Ford has announced a safety recall for approximately 144,000 F-150 trucks in Canada, citing concerns over a gearshift issue that could affect driver control. The affected vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions manufactured from 2015 to 2017, are part of the recall. In the United States, nearly 1.4 million vehicles are impacted, including some from the 2014 model year.
The safety problem stems from degraded electrical connections within the internal transmission lead frame, leading to a signal malfunction from a transmission sensor. This malfunction could result in an unexpected downshift to a lower gear while the vehicle is in motion, as stated by a Ford spokesperson to CBC News.
According to the safety recall report from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the issue could briefly reduce wheel speed, potentially causing the rear tires to skid until the vehicle slows down, posing a safety risk. Ford has acknowledged two injuries and a possible accident associated with the problem.
To address the issue, Ford advises that dealers can update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software for affected vehicles, resolving the gearshift concern. If a vehicle has 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 affected by entering their Vehicle Identification Number on Ford’s recall webpage.
