2018 5.0 Issues
 

Glad I am not the only one with the issue. My truck was in the shop for 30 days (YES 30 Days) and I received this message... "The noise, if you will, is actually the proper operation of the Intake Manifold Runner Control which is controlled by the Power Train Control Module. The Intake Manifold Runner Control opens valves in the intake manifold to change the air flow through the manifold for performance and gas mileage. Once it was determined that the noise was the operation of the Runner Control we compared the operation of 3 in stock vehicles , all with 5.0 L engine, and the operation and sound was identical."

So we tested another in the lot when I picked it up and under accelerate while not moving on an off the gas you do hear a plastic valve open and close. This however, is not the loud noise I hear like I assume you hear. It is more of a metal slap noise when you let off the gas after accelerating away from a light and roll into cruising vs acceleration. Mine is most noticeable when on a slight uphill. I do not believe the noise is "normal". It is audible over the radio and passengers talking and when a passenger asks "what was that" is it really normal. I have tested other 5.0 motors on test drives, including ones while mine was in the shop and while I can hear a valve of some kind faintly if the radio and HVAC system is off, it is not the noise I hear.

Now amazingly, part of why my truck was laid up for a month, the left front engine mount was "defective" having a stripped bolt and the tech noted on the repair ticket that the mount had wear marks consistent with movement..... "more not normal"

My 2018 5.0 10 speed has been a major disappointment. Started at 1079 miles when on its maiden long trip 500 mile from home coolant hoses blew off at 70 mph. Then failed to start in my driveway.. (extended range tank my ass) I had more than a 1/4 tank of gas and Ford's answer was if on any grade, you must keep MORE than a quarter tank of gas or it may not start.... can't make this up PS I had 10 gallons in the tank which by math is more than a 1/4 of 36 gallons. I was on a 3 degree grade so not exactly a major hill.

Then a few weeks later... the bells and whistles went off on the dash and the truck went into safety mode. They replaced the PCM as it was faulty... (3000 miles on the truck) Ever since then it shifts like crap but they say its NORMAL. Then it spent 30 days int the shop while they looked for the mystery slapping noise, found a bad engine mount but say its all normal. Anyway it goes back in on Tuesday.... as the shifting and hesitating is just not normal. A shame a 55k truck is such a POS.

If you are reading this... RUN from buying a 5.0 10 speed F150. I think they are really developing the 3.5 Ecoboost and 10 speed transmission but they just slapped this 5.0 L together as a bandaid for those of us who think the 5.0 V-8 is better. I got to drive a ecoboost during the 8 days mine was in getting the PCM issue addressed and it ran smooth and shifted great and there was no slapping noise from the drive-train when letting off the gas.

Yours isn't "normal" you should probably take it back and ask to have it fixed! LMAO

Same here, I hear nothing like what you are hearing.

I believe I have the same noise on mine. Is yours like several successive clicks, or just one click? I made a post about this noise in another thread and one guy said it might have been the active grille shutters - but I'm really not sure. Also, is yours worse right after a cold start? Mine is loud at first but gets much quieter after driving for a bit.

+1 on the clicks when cold.....especially at low speeds. Whenever you let off the gas it lets out a quick rat-ta-tat.Once it is warmed up it does not make this sound.

My '18 5.0 SCrew does the same quick rattle when letting off the gas, only when the engine is not fully warmed up. There is an EB Rattle thread where the 3.5L has the issue as well. There is also another thread for 2018 F150s where the rattle is discussed, fyi

I have noticed it on mine as well. There is a thread for the 3.5 Eco with a video and it was diagnosed as the Cam Phasers. I would think its likely the same on the 5.0.

There is also a TSB for some kind of computer re-flash that may or may not correct the issue.

Drew, I have the exact same thing going on. I can say that my click/snap isn't always the same volume and I can actually manipulate it to make it happen.

If I accelerate then slowly let off, I can' barely hear it, or it's not doing it.

What I can do is get up to 20/30 mph and let off totally and it's loud, right on cue every time. I also can feel it, which feels like, under the front of the passenger footwell.

If I'm cruising along normally at 35 or 40 mph and give it a little gas and let off, I hear it again, every time.

I've been under the truck 4 times now and I can't find anything, plus it has to be moving. I can't just rev it in park and hear it.

Aside from that, everything else is great. I wouldn't discourage anyone from this powertrain.It's not the engine we're talking about it's the transmission.

It's the standard combo for the Platinum now.. I think Ford is plenty confident with this powertrain in basically their top of the line package.

We'll figure it out eventually and all will be fine..! It has been for 13 straight years, in 4 different trucks.

On a side note. I'm willing to bet if GM didn't have their hands in or around this 10 speed, there would be no issues.
Two friends, one with a 2014 Silverado and one with a 2016 Silverado. A total of 17 combined recalls with their transmissions.

This is a very accurate description of my truck too!

My father purchased a 2018 KR with the 5.0. Within just a few hundred miles, it was making a noise on start up from time to time. A couple visits to the dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong. He persisted and left it with the dealer until they found the problem. Lucky for him, the issue finally presented itself at the dealer. Turned out to be an issue with a timing chain, which actually broke while in the dealers possession. This ruined one of the cam phasers. Ford actually came good for a brand new engine and he was back on the road in a few days with no more issues. Great service, given that we assumed they would fight just to replace the lower end.

I purchased a 2018 Platinum with the 3.5 and have had zero issues so far. Funny, as I was the one that expected issues to arise if there was any between the two of our trucks. I couldn't help but go with the 3.5 after driving it and setting it up with the max tow package with locking 3..55's.

Whatever the annoyance is, it's not the engine..

These issues are not typical with the 5.0.

Exactly. Same thing for me. Glad to hear im not the only one.

I'm glad I'm not alone, but obviously wish we weren't dealing this noise.
Hopefully more will chime in, without the assumption it's just another thread of guy's hearing a slight knock..again & again.

I also know for a fact, it didn't start hearing it till roughly 600 miles or so into it.
I only have a 1050 miles now.
Might be time to attach the GoPro and see if I can find it.

Even though this is fairly loud when cold, I have tried to record this with my phone but it is not obvious on the recording. I wanted to capture this sound before talking to the dealer, since they are the kings of telling me what they can't do for me, instead of what they can do for me! I have even tried power braking the truck and it will not do it, as stated you must be moving, so to me this rules out the engine; it's trans or something in the drive line.

I had to check out the 3.5 eco thread with all of the issue's they're dealing with. Granted most are late model 17's, with the 10 speed.
They have noises galore with the powertrain combo. Transmission and otherwise

Doesn't mean I'm not going to stop researching our clicking/popping... (I can't seem to find a word that accurately describes it).
But after some time in their threads I think we're doing okay.

If you guys have the same off throttle sound and its the same as the 17-18 3.5 and want to replicate it while stationary just put it in drive foot on break and blip the throttle.
my rattle doesnt occur if there isnt load on the engine.

No weird noises with my 2018 5.0 at all from what I can hear.. I'll keep my ears open though.

Do you hear any clunking while slowing for a rolling stop and then accelerating again?? What speeds are you all going when this is happening?

I get a loud clunk or bang every now and then with mine....I look at my wife and ask what the hell was that? That is almost always on a down shift or letting off the gas and coming to a stop sign. I can't seem to find the thread that discusses the TSB for trans module re-flash on trucks that were manufactured prior to Dec. 2017. Mine was Oct 2017. If anyone catches it in another thread I would appreciate it if you could PM me or post it here. I am taking it to the dealer on Thur. and would love to be armed with the TSB number.

I have pops, under load with 5.0, 3.73 gears and 10 speed. Seems most obvious from 6-7 gear in full auto. Also, I've had some hesitation shifting up/down after hard throttle and pulling off suddenly. I'm not sure if this is just me getting used to this tranny/engine combo or something actually wrong here.

Im experiencing the noises described in this thread and will be going to the dealer Soon

Motor Mount ?
 

Motor Mount ?

I have to agree with you about getting used to this transmission. It is a whole new animal compared to the 6 speed.
To be honest, all I really need are 8 gears.. I was half heartedly joking with my buddy when I said; My truck is too big for a small town... Before I get into 8th gear I'm already at another light or stop sign. I find myself locking it out all the way down to 6th gear so it's not all over the place.

If I'm hard on the throttle in sport mode and hammer it to 50mph roughly from a stop and let off, I get thrown forward as hard as I did backwards, cause it's only into 3rd or 4th gear.
There's no doubt a learning curve with this thing. I knew exactly when and how to maximize my 6 speed to get that engine right where it loved to be.
I'm a 1,100 miles into it and I'll admit I have a way to go still before I drive it, instead of trying to catch up to what it's doing. I'm not of course talking about just gas and go, but driving it as if it were a stick almost and where the engine's power is.

I'm getting the feeling when guys are saying this powertrain was thrown together, that maybe they're overwhelmed like I was at first and still kind of am with so many choices...
For instance., before I even start to drive, I kill the start/stop, then lockout 10,9,8 and 7th gear. Then I think normal driving or sport.. but wait let's see how she drives with Tow/haul selected. Then I get a vibrating steering wheel and shut off lane assist... Jesus! I haven't even been able to change the radio station yet, before that damn faint click takes all my attention away from everything...
It's not hectic like that every time but it has been. So I can see why guy's want there simple 5.0 / 6speed back again.

Uncle G. I wouldn't rule out a motor mount. On the the other hand though it's not a real metal on metal noise. For example my sister would never hear it, but my Chevy loving buddy who would love to point out anything wrong with my truck, would ask immediately what the hell is that noise.
Again the best I can describe it is; If you took the handle of a screwdriver and as soon as you let off when you get to 30mph or 40mph tap the handle against the anything plastic near the passenger side floor.
To be more precise, I would say the top left of the passenger footwell.
Not way up under the dash, but about even with the bottom of the glove box and straight In.

I'm not even sure you could hear it on the outside if you were in a car next to me. It's that quiet, but it is not something that I hope Ford says: Oh yeah, that's normal now for a part to click while your accelerating..

What's a pia is everything else about my truck is awesome. The body lines are perfect, the suspension is tight, the B&O rocks without any rattles or speakers cutting out (Ford's door harness 04-14). The doors shut solid which is saying something with a Scab. Everything is spot on, except for that damn click, which again Boosters is not the 5.0. I'd bet my house it's something outside of the engine or around the union of the engine to the transmission.

I would ask the shop to check tranny mounts also.

I spent a good 20 minutes under my truck looking at everything underneath.
Which this is actually the first time I haven't had skid plates and I can see those ridiculously vulnerable tranny lines.

I pushed and pulled, rocked anything and everything and nothing, nothing at all looks like the culprit.

I could find the the clamp for my GoPro at a moment's notice for a year now, except this week... I have no idea where it is, driving me nuts.

I gotta say, I'm happy I coated everything underneath and all things suspension with Fluid Film.
It has kept my truck still looking almost showroom clean underneath. Even after 2 decent storms these past 5 weeks, the differential is still nice and black
I thought about it after winterizing the Sea Doo and seeing how spanking new it kept the engine looking, after 6 hours of salt water getting in the bulkhead.

Good thought! I'll keep that in mind too.

Auto Start Stop issue
 

So far no fix.
 

So an update on my 18 5.0 XLT, they have had it for 21 days and replaced the vct solenoid and valve cover gasket, and the cam phasers were finished today. Less rattle but still the same. No idea what the next step is. Dealer will call me tomorrow.

That was the only thing that worried me about the 10 speed, GM has never had a good tranny. Hopefully Ford fixed any issues. 7500 miles on mine and no trouble yet.

I hope the 6 speed is still available with at least one engine next year to add to the fleet.

Quick update. I had my 18 5.0 w 10 speed in for the recall inspection and asked them to look into the popping sound I'm hearing when it's shifting. They didn't fix the sound but did upgrade the PCM (not sure that's right) and reset everything and told me it should be better after 500. So wait and see I guess.

Did they acknowledge that there is a noise at or around 30mph?

Acknowledge is a strong word, they dismissed it by suggesting it will be resolved with the update to the pcm. Yeah, I'm very skeptical.

As am I.
Seems that it needs a mechanical update, vs a software update...
Let's hope so tho.

I started the 17 3.5 rattle thread and I'm currently in the process of a buyback, 30+ days in the shop new phasers, cams and tensioner as well as a PCM reflash and the noise is still there. I believe it to be an oiling issue to the cam phasers on cold starts but ford doesn't seem to have a fix for it, I may go f250 if I stay with ford but the current state of the f150 doesnt sit well with me.

My truck is currently in the shop for this same noise. 2018 5.0. It is loud and I can reporduce it time after time, but they still claim they have not heard it. Had my truck 2.5 days now and I am heading over there this morning to drive it for them. To me it sounds like a metal on plastic sound....

At least they gave me a loaner, and the 2.7l in it is impressive, but I am starting to miss my truck.

3000 miles now. Still getting the popping sound during shifts in the 10 speed, I'm also hearing a slight metal rattle kind of sound on low shifts. I really can't hear the rattle unless I'm driving next to something that reflects sound, like a glass store front and I have windows down. To be completely honest, I'm not real happy with this situation. The loud popping sounds and the occasional harsh shifting is getting a little tiresome and old.

Just left the dealer. They think it is the throttle body closing or trying to close, but did not say for sure it was an issue (didnt deny it either). Going to drive some other 5.0L trucks and try to replicate. I'm thinking now it could be something in the intake that is loose? Will update when something changes.

That may be the exhaust note. The throttle body is closed instantaneously between each shift to lessen transmission internal clutch wear. In other vehicles, the sound is akin to how a motor racing car sounds between shifts, only in motor sports they are usually mostly unmuffled and therefore much much louder.

Well I got the call yesterday afternoon and picked up my truck this morning. The dealer claims the noise is normal, or at least nothing to be concerned about. They told me it was the sound of the throttle body closing (happens until the truck is fully warm). I did not dispute it, and am relatively satisfied. They said they test drove several 5.0s on the lot and were able to reproduce the sound.

Probably not what everyone wanted to hear, but I am glad that they did acknowledge the sound, and if it ever becomes an issue I will have it recorded that it was brought in with ~1600 miles and told everything was OK.

Defective Coolant Reservoir
 

My 18 5.0 has been perfect with no abnormal noises, great MPG and has more power than my 11. The 10 speed trans shifts up and down are smooth , seamless.and quiet with no noises. Best F150 i've owned and I've owned a lot of them since I bought my first new one in 1969. My 11 3.5 eco had problems going into limp mode and the six speed trany blew a pump and seals. Hope Ford steps up and and finds the solution for the problems some of you are experiencing.. Since not all of the 18 5.0 10 speeds are experiencing these problems it should indicate it is not a design flaw but a bad part failure of some kind,

Did they saw how they determined it to be the throttle body? I'm thinking one way to verify it is the throttle body is to have them run real time data logging on it (through laptop or whatever). If you are able to recreate the sound on demand like some people are, they should be able to see what the positioning of the throttle body is and see if the timing of the opening/closing of it is at the same time of the popping sound. Just a thought.

I got the impression that their claim that the sound was coming from the throttle body was entirely a guess. I believe due to the timing of the noise, the ability to recreate it every time you let off the gas, and the fact that other trucks made the noise, led them to claim it was normal and coming from the throttle body.

They did not seemed nearly concerned enough to put any more time into than that. I will ignore the noise unless it gets louder, or changes in any way. OR unless someone else finds a source!

I'm not sure we are all talking about the same problems, but the popping sound I hear during shifts has nothing to do with letting off the throttle. It seems more 'load influenced'. If I'm going up a hill, the pops are more pronounced, if I'm accelerating hard, more pronounced. If I'm just cruising around they are still there and are noticeable but not as loud. I can accept this might be something related to throttle body closing pre/mid or whatever shift, but it's really silly loud and should be addressed.

Sam we are not experiencing the same problem. Mine shifts fine but has a rattle/clicking noise when I let off the gas that others are experiencing as well. Mine does not seem to be related to your issue.

This is actually encouraging to me, at least. This means, that my experience is unusual and therefore can and will get fixed.

Yeah, I've noticed a rattle/growl clicking sound as well, as mentioned in a previous comment, however I don't notice it unless I have windows down etc. Possibly something else and not as a significant as my popping sound. In my case, the rattle/growl, just sounds like some loose heat shield or something around the tranny.

I only picked up my '18 5.0 a couple days ago and it's only got 200 miles on it but so far so good and no noises like you fellas are describing but I'll definitely be watching this thread.

What I've been talking about is when you're roughly at 35mph and it's between 2nd and 4th gear. Once you've reached that speed and you let off is when it is when you'll hear a click/pop.
I don't know how loud it is outside of the truck, but it wouldn't turn heads.

I can also manipulate the throttle so it won't happen...
If I let it slip easily into gear it doesn't do it.
It seems to need 3/4 throttle to make it happen.

I also want to clarify that I'm not calling it a problem. The truck runs great!
Most powerful truck I've owned to date.
It just makes a noise when you let off the throttle.
So any perspective buyers, don't let this disway you from the 5.0.
It accelerate's like you expect 395 hp is going to.
Keeps pulling like a frieght train till I don't know yet.. I haven't gone over 85 mph. Top speed isn't my thing in a pickup, but if it were, I'd be happy, I'm sure of that.

That's it, in the front end. The rear Diff..? We'll see what they say about each axle having a 1/4 of back and forth movement. More than a Dana should have.

I have the rattle when I let off the gas as well. I had them check it out when I went in for the 18S10 recall. On the phone the service advisor said, "the transmission was not torqued tightly enough." The printed report states, "Caused by: Tighten suspension...noise gone...tighten all suspension and reroad test...no noise at this time." Looking back at it now I am not sure how the suspension would cause a noise like this when you let off the gas. When the advisor said "transmission" on the phone I thought it made a little sense as I also had them looking at the whining/whistling noise that the transmission has been making. When I picked the truck up I was in a rush to get to dinner so I didn't read the printed report carefully. Looking at it now, I'm confused on what they thought the source of the rattle was. Rattle is still there. I will go back and have them look at it again eventually. Problem not solved but I was at least happy they acknowledged it and didn't act like they couldn't hear anything.

Side note: they stated the whining noise is normal for the 10spd transmission. They reprogrammed it and the truck definitely shifts a bit better now. Whining noise still there as well, but it isn't as loud as it was before.

MAJOR Lemon F150
 

Been a while since I posted an update;
1079 miles hoses blew off on highway
Runs out of Gas in the driveway 3% grade and 10+ gallons of gas
PCM Fails and Truck goes to limp mode (PCM Replaced) also check into noises Ford says Noises we hear are normal. Truck Runs like Crap..
Bring it back; noises when you lift off of accelerator (smacking noises you all hear on decel) Spends 30 days in the shop Ford says NORMAL but they replace an engine mount they say had a cross threaded bolt and that the mount was moving as a result. (did not fix decel noises on lifting.)
Bring it to a closer dealer to me now;
First visit.... Dealer says drives normal, noises normal.
I am able to Record the rat at tat tat noises i hear if I am on an off the gas on slow rolling. One Video Here: Send to dealer. (says cant address that until we get the truck running right)
Recall comes out one week later on trans cable... bring it back and complain again about how poorly she drives and the noises.
*******Dealer takes it home for the weekend************* Says it drives like crap and hooks it to a flight recorder and I am running on 7 cylinders.....
Based on data PCM is not holding tuning or information to "learn" and it is responsible for cylinder 3 not operating. Dealer says all my shifting and driveability issues related to PCM
Dealer attempted many times to reset PCM then Ford spent 2+ days via remote into my truck.... They are bricked out!!!
I am told that they are sending an ENGINEER from FORD this week to personally attempt to fix on site....
This latest round all started 11 Days ago Truck has 5500 miles on it, purchased the last days of December and has spent what will be 60 days in the shop this Wednesday.....

Ford should be ashamed of itself for putting out this crap. 3 Major issues we are having,
1. Noises under decel in the 30-40 range, slapping
2. Noises under rolling releasing on throttle rat a tat tat
(previous both under release of throttle any coincidence??) Suspect both are related to Transmission
3. PCM Failures and Cylinder Failures related to PCM.
Bonus: Runs out of gas with more than 1/4 tank of gas!

call and request a buyback, end of story. You should have opened a case a long time ago. It's not worth the frustration.

At this point in my life I don't give a flying F about my dealer relationship.
I'm nervous what I'll do or say if they come back with: That noise your hearing, (that interrupt's the joy of accelerating, which is supposed to be one of this vehicles best attributes), is a normal sound with this particular truck.. sir.

So, tell me. In comparison for example. When you go to apply the brakes and every time you touched the brake pedal it made a pop.. every time! You're going to look me in the eye and say... That's normal and acceptable, correct?

That's the conversation I'm hoping not to have, when it's only at 2,200 miles.

that's the go around I initially had with my dealer and once I demonstrated the problem they couldn't deny it, but there was so much wasted time going back and forth with the dealer and ford I had to call it quits. My 17 3.5tt made these same noises and my initial plan was to swap it for a 5.0 before i came across this thread. Call me dumb or a fool but i went with the most reliable truck on the list although some say it's the most dated and behind on the times but it actually has features my ford didn't have for the same price. I know not all f150's are lemons but once was enough for me.

not bashing ford as my f150 was perfect in every day I loved the truck but they have issues at the moment with their engines and it appears they dont know how to correct these problems that's why I called it quits.

Normal
 

So far everything except the PCM has been explained as NORMAL.
Noises when lifting off throttle after normal acceleration.... NORMAL and part of intake system in all 5.0 Fords...... BS
Running out of GAS when you have 10+ in a 36 gallon tank..... NORMAL Ford told me in writing that you should always have more than 1/4 tank of gas.... (I did but guess 10/36 is less than 1/4 with Ford)
Noised from Transmission....... NORMAL cant hear anything! (now that we have supplied video this is on list to be addressed with ENGINEER)

I already have a lawyer on this but apparently FORD makes their customers fight like hell against DEFECTIVE vehicles. Time for a Toyota!!!

Ford didn't fight me at all, just over 30 days in the shop and they are buying it back, and yes I picked up an 18 Tundra platinum. I did have to give somethings up like push button start and the comfort access, no true locking diff, less towing and capacity. But I did gain full LED headlights, auto highbeams, BSM, RCTA, PCA, adaptive cruise control,both side mirrors auto dim, rear view mirror includes homelink soft drop tailgate standard all though it doesnt lock with the remote and slightly less MPG. But I'll take that for the reliability...

I'm sure there are thousands of f150's out there trouble free but I dont have the time or patience to find out, my ford dealer was horrible and the Toyota dealer was a complete 180.

The f150 is a great truck and very capable and I would have kept it forever if they could have fixed the loud embarrasing annoying rattle everytime I let go of the gas pedal

So i bought my 18 5.0 10 Speed 4x4 in December and have about 6500 miles on it now. I love the look, power, and features in my truck, BUT there is a 'popping' noise on acceleration I get and can reproduce when it happens and is similar to what I saw in the thread above. Most annoying though, is the clunky feel of the shifting when I decelerate and accelerate in traffic in the 30-50mph range, and this is becoming more frequent, not less frequent with miles. Sometimes I feel a thud when coasting to a stop and will also feel the gears in transition. This makes for a bumpy ride and sometimes feels as if the transmission is shaking. I have had it into the dealer 3 times now since I had about 1400 miles on it and their answer is 'normal operations' even though they feel and acknowledge the problem. First they ran a TSB for the PCM, then they re-flashed the PCM, and the next time they changed my oil for free and test drove and told me everything was normal. The service manager told me the last time in that he knows I have a problem, and referred me to file a claim, only for him and his employee to tell the Regional Manager that they told me this was 'normal operations' and the way the truck is supposed to shift. The dealership has told me they were on the phone with an engineer and there are 100's of complaints, but still they responded to Ford they told me this was normal. The Regional Manager told me today to get a second opinion and she would follow up with me. So we'll see. i am just irritated that I am spending the money I am for a new vehicle that is supposed to be seamless and they are telling me it is normal when it comes down to making it right. Am I crazy? I think not.
Others have ridden in my truck and questioned me about the jerks and noises without me prompting, and my wife is definitely tired of hearing about it. Any suggestions?.

The only seamless transmission, despite what you may believe, is a CVT/Continuously Variable Transmission. You're going to "feel the gears" from time to time; it's a 10-speed. Personally, I think that the shift software is still being developed but they're selling them anyway.

How's the engine run?

Engine
 

Runs great!! And as far as 10 speeds and being able to feel gears, how is that a known expectation when this is the first year for Ford and GM to put one out? Plus, when I test drove this vehicle, and for a week or two later, the issue didn't really rear its head but rather felt like newness. Now it is more apparent. More frequent. Definitely not a quality ride, and my '04 I had for 13 years never felt like this. Disappointing. Talked to the Dealer personally today...we will see.

Yeah...the 6R80 in mine has never been smooth. I've made comparisons to others with the same transmission/engine and it jerks, feels sloppy, slams into gear and surges. I've been told over and over again that it's normal. Originally, I brought it in and they said that it was still "learning" my driving habits...but nah...that's not it. I would push to get it resolved if you've tested other 10-speeds that drive smoother and you've put a few thousand on since you've bought it with no changes in shift quality.

Apples is correct, though...you'll always feel your transmission shift. The change in acceleration from one gear to the next is what you feel with a geared transmission...no transmission I know of other than a CVT (which doesn't "shift" at all) transitions from one ratio to the next without being felt somewhat.

I like firm shifts in an automatic, but I also don't like feeling like the vehicle is going to break in half. There is a pretty broad sweet spot between those two scenarios for the performance enthusiast. For everyone else, there is D for Drive. Meanwhile, I get by with Manual + Sport. :D Shifts still aren't as crisp as I'd like, though.

I hope that our new friend Fordfurlife's transmission issues will be ironed out with perhaps a software update. Good to hear his 5.0 is running correctly! Lowrd knows there are some of us with 5.0s that are suffering. I still think it is a fantastic engine. :thumbsup:

Older automatics were called "slushboxes" for a reason. They are smooth due to the lack of actual ability to even shift hard and stay in torque converter lockup earlier. tc 80-100% lockup doesn't feel smooth but it's more fuel efficient.

Hi has anyone gotten the CNG propane package just for the hardened valves on the 5.0? Wondering if they would be better. Also have the fixed the #4 cylinder issue for the 5.0 in 2018? I've read a lot of threads where guys have gotten the short block or long block replaced, then I found this thread with clicking transmission issues. One common thread is that no matter what it is the dealer seems to say its normal, if thats the case why didn't it do whatever its doing when you bought it? I was leaning towards the 5.0 over the 3.5 but kind of being scared back to the 3.5. Or does the 3.5 have just as many issues. I like ford but it seems they are having more engine issues than gm or dodge, or my googling is just off. Also anyone have mileage on a 5.0 SCREW with 3.73? Thanks!

That's the irritating part.. My engine runs perfect as well. It pulls strong and the bonus is.. it's fast!
I'm so close to having a perfect vehicle, which imo is hard to attain with any mass produced product that has so many moving parts.
If only that damn pop didn't make my passengers ask me what's that noise I'm hearing and feeling...? She would be and I'm still confident it's going to be a great truck.

Like someone else said; when I test drove mine, it drove beautifully. Definitely didn't have the pop and I didn't notice the transmission down shifting at all in those 20 minutes. 20 minutes of no radio and listening intently for anything that says; Don't buy me.. I'm one of those problem trucks that gets put together first thing Friday morning, when everyone everywhere, hates their job.

The few quirks showed up days later and I attributed it to me getting more comfortable with and not ***** footing it anymore.
Also, starting to become more in tune with the truck & it's characteristics and then comparing all 10 of those gears to the flawless 6 gears I was so used to for the past 6 years.

I had actually gotten used to the clunky bottom 3 gears when coming to a stop and learned how to anticipate the slight surge I get between either 3rd or fourth to first, or second gear to first gear.

Now the million dollar question.. was I supposed to get used to it and it's 4 extra gears and just that's how it is? Or... is it in need of some serious software flashing and no, I should've just driven off and enjoyed how powerful the engine is and the transmission shouldn't have made me think about it, and certainly not here discussing it..?

Don't let this forum scare you. In reality, all of their engines have their issues which you will certainly see/read about on the forums. What you don't see is the thousands and thousands of people that aren't having issues come here to post saying "No problems here!"

My '15 SCAB 2.7L blew a turbo at 40,000 miles (of course it's just after warranty), but I am ordering an '18 5.0 to replace it. I have driven both of my friends 5.0s and they have no issues. I am using this thread as a "know what to look/listen for" before driving the truck off the lot.

Subscribed
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So are you going with the 5.0 over the 3.5 based on reliability concerns or other reasons. Seems like they get about the same mileage. I was wanting a 5.0 with 3.73 gears

and it could be that thousand and thousands are having the same problem but they just aren't members of this forum or they never really pay attention.

That's way way way less likely. thousands and thousands we'd see it on jalopnik by now.

also the powertrain warranty is 60k or 5 years so aren't you still under warranty?

So far
 

2018 Lariat SCrew Sport 5.0

This is my third F150 with the 5.0 and the first one that I've had problems with. I haven't had most of the problems that I've been reading here, but at 1769km/1099miles it dropped a valve in the #7 cylinder which seized the engine.

Under 30 drivetrain slap
 

Most dealers wont touch this with a 10 foot stick. Its just the way the truck engages/disengages. Others have described it like have a manual trans and feeling the difference between accel/decel and that is spot on.
A quick trip to youtube and you can find a few videos of guys who mount cameras under their f150 in an effort to see to problem. Well if you watch, these motors/trans shift and move around quite a bit on WOT. Maybe its Ford engineereing but they may want to keep things a bit squishier to help with longevity. Either way its Bull crap and no truck should drive or feel like that.
Solution: take matters into your own hands. These trucks come stock with one of the worst rear pinion angles I have seen. Take off your rear driveshaft and regrease the slip yoke. Shim your rear angle up a bit. This will help.
Solution: Replace your transmission mount with the raptor tranny mount. It is much more firm and less forgiving bit takes a bit of that slack out.
Solution: When coming out of a coasting roll, ease on the gas pedal ever so slightly. Sometimes it feels like its doimg nothing but its actually locking the torque converter up.

All of these things have helped my truck feel and drive way better than the stock feel. Keep in mind I have a 7" lift kit installed
There is no excuse for the way these ****ty drivetrains can feel at times. I do believe they are strong and will last, but sometimes they feel awful. I beat my pickup truck daily, drive over and around and its fast and loud. Try to Use it for every inch of its life and see of you can break something before your 60k or whatever warranty you have expires. These trucks are desinged by humans, made by machines that are made by humans and of course hand assembled in some capacity by humans. My advice, drive it like the imperfect POS it is because we arent much better. Have fun, be safe.

Very little or no paint or undercoating on rear differential and you will have rust,spray paint is your friend even though you shouldn't have to do that but I have a few times!

I recently traded my 2016 Lariat Sport 5.0 for a 2018 Platinum 5.0 FX4 and I am experiencing the popping noise when letting off of the accelerator after an up shift. I now have 1,500 miles on the Platinum. To me it sounds like a plastic bag popping and I find the loudness of the pop varies. It sounds like its coming from the passenger side by the fire wall which makes me think its something to do with the intake manifold actuator valve. It looks like it may have a diaphragm in it and might be the cause of the sound. As for the rattling sound when cold both my 2016 5.0 and 2018 5.0 make the exact same rattle until the engine warms up, so I don't think its the 10 speed. My 10 speed was a little harsh while in the learning phase but shifts really nice now, I would say comparable to my 6 speed in the 2016. I also noticed the whine which seems to have quieted down a little or I just may have gotten used to it.

Well described. Sounds like we're driving the same truck.

Thanks, It does seem like we are driving the same truck. The truck runs and drives great, the noise is just annoying for now. If it continues, I will have to bring it in so they can at least get it on record in the system.

2018 V8 F150 Major Junk
 

So its been a while since an update:
I have dealt with the popping noise after acceleration and letting off to decel (Ford says its normal) Intake Valve Related.
Then I had a PCM failure. Replaced by Ford
Since getting it back drove it 1000 miles to retrain but still runs and shifts like crap. 30 plus days in dealer and dealer found I was running on 7 cylinders... FMC from MI had to remote into my truck to fix PCM issues.
Despite having it a month FMC rep said no noises found. I reproduced for dealer day I picked it back up, dealer reps verified and amended my ticket, recorded more on video. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEt...1Pu0k7j6Aer-EQ
Dealer said to call Ford and request a buy back or replacement Waited a week and they came back to say my truck is 100% normal (tough luck) no assistance. Sue us. So I am!
I called the dealer back and have an appointment again Friday for the noise that I can repeat all the time but they and Ford have done nothing to address. In addition my truck still runs like crap, pings all the time between 1500 and 2000 rpm, pulses under low RPM up hills like a wounded dog. Total embarrassment for a 55k truck.

So In the 5 months I have owned this POS it has been in the shop like 65 days. I have on my own driven other 2018 V8 10 Speed trucks. The popping noise we hear after acceleration and letting off at normal driving speeds does seem to be louder in some trucks than others. I'll chalk it up to NORMAL LOL. The Rat-a-Tat-Tat when rolling and letting off the gas is NOT normal and I have only been able to produce it in my truck... (although this board comforts me in that I am not alone) The pinging and pulsing didn't exist in mine for the first 3000 miles until they replaced a melted down PCM, and none of the other new ones I have driven drive like mine either so NOT NORMAL in my case.

I have purchased a Steelman 97202 Wireless ChassisEAR Diagnostic Device Kit I want to isolate these noises so I stop getting BS's by FORD and FMC. Then I can strap them on NEW trucks to directly compare when they say our crap is NORMAL

I also have the rattling when letting foot off the gas on the 2018 5.0. I will have more of an update in the next couple days, but wanted to let some of you know what I found out yesterday from the dealer.

I took it is yesterday for the TCM update (TSB 17-2662) for builds prior to December (makes a fairly large difference, BTW... definitely a better driving experience now), and for the rattle. It was 70 and rainy yesterday. It rattled in my driveway, then after the 20 minute driver to the dealer it didn't. So they couldn't reproduce it. However, I took video of it doing it the night before so I showed that to the mechanic. He was really good, seemed to really know what he was talking about. He immediately new it was one of two things. I don't remember one of the things he said, but the other one was the VCT selenoid. Sure enough, you can atually feel it vibrate when it happens. So it is NOT the timing chain. The mechanic said that it opening and closing, causing the rattle, is computer controlled. This exlains why MyronE had this replaced and it didn't fix the problem.

Also, we started up another vehicle on their lot that was a September build and is brand new (11 miles on the clock). It did the same thing, re: rattle. Later today I'm going to the dealer I bought it from for its first (free) oil change, and will ask to try a newer build 5.0 and see if it rattles. I actually trust the other dealer's mechanics more, and they got me in sooner. Also, the mechanic said he was going to send a note into Ford through their system as to the VCT selenoid rattle and see what their response is, and have the serive advisor call me back possibly as early as today. He said if enough people/dealers compain about it that they might come out with a software fix (as of now it seems to be mostly improperly diagnosed).

I will update later when I know more, but the rattle doesn't seem to be anything to worry about in the 5.0.

what is your build date?

The rattle we hear when rolling slowly and letting off the gas comes from the VCT solenoids, I revved mine up in neutral and you can feel it on the solenoids. As for the Pop we hear when letting off the gas under moderate to heavy acceleration is most likely the intake runners control on the back of the intake manifold switching modes. The Ping from 1500-2000 is spark knock because the engine is lugging. I REALLY hope Ford comes out with a new calibration to fix this!

Once you get the Chasis Ears you can verify the noises.

I am beyond thrilled to have to be diagnosing problems with a BRAND NEW TRUCK! The fact that I have to purchase chassis ears to prove my point is beyond out of control. How do you sell a 55k truck and tell clients highly audible clacking noises are NORMAL... Totally unacceptable.

Ford's approach that everything is NORMAL is beyond astounding to me. I have owned since married; 1997 Ram Caravan, 2005 Chevy Suburban, 2011 Suburban, 2013 and 2014 Ram 1500 and now this POS F150. My wife has had a 1993 VW Passat, 1995 Jetta, 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2006 Honda Pilot, 2009 Toyota Sienna, and a 2014 Sienna and now a 2014 MB GL450. All mixes of used and new throughout the years. The only vehicle that has had an issue this severe was the 1993 Passat which was a total disaster but at least VW stepped up in the end and said this is crap and put us into a Jetta that ran 100k+ without anything other than an alternator. The Ram's all suffered transmission issues and Ram put me into the 2014 after two trannies in the 2013 before 36k. The 2014 at 56k was having the same issues to I gave up, and purchased the more expensive BUILD TOUGH! Ford....... which is just like the VW Passat (which I called Piso Shatta) where we have to record and prove on my own that there is a problem that is NOT normal.

That was the only thing that worried me about the 10 speed, hopefully Ford reenginered it before putting it into production.

I have had no problems with my 2018 except the shifter clip recall. 10,000 miles and counting.

Trade?
 

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...eebed42869.jpg

Looks good on a Flatbed!!
Mine just turned 7000 miles.... Wanna trade???? :no:

I dont have the pop or ping noises (or just have not noticed them), just rattle. But makes sense all these things are software related with being so common.


The question is... how do we notify ford? I guess by taking to dealer since ford tracks this kind of thing? If you call the general number you get someone in china that isnt in any position to pass along the issues to the engineers.