2018 Ford F-150: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 29, 2026 · Transmission · CA

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.

Filed Oct 5, 2026 · Transmission · MN

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.

Filed Sep 27, 2026 · Transmission · IL

Transmission would go from 7th gear to 1st gear causing stalling in busy traffic. Also the truck would be stuck at 7th gear when coming to a stop light and when the light turned green would not shift down to one which caused a power loss. This is a known problem with ford transmission, the dealership diagnosed the issue as a hydraulic circuit leak, which is caused by the cdf cylinder sleeve. This can be found in Ford TSB 25-2126

Filed Sep 24, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · VA

2018 Ford F-150 Limited with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. At approximately 60,000 miles the engine began making a rattling noise from the front of the engine on cold start, lasting several seconds. Over the last three months the noise has become progressively worse and now occurs at every cold start and lasts longer. The check engine light is currently illuminated. The vehicle has not stalled or lost power. A Ford dealer (Wynne Ford, Hampton, VA) diagnosed the condition on September 24, 2026 at 104,661 miles as cam phaser failure, requiring replacement of the variable camshaft timing (VCT) units and associated timing components. This matches Ford's Technical Service Bulletin 23-2143, which covers 2017-2020 F-150 vehicles with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine built on or before November 30, 2019. Ford previously issued Customer Satisfaction Program 21B10 and warranty extension 21N03 for this same defect on March 2, 2021, but 21N03 expressly excluded the F-150 Limited trim, and both programs have since expired. The dealer additionally reported that it has submitted multiple other cam phaser repairs on 2017-2020 3.5L EcoBoost vehicles for manufacturer assistance in the past two months, including vehicles newer and with lower mileage than mine, and that all were denied. The quoted repair is $5,414.11 at my expense. I am filing this report because cam phaser failure in these engines can progress to timing chain damage and engine failure, and because Ford has documented this defect since at least 2021 without issuing a recall. I contacted Ford (case CXH-09424982) and was denied any financial assistance.

Filed Sep 23, 2026 · Transmission · OH

2018 Ford F-150 XLT Power Train / Transmission (10R80 10-Speed Automatic) ~100,000 miles (99,737) While accelerating, typically at neighborhood speeds, we sometimes get a hesitation/delay in shifting, which causes a pause and then a hard shift jerking forward, which makes it unreliable at times. Not getting any dashboard warning lights, and has had the transmission flushed at 80k miles by a Ford dealership. A Ford dealership diagnostic inspection confirmed an internal mechanical defect: a failure/migration of the internal Teflon-sealed sleeve on the CDF clutch drum. The dealership technician also noted harsh upshifting between gears 3 and 4, and harsh downshifting between gears 6 and 5. The sudden, unpredictable loss of power during low-speed acceleration creates an immediate safety hazard. It leaves the vehicle vulnerable to rear-end collisions when merging into moving traffic, navigating busy intersections, or pulling out onto roadways, as the truck fails to accelerate when commanded. Furthermore, the violent gear slamming can cause momentary loss of traction or driver distraction under low-grip road conditions. Researching, what we're experiencing is very common with the 10R80 transmission that we have, and documented in TSB 23-2152, and TSB 25-2126. From what I'm reading, Ford redesigned the CDF drum in 2023 to try and correct the manufacturing issue.

Filed Sep 13, 2026 · Transmission · MD

SAFETY HAZARD & RISK ​The 10R80 transmission exhibits sudden, unpredictable gear slipping, power loss, and violent slamming/lunging during gear shifts while navigating active traffic. This erratic behavior creates an immediate collision risk when merging, accelerating, or changing lanes, as the truck unexpectedly loses momentum or lunges forward. ​INCIDENT & REPAIR HISTORY ​The vehicle required two complete transmission overhauls under 68,000 miles at Apple Ford (Columbia, MD), both confirmed by certified technicians and warranty inspectors: ​Overhaul #1 (Invoice #273111 | Aug 14, 2024 | 42,571 miles): Diagnosed under TSB 24-2101 for shift failure. The dealer overhauled the valve body and replaced internal components, including the CDF drum (Part #JL3Z7H351B). ​Overhaul #2 (Invoice #351672 | Sep 11, 2026 | 67,587 miles): Less than 25,000 miles later, severe slipping and 5th gear binding recurred. Teardown revealed a sticking main pressure control valve, burnt E & F clutch packs, and an outdated CDF drum. The dealer replaced the complete valve body (Part #JL3Z7A100CRM), installed a redesigned CDF cylinder (Part #PC3Z7B177A), and replaced scorched clutch/steel plates. ​COMPLAINT RESPONSE SUMMARY ​System Failed: 10R80 Transmission (CDF drum sleeve migration, sticking valve body, burnt E & F clutches). Vehicle is available for inspection. ​Safety Risk: Sudden power loss and violent lunging in active traffic, creating severe collision hazards. ​Confirmed by Dealer: Yes. Diagnosed and verified twice by Apple Ford master technicians. ​Inspected By: Authorized Ford dealer technicians and an official warranty company inspector. ​Symptoms/Timeline: No warning lights appeared prior to failure. Physical symptoms (slipping, violent slamming) first appeared before Aug 2024 (42,571 miles) and recurred in July 2026 (67,587 miles).

Filed Sep 7, 2026 · Transmission · MT

Loss of power while acceleration from a stop sign. Vehicle would not shift into gear and acted like it could only drive very slowly. Repair shop inspected it and stated that the transmission needed work and would cost 8200.00 to fix issue that has a TSB out meaning ford knows about the issue

Filed Aug 16, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · ND

Truck starting missing gears when pulling onto highway. Rpms jumped high and truck wouldnt shift. Thankfully we made it across before the oncoming traffic or we would have been hit. Finally got it to go but it was missing gears causing it to drive sluggish. No prior engine lights warning me. When the incident happed I got a notification of a power train malfunction/ reduced power.

Filed Aug 11, 2026 · Transmission · FL

I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2018 Ford F-150 XLT equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly lost power and failed to engage into gear causing hesitation in the middle of driving. This occurred while in 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 the federal safety agency 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.

Filed Aug 10, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · SC

10r80 transmission CDF Failure. Had repair completed though still has issues with 4/5th gear. Truck will lose power while accelerating until it finds the gear it wants to go. Multiple re-learning processes completed with no solution. V6 ecoboost - cam phasers repaired twice. 1st time by initial owner but that was not relayed to me. 2nd time by me after multiple trips to the dealership where they couldn't reproduce the issue. Took videos and finally brought the truck in with the check engine light flashing. Required entire engine rebuild.

Filed Aug 1, 2026 · Transmission · KY

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 downshifts.This dangerous failure occurred during critical driving maneuvers—specifically while accelerating and attempting to merge onto a highway—creating an immediate collision hazard. The truck failed to respond to throttle input, depriving me of predictable acceleration and propulsion when I needed it most to match the speed of oncoming traffic.I believe this incident is directly related to the well-documented 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder sleeve defect. Ford’s own technical documentation acknowledges that axial movement of this sleeve causes internal hydraulic leaks, leading to erratic shifting, slipping, and sudden losses of propulsion.This is fundamentally a safety defect, not a minor quality issue. An unexpected loss of power while merging or traveling at highway speeds places occupants at extreme risk of a rear-end collision. Because I have personally experienced this terrifying failure, I request that the federal safety agency open a formal investigation into the Ford 10R80 CDF clutch sleeve defect before it results in severe injuries or fatalities. Owners should not have to wait for a catastrophic transmission failure to receive a remedy.

Filed Aug 1, 2026 · Transmission · ID

Truck will flare on lower gears of the 10 speed transmission. The 10R80 to be exact. The CDF drum was engineered incorrectly and ford has made an updated part but they didn’t make it till 2023. So that leaves years 17’-22 to have transmission problems and catastrophic transmission failures because of a bad design. It’s very dangerous for a transmission to lose power on the roads and or react in a way that can make you lose control of vehicle. Ford has acknowledged the issue but not for the affected years. People have spent millions out of pocket and or if they had warranty coverage they spent have spent lots of unnecessary time with vehicles in and out of dealers and shops.