Ford’s 10-speed transmissions are the subject of a class action lawsuit against Ford Motor Company, and it alleges defects such as gear slipping, harsh shifting and acceleration problems. Though 2020—2022 Ford Expedition SUVs are not included in the lawsuit, consumer complaints reveal that the vehicles experience similar issues.
According to complaints submitted to federal regulators, Ford Expedition transmission problems include slipping, shaking, shuddering, stalling, jerking violently into gear and losing power. The 10R80 automatic transmissions have also been installed in certain Ford F-150, Ford Ranger, Ford Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles.
To provide a glimpse into the Ford Expedition 10-speed transmission problems, we have compiled a sample of complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Please note that the complaints on the Ford Expedition transmission issues have been edited for grammar and clarity.
2020 Ford Expedition
I own the 2020 Expedition. We were traveling on Interstate 287 yesterday. I was in the right lane and was stuck behind a slow moving semi-truck. I put on my blinker and waited for an opening in traffic to move into the middle lane. When an opening presented itself, I pressed down on the gas pedal to accelerate into traffic. While the truck should have down shifted and accelerated, instead the powertrain completely disengaged; a total loss of power. The RPM jumped way up to redline, over revving, but the truck was slowing down. I took my foot off the gas pedal and as the RPM came back down, the transmission slammed back into engagement with a loud audible clunk that jolted the whole vehicle. At this point, I was finally able to accelerate. While this was all happening, I had just moved into the middle lane of traffic, which was bearing down on us. All the vehicles behind us were slamming their brakes and honking their horns. I thought for sure we were going to die. Thank God it wasn’t an 80,000 lbs Peterbilt bearing down on us, or we would be dead, by the grace of God we’re not. Upon returning home I went onto the Ford truck owners website I belonged to. I came to learn this is a known issue with Ford’s 10-speed transmission that Ford has failed to address. That there are pending lawsuits and that the NHTSA is aware of the issue. One of the members suggested that I file a complaint with the NHTSA, that was my impetus for writing you today. This is a dangerous condition that Ford needs to remedy.
2020 Ford Expedition
Transmission is slipping very bad. Really shifts hard between gears, especially from 4th to 5th gear. Went to pass a vehicle, on acceleration the transmission slipped and the engine RPM’s went very high. I let off the accelerator and the gear caught. I thought the transmission was done at that time.
2020 Ford Expedition
At 70+ MPH the automatic transmission tried to drop into 1st gear while on the interstate in a passing lane with heavy traffic all around. It had a loud and physical clunk then began to lose power. It was erratic, disorienting and distracting. The sudden change in behavior of the vehicle could have caused me to lose control of the vehicle at speed on a federal interstate and could easily resulted in an accident causing major injury and damage. The dealer says the car has no fault codes and they have download “updates” to the software. To date they have no explanation for why the vehicle behaved in this manner. This is the second time I have taken the vehicle in for odd transmission behavior. I have a video of the dashboard during the event showing the speed, RPM, mileage and the gear selector gauge when the transmission attempted several times to shift from higher gears to the 1st gear… This is dangerous with no answers!
2021 Ford Expedition
While accelerating on a busy tollway, the automatic transmission was stuck in 6th gear. The car then began to slow down, and the gear display went blank. This put my safety and the safety of others at risk, as it happened in the left lane of a busy, high-speed tollway. The local dealership refused to help–even though the car is within warranty–as they did not believe the issue was replicable. However, the car had a similar problem on a lower-speed roadway just a few weeks prior. In both incidents, the transmission became stuck in one gear, the gear display on the dashboard went blank, and the car began to decelerate.
Did the Manufacturer Release a Ford Transmission Recall?
Only a few Ford powertrain recalls exist for 2020-2024 Ford Expedition vehicles. Of those two, only one mentions the transmission specifically. Ford’s 10-speed transmissions were explicitly mentioned in the transmission recall for issues with gear selection. However, these 10-speed transmissions have far more extensive issues that led to Ford transmission lawsuits.
Ford Expedition Transmission Recall
- Issue: The transmissions may end up in a different gear than the gear selected by the driver. This occurs when the vehicle has a transmission shift cable lock clip that is not fully seated.
- Expedition Model: This recall covers 2020 Ford Expedition vehicles with 10-speed transmissions and “police” packages.
- Remedy: Ford dealers are to inspect and correct the installation of the shift cable locking clip.
More details about this Ford Expedition transmission recall can be found in NHTSA entry 20V197000.
Ford Expedition Powertrain Recall
- Issue: The front axle pinion in some Expedition vehicles may fracture and cause a loss of 4-wheel drive. The front axle pinions may not have been properly heat-treated during manufacturing.
- Expedition model: This recall covers some 2023 Ford Expedition vehicles.
- Remedy: Ford dealers will replace the front axle pinion gear set. If the front axle pinion is broken, the entire axle assembly will be replaced.
More details about this Ford Expedition powertrain recall can be found in NHTSA entry 23V128000.
If your Ford Expedition keeps experiencing transmission problems or powertrain issues, schedule an appointment with a local Ford dealership through its customer service department. Locate your warranty booklet to check if your vehicle is still under warranty and if your issues are covered by it.
You can also check for any outstanding recalls by searching your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in Ford’s recall lookup tool or NHTSA’s “Check For Recalls” search function. If your vehicle issues are covered by an existing recall, contact your Ford dealership to schedule a repair visit. Repairs under safety issues are often covered by the manufacturer.
What Should You Do If You Experience Ford Transmission Problems?
If your Ford Expedition has experienced transmission troubles, keep track of when and where they occur. Make sure to write down or record what symptoms might have occurred. These symptoms can include erratic shifting, gear slips, stalling or complete transmission failure. Record the mileages at which you noticed these transmission issues occurring. These notes will be helpful when you take your vehicle in for repairs. It helps you provide a concrete history of vehicle issues to the technician.
Keep the repair orders or work orders provided to you at the end of the repair visit. These repair orders will note the date, time and mileage when you brought your vehicle in for repairs, the issues you described to the technician, and an itemized list of services performed on your vehicle. If you have any other communications between you and the manufacturer or dealership, keep those records too.
Ideally, the dealership’s repair facility should be able to fix your Ford Expedition transmission problems. If the issues persist and your dealership or repair shop is unable to provide a permanent fix within a reasonable number of repair attempts, your Ford vehicle may be a lemon.
If your Ford vehicle qualifies as a lemon under the California Lemon Law, our lemon law attorneys can help you pursue a legal claim against your auto manufacturer. The legal process starts with a free consultation. During this consultation, we will explain your legal options and take a careful review of your repair notes and other documents. It is advisable to have a copy of your warranty coverage or booklet on hand. If your defective vehicle is leased or being paid for with a loan, do not stop your loan or lease payments. If you win your lemon law claim, the payments you made toward your vehicle will be repaid to you as part of a lemon law buyback settlement, and outstanding payments will be covered by the manufacturer. Learn more about the ways loan payments affect lemon law claims.
If you have recurring Ford Expedition transmission problems, your vehicle may be a lemon. Learn more about Ford’s 10-speed transmission problems and your California lemon law rights. If you would like more information, complete the consultation form below to request a free consultation.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2017–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
