2023 Ford F-150 transmission and drivetrain problems
191 of the 503 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Ford F-150 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 96 manufacturer bulletins, 4 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 of the 191 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2023: 20 · 2024: 36 · 2025: 50 · 2026: 85
Half of the 42 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 16,000 and 46,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
503 complaints in all about the 2023 Ford F-150, 85 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford F-150 transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the dealer was performing tire rotation on the vehicle, the dealer informed the contact that the rear passenger's side axle bolts had fractured.
Sudden downshift with Vehicle Transmission causing vehicle to come to an unexpected stop. Vehicle can lock up wheels and become uncontrollable. Vehicle was taken in to Ford dealership and dealer technician verified the issue. Technician sent data to Ford. Dealer reported issue to Ford and Ford told dealer there is no fix.
The transmission downshifts s hard after the vehicle is fully warmed up it will cause the rear tires to lock up on wet or slippery road conditions This may cause a loss of control and put the occupants of the vehicle in danger The problem has not been confirmed by a dealer but it has been in twice for this issue.
The vehicle abruptly down shifted locking the rear tires when approaching a stop light. Safety: luckily no one was behind me that could of rear ended the vehicle. Will report issue to dealership
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 25V512000 HighAug 8, 2025 · 103,174 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
- 23V896000 CriticalDec 22, 2023 · 112,965 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
- 23V128000 CriticalFeb 24, 2023 · 240 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front axle pinion may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to fracture.
- 23V070000 CriticalFeb 10, 2023 · 1,138 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."
96 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- TSB 26-2408 Service bulletinSep 22, 2026
- This bulletin supersedes 26-2309. Reason For Update: update the Model section to remove Aviator 10R80, update the Parts list to add 3.3L to W520514-S440, and add L1MZ-7Z490-G valve body separator plate for Aviator. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh 3-4, 4-5 upshifts * Harsh 5-3, 4-3 downshifts * Harsh reverse enga
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0729 P0731 P0732 P0733 P0734 P0735 P0736 P0751
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2023 Ford F-150 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2023 Ford F-150
Source: the same files- electrical problems 121 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2023 Ford F-150?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 191 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (38% of everything owners filed about it), and 96 manufacturer bulletins, 4 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2023 Ford F-150?
Yes — 4 campaigns are filed under this heading: 25V512000, 23V896000, 23V128000, 23V070000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2023 Ford F-150?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 30,000 miles; half of them between 16,000 and 46,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.