Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 13% | 73,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 17% | 22,000 miles |
| 2013 | 7 | 37% | 110,000 miles |
| 2012 | 3 | 25% | 105,000 miles |
| 2011 | 5 | 22% | 35,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 14% | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 9% | 53,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 13% | 223,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 13% | 122,000 miles |
| 2004 | 4 | 12% | 132,000 miles |
| 2003 | 3 | 14% | 16,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 11% | 16,000 miles |
| 2001 | 3 | 8% | 78,000 miles |
| 2000 | 4 | 8% | 135,000 miles |
| 1999 | 3 | 4% | 65,000 miles |
| 1998 | 5 | 8% | 143,000 miles |
| 1997 | 5 | 5% | 175,000 miles |
| 1996 | 2 | 3% | 130,000 miles |
| 1995 | 5 | 7% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
In the last two I been having a wrench coming up on the screen and truck loses power and the speed drops down to 5 miles an hour. While the truck is running in idle, it is vibrating. When I stop it and restart it goes away. It happen three times in the last two weeks. After the second time the dealer reprogramed the computer last Friday. Thursday five days later it came back when I was doing 50 miles an hour. I called the dealer and he said he will change the throttle sensor out tomorrow .the times it happen I was on country road with no traffic, if I would have on the interstate no telling what would have happen with cars behind me doing 70 miles an hour.
I purchased my 2013 Ford f-150 v6 3.5l from jons friendly used cars back in April of 2017. The truck has been doing fine until recently (last 2 days). As I was on my way to work, the truck was delaying w/shifting, the speedometer dropped to zero and which put the truck into failsafe. After looking into this and identifying the code (p0270), it confirmed the symptoms I was experiencing. I guess I'm wondering is this going to be something that need to replace (out of pocket) or is Ford or the dealership needing to get this replaced if it's been identified/posted on the TSB. How can I see if my car is covered or not?
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford e-150. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle independently downshifted into first gear and the wheels seized. The vehicle stalled immediately. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the speed sensor and the transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that the failure was related to Ford recall number: 16s19. After repairs were made, a recall for the power train was issued. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The NHTSA campaign number was unknown. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford e-150. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle shifted into first and second gears, but could not shift out of second gear. The contact stated that an unknown warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to holman Ford Lincoln maple shade (571 nj-38, maple shade township, nj 08052, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there were no recalls and the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
At any speed it will shift into 1st gear without warning. Speedometer will fluctuate between 0-65mph. Rear wheels lock up, and you will loose control of vehicle. A couple hours ago, on the freeway it shirted to 1st gear, locked up the rear end, and the car behind me crashed into center divider trying to avoid me. This lock up has happened 4 times on freeway and many times on standard roadway. I took it to Ford and they said it needed a re-flash of the computer, and that would fix the problem. That was on Saturday 2/18, and it just did it again Monday 2/20. I ended up facing the wrong way on the rainy freeway. It is now at the Ford dealer again. They say it could be covered under the recall but are not sure. This is very dangerous!!! Someone will loose their life!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford e-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle jerked and hesitated. When the vehicle approached an incline, the speed decreased and failed to accelerate. The engine and the wrench warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was repaired but the failure recurred. The details of the repair were unavailable. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the central air system (cas) sucked in moisture, which hindered acceleration. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,870.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while parked when the vehicle suddenly rolled backwards downhill the contact's son attempted to get into the vehicle to make it stop. The trailer's jackknife stopped the vehicle from going onto the road. The contact manually moved the vehicle back into their garage. The contact stated their son did receive injuries to their head, left or right leg (the contact was unsure of the exact leg), and their left or right arm (the contact was unsure of the exact arm). Medical attention was needed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was 74,000.
At the point I reach 40 MPH truck shifts to neutral, have to pull over safely and take truck out of overdrive to get home. Very dangerous when traveling at that rate of speed. Did some of my own investigating and found many website have angry people who also own same vehicles with very low mileage. I saw the range of miles between 44,000 miles to 150,000 miles. Please refer to www.carcomplaints.com just to start with, there are many other websites for this model you can see. Please help.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford E-150 years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (7), 1995 (5), 1997 (5), 1998 (5) and 2011 (5) model years. Transmission complaints make up 37% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Ford E-150 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Ford E-150 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Ford E-150 transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles; 31% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (15 mentions), followed by the driveline (3).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.