. Truck is just now out of warranty. And ford is doing nothing to help. Drivability is not the same has hesitation. So far, and I'm sure it's going to get worse. Check engine light just went on last week. This truck is at dealership now. My biggest problem with this situation is Ford. Dealer lied said they put in new cam phasers, which they put in old ones. I would have got an extended warranty if I knew they were the old cam phaser. Now, I will be out 3 to 5 thousand dollars because ford dealership lied to me. I have all paperwork. Service reports everything on the truck. The truck was babied. There's no reason why in 70000 miles catastrophic engine failure twice. Fixing the problem with the same problem. Parts is not a fix. It's a bandade until warranties are over. And let the people deal with it.

NHTSA ID

11769152

Incident

Sep 21, 2026

About 1 year ago the rear door on the drivers side locked and I have been unable to open it manually, with the interior unlock buttons or with the key fob. However, there have been 3 occasions during this passed year when the door inexplicably opens, twice when the truck is parked and once when I was driving down the freeway. To be clear, the door doesn’t just unlock, it opens. On those 3 three occasions, when I closed the door, it again locks and I’m unable to open it. I’ve taken the problem to 2 Ford dealerships. Both indicated they had never heard of this problem and there were no recalls related to the problem. One dealership diagnosed the issue, charging $100 and determined it was the door latch and offered to replace it ($472 for the latch and labor to be determined). I opted not to repair it thinking that the problem should be further diagnosed to determine if there are flaws in factory parts that create safety issues in this particular truck, make and model.

NHTSA ID

11768226

Incident

Oct 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while stopped at a stop sign and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the gear shifter independently shifted to neutral(N) and remained stuck into neutral(N). The gear shifter was shifted back and forth between park(P) and drive(D) and the vehicle responded as needed. A local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

NHTSA ID

11767384

Incident

Sep 2, 2026

Mileage

72,000 mi