Ford has announced a safety recall for around 144,000 F-150s in Canada, citing a gearshift issue that could affect driver control. The problem affects certain vehicles with six-speed automatic transmissions manufactured between 2015 and 2017. In the U.S., nearly 1.4 million vehicles are impacted, including some from the 2014 model year.
The issue stems from degraded electrical connections in the internal transmission lead frame, potentially causing a signal problem from a transmission sensor. This could result in unexpected downshifting into a lower gear while the vehicle is in motion, according to a Ford spokesperson.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlighted that this issue could lead to a brief reduction in wheel speed, causing rear tires to slide until the vehicle slows down. Ford has reported two injuries and one accident that may be linked to this problem.
To address the issue, Ford dealers can update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, resolving the issue. Alternatively, if a vehicle has previously shown 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.