2018 Ford F-150 power train problems
964 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the power train on the 2018 Ford F-150 — 43% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“I live on a busy road on top of a hill. When leaving the truck will often hesitate leaving me with a heavy loss of acceleration. I’ve I been in numerous situations were I was almost rear ended! The truck will also jolt you when it shifts like hitting a wall.”
filed Aug 4, 2026
“The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle hesitated, decelerated unintendedly, and the transmission was slipping. The check engine and the WRENCH Icon warning lights were illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined…”
filed Aug 4, 2026
“I am reporting a severe safety hazard regarding my 2018 Ford F-150, which is equipped with the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. While driving, the transmission suddenly lost its selected gear, slipped, and failed to engage. This event was accompanied by violent shifting, severe RPM flaring, and unexpected, harsh…”
filed Aug 1, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to Drive may cause a loss of gear indication on…Campaign 26V375000 · Jun 9, 2026
- Gear shift cable clip may not be properly seated, allowing the transmission to be in a…Campaign 18V214000 · Apr 4, 2018
- A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of…Campaign 18V213000 · Apr 4, 2018
- Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to Drive may cause a loss of gear indication on…Campaign 17V669000 · Oct 23, 2017
Related service bulletins
For 2017 2026 vehicles equipped with a 10R transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure has been made in the WSM, located in Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing. This updated procedure improves the…
SSM 54592 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 17, 2026Certain 2018-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles Equipped With 3.3L Engines Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming
25E10 · Emissions · issued Dec 13, 2025
Power Train problems in other F-150 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 F-150 | 23 | 23% |
| 2024 F-150 | 55 | 30% |
| 2023 F-150 | 150 | 38% |
| 2022 F-150 | 155 | 27% |
| 2021 F-150 | 297 | 31% |
| 2020 F-150 | 331 | 47% |
| 2019 F-150 | 701 | 54% |
| 2017 F-150 | 509 | 37% |
| 2016 F-150 | 542 | 27% |
| 2015 F-150 | 370 | 22% |
| 2014 F-150 | 412 | 27% |
| 2013 F-150 | 1,329 | 45% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2018 Ford F-150
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.