2023 Ford F-150 Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
  2
• Axle assembly
  2
• Automatic transmission
  1
• Axle hubs
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1439%
• 25k–50k
  1336%
• 50k–75k
  411%
• 75k–100k
  411%
• 100k–150k
  13%
• 150k+
  00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2023 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the gear shifter was sticking. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter was shifted into park; however, the shifter gear independently shifted into reverse. The vehicle crashed into the garage at the residence. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after the vehicle was reversed to attach the trailer to the vehicle. The contact was almost struck by the vehicle. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Complaint Description The vehicle is equipped with a Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission that exhibits erratic and unpredictable shifting behavior. The transmission frequently hesitates, shifts harshly, or delays engagement, particularly when accelerating from a stop, slowing down, or attempting to merge into traffic. At times, the vehicle fails to deliver power when the accelerator is pressed, creating a delay in acceleration. This is especially dangerous when pulling into intersections, making left turns across traffic, or merging onto roadways where immediate and predictable power is required to avoid collisions. The transmission also downshifts harshly and unexpectedly, causing sudden jerking and brief deceleration. …

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle violently jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal while coasting the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway. Despite the failure, the contact placed the vehicle in 4WD, and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic test determined that the driver's and passenger's side rear axles had broken and caused the failure. The contact was then notified about NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V512000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact was provided a repair number by the dealer and was instructed to contact the manufacturer for assistance. …

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); the service report stated that the recall repair was completed; however, the contact continued to receive more recall notifications for the same recall. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who confirmed that the recall repair was not completed. The vehicle remained with the dealer for 16 days, and the dealer later informed the contact that the recall part was not available. The contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance in obtaining the part for the recall repair. The contact picked up the vehicle from the dealer. The contact stated that there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle while driving. …

The contact son owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on several occasions while her son was hauling a boat and driving approximately 5 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, the transmission downshifted hard, and the vehicle jolted forward. The vehicle was taken residence. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that prior to the unexpected downshifting, while the vehicle was parked, transmission fluid was leaking from the vehicle and was seen on the driveway. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that three days later there was transmission fluid on the driveway again, and the vehicle inadvertently shifted into 4WD while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. …

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that since the purchase of the vehicle, the warning lights had been illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that the failure persisted. On a separate occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle failed to accelerate or exceed 30 MPH. In addition, an abnormal rattling sound was coming from the bottom of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not inspected or diagnosed; however, the contact was informed that the failure might be associated with the front differential. …

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting into drive(D), there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal squealing and grinding sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer several times before it was diagnosed, and determined that the rear wheel end hub bolt had fractured and the rear axle assembly needed to be replaced; however, the parts to complete the repair were not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact recently received a recall letter from the manufacturer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V51000 (Power Train). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while decelerating and coming to a stop light, there was a rattling sound coming from the hub cap. The contact pulled over to inspect the vehicle and noticed that the rear axle bolts had detached and was moving around in the hub cap. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who diagnosed that the rear axle hub bolts had detached and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired due to the parts being on backorder. The dealer informed the contact that they were informed to prioritize the vehicles included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train) by the VIN. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. …

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V512000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the vehicle while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was forced to place the vehicle into 4WD which allowed the contact to drive the vehicle; however, there was an abnormal grinding and popping sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 74,653.

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V512000 (Power Train). The contact stated that while making a left turn, there was a loud popping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and there was a grinding sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle rolled to a stop on the side of the road. The vehicle was shifted into park(P), and the vehicle was inspected. The vehicle was towed to the workplace and then towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear hub bolt had fractured from the axle, and the splines were ground off the hub. The contact was informed that the rear driveshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

Related recalls

Transmission complaints in other F-150 years