Dear NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, I am submitting this complaint to formally report a transmission failure involving a vehicle equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission, which I believe represents a serious safety concern and may be part of a larger pattern of premature failures. The transmission began showing s…
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Dear NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, I am submitting this complaint to formally report a transmission failure involving a vehicle equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission, which I believe represents a serious safety concern and may be part of a larger pattern of premature failures. The transmission began showing signs of failure at approximately 52,000 miles. Early symptoms included hesitation, harsh or delayed shifting, inconsistent engagement, and warning signs related to drivetrain or transmission performance. I sought service and diagnosis, but despite many similar failures being reported by other owners, no corrective action or goodwill repair was offered by the manufacturer or dealership. I was quoted approximately $9,000 by the dealership for a full transmission replacement. Due to the high cost, I continued operating the vehicle while monitoring the issue. Over time, the condition worsened significantly. As the transmission continued to fail, the vehicle would sometimes move forward and then suddenly stall or lose drive power while in traffic. This occurred while my family was in the vehicle and created a major safety concern, as the truck could unexpectedly lose movement in active traffic lanes, putting us at risk of a collision and leaving us unable to safely accelerate or clear intersections. On January 30, 2026, the transmission failed completely. The vehicle no longer moved when placed in gear, leaving it inoperable and unsafe to drive. Because assistance was denied and no recall or corrective action was available, I was forced to repair the vehicle at an independent repair shop at my own expense. The repair cost is approximately $7,000 out of pocket. This failure occurred at relatively low mileage for a major drivetrain component and appears consistent with numerous reports from other owners experiencing similar transmission issues. It is concerning that consumers are being required to absorb expensive repairs despite what appears t
NHTSA ODI #11719797
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2026
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
After a stop sign, I turned right onto a busy street. With foot on the accelerator, vehicle would not accelerate, and I had to quickly turn off into the right of way to avoid a collision. Fortunately there wasn’t a curb there. The vehicle was in “D”. I believe the transmission is faulty. It has happened multiple times. Also…
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After a stop sign, I turned right onto a busy street. With foot on the accelerator, vehicle would not accelerate, and I had to quickly turn off into the right of way to avoid a collision. Fortunately there wasn’t a curb there. The vehicle was in “D”. I believe the transmission is faulty. It has happened multiple times. Also, the vehicle occasionally will not go into Park, more evidence of a faulty transmission. I believe Ford should recall and replace the transmission before it causes a serious accident.
NHTSA ODI #11719748
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2026
Power Train
Transmission slips out of gear when in stop and go traffic Searching random gears while driving Slips when trying to accelerate
NHTSA ODI #11719672
Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2026
Power Train
Transmission shifting is erratic at the best times and likes to randomly downshift from 10th gear to 1st gear and having to take drastic action to avoid a serious rear end collision in heavy traffic as many others who've reported the same issues. Ford is VERY aware of this issue but will not address it for most of the owners. …
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Transmission shifting is erratic at the best times and likes to randomly downshift from 10th gear to 1st gear and having to take drastic action to avoid a serious rear end collision in heavy traffic as many others who've reported the same issues. Ford is VERY aware of this issue but will not address it for most of the owners. The issue is well enough known Ford has had issued many TSBs but limited the action to a handful only with the most recent being TSB 22-2428. They have publicly stated the problems with the 10R80 Valve body and CDF clutch assembly, corrected it, but will not make it right with the thousands of owners. I contacted my dealer, who forwarded me to Ford corporate. I was informed that Ford WILL NOT do anything about it, and I was advised by the Ford CSR to make a complaint here. Will the US government hold Ford accountable; probably not unfortunately as looking through the endless history of reports here shows this is probably a wasted attempt. I have tried to upload PDFs of documentation, but the system WILL NOT accept them.
NHTSA ODI #11719113
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2026
Power Train
When transmission is cold it falls on its face going into 3rd and will shift from 3 to 7th back to 1st til warm once warm it shifts better but harshly into 3rd gear
NHTSA ODI #11718236
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2026
Power Train
My trucks transmission cdf drum would cause a sudden down shift to first gear while driving.
NHTSA ODI #11718132
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2026
Power Train
Transmission skips 4th gear then dropps down all the way to first then jumps all the way to 8th then back down to 4th again. Jerks real ha4d when it happens.
NHTSA ODI #11718029
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2026
Power Train
Erratic shifting and skipping gears, unexpected downshift to 1st gear or neutral causing loss of power when driving in freeway either in hot or cold. This is very crucial and serious issue because it cause a crash. Vehicle was taken to a Ford dealer and because they coundln't found any recall linked to this VIN so they did conf…
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Erratic shifting and skipping gears, unexpected downshift to 1st gear or neutral causing loss of power when driving in freeway either in hot or cold. This is very crucial and serious issue because it cause a crash. Vehicle was taken to a Ford dealer and because they coundln't found any recall linked to this VIN so they did confirm failure of transmission. Even though they confirmed failure on transmission when I first noticed it was when it had around 50k miles and right now has around 96k.
NHTSA ODI #11717920
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2026
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
This vehicle is currently in the shop and the tech is saying we may have to have a transmission replacement. The tech also stated that Ford knows there is a issues with these transmissions and they have not corrected it or made any improvements. Also, Ford will not issue a recall. The vehicle has a very hard shift and is dang…
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This vehicle is currently in the shop and the tech is saying we may have to have a transmission replacement. The tech also stated that Ford knows there is a issues with these transmissions and they have not corrected it or made any improvements. Also, Ford will not issue a recall. The vehicle has a very hard shift and is dangerous to drive and it also completely shut down on us, putting our life in danger. We do all the proper maintenance and upkeep on the vehicle at a Ford dealership. This issue is very disappointing as these are "American made" vehicles.
NHTSA ODI #11717474
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2026
Power Train
Problems with truck shifting, hard shifting. Truck engine reving up when driving and you try to accelerate, like it was in neutral. Transmission making loud clunking noise and jerky stop when coming to a stop. I thought I had been rear ended.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. When the headlight switch is turned from "Autolamps" to "Headlamps On," the Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) may remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: ,Dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 F-150, Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the drivers view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from the "Autolamps" switch position to "Headlamps On." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and braking or steering assist. The engine could also stall.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S40.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seats:mid/rear Assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Consequence: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Consequence: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Consequence: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.
Equipment:electrical
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Consequence: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE23001 · Windshield Trim Molding Item Detachment
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Feb 8, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:roof And Pillars
On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has received 671 VOQs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injuries. Some consumers have reported that the failure occurred while they were driving at highway speeds, with the detached trim panel entering the path of travel of the vehicle behind them, requiring the driver of the following vehicle to take evasive action. It is noteworthy that motorists who experience this type of road hazard are less likely to accurately identify the subject vehicle the item detached from and report the event to the NHTSA. In its April 17, 2023 response to ODI’s information request, Ford provided 175 consumer complaints (including field reports) and 14,162 warranty claims related to A-pillar trim panel detachment. Ford relayed that the subject vehicles utilize a plastic A-pillar bracket, which is bolted to the vehicle structure during assembly. The A-pillar trim panel is attached to the bracket utilizing 7 plastic clips. Contributory factors which have been identified by Ford as leading to the subject defect include incomplete installation at the assembly plant, inadequate part stack up, damage to fasteners during installation, and failure to follow proper repair procedure during windshield replacements or other services. On January 19, 2024, Ford filed safety recall 24V-031 for MY 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles to address the subject defect. In the Part 573 Safety Recall Report, Ford identified that a detached A-pillar trim panel can create a road hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall remedy includes an inspection of the existing A-pillar trim panel and, if necessary, the replacement of the component. The remedy A-pillar trim panels will be installed with an additional adhesive for robustness and utilize an inspection procedure to ensure full engagement of all the retention clips during installation. In view of the recall action being taken by Ford, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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