Federal investigators are examining over 1.3 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks due to a potential transmission issue. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated it is premature to determine whether this will lead to a recall.
The NHTSA initiated the probe after receiving consumer complaints about unexpected gear downshifts, sometimes accompanied by a temporary rear wheel lock-up. The investigation covers Ford F-150 trucks from the 2015 to 2017 model years that have six-speed transmissions, following 138 consumer complaints. These complaints allege that the unexpected downshifts to lower gears occurred without warning or driver input, while the vehicles were traveling at highway speeds.
The sudden downshift caused rapid deceleration, potentially increasing crash risk. A Ford spokesperson confirmed to Reuters on Monday that the company is “working with NHTSA to support its investigation.”
The NHTSA will begin with a preliminary evaluation and could then elevate the investigation to an engineering analysis, which might lead to a recall. The agency noted that some complaints described instances where the rear wheels locked up and skidded during the downshift, increasing the risk of a crash or loss of control. However, the agency also reported no crashes or fires related to the issue.
One 2023 complaint from an Ohio owner detailed a 2016 F-150’s automatic shift from sixth gear to first gear while traveling at 70 mph, which the driver said “nearly [threw] me through the windshield.”
Consumers who sought repairs for this issue have reported extended wait times for replacement parts.
Ford has recalled other F-150 models for similar downshifting issues. In June 2024, the NHTSA recalled 668,000 model-year 2014 F-150 trucks due to a comparable problem, and in 2016, Ford recalled 153,000 F-150s from 2011-2012.
