550K Ford F-150 trucks recalled because they can downshift to first gear without warning - mlive.com

Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit)Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit

DETROIT -- An estimated 550,000 Ford F-150 trucks have been recalled because they can shift into first gear without warning and no matter how fast the truck is traveling. According to the Associated Press, the recall impacts certain 2014 models of the top-selling truck.

Ford believes the issue is caused by a lost of signal between the transmission speed sensor and the powertrain control computer. An issue with the connector pins has also been identified as a possible cause.

Documents posted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate the unexpected downshifting can lead to a loss of control for the driver, increasing the risk of a crash. A statement issued by Ford says that some drivers may see a malfunction indicator light on the dashboard just before the truck downshifts.

Some drivers have experienced the signal being restored while the truck was being driven, while others have had to stop the vehicle and restart the engine to get the transmission to work properly, according to the AP. Ford believes less than 1% of the recalled trucks actually suffer from the signal loss.

To correct the problem Ford will update powertrain control software and aims to have the fix ready in the third quarter of 2024. Affected owners will be able to utilize mobile service or pickup and delivery at participating dealers, according to Ford. Owners of recalled trucks will be alert via letter starting in July.

Ford is aware of 396 warranty and field reports related to the issued and 124 customer complaints involving 482 trucks. Another 130 complaints have been made to the government, with 52 involving allegations that the read wheels locked up or drivers lost control of the truck.

Two injuries have been reported as a result of the problem and one crash may have been caused by the issue.

An NHTSA investigation began in March after the company received several reports of the truck automatically downshifting. The agency says it is also into whether the trucks should have been included in previous recalls for a similar problem involving different models of the trucks.

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