Detroit, Michigan – Ford Motor Co. announced a recall on Tuesday for 2014 model year F-150 pickup trucks due to a potential dangerous issue with the transmission. The company revealed that the trucks could unexpectedly downshift into the first gear, leading to the driver losing control of the vehicle or the rear wheels locking up.
The recall, which impacts 668,000 Ford F-150 trucks globally, includes 552,000 vehicles in the United States. Ford reported 300 warranty claims, 96 field reports, and 124 customer complaints related to the unexpected downshifting problem on the 2014 F-150 trucks. Among these reports are two injuries and one crash potentially linked to the issue.
To address the transmission issue, Ford plans to provide a software update performed by dealers on the powertrain control module software in the third quarter of 2024. The company expects customers to be able to have the repair completed using mobile service and pickup and delivery at participating dealerships.
NHTSA and Ford have been in discussions since March before Ford agreed to the recall. The company anticipates less than 1% of the total recall population will be affected by this issue. Moreover, Ford noted that the rate of downshift reports for the 2014 F-150 trucks remains lower than previous model years that were recalled in the past.
In the past, Ford had recalls related to transmission issues on the 2011-2012 Ford F-150 vehicles and expanded recalls to cover 1.48 million F-150 trucks, including 2013 models. The company also issued a separate recall for 107,000 2013 F-150 trucks due to a problem with the initial fix.
Overall, Ford is taking proactive steps to address the transmission issue with the 2014 F-150 trucks and aims to ensure the safety and satisfaction of its customers. The company’s commitment to addressing potential safety concerns underscores its dedication to quality and reliability in its products.