Ford F-250 harsh shifting problems

Filed Mar 29, 2025 · Transmission · TX

When im in traffic, starting out driving or merging between intersections my truck decides to either hard shift or not shift at all. Several times ive had to lay on my horn in an attempt to warn oncoming vehicles that i have no power and cannot accelerate and several times it has nearly caused an accident. I purchased the truck used and have yet to take it into the dealership to have them inspect the issue though from what i’ve read thus far is that ford calls this problem “normal operation” and has been less than understanding when people attempt to have this obvious defect resolved. There are no warning lights that come on when this happens. I can have my truck inspected by whomever, whenever need be. I will also be returning to the dealer to use my warranty to help deal with this issue. The date this most recently happened causing a near miss was today, though there has been an occasional but recurring situation almost weekly.

Filed Jul 10, 2020 · Brakes · 302,000 miles · WA

The emergency parking break does not work, I don't think it ever has. I have had it repaired twice over the years and it quickly quit both times. It feels like normal resistance when you push it in with your foot, and does a normal clunk and release when you release it, but it does not at all hold the truck in place. It is a manual transmission so it is very inconvenient for this to not work. An example, that I have to deal with regularly is hooking up to a trailer. I need to get out to see how close I am and I have to put it in gear (only reverse will hold it, the other gears will slip and the truck will roll) and turn it off to go look.

Filed Oct 28, 2014 · Steering · 61,400 miles · CO

I was making a left turn out of a parking lot and heard a clunk from the front of the truck. At the end of the block after the light turned green, I tried to make a left turn and it was really hard to turn the steering wheel. The truck made the left turned but not very sharp. Upon driving up the street I tried to shift to the left lane and the truck would not respond well. Upon pulling over the truck would not fully turn to the left but would turn to the right okay. The steering wheel would only turn a quarter of a turn. My concern is if I had to make a sharp left turn with the road I would not be able to do this. The vehicle has ~61k miles. If I was driving at a high rate of speed I would not have been able to go around a left corner. I could understand the steering gear box going out if I used this truck for commercial applications. Many complaints have been noted about a steering issue with f250 6.4l diesel trucks. The ford dealership said the steering gear box was broken due to mechanical issues, not covered under a warranty and replaced the part. I have the broken gear box in my garage and plan to take it to a certified mechanic to evaluate the box. Lakewood fordland in lakewood co 303.232.6145 completed the repairs. Luckily the issued happened while in the city and I was able to get it to a dealership to evaluate the issue.

Filed Jul 21, 2013 · Transmission · 9,729 miles · GA

I started the truck one morning to head to church put the truck in (d) drive headed out down the hwy pulled up to a stop sign on the way when traffic cleared I pressed the accelerator and the engine revived up real high but the truck didn't move and about the time I started to let off, the transmission clunked and took off and shifted weird between 1st and 2nd. The truck has responded two other times in the very same way once going about 40mph it reacted like the truck shifted in neutral. Ford dealer replaced the front pump in transmission, it still shifts weird and makes a terrible whining noise. Two or three times under acceleration to pass another vehicle the trans down shifted from 6th gear to 4th and would not shift back up, and then the opposite occurred pressed accelerator to floor running about 45mph to pass another vehicle and the trans never down shifted and I had to brake and fall back in behind that car before a head on occurred. There is definitely a safety issue with this truck, I have filed lemon law action and ford engineer came and drove the truck and he said there was no unusual concerns with the truck. Someone please investigate this before someone dies.

Filed Jan 16, 2001 · Transmission · MI

Transmission experiences a clunk when shifting gears, at lower speeds the transmission will jerk.

Filed Jan 10, 2001 · Brakes, Electrical · WA

Was driving and applied the brakes, pedal started to chatter. Stopping distance was diminished. Took to dealership and was informed that rotors were warped. Was not under warranty for repairs. Electrical crossed wires in alternator system were smoldering. It was repaired. Front end would make clunking noise while turning. Nothing was found.

Filed Mar 5, 2000 · Body, Lights · MI

This truck has many problems. Strarting with the transmission going out, the front right side of the truck there is a distinctive "clunk" when put into gear; either forward or reverse. Then going interior; the "door ajar" light comes on it thinks that the doors are not shut, but you can slam all 4 doors shut and it still thinks the doors are "ajar" so that will keep the interior light on while driving. The interior light will go out if you get up to about 20 MPH, then when you slow down to under 20mph it will come back on. The "warning bell" comes on and stays on even when the truck is shut off. Next the seat belts will some times work and some times not. Either the are hard to pull out or they will not retract. The tailgate cover has warped in not even 1 year after we had it.

Filed Dec 25, 1999 · Transmission · MA

When I put my truck into gear and initially start out there was knocking and clunking coming from under the right (passenger side) floor boards. Clunking seemed similar to bad u-joints when torque is put on them. Clunking could be felt on floor. I had in to dealer numerous times before they were able to feel and hear clunking. The knocking and clunking is more prevelant in warm weather. Now I am told by dealer ( place motor, 19 thompson road-route 193,webster, ma,01570, ph.#5089438010) that this is "under investigation" by ford motor co. I asked what my options were because I don't like driving a new vehicle around with the clunking and nothing being done. At this point there was nothing they could do and that these problems happen and it takes time to find them. I wasn't happy with the wait until it falls off attitude I got, not necessarily from the dealer but from ford. This is the second new vehicle we have purchased from ford that has had the "under investigation" label put on it. I had a 1997 ford expedition that, on cold start ups, had a two to three minute engine rapping noise that was also "under investigation". It sounded as if no oil was getting in the engine for the longest time. This problem turned us off from buying out our vehicle from its lease program. 2 for 2 does not make me very keen on ford quality or its customer satisfaction, especially on $30,000. To $40,000. Vehicles *ak.

Filed Nov 18, 1999 · Body · NJ

Whil driving in the 4-wheel drive mode, vehicle makes a loud clunking noise. According to dealer rivet on crossmember frame that connects the main frame comes loose. Ford knew about it, burt will not warranty repairs.

Filed Jan 10, 1999 · Transmission · MA

Problem first came to my attention when I started noticing a clunking noise followed by the front 4 wheel drive hubs ingageing when proceeding from a stop. The problem is quite clearly premature ware, and possibly a safety problem. As the vehicle was technically off waranty (6 months), ford offered to pickup 1/3 of the cost, the dealer 1/3, and myself the remainder with little debate about it. Ford however refused to pickup the remainder of the cost.