Ford F-150 Transmission Problems by Year

By CarWhere Research · Updated

Yes. Owners have filed 6,712 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Ford F-150. For the Ford F-Series (all variants), that's 0.55 transmission complaints per 1,000 sold across the 2015–2022 cohorts, 2.0× the median of the 53 models we can rate. The worst years are 2013, 2011 and 2018.

Transmission complaints

6,712

Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models

Per 1,000 sold

0.55

2015–2022 cohorts, Ford F-Series

Share of all complaints

32.4%

of 20,739 complaints for this model

Transmission recalls

26

NHTSA campaigns, all years

Ford F-150 transmission complaints by model year

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline), and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.

Ford F-150 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year
Model yearTransmission complaintsPer 1,000 soldShare of all complaintsCrash / fire / injuryTransmission recallsTransmission TSBs*
200850—13.6%4—12
200933—10.2%2—15
2010121—14.2%10—18
2011WORST786—36.8%1019V07500016V24800012V19000011V58200027
2012642—37.4%1319V07500016V24800012V19000023
2013WORST1,212—43.3%3919V43300019V07500029
2014341—25%1526V37800024V44400013
20151980.313.9%326V2370000
20164190.5523.2%926V23700022
20173400.4329.5%826V23700018V21300017V67100017V05300061
2018WORST7660.8739.5%1926V37500018V21400018V21300017V66900091
20195260.6551.3%2—69
20202460.4843.5%820V19700060
20214580.6834.6%626V40200025V16900023V89600022V62300022V18800021V98600021V381000132
20222560.4227.9%723V89600023V07000022V62300021V986000108
2023210—33.4%625V51200023V89600023V12800023V07000086
202474—27.9%625V51200025V16400058
202534—24.3%125V51200025V16400043
  • Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
  • Sales for the Ford F-Series cover every variant, so the per-1,000 column counts complaints for all of those variants, not just the Ford F-150. The complaint column is the Ford F-150 alone.
  • Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
  • Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
  • *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.

Common Ford F-150 transmission problems owners describe

We searched the narratives of all 6,712 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.

Jerking, lurching or harsh shifts1,452 · 21.6%
Loss of power or limp mode708 · 10.5%
Transmission repaired or replaced520 · 7.7%
Slipping or revving without accelerating457 · 6.8%
Hesitation or delayed engagement451 · 6.7%
Will not shift, stuck in gear or no reverse448 · 6.7%
Shudder or vibration275 · 4.1%
Whining, grinding or humming noise142 · 2.1%
Transmission overheating29 · 0.4%

Ford F-150 years to avoid for the transmission

2013 Ford F-150

1,212 transmission complaints (43.3% of the year's 2,796). Most often described: loss of power or limp mode. Covered by transmission recalls 19V433000, 19V075000.

2011 Ford F-150

786 transmission complaints (36.8% of the year's 2,137). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recalls 19V075000, 16V248000, 12V190000, 11V582000.

2018 Ford F-150

766 transmission complaints (39.5% of the year's 1,937), 0.87 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recalls 26V375000, 18V214000, 18V213000, 17V669000.

Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Ford F-150 years to avoid.

Ford F-150 transmission recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Ford F-150 model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.

  • 26V402000 · 2026-06-24 · 2021 models

    The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

  • 26V375000 · 2026-06-09 · 2018 models

    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.

  • 26V378000 · 2026-06-09 · 2014 models

    A loss of signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module (PCM) can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into first gear.

  • 26V237000 · 2026-04-14 · 2015–2017 models

    A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.

  • 25V512000 · 2025-08-08 · 2023–2025 models

    The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.

  • 25V164000 · 2025-03-14 · 2024–2025 models

    The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.

  • 25V169000 · 2025-03-14 · 2021 models

    The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.

  • 24V444000 · 2024-06-17 · 2014 models

    A loss of signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

  • 23V896000 · 2023-12-22 · 2021–2023 models

    The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.

  • 23V128000 · 2023-02-24 · 2023 models

    The front axle pinion may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to fracture.

  • 23V070000 · 2023-02-10 · 2022–2023 models

    The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."

  • 22V623000 · 2022-08-12 · 2021–2022 models

    Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.

Showing the 12 most recent of 26.

Which transmission does the Ford F-150 use?

Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.

Related research

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 1,212 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Ford F-150, 43.3% of all 2,796 complaints for that year. The most common description is "loss of power or limp mode" (132 complaints). 2 transmission-related recalls cover it: 19V433000, 19V075000. 39 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Does the 2011 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 786 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 Ford F-150, 36.8% of all 2,137 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (118 complaints). 4 transmission-related recalls cover it: 19V075000, 16V248000, 12V190000, 11V582000. 10 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Does the 2018 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 766 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2018 Ford F-150, 39.5% of all 1,937 complaints for that year, or 0.87 per 1,000 sold (Ford F-Series, all variants). The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (328 complaints). 4 transmission-related recalls cover it: 26V375000, 18V214000, 18V213000, 17V669000. 19 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Which Ford F-150 years have the most transmission complaints?

2013 (1,212), 2011 (786) and 2018 (766), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.

What are the most common Ford F-150 transmission problems?

In the 6,712 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (21.6%), loss of power or limp mode (10.5%) and transmission repaired or replaced (7.7%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.

Is this a transmission failure rate?

No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.

How we count

Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Ford F-150 model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).

Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.

These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Sources

  1. NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  2. NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  3. Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration