Federal safety regulators are looking into a potential issue that may impact approximately 1.3 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks, following the receipt of over 100 consumer complaints regarding unexpected transmission shifts to a lower gear.
On Monday, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it has gathered 138 complaints concerning F-150 models from 2015 to 2017, which relate to unrequested transmission downshifts that are claimed to result in rapid deceleration of the vehicle.
Some complaints also suggest that these spontaneous downshifts may cause the rear wheels to momentarily lock, seize, or skid, thereby elevating the risk of crashes and injuries, as reported by the NHTSA.
This investigation focuses specifically on the 2015-2017 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 6-speed transmission. According to Maria Buczkowski, a spokesperson for Ford Motor Company, the automaker is “collaborating with the agency to facilitate its investigation,” as she informed USA TODAY.
The NHTSA has stated that a preliminary evaluation is currently in progress to assess whether the “scope and severity” of the safety concerns necessitate an official recall.
Other Ford vehicles recalled due to backup camera issues and improper fixes
This investigation comes on the heels of Ford recalling nearly 50,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles because of problems related to a backup camera that was inadequately repaired under a prior recall. The backup camera video output may malfunction in 2020-2023 Ford Explorers, Lincoln Aviators, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsairs, according to the NHTSA.
Additionally, Ford has issued two recalls due to incorrect remedies applied to earlier recalls. Nearly 13,000 vehicles made between 2021 and 2024, including the Bronco Sport and Maverick models from 2022 to 2023, may have body and powertrain control modules that could fail to recognize changes in the status of the 12-volt battery.
Furthermore, over 2,250 vehicles have been recalled because of improperly repaired 2021-2022 Edge models, which may result in the rearview camera displaying a blank or distorted image while reversing, as noted by the NHTSA.
Dealers are required to update the software at no cost and send out notification letters by April 24. For more details about these official recalls, click here.
Contributing: James Powel
