Ford is recalling approximately 1.4 million F-150 pickup trucks in the United States because of a gearshift defect that can cause unintended downshifts and loss of vehicle control. The recall, announced April 17, affects F-150 light trucks with six-speed automatic transmissions manufactured between March 12, 2014 and August 18, 2017. Ford is aware of 444 warranty claims and 105 customer service reports potentially linked to the issue, along with two reported injuries and one accident possibly connected to the defect.
The Transmission Defect
An intermittent malfunction in the transmission range sensor can trigger an unintended downshift into second gear, causing an abrupt reduction in wheel speed.
Safety Consequences
This may cause the rear tires to slide until the vehicle slows, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s safety recall report.
Ford’s Remedy
Vehicle owners will be notified by mail and instructed to bring their trucks to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for a powertrain control module calibration update, which will be performed at no cost.