2018 Ford F-150: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Oct 5, 2026 · Engine · NJ

My truck has the 3.5 ecoBoost twin turbo engine with the known cam phaser problem. Ford dealership replaced cam phasers 4 years ago and told they were putting in new designed cam phasers to prevent this from happening again. Last week, I changed the v v t cylinder because of a p0018 code, and found that the replacement was the old cam phasers prone to break again. Truck is just now out of warranty. And ford is doing nothing to help. Drivability is not the same has hesitation. So far, and I'm sure it's going to get worse. Check engine light just went on last week. This truck is at dealership now. My biggest problem with this situation is Ford. Dealer lied said they put in new cam phasers, which they put in old ones. I would have got an extended warranty if I knew they were the old cam phaser. Now, I will be out 3 to 5 thousand dollars because ford dealership lied to me. I have all paperwork. Service reports everything on the truck. The truck was babied. There's no reason why in 70000 miles catastrophic engine failure twice. Fixing the problem with the same problem. Parts is not a fix. It's a bandade until warranties are over. And let the people deal with it.

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 Aug 31, 2026 · Transmission · 96,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop light, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate and jerked and hesitated. The contact stated that the transmission upshifted from 1st to 3rd gear and then from 3rd to 7th gear. During the failure the WRENCH symbol was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be repaired, and the CDF drum need to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 96,000.

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 4, 2026 · Transmission · 119,000 miles · TN

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. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the extended powertrain warranty coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was 119,000.

Filed Aug 4, 2026 · Transmission · WI

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 Jul 20, 2026 · Transmission · MS

Approximately four months ago, my truck started shifting hard going into second gear, then it quickly became jerky shifting in other gears with slippage, dangerous hesitation and engagement problems. It was so bad that I was almost rear-ended 3 times. Then the hesitation happened more often and a few times lost all power to transmission, and I had to stop in moving traffic for the transmission to find a gear. Very dangerous situation! A few weeks later, sudden downshifts for no reason were happening. I am the second owner of this truck that had 24,000 miles when I purchased it, and now it only has 49,500 miles with major transmission issues that are unsafe for me and my passengers, and the vehicles around me. The Ford dealer in my area has had my truck for a week, and nobody has called me, only making things worse. Hesitation or delayed engagement Sudden downshifts Clunking noises Occasional loss of power

Filed Jul 1, 2026 · Transmission · CO

I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious and ongoing transmission safety concern with my 2018 Ford F-150 3.0L diesel. The vehicle has repeatedly exhibited unsafe and unpredictable transmission behavior, including harsh downshifts at highway speeds, delayed gear engagement, slow transitions between gears, and abrupt jolting that can forcefully move occupants forward. These issues create a safety risk because the vehicle does not shift predictably during normal driving, including at highway speeds and during acceleration or deceleration. The vehicle was previously taken in for service due to these transmission concerns. At that time, the transmission fluid was found to be approximately 75% low. The dealer performed a software update; however, the transmission problems have continued and may have worsened since that repair attempt. Today, the vehicle displayed a transmission-related error stating: “The transmission control module has detected a concern when trying to shift to 4th gear. A failsafe logic disables 4th gear for the remainder of this key cycle.” This warning indicates that the vehicle’s transmission control module detected a fault during operation and disabled 4th gear as a protective measure. This is a significant escalation from rough or delayed shifting, as the vehicle is now entering a failsafe condition that removes a gear while the vehicle is being driven. The condition presents a safety concern because the transmission may downshift unexpectedly, hesitate, jolt, or fail to provide expected acceleration or power delivery. This could be especially dangerous while driving at highway speeds, merging into traffic, passing, towing, or navigating traffic where predictable power and gear engagement are necessary. The abrupt shifting and jolting are severe enough to physically move the driver and passengers forward, creating concern for loss of vehicle control or a crash. The prior service action did not resolve the problem.

Filed Jun 27, 2026 · Transmission · CO

Vehicle: 2018 Ford F-150 3.0L Power Stroke Diesel I am submitting this complaint because my vehicle's transmission exhibits repeated and potentially dangerous operating behavior that has not been corrected despite service by a service shop. The transmission unexpectedly downshifts while driving at highway speeds without driver input. It is also consistently slow to shift into appropriate gears during normal acceleration, causing delayed power delivery followed by abrupt and harsh gear engagement. The transmission frequently shifts aggressively, resulting in severe jolts that force occupants forward in their seats. The shifting behavior is unpredictable and significantly impacts safe operation of the vehicle. I brought the vehicle to an authorized mechanic for diagnosis and repair. During the inspection, I was informed that the transmission fluid level was approximately 75% below the proper level. The diesel automotive shop performed a transmission software update and returned the vehicle to me. Despite these repairs, the transmission problems have continued and appear to have become more severe. The ongoing symptoms include: - Unexpected downshifts at highway speeds. - Delayed gear engagement and hesitation before shifting. - Harsh, abrupt shifting accompanied by violent jolts. - Unpredictable transmission behavior that reduces driver confidence and control. These conditions create a significant safety concern, particularly at highway speeds, where unexpected downshifts or delayed power response can increase the risk of a collision. Because the issue persists after dealership service and a software update, I believe there may be a defect affecting the transmission or its control system that warrants investigation. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency investigate this issue to determine whether it represents a broader safety-related defect affecting other vehicles of the same model and model year.

Filed Jun 24, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · GA

I think that ford needs to a recall on these 10r80 transmissions, I was driving a week ago and suddenly I went to limp mode. Went to gear one now transmission is hesitating

Filed Jun 23, 2026 · Transmission · WI

On 3 separate occasions while driving at highway speeds, the transmission has rapidly moved from 10th gear to 1st resulting in a rapid decline in speed. Additionally, this vehicle loses power between 3rd and 5th gear, resulting in hesitation that has nearly caused accidents on two occasions.

Filed Jun 19, 2026 · Driver assistance, Transmission · TX

My vehicle stutters and hesitates as I accelerate up to 55moh. This occurs constantly not only during first startup.