Ford has issued a recall for over half a million of its 2014 model F-150 pickup trucks in the US following numerous complaints that the vehicles suddenly downshifted to first gear. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on June 14, the auto manufacturer will recall 552,188 units of the truck in the US. The total number of recalls worldwide is 668,000 units.
The company received 300 warranty reports, 96 field reports, and 124 customer complaints concerning some 482 vehicles. Users reported problems with their truck’s transmission unexpectedly shifting to first gear. The NHTSA document states, “A downshift to first gear without warning could result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.” At least two injuries have been reported as a result of this issue.
Ford stated that owners would be notified by mail by July 1 and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) calibration updated. The PCM manages the functions of the car’s engine and transmission. The company will cover the cost of the repairs.
This is not the first time Ford has had to recall its pickup trucks due to this issue. In 2019, it recalled 107,000 units of its 2013 F-150 model because they lacked the necessary updates to prevent a potential unintended downshift into first gear. Last July, the company recalled 870,000 trucks of its 2021 to 2023 models after receiving complaints that their parking brakes activated randomly while driving.
Despite these issues, Ford’s F-series trucks have remained one of the top-selling vehicles in the US for decades. Other automobile companies have also faced recalls recently. On Tuesday, Tesla recalled 11,688 units of Cybertrucks due to issues with the vehicles’ single giant windscreen wiper.
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