Why is my truck hesitating so badly now?

Advice Needed
1

I noticed a slight hesitation in acceleration after stopping ever since I got my truck. It wasn’t a big deal at first, but today it got much worse. It hesitates for a long time before accelerating, like it’s thinking too hard. I’m really worried it might be the cam phasers.

I’ve tried a few things—fresh oil change (5W-20), new spark plugs, and added Seafoam to the tank and crankcase (by the way, do I need to drain oil if I add it there?). Has anyone else dealt with this? What worked for you? This is my favorite vehicle, and I want to keep it running great.

2

It might be a transmission issue. Be careful with Seafoam in the crankcase—some vehicles handle it fine, but others don’t. You might want to check with a mechanic to see if it’s safe for your truck.

3

Here’s a link to a technical service bulletin that might help: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10203646-0001.pdf

4

Blair said:
Here’s a link to a technical service bulletin that might help: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10203646-0001.pdf

I love how the fix is basically telling you to gun it and blow the carbon out. Classic advice.

5

This happens with my Expedition too, and I hate it. I’ve been through five of these and still no solutions from Ford.

6

Devin said:
This happens with my Expedition too, and I hate it. I’ve been through five of these and still no solutions from Ford.

That’s frustrating! When the hesitation got really bad today, it scared me. I’m starting to worry about driving it now.

7

Devin said:
This happens with my Expedition too, and I hate it. I’ve been through five of these and still no solutions from Ford.

Ford has posted a bulletin about this problem. Maybe check it out?

8

Have you tried putting it in neutral? It might help figure out if the hesitation is from the engine or the transmission.

9

Caden said:
Have you tried putting it in neutral? It might help figure out if the hesitation is from the engine or the transmission.

Do you mean I should shift into neutral when I come to a stop?

10

When it hesitates, does it feel like it lags when accelerating? Or does it lose power or stutter when stopping?

11

Vin said:
When it hesitates, does it feel like it lags when accelerating? Or does it lose power or stutter when stopping?

When I feel the hesitation, I go easy on the gas until it’s back to normal. I’ve never tried stepping on it to see what happens.

12

@Wylie
You should try stepping on it to see if there’s a lag or stutter when you do. It could help pinpoint the issue.

13

I had a similar problem with my ‘16. It started with a small lag, then one day while towing my boat, it wouldn’t go past 3000 RPMs. Restarting the engine fixed it temporarily. A few weeks later, I got an underboost code (P0299). Mechanic couldn’t find anything wrong, but I still feel the lag sometimes, even though no one else seems to notice.

14

I had a similar issue, and it turned out to be a frayed wire from the throttle position sensor.

15

Is your truck a 2020 or 2021?

16

Blair said:
Is your truck a 2020 or 2021?

Here’s some info from a technical service bulletin:

Some trucks built before December 2022 may have issues with harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This can be due to software or mechanical problems in the transmission. The service bulletin outlines fixes for certain models and years. You might want to look into this if it applies to your vehicle.

17

Blair said:
Is your truck a 2020 or 2021?

It’s a 2015.

18

This sounds like a transmission issue to me. My cam phasers are going bad, but they only make a terrible noise when starting the engine—they haven’t affected how the car drives.

19

Ciel said:
This sounds like a transmission issue to me. My cam phasers are going bad, but they only make a terrible noise when starting the engine—they haven’t affected how the car drives.

Oh no! I have an OBD2 reader, but it’s not showing any error codes.

20

@Wylie
When my transmission first started failing, it didn’t throw codes either. The dealership initially said everything was fine. A few months later, they told me I needed a new transmission. How many miles does your truck have?