Ford Recalls Over 550,000 Pickup Trucks for Transmission Issue

Ford Motor Company recalled over 550,000 pickup trucks because the transmission may suddenly downshift to first gear and potentially cause a loss of vehicle control, according to documents released Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The recall affects certain 2014 F-150 trucks that may experience a signal loss between the transmission sensor and the control unit, causing the transmission to shift to first gear no matter how fast the vehicle is going.

The company identified several reasons why the transmission signal can be unreliable, including contamination, electrical issues, rusted connectors and faulty sensor outputs, according to the safety recall report.

Drivers may see a warning light come on if their vehicle shifts into first gear. Sometimes the signal resets while they are driving and the truck returns to normal. Other times the truck needs to be stopped and restarted to work properly again, the report added.

In March, the NHTSA opened an investigation to determine whether the vehicles needed to be recalled after receiving complaints from consumers.

Advice for consumers

Owners of the trucks should contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332 or contact their local Ford or Lincoln dealer to find out if their vehicle is affected. Ford’s number for this recall is 24S37. The recalled vehicles cannot be determined by their vehicle identification number (VIN) and must be searched in a database.

The company will send notification letters to owners by July 1. Dealers will later update the power train control software free of charge. Otherwise, owners who have already paid for these repairs may be eligible for a reimbursement.