Diagsheet

2019 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet

Transmission hesitates when accelerating

  • 69owner reports
  • 68,200median miles
  • $8,737median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Aug 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

69 of the 385 reports of transmission shudder on the 2019 F-150 describe hesitation when accelerating.

Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (385 reports) · also: jerking or hard shifts, transmission slipping

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026
No crash reportedin 69 reports
1 person hurtin these reports

Tick what matches of 69 reports

69
9
15
6
16

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.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (59 reports) and the software (5 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the F-150

EA26-001opened Jan 30, 2026
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2015 to 2017

Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Open, led to recall 26V-237.

PE25-002opened Mar 21, 2025
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2015 to 2017

Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Closed jan 30, 2026.

RQ24-005opened Mar 27, 2024
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2014

Unintended transmission downshift. Closed jul 29, 2024, led to recall 24V-444.

RQ17-010opened Dec 25, 2017
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2011 to 2013

Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.

RQ98-005opened Mar 13, 1998
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1997

Automatic transmission control. Closed aug 27, 1998, led to recall 97V-147.

PE97-019opened May 6, 1997
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1997

Failure transmission park engagement/loc. Closed sep 16, 1997, led to recall 97V-147.

PE91-064opened Apr 9, 1991
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1991

Transmission fluid fires. Closed jul 5, 1991.

None of these investigations covers the 2019 model year.

What owners paid

15 of the 69 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,486 to $12,000.

$4,486$8,737$12,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 52,000 and 85,000 miles, from the 41 reports that gave a mileage.

Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2020: 1, 2021: 3, 2023: 13, 2024: 11, 2025: 18, 2026: 231'203'2113'2311'2418'2523'26

What owners wrote

“Transmission was shifting erratically and harsh. Hesitation in shifting from a stop and when accelerating on highway. Shutter when starting from a complete stop in lower gears. The vehicle would not slam into gear but the hesitation was enough to jolt driver and passenger when it would finally shift through the higher gears. Gears 7-10 seemed ok but 3-6 had definite hesitation.”

Filed Aug 9, 2026

“Vehicle hesitates shifting into 4th gear especially when first leaving the driveway and attempting to accelerate to pace of traffic. The hesitation is enough to make your head lurch forward, followed by a harsh engagement of 4th gear. I’m concerned I may be rear ended due to lack of power. The problem has happened continually. No MIL lights or any other problems. The vehicle will be scheduled for service.”

Filed Dec 11, 2024

“I have had multiple repairs to my transmission including full replacement. Gears are already slipping or hesitating and its only been 1 year.”

Filed Sep 29, 2024

“Hard transmission shifting and hesitation. It puts the driver and others in danger from the hard shifting and unexpected shifting and hesitation when shifting.”

Filed Jun 25, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 69 reports involved a crash and 1 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found

Other problems on this car