Ford Transmission Problems by Model
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Owners have filed 26,474 transmission complaints with NHTSA across the 11 Ford models we track that have at least 50 each. The most come from the Ford F-150 (6,712). Per 1,000 sold, the highest rate is the Ford Explorer at 0.6 and the lowest is the Ford F-150 at 0.55, against a 0.28 median across all 53 rated models.
Ford models by transmission complaints
| Model | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Worst years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150rate: Ford F-Series, all variants | 6,712 | 0.55 | 32.4% | 2013, 2011 and 2018 |
| Ford Focus | 6,341 | — | 47% | 2014, 2012 and 2013 |
| Ford Escape | 4,236 | — | 18% | 2010 and 2014 |
| Ford Fusion | 3,033 | — | 14.2% | 2010, 2017 and 2016 |
| Ford Edge | 1,981 | — | 15.1% | 2019, 2008 and 2020 |
| Ford Explorer | 1,526 | 0.6 | 10.1% | 2020, 2016 and 2017 |
| Ford Expedition | 1,101 | — | 34.3% | 2020, 2019 and 2018 |
| Ford Mustang | 726 | — | 17.5% | 2011, 2012 and 2013 |
| Ford F-250 Super Duty | 317 | — | 5.9% | 2020, 2019 and 2017 |
| Ford Ranger | 295 | — | 18.2% | 2019, 2021 and 2020 |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty | 206 | — | 7.1% | 2020, 2017 and 2015 |
Per 1,000 sold appears only where published U.S. sales exist for at least three model years. Data fetched July 2026 to November 2026.
Ford transmissions
More research
Frequently asked questions
Does Ford have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 26,474 transmission complaints with NHTSA across the 11 Ford models we track that have at least 50 each. The most come from the Ford F-150 (6,712). Per 1,000 sold, the highest rate is the Ford Explorer at 0.6 and the lowest is the Ford F-150 at 0.55, against a 0.28 median across all 53 rated models.
Which Ford models have the most transmission complaints?
the Ford F-150 (6,712), the Ford Focus (6,341) and the Ford Escape (4,236), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Raw counts favor high-selling models, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
Which Ford has the fewest transmission complaints per 1,000 sold?
The Ford F-150, at 0.55 transmission complaints per 1,000 sold across its rated years. That is a complaint rate, not a failure rate.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration