2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Loses power when accelerating
- 30owner reports
- 80,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
1606 of the 2,311 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 30 of those describe loses power accelerating.
Tick what matches of 30 reports
Loses power 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, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This group is about the moment you press the pedal and the car doesn't respond. Owners describe no acceleration when merging or climbing a hill, a sudden reduced-power or limp mode, and the check engine light coming on with it. A number say it happened more than once before anyone found a cause, and some mention a throttle body replacement.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
8 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.
During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.
These vehicles have high pressure fuel pump assemblies with welds that can fracture, which may cause an oil or fuel leak.
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.
The cylinder heads may have been machined without lubrication supply holes for the camshaft bearing journals.
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.
Low-pressure fuel pump failure. Closed sep 19, 2025, led to recall 25V-455.
Unintended transmission downshift. Closed jul 29, 2024, led to recall 24V-444.
Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.
Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.
Reduced power during hard acceleration. Closed apr 7, 2014.
Fuel tank strap failure due to corrosion. Closed aug 19, 2011, led to recall 11V-385.
Fuel tank strap corrosion/rust. Closed may 23, 2011.
Cng regulator leak. Closed feb 27, 2009.
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.
Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.
Ford f-series dual fuel tank leakage. Closed nov 4, 1999, led to recall 93V-125.
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.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed aug 31, 1994.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed jul 30, 1993.
Transmission fluid fires. Closed jul 5, 1991.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 39,000 and 102,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“I have a 10 speed automatic transmission that intermittently works in 2nd and third gears. It began doing this at 60,000 miles. I'm not sure if it is the adaptive learning transmission control module (TCM) or the transmission itself. Ford dealer wants over $10,000 to replace transmission. The car is unsafe when pulling into traffic and it won't accelerate half the time.”
Filed Sep 7, 2026 · 60,000 miles
“The vehicle has gotten stuck in 7th gear before, it also has almost completely stopped, wouldn't accelerate and shifted down and up. It is not drivable now with only 58500 miles on it. I am afraid to drive it by myself and I would never take my family anywhere in it as it poses a safety hazard / danger.”
Filed Jul 16, 2026 · 58,500 miles
“Transmission will either get stuck in a gear and won't accelerate or will shift down on its own and cause the car to jump and buck.”
Filed Aug 28, 2025
“This vehicle is equipped with the 10 speed transmission. The vehicle will accelerate on its own, shifts harshly, slam into gear when placing in park, fails to accelerate, and fails to shift at times.”
Filed Apr 15, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 30 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
- 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
- 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