WHAT FORD EXPEDITION TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA?

Ford Expedition owners have submitted multiple complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about transmission issues. Ford Expedition transmission problems include slipping, shaking, shuddering, stalling, jerking violently into gear and losing power. Here are some examples:

2020 Ford Expedition:
“We were traveling on Interstate 287… I put on my blinker and pressed down on the gas pedal to accelerate. Instead of accelerating, the powertrain disengaged; a total loss of power. The RPM jumped to redline… then the transmission slammed back into gear with a loud clunk that jolted the whole vehicle. I thought for sure we were going to die… This is a dangerous condition that Ford needs to remedy.”

2020 Ford Expedition:
“Transmission is slipping badly and shifts hard between gears, especially from 4th to 5th gear. When I tried to pass a vehicle, the engine revved, but the gear didn’t catch. The transmission finally engaged after I let off the accelerator, but it felt like the transmission was about to fail.”

2020 Ford Expedition:
“At 70+ MPH, the automatic transmission tried to drop into 1st gear while I was on the interstate in heavy traffic. It clunked loudly, then lost power. It was disorienting and dangerous… The dealership couldn’t find any fault codes and said there’s no explanation for why it happened.”

2021 Ford Expedition:
“While accelerating on a busy tollway, the automatic transmission got stuck in 6th gear. The car started slowing down, and the gear display went blank. The dealership couldn’t replicate the problem, but it’s happened more than once.”

WHAT ARE THE FORD F-150 TRANSMISSION LAWSUITS ABOUT?

Three class action lawsuits have been filed against Ford for transmission problems in 2017–Present F-150 trucks. These lawsuits allege that Ford knew about the transmission defects but failed to provide a permanent fix.

Marino v. Ford

Robert Marino leased a 2019 Ford F-150 Sport with a 10-speed transmission.

• ​​ Issues: Loud “clunk” or “bang” noise upon starting the engine, gear slipping, and erratic shifting
• ​​ Result: The dealership updated the transmission software, but the issues persisted

Orndorff v. Ford

Victor M. Orndorff purchased a 2018 Ford F-150 Super Cab with a 10R80 10-speed transmission.

• ​​​​ Issues: Loud “clanking” noise, rough gear shifting, and sudden deceleration
• ​​ Result: The dealership said there was no fix available for the transmission issues

O’Connor v. Ford

Justin O’Connor leased a 2018 Ford F-150 XLT 3.5 EcoBoost with 10R80 10-speed transmission.

• ​​ Issues: Loss of power while shifting and longer gear-shifting times
• ​​ Result: The proposed software update failed to resolve the problem

In short: The Ford transmission settlement update 2022 highlights three lawsuits claiming that Ford F-150 trucks show loud “clanking” noises when starting the engine, longer gear shifting times and other gear shifting problems. Furthermore, it shows that the dealership could not provide a permanent fix to these Ford 10 speed transmission problems, with some reports of the automatic transmission failing while driving. So far, these lawsuits have not reached settlement.

WHICH FORD VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED BY 10-SPEED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS?

Although the lawsuits focus on 2017-Present F-150 trucks, similar issues have been reported across multiple Ford models with the 10R80 transmission:

• 2020-2024 Ford Expedition
• 2018–2024 Ford Mustang
• 2018–2024 Lincoln Navigator
• 2019–2024 Ford Ranger

Reports from owners indicate hard shifting, delayed shifting, gear slipping and sudden loss of power in these vehicles.

Read the complaints regarding Ford F-150 transmission problems and Ford Ranger transmission issues, all of which are featured on our blog.

HAS A FORD 10-SPEED TRANSMISSION RECALL BEEN ISSUED?

Yes. Ford has issued multiple recalls for its 10-speed transmissions, but many owners report that the fixes haven’t resolved the underlying problems. This includes ongoing 2020 Ford Expedition transmission problems, with some owners continuing to experience gear slipping and shifting issues even after repairs.

2020 Ford Expedition Transmission Recall

• Issue: Transmission shift cable lock clip not fully seated, leading to incorrect gear selection
• Remedy: Dealers are instructed to inspect and correct the shift cable lock clip installation

More details about this Ford Expedition transmission recall can be found in NHTSA entry 20V197000.

2021 Ford F-150 Transmission Recall

• Issue: Transmission software may falsely detect low transmission fluid pressure and shift into Neutral
• Remedy: Dealers instructed to update the transmission software, but the fix has not been effective

More details about this Ford Expedition powertrain recall can be found in NHTSA entry 23V128000.

WHAT POTENTIAL COMPENSATION CAN I EXPECT FOR MY FORD TRANSMISSION?

If the dealership can’t resolve your transmission issues, you may qualify for compensation under California Lemon Law, which can include:

•   Full vehicle buyback
•   Refund of sales tax, registration fees and other expenses
•   Reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs (rental, towing, repairs)
•   Civil penalties up to twice the value of the buyback if Ford is found to have willfully violated the law

Your compensation can be calculated using the Lemon Law Buyback Calculation, which includes:

•   The total amount paid or payable for your vehicle
•   Out-of-pocket expenses (rental costs, towing, transportation)
•   A small deduction called a Mileage Offset based on how many miles you were able to drive before the defect became apparent.

If you win your lemon law claim, payments you made toward your vehicle will typically be reimbursed as part of a lemon law buyback. Below is a table demonstrating an estimated range of lemon law settlements, assuming that your vehicle has a minimal mileage offset. This table assumes that the “total amount paid or payable” is roughly equal to a vehicle’s MSRP. However, realistically the total amount paid or payable will be somewhat higher than the base MSRP for your vehicle model.

Please keep in mind that these are estimates only, and that these outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH FORD’S 10-SPEED TRANSMISSION?

A potential manufacturing defect may be responsible for 10-speed transmission problems happening in many Ford vehicles.

Based on reports from other drivers, here are the most common issues:

•   Wrench light is on
•   Clunking or banging noise when starting the engine
•   Rough, harsh or erratic shifting
•   Hesitation between gears
•   Gear slipping
•   Gear getting stuck while shifting
•   Jerking or lunging
•   Loss of power while driving

According to a 2021 Ford 10 speed transmission recall, certain F-150 trucks may falsely sense that the transmission fluid pressure is too low and respond by shifting into Neutral. However, owners say the proposed fix (a transmission software update) doesn’t fix the transmission issue.

DID FORD FIX ITS 10-SPEED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS?

No, Ford hasn’t fixed its transmission problems. Ford refuses to repair or replace the 10-speed transmissions.

• Ford has told consumers that unusual gear shifting is “normal” for their vehicle models.
• However, internal technical service bulletins (TSBs) issued to dealerships contradict this.
• TSBs instructed dealers to reprogram the powertrain control module, but the suggested fixes have not resolved the shifting issues.

Ford recalled more than 47,000 trucks with 10R80 (10-speed) transmissions, but the fix hasn’t resolved the problem for many owners.

WHAT SHOULD OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES DO?

If you own or lease one of the affected Ford vehicles and notice recurring problems with its transmission system, you can take the following steps in order to either resolve the issue or seek financial compensation:

1. Check Your Ford Vehicle’s Symptoms: Does your vehicle exhibit common Ford F-150 or Expedition 10-speed transmission issues such as harsh shifting, unexpected gear changes, overheating or loss of power? If so, your Ford truck might be a lemon.

2. Document Everything: Keep detailed records of the time and mileage when transmission issues occur. If you’ve taken your vehicle to a dealership or a repair facility, you should have received repair orders or work orders that document the vehicle issues you reported and the repairs performed. These records are essential for a successful lemon law claim.

3. Seek Dealer Assessment: If you haven’t visited your dealership for repairs during the warranty period, schedule an appointment. Without any documented repair visits, it will be difficult to recover compensation through a lemon law claim.

4. Stay Informed on Recalls: There is a good chance you’re not the only one experiencing the vehicle defect. Lots of owners of your vehicle model or other models in the same lineup are experiencing similar issues with transmission malfunction. To get insight on how common your vehicle issue is, stay on top of recalls, manufacturer communications, technical service bulletins, common complaints and NHTSA investigations. The easiest way to keep up to date is to visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website and search for your vehicle model.

5. Get a Free Case Review with a Lemon Law Attorney: Every lemon law claim is unique. An experienced lemon law attorney can help you understand your legal options and give you a clear idea of what compensation you may be entitled to when you file a lemon law claim in California. Call us at 877-217-7676 or complete our form at the bottom of this page to schedule a free case review.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PURSUING AN INDIVIDUAL LEMON LAW CLAIM?

The key difference between an individual lemon law claim and a class action lawsuit is that, while the class action lawsuit represents multiple plaintiffs with similar claims, a lemon law claim allows you to sue the manufacturer for issues specific to your situation and potentially maximize the compensation you can get for your Ford 10-speed transmission problems.

A class action lawsuit often requires the legal strategy to work in the interests of a large group. This means some of your claims may be sacrificed for the success of the case, and when a settlement is reached, you may only receive a small portion of compensation.

Proving Fraud and Willful Violation

We are often successful at demonstrating fraud and/or willful violation of the California Lemon Law, which can result in higher payouts for our clients. For example:

•   Donovan L. v Ford: $165,000 for 2022 Ford F-150 transmission problems
•   Martha M.A. and Pedro A. v. Ford: $52,741 for a 2020 Ford Mustang worth $46,964

If you pursue an individual lemon law claim, you may be able to get much higher compensation for your defective Ford vehicle. Many of our clients have successfully acquired vehicle buybacks and then additional compensation for out-of-pocket expenses.