Ford has announced a safety recall affecting approximately 144,000 F-150 trucks in Canada. The recall is due to a gearshift issue that could impact drivers’ control of the vehicle. The problem affects certain vehicles with six-speed automatic transmissions produced between 2015 and 2017. In the United States, nearly 1.4 million vehicles are affected, including some from the 2014 model year.
The issue stems from degraded electrical connections within the internal transmission lead frame, which can result in a signal problem from a transmission sensor. This could lead to an unexpected downshift into a lower gear while the vehicle is in motion, potentially causing a brief reduction in wheel speed and, in certain circumstances, rear tire sliding until the vehicle’s speed decreases.
Ford has acknowledged two injuries and one accident that may be linked to this issue. The automaker has proposed a solution where dealers can update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software in the affected vehicles to address the problem. Alternatively, if a vehicle previously exhibited “specific diagnostic trouble codes” related to the sensor, Ford will replace the transmission lead frame at no cost.
F-150 owners can check if their vehicle is impacted by entering their Vehicle Identification Number on Ford’s recall webpage. This step aims to ensure the safety and well-being of drivers and prevent any potential accidents related to this gearshift issue.
