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.
2018 Ford F-150: transmission slipping
146 of the 2,335 complaints about the 2018 Ford F-150 describe transmission slipping.
- owner complaints
- 146
- of this car's complaints
- 6%
- typical repair cost reported
- $8,800
- typical mileage
- 68,000
- recalls
- 4
Transmission slipping by model year
What owners say
Transmission slips out of park. And starts like it's in gear , can vehicle feel the truck jump a little.also shifts stalls and feels like it's stopping when taking off from a intersection. Started doing this when truck was about 2 years old. Had dealer change trans filter and fluid last year but it's still doing it.
After Fords TCM recall the truck’s transmission has not acted correctly, very hard shifts, staggered shifting and warning lights for shifting issues or low power due to loss of signal from computer. It has gotten worse it now is sticking in 4th and 7th gear, acts as if slipping and completely stopped the truck in a busy intersection where I had to shut the vehicle off and restart before it would go in gear manually. Truck has lunged forward in reverse, went into low gear on the interstate and have given codes for fault detection. I’ve had the vehicle look at by a certified mechanic and his computer shows no connection between computer and transmission then shows partial connection and the full connection. Torque Converter shows good and so do the cliches and solenoids. This is dangerous and could cause an accident if not fixed, whatever ford’s update was has made my computer loose connection with the transmission and has put a fault that could possibly cause an accident or fire.
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).
While driving home from a work appointment in Rockwall, Texas, I entered an intersection with three lanes of uncontrolled cross traffic traveling approximately 35-45 mph. As I accelerated my Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 transmission, it started into the intersection and then began sporadically hunting for a gear. The truck suddenly lost nearly all acceleration and slowed to an almost complete stop while I was in the middle of the intersection. Vehicles were approaching me from the driver side, leaving me with almost no ability to get out of their path. I was extremely fortunate that I was not T-boned. This is the second time this truck has experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of acceleration, the first was with a 4th gear slip on an on-ramp. Neither incident was preceded by a warning light or other dashboard indication. I understand Ford has been aware of problems involving the CDF clutch drum in the 10R80 transmission and that the design was subsequently revised in later versions. My vehicles issues are textbook CDF Drum problems. Meanwhile, the known 10R80 problems have significantly reduced the vehicle's value, leaving me owing more than I can reasonably recover by selling it. This is not simply a reliability issue. A transmission that can unexpectedly eliminate a vehicle's ability to accelerate without warning is a serious safety hazard. Twice, this defect has put me in a situation where I could have been killed by cross traffic. I am asking the federal safety agency to investigate the 10R80 transmission, including the CDF drum/design issues, and determine whether these failures create an unreasonable safety risk and whether Ford has taken adequate corrective action.
I believe there’s an ongoing lawsuit against Ford regarding these truck models, specifically their gearboxes, which are failing and slipping gears. After the initial recall for the new software gearbox mapping, my gearbox has started slipping, causing issues during downshifting, acceleration, and upshifting. There are frequent loud bangs
Transmission shudders until it gets warm, then it slips when accelerating after it's warmed up. Sometimes it goes completely out of gear. I've had the recall update done on the TCM and it made it worse. It has been confirmed by a service center. There are no messages or warning lights and it started slipping 6-8 months ago and has gotten worse. I cannot drive it currently.
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.
The transmission is failing. It is a known issue. 2018 Ford F150 Lariat. The transmission shifts very hard; it's slipping out of gear. It is getting stuck in gears and not shifting as it should. It is flaring when shifting gears. My safety is at risk because I never know when the vehicle is going to move if I am stopped. It could happen in the middle of an intersection; it could go out when I'm going at highway speeds. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by a Ford dealer. The component has not been inspected by anyone on my personal vehicle except by the Ford technician at a local dealership. There were no warning lamps or messages. At first, when you would pull out for the first time of the day, it would have a little trouble shifting through 3rd and 4th gear for the first few minutes, then it was fine the rest of the day. Now it is slipping out of gears, shifting hard, missing shifts, banging when shifting gears, flaring when shifting gears, getting stuck in gears. I did not know this was an issue before buying the vehicle. After it started occurring, I looked it up, and this is a VERY widely known issue with this Ford 10R80 transmission in multiple models of their vehicles, and they REFUSE to recall them. This is an incredible safety issue, as the vehicle can slip out of gear or randomly change to the wrong gear at any time and make the driver lose control of the vehicle.
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.
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.
This vehicle has been into the Ford dealer multiple times for transmission slipping type issues. From before the 60,000 mile powertrain warranty ended and after. The dealer said the only thing needed was an update and reset. Today a different Ford dealer has informed me that during the transmission flush, there are tiny specks and slivers of metal. The engine issue in regard to cam phaser repair recall/customer service bulletin has been leaking due to issues with proper sealant. The rear camera goes out and screen turns white at times.
Service bulletins that may apply
- For 20172026 vehicles equipped with a 10R transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure...
- Certain 2018-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles Equipped With 3.3L Engines Powertrain Control Module (PCM)...
- This bulletin supersedes TSB 25-2301
- New vehicle delivery hold
- This article supersedes TSB 24-2115 to update the Service Procedure
- Various vehicles equiped with 10R80/10R80 MHT/10R100/10R140 transmissions may require replacement of the...
- This article supersedes TSB 24-2046 to update the Service Procedure LTIS statement
- During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper,...
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 17V669. Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to Drive may cause a loss of gear indication on the instrument cluster display and a momentary selection of an unintended gear, such as Reverse or Neutral.
- Risk
- Unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S42. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on on July 6, 2026.
Recall number 26V375000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
- Risk
- Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.
Recall number 18V213000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions and 2018 Ford F-150 and Expedition vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions (excluding Expedition vehicles with a Rotary Gear Shift Dial on the console). The gear shift cable clip may not be properly seated, allowing the transmission to be in a different gear than indicated by the gear shift lever position.
- Risk
- If the gear shift cable clip becomes unseated or dislodged, the gear shift lever position may indicate that the transmission is in 'Park' when it may be in a different gear. Additionally, despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied before the vehicle is exited, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for the recall is 18S10.
Recall number 18V214000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.3L engine, a 6-speed transmission and a column mounted shift lever. Quickly moving the shift lever from Park to Drive may cause a loss of gear indication on the instrument cluster display and a momentary selection of an unintended gear, such as Reverse or Neutral before the vehicle achieves Drive function.
- Risk
- Unidentified or unintended gear selection may cause the vehicle to move in a way that was not intended by the driver, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S35.
Recall number 17V669000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2018 Ford F-150 slipping
Is transmission slipping a common problem on the 2018 Ford F-150?
146 of 2,335 owner complaints about the 2018 Ford F-150 (6%) mention transmission slipping. The model year with the most reports is 2018.
How much does it cost to fix transmission slipping on the 2018 Ford F-150?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $8,800 (median of 12 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Ford F-150?
There are 4 recalls and 62 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2018 Ford F-150
Harsh shifting 243Jerking 208Transmission failure 194Check engine light 164Door locks 136Loss of power 126Hesitation 118Stalling 112Knocking 74Engine failure 65Won't shift 60Start-stop 57Oil consumption 56Backup camera 50Shudder 49Fire or smoke 41Grinding brakes 38Brake failure 27Sudden acceleration 25Adaptive cruise 23Misfire 22Power steering loss 21Overheating 20Screen failure 17Won't start 17Wipers 16Pulling 15Headlights 13Key fob 13No deployment 12Water leak 11Whining noise 10Fuel pump 9ABS 7Fuel smell 6Warning lights 5
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