VehicleVerdict

2018 Ford F-150 transmission problems

The 2018 Ford F-150 has 940 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 34% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

940

Transmission complaints

34%

Share of year

12

Crash-involved

4

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Related recalls

26V375000TransmissionJune 9, 2026 · 10,742 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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 are expected to be mailed July 6. 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 NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.

18V213000TransmissionApril 4, 2018 · 142 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

18V214000TransmissionApril 4, 2018 · 292,909 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

17V669000TransmissionOctober 23, 2017 · 12,429 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

What owners report

WHEN PUTTING INTO PARK THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. ATTEMPTED 2 TIMES TO PUT INTO PARK AND VEHICLE DIGITAL DASH SHOWED PARK BUT THE VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE. COULD NOT GET EMERGENCY BRAKE TO WORK DUE TO VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. MANUALLY PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL DOWN AND DROVE VEHICLE FORWARD AND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · August 23, 2023 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2018 Ford F-150 have?

NHTSA has 940 complaints about the 2018 Ford F-150 transmission — 34% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2018 Ford F-150 transmission?

Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the transmission: 17V669000, 18V213000, 18V214000, 26V375000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.