Ford F-150 Trucks Face Investigation Over Gear Shift Concerns
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a preliminary evaluation into nearly 1.3 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks due to reports of unexpected gear downshifts. The investigation focuses on models from the 2015 to 2017 model years, following complaints from 138 consumers.
Complaints involve unexpected downshifts to lower gears at highway speeds, occurring without warning and causing rapid deceleration. This can lead to a loss of control. One owner of a 2016 F-150 stated that the truck shifted from 6th gear to 1st gear while driving on the highway at 70 mph, almost causing them to go through the windshield.
According to NHTSA, some owners reported the vehicle’s rear wheels locking, seizing, or skidding during the downshift. While the agency noted that no crashes or fires have been reported, the sudden shift could increase the risk of an accident.
Ford has acknowledged the investigation. A spokesperson stated that the automaker is “working with NHTSA to support its investigation,” noting that the issue involves vehicles equipped with six-speed transmissions. Ford has not yet commented on the potential impact on Canadian consumers, and Transport Canada has not yet responded to inquiries about the issue.
Prior to any recall, NHTSA will evaluate the issue and determine whether to conduct a more comprehensive engineering analysis. If further investigation reveals safety risks, a recall may be issued.
Prior to this, Ford has issued recalls the same issue multiple times, going back to 2016.
