2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Transmission hesitates when accelerating
- 102owner reports
- 69,000median miles
- $9,335median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
102 of the 519 reports of transmission shudder on the 2018 F-150 describe hesitation when accelerating.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (519 reports) · also: jerking or hard shifts, transmission slipping
Tick what matches of 102 reports
Hesitation when accelerating 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, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside transmission shudder for a car that pauses before it goes. You press the gas, and for a beat nothing happens, or the engine revs and then the car catches up. What makes it distinct from the wider sheet is timing: the complaint isn't a rough shift at speed but a delay right when you need to move.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (93 reports) and the software (5 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.
What owners paid
18 of the 102 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $6,809 to $10,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 48,000 and 94,000 miles, from the 69 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Transmission: Delayed shift/hesitation at low speed after take-off. Risk of loss of motion while crossing traffic. Consistently happens at low speed shift change, doesn't matter if on flat or incline. A lot of other owners complaining of same exact issue, Ford has yet to acknowledge that there's a flaw in the drivetrain.”
Filed Aug 30, 2025
“My truck has been having shifting problems. Hard shifting going into gear. It hesitates and I have zero power then slams into gear. Unsafe to drive. I have had it serviced and zero luck.”
Filed Jul 11, 2025
“When accelerating, in gears 3-5, truck will intermittently jerk or hesitate. With transmission being erratic with acceleration, it difficult to steer when turning out of an intersection or corner or even changing lanes. This is a 10 speed transmission.”
Filed Jun 14, 2025
“When the transmission is going to shift into 4th it hesitates then suddenly shifts to 8th then 1st and the vehicle rapidly and unexpectedly negatively accelerates. I am adding yesterdays date but this has been intermittent since 2019 and Iâve had it in the Ford dealership while under warranty even back then.”
Filed May 1, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 102 reports involved a crash. 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
- 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
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 26 reports