Ford recalling 550,000 trucks that can suddenly downshift

Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN

(CNN) — Ford is recalling much than 550,000 F-150 pickups successful nan United States because of an rumor that tin origin nan transmission to abruptly and unexpectedly, astatine immoderate speed, displacement down to first gear.

These trucks person six-speed transmissions. Usually, first cogwheel is utilized to thrust a conveyance astatine very debased speeds, truthful abruptly shifting to first cogwheel astatine precocious velocity could origin nan motortruck to slow quickly aliases moreover origin nan driver to suffer control.

The trucks progressive are older models from nan 2014 exemplary year. The problem pinch these peculiar trucks first came to Ford’s attraction successful February of this year, though, arsenic nan automaker received a number of reports of 2014 F-150s abruptly downshifting astatine nan incorrect time.

Before that happens, a malfunction parameter ray successful nan truck’s gauge cluster whitethorn move connected Ford spokesperson Maria Buczkowski said successful an email to CNN. In immoderate cases, nan problem whitethorn quickly rectify itself and nan motortruck will proceed driving normally. In different cases, nan motortruck whitethorn request to beryllium unopen down and restarted earlier nan transmission originates moving usually again.

In 2019, Ford recalled astir 1.2 cardinal exemplary twelvemonth 2011 done 2013 F-150s for nan aforesaid issue. The problem results from a nonaccomplishment of awesome betwixt a velocity sensor and a power module that operates nan automatic transmission.

To hole nan problem, Ford dealers will update nan trucks’ power module package astatine nary costs to nan owner. Ford will commencement mailing letters to owners of nan trucks progressive successful a fewer days.

A caller package update to hole nan 2014 trucks will beryllium fresh sometime successful nan adjacent 3 months, Buczkowski said.

Customers pinch questions tin telephone Ford customer work astatine 866-436-7332 and inquire for accusation astir callback number 24S37.