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CarComplaints.com Notes: We aren't rating the 2015 F-150 as "bad" yet, but there is an early trend of complaints about the transmission shifting roughly.

7.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$230
Average Mileage:
13,500 miles
Total Complaints:
35 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (26 reports)
  2. cpu update (4 reports)
  3. pcm reprogram update (4 reports)
  4. rebuild transmission (1 reports)
2015 Ford F-150 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2015 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #15

Sep 292015

F-150 XLT 5.0L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 300 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Same hard downshifting problems as others have mentioned on this site. Only occurs when downshifting from 5th to 4th, usually around 35 mph or less. Local Ford dealership denies any issues and that Ford had never heard of this issue before. Of course. Going to take it in again and see if Ford has come up with a solution yet. Looks like one poster did get his fixed with a transmission re-calibration. I may show my dealer the post and see if it means anything to them. Which I'm sure it won't. I'm just waiting for something to break when I'm towing my boat or camper, so I can have the whole rig towed to the dealer and parked in front of their service bays !

- Tom J., Hutchinson, KS, US

problem #14

Feb 182016

F-150 XLT 5.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,500 miles

So I was having the issue with hard downshifting from 5th to 4th gear on my 2015 f150 5.0. Just took it to the dealer today, they were aware of it, did a computer update/upgrade and so far so good. Just wanted to spread the word. If it's happening to you, go to the dealer, there's an cpu update to fix the issue.

- Tim D., Abingdon, IL, US

problem #13

Nov 012015

F-150 XLT 2.7L Eco-Boost

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,500 miles

I found this forum helpful and wanted to add to it so maybe someone could take this info with them to the shop?

I had the same issues as reported in these posts. 5->4 HARD jolt. Also occasionally 2->3 . I could replicate the 5->4 any time I wanted and it just so happened to be on the roads I traveled daily. I took it to one dealership(Feb 3rd) whom said they could not 'see' anything wrong with it when they hooked it up to computer...They must have just grabbed an OBD-II and looked for a code. Well, I have an OBD-II and there were no codes. I asked if they drove it and they said it was taken off the lot(whatever that means) and it drove 'normally'. So naturally I told them to grab a new truck from the other side of the lot and we can go for a drive in that one and mine to compare. Long story short --two different departments, no can do.

I just today had opportunity to get to another dealer who had the truck for about 3 hours. They said they drove it, it did exactly what I described and it needed a re-program. Got the truck back about 200 miles ago and it appears to have fixed the issue. The receipt says "...Found TSB 16-0015 for concern. Reprogrammed the PCM to latest calibration, reset the trans learned shift strategies."

I have never had a car/truck under warranty and figured all dealers would be the same since its a factory covered issue. Not the case apparently. I did not want to publicly name the dealerships, so contact me if you want to know.

- mdcarlson, Roeland Park, KS, US

problem #12

Mar 092016

F-150 Larriat V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Hard downshift from 5th to 4th. Feels like you're getting hit from the rear.

Every time it has happened, and it's happened many times, it has been when coasting down from high speed in a higher gear, like when approaching a stop light that turns from red to green when approaching. When you hit the accelerator to go, it shifts into fourth HARD!!!! If you slow down enough that it shifts to a gear lower than 4th, I haven't noticed an issue... only into 4th.

I've heard there Is a program upgrade that will fix it, but, when I went in for my 10,000 oil change, the dealer said they were unaware of any shifting issues. I'll ask again when I return for my 20,000 change in a few weeks. They couldn't replicate the problem so they say.

- yoko, Smithfield, VA, US

problem #11

Aug 122015

F-150 XTR 5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,000 miles

Hard down shift from 5 to 4th only. It felt like the transmission had fallen out. Only happened on occassion. Ford dealership had a transmission code change and fixed the issue.

- minerscreek, Parksville, BC, Canada

problem #10

Feb 182016

F-150 Platinum 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,000 miles

I am very dissatisfied with my F150 Platinum. The transmission down shifts hard from 6th to 5th and from 5th to 4th. The first time it did it, I thought I hit something in the road. I drive a lot of miles every day due to work and this is a pain in my ass. I trade in for a new truck around every 3 years and this issue has made me 90% sure that this will be my last F150.

I'm not sure if there's a fix to this problem but I will take it to a ford dealership as soon as I can to get it checked out.

If this is ford's ideal of FORD TOUGH, maybe they should change it to FORD ROUGH.

UNHAPPY F150 OWNER

David Brown

- David B., Massillon, OH, US

problem #9

May 152015

F-150 XLT 5.0L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ford came out with a program update for the hard down shift from 5th to 4th when cruising at 30 MPH.

Reprogram changes shift point from 4th to 5th at around 33 or 34 MPH

- Darin R., Elk River, MN, US

problem #8

Dec 152015

F-150 LX 3.2lV6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

Three times in one day. Cruising between 25 and 40 MPH suddenly I thought I was hit from behind. No one was there. The truck continued to drive normally with no warning lights or other problems, until it happened twice more within 10 miles. I took it to the dealer and was told they couldn't duplicate the problem. Really? As loud and big a slam as that had to have caused some indication of wear or damage. I see on this board that it is a problem experienced by other 2015 F150 owners, and they have identified it as a random hard downshift from 6th to 5th, or 5th to 4th.

Anybody have any luck with Ford fixing this?

- Don S., Los Angeles, CA, US

problem #7

Dec 082015

F-150 Lariat 5.0L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,800 miles

I'm having the same hard downshift issues I see reported by others with brand new 2015 F-150s. It first occurred for me at 75 mph with cruise control in a steady state. There was a loud clunk which felt at first like I hit a pothole, then I realized the engine had downshifted. Happened several more times on the same trip. It happened again yesterday at 30 mph steady speed with same clunk noise. I'm putting it in the shop next week.

- bankwood, Grapevine, TX, US

problem #6

Dec 222015

(reported on)

F-150 Sport 3.5L Ecoboost

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,000 miles

At low speed under 50 mph downshifting most of the time from 5th to 4th gear, feels as if I was hit from behind. Occasionally, occurs during the upshift from 3rd to 4th gear. Problem started at 3,000 miles and now closing in on 6,000 miles and is still happening. I don't think it's a "learning" issue, will take to dealer after the holidays. Very concerned....spending $44,000 on this vehicle to be used as a tow vehicle for a classic car, this problem is VERY disconcerting.

- mcky4us, Reedley, CA, US

problem #5

Jun 262015

F-150 5.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,243 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Bought a new 2015 F150 early this summer and have had several HARD downshifts from 5 to 4th gear , while coasting. The first time it happened , I looked behind me thinking my truck had been hit, that's how hard it jumped. Since then its happened sporadically, with seemingly no rhyme or reason. The lastest time was this past Saturday , the usual "jump" while downshifting , but this time a bunch of warning messages came up. " check advance trax system " was on of them, then " check engine" was the other...I pulled over , shut the truck off, turned it back on and its fine??!!

Its going into the shop this week, I'll update this post as the process unfolds...Glad to see though I'm not the only one that has struggled with this issue on the new F150's, though really sucks for a new truck owners!

I cant recommend the New F150's with this going on. Would look elsewhere, if buying new right now.

- Shawn Y., London, ON, Canada

problem #4

May 052015

F-150 XLT 2.7L Ecoboost

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles

Same issue regarding transmission hard down shift on a 2015 F-150. I had experience this at 3500 mile. I just ignored it that time. But after 5K miles I decided to go to the dealership for it to be checked but for some reason they cannot duplicate the issue. One of the tech advised me to reset the computer, so we did that but did not fix the problem. Planning to bring the truck again to be checked because that noise is happening more frequently now harder and louder.

Update from Jan 6, 2016: Finaly set up an appointment with the service dept for next week. I was back at the shop last December 23, and finally the issue that i'm having happened while 1 of the tech's with me. 2 issues with the truck right now hard downshift from 5-4th then hard down shift from 3rd to 2nd-1st. Try catching a red light but you cound'nt make it and you decided not to push and beat the light so you let go of your foot from the gas pedal, this is the part where the hard down shifting from 3-2-1 happens. Will update next next week.

- typhoon, Tallahassee, FL, US

problem #3

Oct 202015

F-150 XLT 5.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,750 miles

Exactly the same problem as # 2 on your web sight, for the 2015 f150

- William C., Pisgah Forest, NC, US

problem #2

Oct 142015

F-150 XLT 5.0L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,700 miles

Same problem as the Chris S., but seems to happen from 5th to 4th and 5th to 6th. It mainly happens when I have the pedal steadily held to maintain a constant speed. Specifically, I'll be heading up a hill in a bit of traffic at around 45 mph. It then slows down and downshifts so loudly and violently it seems like I was rear ended.

Similarly, I will be coming down a fairly long, windy hill at around 45 mph and hear a less violent shift, but still very abnormal. It shifts into 6th without my foot on the pedal from accelerating due to the momentum provided by rolling down the hill.

One item of note, is the truck actually downshifts perfectly fine when I'm intending to accelerate. Essentially, it only acts in this manner when the pedal is barely pressed or not pressed at all. It's very startling and, in my opinion, has to be damaging the transmission. I hope there is a fix, as I've been fairly dissatisfied with this $47,000 truck.

I'll try to get it looked at soon, but there are so many other issues I need fixed that I'm not sure it's even worth it. I'd rather just sell and get a Ram 1500.

- f150sport, Lawrenceburg, IN, US

problem #1

May 112015

F-150 Lariat 3.5L Ecoboost

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,392 miles

While towing a 3375 lbs trailer in tow mode at approximately 70km/h I touched the break and the truck downshifted from 5th gear to 4th violently. There was a tire squawk and a heavy bang like I was rear ended! The hard shifting could be replicated with out the trailer at the dealer by tapping the break then manually downshifting a couple seconds after. As well in S mode in drive when the truck is traveling about 70km/h in 5th and then touching the break. In this case the truck would auto downshift and would intermittently downshift hard. They are unaware of this problem but did verify that it's happening. Best answer I got was we will call Ford Canada and see what they say, and added that it could be the transmission learning driving patterns. I've only had this for 2 weeks and towed for approximately 150 km after allowing 1500 km break in.

Update from Jul 5, 2015: When the truck downshifts from 5th to 4th gear automatically while under load the downshift is rough. The issue has been replicated many times under many different conditions from towing at highway speeds to simply cruising at 50km/h. The adaptive learning was turned off to help diagnose the issue that continues To this day, and has been an issue since day 6 of owning the truck to 8000km later.

Update from Sep 21, 2015: As of my last visit to the dealer Ford engineers have acknowledged the issue and are working on a fix.

Update from Nov 20, 2015: I took the truck into the dealer 2 weeks ago for the transmission hard shift issue. So far I have only noticed the hard downshift a couple times. Certainly a lot better then it was before, I will have to wait until next summer to see if the issue is resolved while towing as well. But so far it seems to have worked.

- Chris S., Fort McMurray, AB, Canada

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