According to media reports, on March 24, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced an investigation into nearly 1.3 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks following reports of unexpected downshifting. These incidents were reportedly accompanied by temporary rear-wheel lockup.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), a division of NHTSA, has received 138 consumer complaints related to this issue. The agency will assess the severity of the potential defect and its impact on vehicle safety.
Consumers reported that while driving at high speeds on the highway, the F-150's transmission unexpectedly downshifted to a lower gear without warning or driver input, causing the vehicle to decelerate suddenly.
Some complaints also stated that during these downshifts, the vehicle's rear wheels temporarily locked up, became stuck, or slipped, potentially leading to a loss of control. NHTSA noted that this issue could increase the risk of crashes and injuries. However, no reports of collisions or fires related to the issue have been received so far.
The preliminary investigation was launched on March 21 and covers Ford F-150 models from the 2015 to 2017 model years.
Ford F-150: America's Best-Selling Truck Faces Recalls
The Ford F-Series pickup is the best-selling vehicle in the U.S., but this popular model has faced multiple recalls in the past.
In June 2024, Ford recalled over 550,000 F-150 trucks in the U.S. due to a transmission issue that could cause the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift to first gear at any speed. That recall affected certain 2014 model-year F-150 trucks.
NHTSA documents at the time indicated that such unexpected downshifts could lead to a loss of driver control and an increased risk of crashes.
The issue was attributed to a loss of signal between the transmission speed sensor and the powertrain control module. Additionally, connector pin corrosion and other related issues were identified as potential contributing factors.
In January 2024, Ford recalled nearly 113,000 F-150 trucks due to a risk of rear axle hub fractures, which could cause a loss of power or allow the vehicle to roll away while in park.
Earlier, in July 2023, Ford recalled approximately 870,000 F-150 pickups over a parking brake defect that could engage unexpectedly, potentially causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
