Detroit, Michigan – Ford Motor Company announced a recall for 2014 model year F-150 pickup trucks due to a transmission issue that could potentially lead to the truck unexpectedly downshifting into first gear. This recall affects 668,000 Ford F-150 trucks globally, with 552,000 of those in the United States. The recall was prompted by reports of unexpected downshifting, which could result in loss of control for the driver or locking up of the rear wheels.
The issue with the transmission occurs when there is a loss of signal, leading to the downshifting regardless of vehicle speed. Ford has been made aware of 300 warranty reports, 96 field reports, and 124 customer complaints regarding this problem. There have been reports of injuries and at least one crash potentially linked to the issue. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been monitoring the situation, with one owner reporting a crash that resulted in injuries to both drivers.
Ford plans to address the issue with a software update that will be performed by dealers on the powertrain control module software. The company expects the repair to be available in the third quarter of 2024. Customers will have the option to complete the repair using mobile services and pickup and delivery at participating dealerships.
NHTSA has been in discussions with Ford regarding the issue since March, leading up to the agreement for the recall. Despite the large number of vehicles affected by the recall, Ford believes that the rate of downshift reports for the 2014 model year F-150 remains lower compared to previous model years that were subject to recalls for similar issues.
This is not the first time Ford has faced transmission issues with the F-150. In 2016, the company recalled 153,000 2011-2012 Ford F-150 vehicles for a similar downshifting problem. Subsequent investigations and recalls expanded the scope to cover more vehicles, including 2013 models. However, Ford is working diligently to address the latest transmission issue and ensure the safety of its customers.
