Ford is having a tough time these days. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker has posted a large number of recalls this year, actions to address faulty backup cameras, electrical problems, and even cracked fuel injectors, to name a few. Adding insult to injury, the F-150 full-size truck, the crown jewel of Ford’s lineup is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) yet again for transmission issues.
Some 1.3 Million Trucks Are Under Investigation
Automotive News reports that the government safety watchdog is opening a preliminary evaluation into complaints about the pickup’s six-speed automatic gearbox unexpectedly downshifting while driving, something that can temporarily lock up the rear wheels. This can create an incredibly dangerous situation – especially if you’re hauling a heavy load or towing – that could lead to a loss of control, and even a grisly wreck.
Similarly, what’s good for the F-150 is good for Ford Motor Company. This is the star of the automaker’s lineup, and anything that suppresses sales or turns off existing customers is seriously bad news for Ford.
This news is troublesome enough on its own, but the scale of the investigation is also quite staggering. Reportedly, almost 1.3 million F-150s are being looked at for this potential issue, pickups from the 2015 to ‘17 model years. If there’s any good news here, it’s that NHTSA has only received 138 customer complaints about this problem. On a percentage basis, that’s a very small sliver of 1.3 million, so there’s likely a pretty good chance this issue won’t affect your truck. Additionally – and fortunately – NHTSA noted that there have not been any crashes or fires caused by this issue.
Still, one driver reportedly complained about the transmission in their 2016 F-150 shifting into first gear from sixth while on the highway at 70 mph, something that nearly threw the owner through the windshield. Again, this is a preliminary investigation. The folks at NHTSA have to decide whether to “update the probe to an engineering analysis,” something that has to happen before a full-blown recall can be issued.
A Potential Downshifting Disaster
Unfortunately for Ford, this is not the first time the F-150 has been investigated for transmission problems. Last June, hundreds of thousands of copies of this pickup from the 2014 model year were called back because of – you guessed it – unexpected downshifts, basically the same potential problem affecting later model year trucks.
According to NHTSA, the fix for this recall was reprogramming a computer module. This corrects an issue between the powertrain controller and the transmission’s output shaft speed sensor, preventing downshifts to first gear while cruising on the highway.
Furthermore, Ford recalled some 153,000 trucks back in 2016 for the same type of transmission issue. Something must be wrong with the six-speed gearbox the automaker used to use.
TopSpeed’s Take
Back in the 1950s, Charles Wilson, President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s secretary of defense, famously likened the health of GM to the well being of the United States. Paraphrasing his comment, he essentially said, “What’s good for General Motors is good for America.”
Similarly, what’s good for the F-150 is good for Ford Motor Company. This is the star of the automaker’s lineup, and anything that suppresses sales or turns off existing customers is seriously bad news for Ford. The company would be smart to correct potential transmission issues – or, frankly, any other problems with the F-150 – as soon as possible. The importance of this truck to Ford’s bottom line cannot be overstated.
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