2018 Ford F-150 complaints

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that several minutes later the vehicle functioned as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of Technical Service Bulletin: 21B10. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the cam phasers had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred afterwards. The contact stated that an abnormally loud sound was coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to another dealer where it was diagnosed with cam phaser failure. The repair was pending. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 87,560.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust. In addition, the contact stated that the engine was running abnormally rough. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a blown head gasket and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that the failure was due to an abnormal oil consumption. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

In November of 2024, my truck was shaking, accelerating erratically, and felt like the transmission was slipping. The check engine light came on as well. I took it to the shop and after diagnosing that it was a misfire issue in cylinder 6, they replaced spark plugs, fuel injectors, and tried to switch out new coils. They found gasoline inside cylinder 6, and upon doing a compression test, it was well below 100%. The truck continued to have misfires in cylinder 6, ultimately leading to 0% compression in that cylinder after taking it back to the same authorship to diagnose. After researching online forums and technical bulletins, it’s clear this issue is not uncommon among 2.7L EcoBoost engines from this model year, suggesting a manufacturer defect. The cost to replace the engine (as now recommended) has been estimated at nearly $10,000. With the history of regular oil and maintenance by the previous owner and myself, I feel this is a manufacturing defect that could potentially cause harm to the driver and passengers.

At or around 85,000 miles, I noticed my vehicle hesitating going into 3rd or 4th gear. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle began hard shifting into that 3rd/4th gear. Occasionally, the vehicle would lunge forward unexpectantly during this gear shift change. There have been several warning lights (wrench icon) appear on the dash. Also, on several occasions, I have experienced a sudden loss of power when trying to accelerate the vehicle as in a passing situation or merging into traffic. Upon doing research on the internet, I discovered hundreds of reports of Ford truck owners experiencing the same problems that I am having. These complaints are from 2018-2023 Ford truck owners whose trucks have the 10 speed transmissions. These defective transmissions need to be recalled not only because they pose a safety concern with the sudden lunging forward but also with the loss of power that sometimes occurs. Many owners have taken their vehicles to Ford dealerships and other mechanics to be told they need new transmissions or their transmissions need to be rebuilt. The cost for these new or rebuilt transmissions are from $5500 to $11,000. These are transmissions with mostly less than 100,000 miles on them. I haven't taken my vehicle to a mechanic (Ford or private) because I feel like I'm just going to be told that I need a new or rebuilt transmission. I am only driving my Ford F-150 within my local town because I'm afraid to drive it out of town. I'm so afraid that I may get into heavy traf

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound on first start up, upon shifting to drive(D) and depressing the accelerator pedal. A dealer mobile technician diagnosed the vehicle at the residence and informed the contact that the smart transmission was operating as designed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer advised the contact to not be concerned because the vehicle was still covered under warranty. The contact stated that the failure progressively worsened, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the 10-speed transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty, but the manufacturer had provided a loyalty discount. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

Complaint is regarding transmission issues on a 2018 Ford F150, 10-speed Transmission 10R80. Ford safety bulletins, recalls and transmission part replacements have failed to fix and resort transmission to a normal working condition. Transmission is now downshifting and delaying acceleration in the middle of the road. These unresolved issues with the 10R80 transmission are creating a hazardous situation for my family. Vehicle is unpredictably failing to accelerate at stop sign and red lights, preventing the flow of traffic. Vehicle is failing to accelerate in an appropriate and safe way while merging into the highway. Vehicle is downshifting unpredictably while in motion creating imminent danger to my children. The trade in and resale value are severely affected by the issues created by the 10-speed transmission. BBB Auto Line program case: FRD2511990. Complaint is in regard to Ford lack of substantial help in resolving known issues with the 10R80 transmission.

2018 Ford F150 XLT twin turbo 4wd. Since the day I bought it. Nothing but problems with lurching jerking at stops. Clunking when truck is on AND OFF. We have video of it. Pushing gas pedal and truck hesitates before it jumps forward always the transmission been to every ford dealer in our area they refuse to help or say they DONT HEAR the knocking or feel lurching all lies we have had at least 3 close calls avoiding accidents and 2 days ago the truck would not stop the transmission skipped and I hit a deer. My bull bar absorbed most of the impact. The 10 speed transmission is the issue and no one wants to hear it but ford wants $10,000 for a new transmission after I paid $48000 for this truck and it’s been in the shop half the time.

While driving through an intersection, my truck unexpectedly shut down. An error message appeared on the dashboard stating: "Auto Start/Stop – Shift to P, then Restart Engine." I was in a lane with oncoming traffic at the time, so I had to come to a complete stop, shift the vehicle into park, and restart the engine. After restarting, the truck resumed normal operation and I was able to continue driving.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was shifting hard. The contact stated that while driving at highways speeds on a slight incline and upshifting to 10th gear, the transmission slipped. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while driving between third and fourth gears, and between fourth and fifth gears. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

Ford had two recalls on 2018 F-150. My vehicle had both issues and was not part of the recall. They had a cam phaser recall that caused timing chain failure if not addressed and excessive oil consumption recall. My vehicle was regular serviced at Ford and it had a rattling noise which indicated possibly timing chain issue but Ford never mentioned any issues at time of service or any warning lights. The timing chain failed and caused damage tonthe engine. The engine has to be rebuilt or replaced for 10k-12k in cost.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into first gear. The contact stated that the gears were jumping. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated to 45 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the wrench symbol was displayed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 139,600.

Even with the update to add more oil pressure the camshaft phasers still failed. Happened up in the mountains on vacation. Very large rattle and jerking when first starting the engine. 71,000 miles. All maintenance has been done on time. No warning signs or build up. Ticking time bomb if continued to be driven

The 10R80 10 speed transmission in this vehicle Down shifts at highway speeds into first gear locking up the rear tires and making this vehicle a hand full . The problems are well documented with this transmission. How many people will have to be hurt, permanently disabled or even killed before the NHTSafetyA does something about ALL of these transmissions ???

My 2018 F150 has a faulty transmission, started slipping and down shifting. These transmissions need to be recalled. In the shop now. These on going issues need to be addressed and resolved. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My truck has been having shifting problems. Hard shifting going into gear. It hesitates and I have zero power then slams into gear. Unsafe to drive. I have had it serviced and zero luck.

Transmission failed at 95k miles. This looks to be a very common issue with the 10R80 transmission as there is a class action suit

I just had to replace my fuel pump due to sudden failure. It was repaired this month at Crossroads Ford of Wake Forest NC. I as well the dealer have the receipts for the repair cost. I believe it should be included in the current recall just issued by Ford and be reimbursed.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while receiving an oil change at a dealer, the mechanic located an oil leak in the oil pan and informed the contact that the oil pan and silicone sealant needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,314.

When backing up, my camera will either not work or be extremely slow. Then once it works the backup image or blank screen will show up when not in reverse. My screen will be blank, be extremely slow, or freeze when I turn the vehicle on or when driving. Unable to get CarPlay to work at all. When pushing buttons the lag time is so bad that it will take minutes for it to catch up. Unable to update the software.

I purchase a 2018 Ford F150 on [XXX]. One week later I am experiencing truck not wanting to shift out of first gear. The shifting is hard and jerking. It jerk so hard that if my son and I didn’t have our seat belt on we would have hit the dash. It periodically will shift from the 9 gear to 1 then back to 4th & 5th gear. It’s I almost got slammed by the car behind me. It is scary I took it to a shop and a total transmission replacement needs to be done I reach out the dealership that told me before I purchased it, all used vehicles go through a thorough inspection. I trusted the dealership and purchased the truck. Under further investigation I contacted where the truck was serviced last and they did an oil consumption test because it is burning a lot of oil. The dealership refuses to help. The transmission is definitely a safety hazard I haven’t even had it a month and I can barely drive it. It my only means of transportation. I have reoccurring monthly doctors appt for my son. It is completely unsafe and can cause a deadly accident for my self and to other around me. Thank you for your time. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

At 65k miles I have started to experience the dreaded 3.5l cam phaser rattle that Ford initially had a Customer Satisfaction Program on. Ford only repaired vehicles that were making a noise at the time of the program so they wouldn’t change my phasers even though they knew they had issues. I just got off the phone with ford customer support and even though I’m within the milage of the initial free replacement they won’t offer any assistance on the $8k repair.

Truck only has 48,124 miles on it. Per the tech it no longer has the weight on the driveshaft to keep it in balance. They sent the driveshaft to B&T driveshaft to be balanced. It came back and 80% of the vibration was gone. They then said they had to replace the entire driveshaft without testing the universal joints. They did install the JL3z*4r*z driveshaft kit. This did resolve the vibration but why would like part have to be replaced at such low milage on a 2018 F-150?

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact noticed an abnormal rattling sound and the engine ran abnormally rough. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed cam phaser. The contact was informed that the cam phaser needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, in September 2021, the cam phaser was replaced under an unknown special coverage program. The failure mileage at the time was approximately 28,000. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under an unknown special program or recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The current failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

I bought this truck new. It immediately began shifting hard. The dealer flashed the transmission several times, but did not solve the problem. The dealer even documented the harsh shifting, but after the reflash they said there is nothing else to be done, so I gave up. Now the shifting is worse and it will drop from 7th or 8th gear to 1st. Also, the transmission will intermittently not shift at all. This has done this to me twice while I was merging into traffic or making a left turn at an intersection leaving me motionless in traffic. Despite documentation from the beginning of ownership, the dealer nor ford will do anything despite the mechanic telling me this is a known issue that stems from fords design of the transmission. I am now paying for an all new transmission to keep safe. Ford is going to get people hurt by not fixing a known problem with their product.

I had a rear view camera problem where the screen went blue on my f150. No picture or beeps. I paid over $800 for software and hardware repairs and now there is a recall. Conveniently my vin is not included even though I have the same repairs I had to pay for. Reciepts from Ford Dealership available.

When driving for a hour ac shuts off and only blows warm air. Had everything tested and comes out perfect they can’t find an issue. Happened multiple times but reporting the most recent

Vehicle is shuddering as acceleration starts, took to dealership before warranty ended and they dismissed concerns. Issue has intermittently persisted since then with no resolution available from dealership. The acceleration issues causes the vehicle to slow down and halt before jerking into motion again. Additionally the engine eco boost is occasionally shutting the vehicle off in traffic, if the brake is released too quickly with the boost feature on the engine shuts off, you have to put it back in park and then start the engine again. I've almost been rear ended twice when a light turns green and my engine turns off unexpectedly.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The fuel pump was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V392000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 47,721.

At a little over 56,500 files, the engine started having a load rattling noise during a cold start where the engine has been sitting for a few hours. I dig some Google searches and found that the noise was related to the cam phaser issue associated with Ford's 3.5L Ecoboost engines so I took it to Jim Vreeland Ford in Buellton, CA to get an official diagnosis on July 1, 2025 that costed me $196. The dealer confirmed that the noise is caused by the cam phaser issued that was noted in Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N03, which I never received a notification for. Ford apparently issued TSB 23-2143 to address the issue, and I was quoted $3158.07 to address the issue along with $2026.71 for unrelated but recommended components that should be replaced at the same time. I was told that this can lead to catastrophic engine failure if not addressed. Ford is refusing to cover any of the cost.

I’m filing this complaint regarding a major transmission failure in my 2018 Ford F-150 (VIN: [XXX] ) with just over 40,000 miles. The issue resulted in multiple loss-of-drivability incidents while pulling out into traffic. On several occasions, the vehicle failed to engage or hesitated severely when shifting into gear, leaving me stranded on the wrong side of the road. In one instance, I was forced to manually cycle through gears to try and regain forward momentum while cars approached at speed. This created a dangerous situation not only for me but for other drivers. The vehicle showed no prior warning lights or messages before the issue occurred. A certified repair shop pulled diagnostic codes and identified a transmission-related fault. I was advised to take the truck to a Ford dealership, where they confirmed a transmission failure requiring a full replacement, quoted at nearly $10,000. A transmission failure at this mileage is unacceptable and unsafe. I’m reporting this as a safety concern due to the sudden loss of power and drive function in live traffic situations. I’ve since found reports of similar issues from other F-150 owners. This needs further investigation and consideration for recall or formal service campaign. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Long delay between shifts where the vehicle loses substantial speed

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on several occasions after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,000.

The contact owned a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the contact's son was driving at 20 MPH, the contact's son noticed an unusual sound. The steering wheel did not turn in the intended direction. No warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the steering wheel was detached and loose. The vehicle crashed into a nearby tree. The contact's son did not sustain any injuries. In addition, the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the insurance company for inspection. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed; however, the information was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised that the vehicle needed to be inspected by the investigator. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound on cold starts. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the cam phasers and connecting belts might need to be replaced. The vehicle was being diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 21N03 (Cam phaser replacement). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 71,662.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon startup, there was a loud knocking sound coming from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the cam phasers were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 35,000.

Transmission completely failed while driving. Fortunately I was at a stoplight and was able to coast to the side of the road to a stop before getting hit. Transmission previously was taken to Ford for transmission jerking and randomly shifting issues. They first appeared at about 35000 miles of service. Complete failure ocurred at 130,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the vehicle stalled. The "Auto Start Stop" message was displayed. The contact restarted the vehicle and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle returned to normal functionality. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that one month prior to the failure, the vehicle had been repaired under Manufacturer Recall Number: 24E04 (Powertrain Control Module Software update). The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle stalled while one of the employees was test driving the vehicle. However, no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

Transmission failed. Specifically the CDF drum which is a known issue and Ford has a TSB for it. Truck would not move or shift gears periodically. Would also slip into neutral and would not engage any gear which is extremely dangerous on the road. Dealer confirmed that the CDF drum is shot and the truck needs a new transmission, $8800. My truck only has 53k miles on it, it is a 2018 model year. There were no visual indications of a problem, no CEL. You could tell just by driving the truck, it got so bad that it was virtually undriveable. I put the TSB below. This really needs to be a RECALL as it is super dangerous. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I spilled something on my passenger side front so removed my weathertech floor liner and noticed the carpet was wet with some mildew on it. Cleaned it up and let it air dry. Some time b later I b checked it again and it was more wet. Went online and saw a recall . Called dealer that has serviced my truck since I drove it off the lot . Why they hadn’t told me about the recall. Was told it wasn’t on the recall. They are telling me I have to pay to fix it . It’s obvious it shouu I led have been included in this recall. For all I know I have mold and mildew under my carpet. This can not be good or healthy for b me and b my family.

The cam phasers in the engine have a failure/malfunction and risk of engine damage and performance. No warning lamps are on for the this failure yet, only a very noticeable noise on startups. It has been to a dealership to be confirmed. This is the same known issue as the other 3.5 ecoboost F-150 engines in the 2017 -2018 years, I am not sure what made my VIN not fit the requirements. Bulletins 21B10,21N03,21N08 I believe are all related.

Transmission is hard shifting and dropping out of gear into neutral at random times. Ford dealership diagnosed a bad CDF hub in transmission. Ford knows this is a known issue and redesigned the part but not covering any repairs.

This vehicle started rattling upon cold start. It has only 43K miles on it. When looking into the situation it has been a defect of this vehicle as well as many other years that Ford has failed to own up to. This rattle is due to a cam phaser pin that breaks loose and can dislodge at any time and cause the vehicle to seize up. Another owner had this happen on the freeway at 70 mph. Ford claims it is “not dangerous” but obviously it is. It costs the owners anywhere from $4500-$6500 to fix. Our local service department advised us they have “fixed hundreds of these”. PLEASE STEP IN AND HAVE FORD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT AND CORRECT IT VIA RECALL. This is dangerous and expensive for owners. Thank you!

The electronic emergency break engages while on the highway crusing at normal highway speed. It has engaged randomly for a few months. Yesterday it engaged 15 times almost making me crash the 1st time. I had to pull over, shut off the truck to reset the brake to make it home.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at various speeds, the transmission was slipping. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle 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 85,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the “WRENCH” symbol was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the message "Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic, where it was discovered that there were metal shavings in the transmission fluid pan. The contact had taken the vehicle to other independent mechanics who confirmed the failure and suggested that the transmission be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 99,800.

I was driving on the interstate, and pressed the accelerator to make a lane change and the tranmission did not respond. I could have been rear-ended because I had signaled and the other vehicle started to fill my space. I was unable to make the change. Fortunately the folloing vehicle kept a safe disance. Gear shifts have also been extremely clunky and skipping gears, sometimes when slowing down, dropping from a high gear (4-6) down to 2 or 1 without a corresponding drop in speed.

Hard shifting slamming gears needing transmission work.

The driver and passenger seats continuously keep self adjusting without the memory seat option in my vehicle. When readjusting back to position I hear popping. I feel like it’s either an electrical problem or adjustment mechanism stripping out! I’ve talked to several people in different forums with the same issue and thought we was just losing our minds!

Coil spring on the front drivers side suspension snapped in half while driving causing a momentary loss of control that was quickly regained. The spring was replaced at a local repair shop. There were no warning signs before failure occurred.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact while parked and attempting to start the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the valves inside the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.