Service bulletin 18U12

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10137150
Published by NHTSA	2018-05-21
Manufacturer's number	18U12
Manufacturer's date	2018-04-09
NHTSA component	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NHTSA's summary

Certain 2018 Model Year Escape and MKC Vehicles - Transmission Bell Housing Bolt TorqueCertain 2012-2016 Model Year F-450 ? F-750 and F-59 Commercial Stripped Chassis Vehicles Equipped with a 6.8L Engine - Camshaft Roller Follower Replacement

The document

The document is the manufacturer's. This site does not hold it. NHTSA files a document at one of these two addresses; we have not asked NHTSA which.

Components

Transmission and driveline, Automatic transmission

Vehicles listed
FORD ESCAPE	2018
FORD F SUPER DUTY
FORD F-53	2012 to 2016
FORD F-650 SD	2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
FORD F-750 SD	2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 (the catalog's model; the bulletin names a series or trim of it)
LINCOLN MKC	2018

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Recalls for the same vehicles and component
22V413000	2022-06-10. POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
15V789000	2015-11-24. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL); STEERING:COLUMN

A recall listed here may apply to some of the same vehicles. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
SSM 51854	2023-09-04. Service bulletin. Various 2013-2019 vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P264F after powertrain control module (PCM) replacement. This DTC indicates that the engine serial number (ESN) must be programmed into the PCM. The ESN is located on PTS > Diagnostics tab > HVBoM > Features > Engine Serial Number. Once the ESN is obtained from the historical vehicle bill of materials (HvBOM), it can be programmed into the PCM using the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. Navigate to the toolbox tab> powertrain menu> Service Functions> ESN.
SSM 51849	2023-09-01. Service bulletin. Various 2013-2019 vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P264F after powertrain control module (PCM) replacement. This DTC indicates that the engine serial number (ESN) must be programmed into the PCM. The ESN is located on PTS> OASIS> Features> Engine Serial Number. Once the ESN is obtained from the historical vehicle bill of materials (HvBOM), it can be programmed into the PCM using the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool. Navigate to the toolbox tab> powertrain menu> Service Functions> ESN.
20B27 S1	2022-09-01. Service bulletin. Certain 2015-2019 MKC and 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles equipped with the 2.3L engine and 6F35 transmission; Powertrain Control Module reprogram. Supplement: Program terms will be in effect through August 31, 2023 This program is now eligible for mobile repairs
19B37-S4	2022-06-10. Service bulletin. Certain 2017-2019 Model Year Fusion and Escape Vehicles Equipped with a 1.5L GTDI Engine - Powertrain Control Module Reprogramming. Some of the affected vehicles may exhibit coolant intrusion into the cylinder bores. Customer symptoms include coolant loss, excessive tailpipe smoke, or illuminated malfunction indicator lights (MIL) due to engine misfire. Over time, this condition may damage the engine, requiring replacement of the engine short block.
SSM 50636	2022-03-29. Service bulletin. 2011-2022 F-Super Duty and 2016-2023 F-650/F-750 vehicles equipped with a 6.7L engine may exhibit an elevated idle condition. During prolonged idle time, vehicles may experience this elevated idle to reduce unburned hydrocarbons from the SCR. The powertrain control module estimates hydrocarbon levels in the SCR and may increase idle speed to remove them. Idle speed will be increased to 1000 RPM for ambient temperatures near 26°C (80°F) and may increase to 1200 RPM at -40 °C (-40°F). Vehicles may exhibit exhaust smoke and diesel exhaust fluid smell during elevated idle condition. Exhaust smoke and smell condition will not affect reliability or durability of the engine. Power take-off (PTO) use and idle set point control will disable elevated speed. It is required that the operator monitor the vehicle and adhere to any Exhaust Filter warning messages.
SSM 50549	2022-03-08. Service bulletin. Some 2018-2020 F-150, 2017-2022 F-Super Duty and 2016-2022 F-650/F-750 vehicles equipped with a diesel engine may exhibit diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0000 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM) after an on-demand self test. This DTC is due to a processing error in the PCM as a result of on-demand self testing. P0000 is an invalid DTC that will not illuminate the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and no repairs should be performed.
TSB 21-2336	2021-10-05. Service bulletin. Some 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles built on or before 1-Apr-2020 equipped with a 3.0L diesel engine, 2017-2019 F-Super Duty vehicles built on or before 30-Oct-2019 equipped with a 6.7L engine and 2016-2019 F-650/F-750 vehicles built on or before 30-Oct-2019 equipped with a 6.7L engine may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P21DD, P20BA. P20B9, P204C, P208A, P208B, P208C, P203B, P205B, P21CD and/or U02A2 in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to water intrusion within connectors C3613 and/or C4851/C3610 on the reductant harness going to the reductant pump/heater assembly and the reductant level sensor/quality module. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the reductant tank harness, the reductant pump/heater assembly and/or the reductant tank.
TSB 21-2269	2021-09-30. Service bulletin. Some 2014-2019 Fusion vehicles built on or before 10-Jun-2019 and 2017-2019 Escape vehicles built on or before 08-Apr-2019 equipped with a 1.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) with only diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300, P0301-P0304, P0316, P0217, P1285 and/or P1299 stored in powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to coolant intrusion into the cylinder. To resolve the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the short block and head gasket.
SSM 49821	2021-06-01. Service bulletin. Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. Before attempting any component diagnosis or replacement of the VCT solenoid, refer to Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) pinpoint test HK11 to cycle the affected VCT solenoid 10 times to attempt to clear the debris. For claiming, use causal part 6M280 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
TSB 20-2271	2021-01-05. Service bulletin. Some 2015-2019 MKC and 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine may exhibit a vibration/rough idle when the vehicle is in DRIVE or REVERSE. The vehicle may also exhibit a lack of engine revolutions per minute (RPM), lack of acceleration on take off and/or shudder while driving. This may be due to the torque converter overheating causing damage to the torque converter as well as possible internal damage to the transmission. To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the torque converter and specified internal transmission components that may have been damaged.