Ford is implementing a recall for 552,188 F-150 pickup trucks outfitted with a 6-speed automatic gearbox to rectify a defect that may trigger involuntary gear switches into first gear regardless of the truck’s velocity, the NHTSA announced on Tuesday. The broadened recall is specific to the 2014 Ford F-150 model.
In the trucks involved, a breakdown in communication between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module might lead to the spontaneous downshifts, as explained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Such a sudden gear change could lead to the loss of vehicle control, prompting this recall action. Should this occur, drivers might observe an alert light on the instrument panel.
2014 Ford F-150 Tremor
Occasionally, the lapse in signal could be transient and resolve on its own while in operation, per the recall document. If not, it may be necessary to halt and restart the vehicle to regain standard transmission operations.
In an effort to solve the issue, authorized dealers will upgrade the powertrain control module software at no expense. Ford is set to commence dispatching notification letters to vehicle owners on July 1. Owners are also welcomed to get in touch with Ford customer support at 1-866-436-7332 or check Ford’s recall portal and mention recall identifier 24S37.
2014 Ford F-150 Tremor
Ford has pinpointed several possible reasons for the fault, like “contamination, voltage short to ground, plug corrosion, terminal pin crimping, and erroneous outputs” from the output shaft speed sensor. This isn’t new territory for the manufacturer; it previously acknowledged similar issues by recalling 2011 and 2012 F-150 pickups to correct spontaneous downshifts.
Fewer than one percent of vehicles in the new recall pool are believed to exhibit the flaw that causes these involuntary gear changes. These specific trucks were pinpointed using production records that tracked the configurations for the powertrain control module corresponding to the affected vehicles. Initiated in February 2024, the recall steps were taken after Ford registered a surge in complaints concerning unintended downshifts on the 2014 F-150 models.
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