The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into nearly 1.3 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks due to concerns about unexpected gear shifts. This investigation affects models from 2015 to 2017 and comes after 138 complaints from drivers.
Drivers have reported that their trucks can suddenly downshift to lower gears while driving at highway speeds, which can cause the vehicle to decelerate quickly without any input from the driver. In some cases, the rear wheels have temporarily locked up, leading to a loss of control. Although no crashes or fires have been reported, the NHTSA warns that this issue could increase the risk of accidents.
A Ford spokesperson stated that the company is cooperating with NHTSA and noted that the problem is linked to vehicles equipped with six-speed transmissions. The NHTSA has started a preliminary evaluation and will decide later whether to conduct a more in-depth engineering analysis, which could eventually lead to a recall.
This isn’t the first time Ford has faced issues with unexpected downshifting in the F-150. Earlier this year, the company recalled 668,000 2014 model year F-150 trucks for similar problems. In 2016, Ford recalled 153,000 trucks from the 2011 and 2012 model years for the same reason. NHTSA has been investigating this issue since December 2017, and in 2019, Ford expanded its recall to include 1.48 million trucks, including the 2013 models.
One owner from Ohio shared a frightening experience, stating that while driving at 70 mph, their 2016 F-150 shifted from sixth gear to first gear unexpectedly, nearly causing an accident. Many owners have also reported long delays in receiving replacement parts.
This ongoing investigation highlights the challenges Ford faces with its F-150 line, as well as the importance of addressing safety concerns promptly. In November, Ford agreed to pay a $165 million civil penalty for failing to recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras in a timely manner, further emphasizing the scrutiny the company is under regarding vehicle safety.