A Ford F-150 at a car dealership.

Engine and Transmission Issues in the Ford F-150’s

By: Michael H. Rosenstein

For years, the Ford F-150 has been one of the most popular trucks in the market, largely due to its notable strength and performance.  However, in spite of the popular demand for the F-150, Ford has repeatedly been forced to address serious engine and transmission issues that have afflicted the Ford F-150 for the past several years. Owners have reported a wide variety of complaints; some small and some potentially life-threatening. Ford has addressed a percentage of the issues reported through Technical Service Bulletins, Recalls, and other measures.  However,  consumers continue to complain of many serious problems with their F-150 trucks. 

If your Ford F-150 has suffered serious or numerous warranty concerns, CCA is here to help.  We invite you to call our experts today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM.   

What Are the Common Engine and Transmission Issues in the Ford F-150?

The Ford F-150 has received countless regarding transmission issues while shifting gears. Most complainants conveyed their concerns regarding jerky shifts, lack of control, noises during shifts, or an abrupt transmission into the first gear without any prior warning.

For instance, one F-150 customer complained recently, that “Truck once shifted so hard that I had to check to make sure someone didn’t sneak a heavy weight .. like a bowling ball or something.. into the bed. Very loud bang. I’ve already taken the truck in to have this repaired – last time they reprogrammed the ecm.. I need to take it back down because that did not solve the issue at all.”  Another Ford F-150 complained, “I just bought my Ford 2 days ago and I drove it to work today. I was passing a vehicle at 50 to 55 miles an hour and it shifted 3 times on me quick and hard.” 

Transmission shifting is another serious concern for F-150 owners.  One owner described the issues as follows, “This 10 speed [transmission] has been nothing but problems. Hard shifting, whining, clunking. Going back to the dealer for the 3rd time concerning the transmission.”  Other F-150 owners complain that, in spite of numerous visits to the dealership, Ford’s dealerships are unable to fix their transmission concerns. 

What is worse, many Ford F-150’s drivers have reported stalling due to issues with the vehicle’s powertrain. A stall occurs when the car unexpectedly slows down or stops completely. If a stall takes place in an unfortunate circumstance, it could lead to a life-threatening accident.  An owner of the Ford F-150 2018 model stated, “While coming to a stop, the engine shut off and a message displayed that the engine auto start/stop function was engaged. Put the vehicle in park, and re-start engine. Very dangerous to do this in moving traffic. This was with the auto start/stop feature already disengaged.  Another user complained, “Engine stalling out at low speeds and when starting out. Engine doesn’t stop but there must be some connection between the electrical and the transmission. After a few seconds the engine seems to want to act normal and then starts to go again.”

Here is a partial list of the recent models that are known to have widespread Engine and Transmission issues:

  • 2015 Ford F-150
  • 2016 Ford F-150
  • 2017 Ford F-150
  • 2018 Ford F-150
  • 2019 Ford F-150

What Legal Actions Have Been Taken to Address the Ford F-150’s Issues?

Several lawsuits have been filed against Ford as a result of the Engine and Transmission issue. A lead plaintiff in a recent class action has alleged the occurrence of erratic automatic transmission shifts question the safety aspects of the vehicle. The complaint also reiterates on the fact that Ford is well aware of the issue and has not yet come up with any immediate solutions. The plaintiff also says that a recall should have been issued much earlier.

What Can I Do if My Truck is Facing Any of These Issues?

If you are facing any trouble with your Ford F-150 such as unexpected stalling, jerking, lunging, strange noises, or other unexplainable issues, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and your vehicle. Our attorneys are extremely experienced in handling these types of matters and are aware of the issues plaguing the Ford vehicles. If you are facing any performance issues with your vehicle, feel free to call our experts for a free consultation at (833) LEMON-FIRM.

About the Author
Sepehr Daghighian is a partner with CCA that is well-versed in all aspects of lemon-law litigation. A 2005 graduate of Loyola Law School, Mr. Daghighian has been practicing litigation throughout the state of California for over 13-years. In this time, Mr. Daghighian has advocated on behalf of California consumers in hundreds of lemon law cases throughout our great state. Mr. Daghighian has also successfully tried numerous such cases to verdict in both Federal and State Court.