Ford is recalling more than 550,000 F-150 pickup trucks in the U.S. due to a transmission defect that can cause the vehicles to unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of speed. This recall affects certain 2014 model year F-150 pickups, part of Ford’s top-selling F-Series.
According to documents posted by U.S. safety regulators, this downshifting issue can lead to a loss of vehicle control and an increased risk of crashes. The recall follows an investigation by U.S. auto safety regulators in March into complaints regarding abrupt downshifts in over 540,000 Ford pickup trucks from 2014.
The problem stems from a lost signal between the transmission speed sensor and the powertrain control computer, potentially due to corrosion and issues with connector pins. Dealers will update the powertrain control software for free, and owners will be notified by letter in early July. Repairs are expected to be available in the third quarter of this year, with mobile service or pickup and delivery options at participating dealers.
Ford has reported 396 warranty and field reports, 124 customer complaints, and 130 government complaints related to this issue, with 52 alleging rear wheel lockups or loss of control. Two injuries and one crash possibly linked to the defect have been reported.
Drivers might see a malfunction indicator light on the dashboard before a downshift. In some cases, signals can be restored while driving, allowing normal operation, but in other instances, drivers may need to stop and restart the engine to reset the transmission.
Ford anticipates that fewer than 1% of the recalled vehicles will exhibit this problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating whether these trucks should have been included in previous recalls addressing similar issues. Ford recalled trucks from the 2011-2012 model years in 2016 and expanded the recall in 2019 to include 2011-2013 models, affecting approximately 1.5 million vehicles.
For questions, owners can contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332 and reference recall number “24S37.” Alternatively, they may contact NHTSA’s safety hotline at (888) 327-4236 or visit www.nhtsa.gov.
Previous F-150 Recalls:
- In January, Ford recalled nearly 113,000 F-150 pickups due to potential rear axle hub failures that could cause the vehicle to lose power or roll away when in park.
- In July 2023, approximately 870,000 F-150 pickups were recalled due to a faulty parking brake that could activate unexpectedly, causing a loss of control.
4o
