2018 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear
- 292owner reports
- 55,000median miles
- $8,100median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
292 of the 519 reports of transmission shudder on the 2018 F-150 describe jerking or hard shifts.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (519 reports) · also: transmission slipping, hesitation when accelerating
Tick what matches of 292 reports
Jerking or hard shifts 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: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside transmission shudder for shifts that jerk, lurch or bang. Where the wider sheet also takes in slipping and vibration, these reports are about a shift that arrives too hard: the car lunges forward, or a clunk comes through the floor as it drops into gear.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (27 reports), the valve body (5 reports) and the mounts (3 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
38 of the 292 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $6,800 to $9,645.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 28,000 and 86,000 miles, from the 157 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Transmission is slipping at 54k miles, ford says itâs perfectly normal however it will jump from gear 1-4 and jerk extremely hard and occasionally make a noise as well. I took it to a mechanic they told me that fords of that year have an issue with the CDF drum slipping causing the transmission to wear down extremely fast.”
Filed May 28, 2025 · 54,000 miles
“Complete transmission failure causing lose of power. 2023 Replaced transmission 65,000 miles. 02/14/2025 New transmission 80,000 miles lose of power when accelerating to pass then huge Bang! Truck spent approx. a month or more during warranty to fix 4wd issues.”
Filed Feb 16, 2025 · 65,000 miles
“Transmission clunking. Rough shifting. Known problem ford does nothing to fix it. Needs ADDRESSED”
Filed Dec 12, 2024 · 143,059 miles
“Transmission slips, does not engage, sputters in 3rd, 4th and 10th gear causing lack of power, stalled reaction, jerking motion. Such problems have caused temporary blocking of moving roadways, inability to move safety through traffic. Has been serviced once by dealer. problem first appearead at 50k miles.”
Filed Aug 16, 2024 · 50,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 292 reports involved a crash and 3 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
- 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