NHTSA Investigates Ford F-150 Pickups Over Sudden Downshift Concerns
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into potential safety issues with nearly 1.3 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks from the 2015 to 2017 model years. The investigation follows reports of unexpected downshifts while the vehicles are traveling on highways.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation initiated the probe on Friday after receiving 138 consumer complaints. The office will assess the severity of the potential problem and its safety implications. No crashes or fires have been reported at the time of the story.
Consumers reported that the trucks would unexpectedly downshift to a lower gear without any warning or driver input while at highway speeds. This would cause the vehicle to rapidly decelerate. Some complaints noted that the vehicle’s rear wheels would lock, seize, or skid temporarily during the downshift, potentially causing a loss of control. This situation could increase the risk of crashes and injury, according to the NHTSA.
The preliminary evaluation covers the Ford F-150 models from 2015 to 2017.
