2018 Ford F-150: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Aug 26, 2026 · Transmission, Wheels · WI

I own a 2018 Ford F-150 4WD with approximately 24,600 miles. While traveling approximately 70 MPH on the highway in 2H with cruise control operating, I suddenly heard an extremely loud metal-on-metal grinding/ratcheting noise from the driver's-side front wheel area. The noise caused immediate concern about a possible front wheel or drivetrain failure. I disengaged cruise control and the grinding stopped. Within approximately 50 miles on the same trip, the grinding occurred a second time while again traveling approximately 70 MPH in 2H without cruise engaged. Because of the severity of the noise, I pulled over on the side of the highway and inspected the vehicle. I found nothing visibly wrong and resumed driving. The condition has since occurred two additional times while accelerating from a stop in 2H. These incidents were less severe but involved the same metal-on-metal grinding/ratcheting from the driver's-side front wheel area. I have also noticed a brief air/vacuum-type "whoosh" immediately before the grinding occurs. My Ford service manager directed me to Ford TSB 24-2188, which addresses grinding/clicking/ratcheting from the front wheel area associated with partial engagement of the Integrated Wheel End (IWE). The truck is scheduled for diagnosis but has not yet been formally diagnosed. I contacted Ford Customer Satisfaction, case CXH-090-0329-26-V5R9-P-5. Ford declined assistance due to vehicle age despite the low mileage. I am reporting this because the condition has occurred four times, including twice unexpectedly at 70 MPH. I am concerned about the safety implications of a front wheel-end component potentially partially engaging at highway speed and believe this warrants the federal safety agency review.

Filed Jul 24, 2026 · Transmission · ID

On XXX at approximately 5pm my passenger and I were traveling west on the XXX from [XXX] to [XXX]. While driving at highway speeds with cruise control on at approximately 75/80 miles an hour, my 2018 F150 3.5ecoboost with the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission suddenly without any input from myself, the transmission jerked out of gear causing the rear end to shudder violently. The vehicle briefly went into limp mode, after I pulled over and stopped, I turned the vehicle off and let it sit. When I turned it back on the limp mode went away but the transmission felt like it was slipping gears. My vehicle has only had light city and highway driving and never towed anything. With the known issues and on going class action lawsuits against Ford Motor Company regarding the 10R80 transmission, evidence shows my vehicle is also suffering from the known dangerous 10R80 10-speed transmission issues. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 22, 2026 · Brakes · WA

Truck suffers problem associated with the federal safety agency 22V‑150 but is not included in the recall. This occurs on highway driving while on cruise control. This can occur within just a few minutes of driving or extended period. Vehicle brake warning on dash occurs and says "Check Brake System", the brake pedal becomes very stiff and reduces braking of the vehicle. The brake light remains on until vehicle is shut off and restarted. This occurred most recently on a 3,000 mile trip through the Utah national parks and presents dangerous scenarios through mountain passes.

Filed Mar 12, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · 140,000 miles · SC

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while towing a camper at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle occasionally hesitated to upshift in gear while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds with cruise control, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road and restarted the vehicle, which was later taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The parts to repair the vehicle were ordered, and the vehicle was left at the local dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Filed Jul 29, 2025 · Transmission · WI

While driving on the interstate with the cruise control set at 70mph the vehicle's transmission, while climbing a small hill, started slipping badly. There was a loud klunking sound and an immediate substantial increase in rpms. As a result I immediately slowed the vehicle down to around 60mph. Additionally I moved over into the slow lane. The yellow wrench light activated on my dashboard indicating a power train issue. The transmission continued having slipping issues while driving it home. I took it to my local Ford dealership and they informed me the the ten speed transmission was failing, and needed to be rebuilt. The truck only has 75,000 miles on it. I've read that Ford has had a lot of issues with these 10 speed transmissions, especially in the early years like my 2018 F150, and that a recall hasn't been issued. I feel as though an incident such as mine could cause an accident, especially at freeway speeds, that could result in injury or loss of life especially on a snow covered or icy road. The only symptoms I had prior to this incident was a slight amount of transmission slipping which I put off as the typical odd shifting pattern of this 10 speed transmission. As far as I know there have been no inspections done by Ford, and there was no inspections done by the police or my insurance provider.

Filed Jun 3, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · 93,000 miles · WA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving uphill with the cruise control activated, the transmission downshifted into first gear and the contact depressed the brake pedal, and the transmission shifted back into tenth gear. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact was informed that the engine oil level was low. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not decided whether to pay for the repair. The manufacturer was notified on the failure and informed the contact that the warranty had expired. The contact was referred by the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.

Filed May 1, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · MN

The button on the steering wheel get hot then fail to work this has happened several times i have complained to ford. The cruise control quits working and all the buttons for the dash menu quit working. I will be driving down the road with the cruise control on and all of a sudden it will quit working. Then it will just come back on like you never shut it off and when you least expect it. when this happens you can not shut the thing off its gonna cause an accident.

Filed Mar 24, 2025 · Transmission · MS

Vehicle downshifted from 10th gear to 6th gear while traveling 70 MPH on I-20. RPM rose to 4,500 before truck could be finally stopped on an off ramp. Vehicle engine was eventually turned. After a couple of minutes vehicle was started again and operated normally for continued return home.Vehicle spent 1 week at dealer for evaluation and computer reprogramming. Recently vehicle (F-150 XLT) has again downshifted while traveling at 65 MPH from 10th gear except this time only to 8th gear. Pulled over, stopped the engine, waited a couple of minutes and restarted the engine. Vehicle again operated normally in all gears. Both downshifts occurred while the vehicle was in the cruise control mode and no there were no warning light indications prior to either occurrence. No computer codes indicated during follow-up evaluations.

Filed Mar 19, 2025 · Transmission · 96,536 miles · FL

The contact called on behalf of his son who owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his son was driving on the highway with the cruise control set to 60 MPH, the transmission started slipping and the message “Service Vehicle Soon” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local Advanced Auto Parts where a handheld scanner was used to retrieved DTC: 176 (HEGO sensor circuit indicates system lean – left side). The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed because the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 96,536.

Filed Dec 19, 2024 · Acceleration, Brakes · 90,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle accelerated at excessive speeds. The contact aggressively depressed the brake pedal and shifted into neutral to decelerate and slow the vehicle to a stop. The failure was intermittent and occurred at various speeds. The contact’s son inspected the vehicle and determined that a fuse related to the cruise control might be defective. The contact’s son had replaced the fuses. While driving approximately 10 MPH and coming to a stop sign, the contact decided to come closer to the stop sign however, the vehicle accelerated past the stop sign. The contact attempted to depress the brake pedal several times however, the vehicle failed to stop until approximately a block away from the stop sign. There was a certified mechanic nearby who inspected the vehicle but found no cause for the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the cruise control fuse had failed. The dealer replaced the fuse. The contact was uncomfortable with the fuse being in the vehicle, so the dealer removed the fuse to deactivate the cruise control. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a complaint was filed. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Dec 17, 2024 · Acceleration, Transmission · AL

2018 Ford F150 2.7 with 133,000 miles. Not shifting properly and jerking into gears. Shifted down into first from 10th while traveling down the interstate. Stalled in the middle of the road while making a turn from a stop sign and then jerked I to gear and started driving again. Went to the dealership back in May where I bought it from and they advised me that it’s the transmission and this is a known problem with all 2018 F150 transmissions. Advised me the only fix was to replace it. Now in November it has gotten worse and when I try to get above 70 mph quickly (passing a vehicle on the interstate), it starts jerking hard repeatedly. Also, it automatically will kick my cruise control off while going down the highway. Controls in the steering wheel stop working properly.

Filed Jul 1, 2024 · Acceleration · NH

Three times in the last year while driving north on interstate 91 coming down a long steep hill entering the town of Springfield, Vermont while my f-150 was in cruise control traveling at 70 mph the transmission has down shifted all by itself to fifth gear without me touching anything. I have not taken it to my local dealer as they want to charge me 135.00 dollars per hour just to look at it. Also my doors freeze anytime it gets below 32 degrees! Can not latch doors shut once they freeze.