Ford Motor Company has announced a massive recall affecting nearly 1.4 million F-150 pickup trucks across the United States due to a dangerous transmission malfunction that could result in drivers losing control of their vehicles and potentially causing accidents.
Company officials have confirmed they are investigating two reported injuries and one crash that may be connected to this mechanical problem.
The safety recall affects F-150 light-duty trucks equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions that were manufactured from March 12, 2014, through August 18, 2017.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s official recall notice, affected pickup trucks may experience a faulty signal from the transmission range sensor to the powertrain control module. This malfunction can trigger an unexpected and temporary downshift into second gear, causing a sudden decrease in wheel speed that may result in rear tire sliding until the vehicle decelerates.
Ford has documented 444 warranty claims and 105 customer complaints potentially connected to this defect as of earlier this month.
Truck owners will receive recall notifications through the mail with instructions to schedule service appointments at Ford or Lincoln dealerships, where technicians will update the powertrain control module calibration free of charge.
