2021 Ford F-150 Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact's son owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that her son reported that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated significantly and shifted hard while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer determined that the transmission needed to be replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train), which the contact associated with the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that reimbursement could only be provided when the recall remedy became available in April 2027. The failure mileage was approximately 113,468.

NHTSA ID

11764618

Incident

Feb 16, 2026

Mileage

113,468 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into park (P), the gear shifter became stuck, requiring the contact to remove the key from the ignition or depress the brake pedal until a whining sound ceased in order to shift into park (P). The contact stated that while operating the vehicle in reverse (R), the vehicle suddenly shifted into park (P) and stopped immediately. The failure recurred several times while in reverse (R). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

NHTSA ID

11764607

Incident

Sep 16, 2024

Mileage

53,000 mi

I am reporting a severe safety defect where Ford Motor Company's sequential safety recall software updates are actively corrupting powertrain modules and inducing physical mechanical failures while the vehicle is in operation.Following the completion of the 24S55 Engine Intake Valve Recall (which reflashed the PCM and wiped the transmission's adaptive learning tables), my 2021 Ford F-150 developed an immediate operational shudder. Shortly after, a forced Over-the-Air (OTA) update for the 26C10 Trailer Brake Module triggered a secondary network reset via the CAN-bus. The intersection of these two software-driven actions caused an operational fault that physically broke the torque converter clutch.A compromised torque converter clutch can cause sudden vehicle stalling, unpredictable acceleration lags, and catastrophic powertrain locking while driving at highway speeds, creating an imminent crash hazard. The local Ford dealership service department confirmed the hardware failure and noted that pushing automated software updates over unstable tables leaves the entire transmission highly vulnerable to total systemic failure.Ford is currently refusing to open an escalation file or address this issue. Because Ford's official remedy for safety recalls 24S55 and 26C10 directly introduces a secondary, severe safety risk to the vehicle's powertrain integrity, I request that NHTSA investigate the technical compatibility and safety of these sequential software updates.

NHTSA ID

11763680

Incident

Jan 22, 2026

I’m concerned about the 1080R transmission CDF drum issues that ford had on these year models.Mine is downshifting hard at times not every gear but more between 5-8 gears, or especially coming to a stop light it will down shift hard from 3rd to 1st. Shifting up is not as bad as the downshifting but it still does shift harder than normal.Just doing research on others that had the bad parts in their CDF drum issues seem like mine is having same issues.

NHTSA ID

11763169

Incident

Jul 6, 2026

When I begin the accelerate from a stopped position I apply the accelerator to begin driving and after a couple seconds after entering the roadway, the vehicle looses power and appears to stall, after a couple more seconds or less the vehicle revs and accelerates very quickly in a jerking fashion and resumes moving forward. Sometimes the vehicle will do this several times in a short distance. This loss of power and erratic motion have happened several times when I have entered into traffic form a stopped position and while driving. I took the vehicle to the dealership where I have it regularly serviced and described the problem. After they investigated the issue I described they were able to re-create the issue and told me that the transmission needed repair. I was able to look up similar complaints and have identified that this is a pervasive issue with the 10R80 transmission in this model year, there is a Ford TSB 26-2226 that identifies the symptoms that I experienced and pointed to a defective part in the Transmission that is the likely cause of the erratic behavior of the transmission and power train. Loosing power and stalling unexpectantly while entering an intersection or in traffic could cause a collision and injuring persons or damaging property. The Service Department where I have the vehicle serviced was very aware of the issue with the Transmission and Ford has issued multiple Technical Service Bulletins to include TSB 26-2046 and TSB-26-2226. This may also be related to Ford Special Field Action 25-L02 regarding the Transmission Control Module and/ or the Safety Recall Notice Ford Number 26S48,/ NHTSA 26V402.

NHTSA ID

11762326

Incident

Aug 18, 2026

I am reporting a serious safety-related transmission issue involving my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. On multiple occasions during normal driving, the transmission has behaved unpredictably and, at times, dangerously. The transmission has suddenly lost the selected gear, slipped or failed to engage, shifted violently, experienced significant RPM flares, unexpectedly downshifted, and harshly clunked into first and second gear while coming to a stop. These events have occurred under a variety of normal driving conditions, including while accelerating, merging onto a highway, making turns, crossing intersections, traveling at highway speeds, driving in stop-and-go traffic, and coming to a stop at red lights. In several instances, the vehicle did not provide the expected acceleration or propulsion when commanded, creating a potentially dangerous situation because I could not reliably predict how or when the truck would respond to throttle input. Of particular concern is the possibility of losing propulsion or experiencing an unexpected gear change while merging into traffic, crossing an intersection, or traveling at highway speed. The unpredictable nature of the transmission makes it difficult to safely operate the vehicle and creates a significant risk of a collision. I believe these symptoms may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve issue. Ford technical information has identified axial movement of the CDF sleeve as a condition that can affect hydraulic circuits and contribute to abnormal transmission operation. The symptoms I have experienced appear consistent with this type of failure. Because these transmission problems have occurred repeatedly and under multiple driving conditions, I believe this issue should be investigated as a potential motor-vehicle safety defect rather than treated solely as a drivability or comfort concern.

NHTSA ID

11761795

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

The CDF drum is going bad cause the transmission to slip and downshift while going at highway speeds. Many many many owners report this and Ford created a new CDF drum for owners to put in. However this costs thousands of dollars to replace when they know the CDF drum is faulty.

NHTSA ID

11760526

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from fourth to first gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and waited before restarting the vehicle. The contact stated that two days prior to the failure, a message was displayed indicating that an over-the-air software update was performed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that an unknown sensor inside the transmission had damaged the transmission and that the unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,449.

NHTSA ID

11759467

Incident

Aug 12, 2026

Mileage

82,449 mi

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID

11758327

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

I believe my vehicle is exhibiting the same transmission issues leading up to the failure of transmission components identified in NHTSA Recall #: 26V402. My vehicle is having hard downshifts at low speeds, usually between 3rd and 1st gear, while comping to a stop. It seems to happen randomly. My VIN number was not found to be in the effected vehicles when searching on the NHTSA Recall page.

NHTSA ID

11757756

Incident

Aug 18, 2026

My truck is having transmission problem , hard shifting , going into neutral while driving, same problem with other 1080R transmission ford has on the recall list, I have had it in the shop before at Five Star Ford Stone Mtn Georgia, they said it was the battery, they put a new battery in it, same didnt fix the problem, now they are saying I need a new transmission , they know there is a problem with the 10 speed 1080R transmission, ford needs to recall all of these 10 speed transmission.

NHTSA ID

11757440

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

I received codes p2888, p288a, p0c2c all within the current recall parameters however my vin is not listed in the recall currently but falls within the same guidelines for those model years, engine, and trim package. It is the parking/pawl codes. I cannot currently drive my vehicle and I am about to face very heavy charges with getting a repair for my vehicle. As of now the Ford service writer at Platinum Ford North in Pilot Point, Texas has told me it is unsafe to drive and repairs will need to be made and that the repairs are currently not within any safety recalls for my specific VIN.

NHTSA ID

11757363

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150 used for hauling a trailer. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle became stuck in neutral. The vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear. The contact stated that the gear selector was inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle continued moving and rolled into the water and became submerged in water up to the door. No warning lights were illuminated. There was no injury sustained. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train). The vehicle was towed to the residence and then towed to the local dealer, and it was confirmed that there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was eventually towed back to the residence. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case and confirmed that there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11757352

Incident

Aug 12, 2026

Mileage

60,000 mi

i have had this at the dealer for the recall 4 months with no fix insight

NHTSA ID

11756172

Incident

Mar 3, 2026

My F150 10R80 transmission is throwing a P076F code. And the shifting has become very harsh and eratic all across the 10 gears. Hesitations, high revs, hard shifts, etc. This is a known issue by Ford and they have issued TSBs on the issue. They acknowledge that it is a design flaw within the transmission and have issued fixes. But if you are outside of the 60,000mi warranty, the burden of the costs falls on me, the owner. $9400 to replace the transmission with a new Ford transmission here in Colorado. This is a known problem in the design but Ford is not stepping up to help. They let the burden fall on the owner.

NHTSA ID

11756162

Incident

Aug 10, 2026

The contact's son owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after her son shifted from park(P) to drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond as needed. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact's son was able to drive to the residence nearby after several attempts. While at the residence, the failure recurred after shifting to drive(D), and the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the passenger’s side rear axle was fractured. The failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train). The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where the diagnosis was confirmed; however, parts were unavailable for the recall repair. The vehicle remained unrepaired, and no rental vehicle was provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 100,650.

NHTSA ID

11756152

Incident

Jul 29, 2026

Mileage

100,650 mi

On-going issue with 1080R transmission acting weird. Hard downshifts when truck is cold, even slightly warmed up. Lazy shifts, like transmission gets lost shifting from 2nd to 3rd. It pauses the shift and takes about 5 or 6 seconds to find 3rd gear. Seems to be in line with tons of known Ford 1080r cdf drum issues based on info I read online. Dealer has noted and replicated some of the issues. They've done a relearning procedure which temporarily seems to help it but then goes back to issues within a few hundred miles.

NHTSA ID

11755710

Incident

Nov 24, 2025

My vehicle is having bad shifting and jerking from 1st to 2nd. It has now gotten worse and does the jerking through all gears at 81,000 miles. A certified Ford dealer is doing a diagnosis on it. But Ford wont cover anything as the transmission it has is widely know issue. The CDF drum is only a bulletin no full recall. This issues occures while driving and will shoot up to gear 8 and try to shift its self to 1st gear at 5 miles per hour struggling.

NHTSA ID

11754597

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and upon inspection of the rear passenger’s side wheel end hub bolt, the dealer discovered the bolt was fractured. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact was advised that the vehicle should not be driven until the vehicle was repaired under the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

NHTSA ID

11754519

Incident

Dec 1, 2023

Mileage

52,000 mi

I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly downshifted hard, with a jolt that shook the whole truck, then went into emergency limp mode, where I had to pull over to the shoulder, on Interstate 240 in heavy traffic. I was attempting to accelerate to merge into merging traffic. Because of this it created a dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration or propulsion. Other times I have had hard shifting, but did not result going into limp mode. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion or unpredictable shifting while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, turning, or traveling at highway speed can create a collision hazard. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed.

NHTSA ID

11754379

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

Intermittent hard downshifts when going from 3rd to 2nd gear. When merging onto the highway or periods of brief acceleration the transmission fights to find the correct gear.

NHTSA ID

11754313

Incident

Jul 25, 2026

I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving, the transmission would unexpectedly hesitate before engaging the selected gear and then shift harshly with a noticeable bang. On multiple occasions, the engine RPM would flare before the transmission engaged, resulting in delayed or inconsistent acceleration. The transmission has also exhibited harsh shifts, delayed engagement, and unpredictable gear changes. These events occurred during normal driving, including accelerating from a stop, merging into traffic, and driving at highway speeds. The transmission did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration, creating a potentially dangerous situation. Delayed engagement and sudden harsh shifts make it difficult to judge available power when entering traffic or changing lanes. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks, resulting in harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can cause slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected hesitation, delayed engagement, or loss of propulsion while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, or traveling at highway speed creates an increased risk of a crash. Because I personally experienced these unexpected transmission events, I request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150 vehicles. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this represents a safety defect

NHTSA ID

11754194

Incident

Apr 6, 2026

I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly slammed into the next gear, i had never felt that before, it happens when it shifts from 2nd gear to 3rd, and someone’s after i have already been driving at highway speeds for a while it will rev up as if it’s slipping or missing a gear. This occurred while driving on a main highway, and also happens right when i leave my driveway, creating a potentially dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration or propulsion. A loss of power in the middle of busy traffic could cause an accident. This happens every single time i drive my truck, currently my truck has less than 55k miles. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion or unpredictable shifting while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, turning, or traveling at highway speed can create a collision hazard. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed.

NHTSA ID

11754193

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly downshifts aggressively resulting in the rear tires locking up and sliding for a moment. This occurs while driving in stop and go traffic as well as coming to a stop light/sign, creating a potentially dangerous situation. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion or unpredictable shifting while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, turning, or traveling at highway speed can create a collision hazard. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed.

NHTSA ID

11754168

Incident

May 1, 2026

I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem l experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly will shift gears violently, unexpectedly downshifted. This occurred while accelerating, merging onto a highway, turning, crossing an intersection, traveling at highway speed, stop-and-go traffic, creating a potentially dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration or propulsion. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion or unpredictable shifting while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, turning, or traveling at highway speed can create a collision hazard. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed.

NHTSA ID

11754159

Incident

Jul 20, 2026