Ford is recalling about 1.39 million F-150 pickup trucks in the US after a federal investigation examined complaints involving unexpected downshifts.
The recall covers 1,392,935 vehicles built between 12 March 2014 and 18 August 2017.
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
According to the notice from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the problem centres on a possible interruption in communication between the transmission range sensor (TRS) and the powertrain control module (PCM).
If that occurs, the transmission may shift into second gear without warning.
“Degradation of the electrical connections in the transmission lead frame due to thermal cycling and vibration can result in a momentary detection of incorrect TRS signal positions by the PCM. A faulty TRS signal can lead to an unintended downshift,” according to the notice.
An unexpected shift to a lower gear can sharply reduce wheel speed and, in certain driving conditions, may contribute to rear tyre slip and a loss of vehicle control, raising crash risk.
Some drivers may also see an illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) or a wrench symbol on the instrument cluster.
The issue drew added attention after the NHTSA shared vehicle owner questionnaires with Ford on 30 October 2024, which led Ford’s critical concern review group to open an internal review.
NHTSA said that, as of 2 April 2026, Ford had logged 444 warranty claims, 121 field reports, 105 customer service reports and 316 owner questionnaires in the US related to the issue, covering 891 unique vehicles.
The agency added that Ford was aware of two injuries and one crash that may be linked to the defect.
The F-150 recall follows a series of other Ford callbacks in the US.
Earlier this month, the company recalled more than 422,613 vehicles over a fault that could lead to windscreen wiper failure.
Last month, it recalled more than 1.7 million vehicles due to two rear-view camera issues that could affect visibility.
In February, Ford recalled about 4.38 million vehicles after identifying a software issue that could disable trailer lighting and braking functions.
Ford also led US manufacturers in recall volume in 2025, issuing 153 recalls covering around 12.9 million vehicles, the highest annual count recorded for a single carmaker in the country.
