2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems
- 26owner reports
- 56,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Jun 16, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
1011 of the 2,311 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 26 of those describe drivetrain problems.
Tick what matches of 26 reports
Drivetrain problems on other F-150 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Drivetrain reports describe the parts between the transmission and the wheels. Owners hear a clunk or bang from underneath, feel a vibration that rises and falls with speed, find fluid leaking under the differential, or get a 4WD or AWD warning. Some say it only happens turning or at low speed. A smaller group describes a driveshaft or axle that let go.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the driveshaft (9 reports), the CV joint or axle (9 reports), the differential (7 reports) and the transfer case (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
4 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
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.
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.
All 19 recalls on the 2018 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the F-150
Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Open, led to recall 26V-237.
Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Closed jan 30, 2026.
Unintended transmission downshift. Closed jul 29, 2024, led to recall 24V-444.
Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.
Automatic transmission control. Closed aug 27, 1998, led to recall 97V-147.
Failure transmission park engagement/loc. Closed sep 16, 1997, led to recall 97V-147.
Transmission fluid fires. Closed jul 5, 1991.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 23,000 and 79,000 miles, from the 12 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2018 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
SSM 47903 2018-2019 F-150/F-Super Duty/Transit - Rear Axle Pinion Seal Fluid Leak/Seepage Some 2018-2019 F-150, F-Super Duty, and Transit vehicles may exhibit the appearance of a fluid leak or seepage from the rear axle pinion seal.
What owners wrote
“Rear axle bolt snapped. Come to find out, itâs happening to a lot of F-150âs.”
Filed Apr 28, 2023
“Steel bolts holding the face of the transfer case which is aluminum is causing a corrosion response between the two metals. Transfer case is severely pitted and flaking apart. It crumbles to the touch around some bolts.”
Filed Apr 21, 2023
“Truck had Slight pull to right then shot across road to the left going off left side of road hitting trees and utilities poll. Section of driveshaft was found were truck first went of the road. We were pulling a travel trailer at the time . Truck ended up laying on drives side. Side airbags deployed but not front bags. Uncertain but feel driveshaft failed causing lost of control”
Filed Jul 12, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 26 reports involved a crash and 4 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 519 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 251 reports
- Timing chain or cam phaser rattles 227 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 195 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 180 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 164 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 119 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 114 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 91 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 91 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 89 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 65 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 54 reports
- Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close 48 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 47 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 42 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 40 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 38 reports
- Rear window shatters or explodes 38 reports
- Vehicle fire 32 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 30 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 29 reports
- Auto start-stop will not restart the engine 29 reports