Ford has issued a safety recall for over 550,000 pickup trucks in the United States due to a transmission problem. The recall affects the automaker’s 2014 model F-150 pickup, which is part of the popular Ford F-series trucks that are the nation’s top-selling vehicles. The recall also includes vehicles sold in Canada.
According to documents posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected vehicles can unexpectedly downshift to first gear regardless of the speed of the vehicle. This is due to an “intermittent loss of the transmission Output Shaft Speed (OSS) sensor signal to the Powertrain Control Module.” The Safety Recall Report warns that this sudden downshift to first gear without warning could lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The recall comes after U.S. auto safety regulators launched an investigation in March following complaints about Ford pickup trucks abruptly downshifting to a lower gear. Ford has received 396 warranty and field reports, as well as 124 customer complaints, related to this problem.
Ford has identified multiple causes for the signal loss that triggers the downshift, including contamination, power short to ground, connector erosion, connector pin swaging, and incorrect outputs from the OSS sensor. The company is asking affected owners to contact their local dealership or call their toll-free number to determine if their vehicle is part of the recall.
Dealerships will update the powertrain control software free of charge. Ford plans to notify owners by letter in early July and expects repairs to be available in the third quarter of this year. Owners who have already paid for repairs prior to the recall may be eligible for reimbursement.
Ford acknowledges that it has received 130 complaints to the government, with 52 alleging that rear wheels locked up or that drivers lost control of the vehicle. Two injuries and one crash potentially caused by this issue have been reported. The company states that in some cases, a malfunction indicator light may appear on the dashboard before the downshift to first gear occurs. In certain situations, the OSS signal can be restored while the vehicle is in motion and can be driven normally. However, in other cases, the vehicle may need to be stopped and restarted to regain normal transmission operation.
Ford believes that less than 1 percent of the recalled vehicles will experience this problem. The company is working closely with the NHTSA to support the investigation and resolve the issue.
In addition to this transmission recall, Ford has recently issued recalls for other vehicles. Last month, they recalled 243,000 Maverick pickups in the U.S. due to a tail light illumination issue. The vehicle’s computer could falsely detect too much current on one or both tail lamps, causing them not to illuminate while the truck is being driven. However, the headlights, turn signals, and brake lights are not affected.
In April, Ford recalled over 55,000 SUVs and pickups in the U.S. and Canada due to a battery charge detection issue. This affected the Bronco Sport SUV built between 2021 and 2024 and the Maverick truck built in 2022. The powertrain and body control modules of these vehicles may fail to detect a change in battery charge level, leading to engine stalling and a failure to restart after a start-stop. Additionally, the hazard lights may not work.
In conclusion, Ford’s safety recall of over 550,000 pickup trucks is a response to an issue that can cause an unexpected downshift to first gear, potentially leading to a loss of vehicle control and an increased risk of a crash. The company is taking steps to address the problem by updating the powertrain control software and working with affected owners to resolve the issue. This recall is part of Ford’s commitment to ensuring the safety and satisfaction of its customers.
