Nearly 1.3 million Ford F-150s under investigation over unexpected gear shift
How car recalls get reported
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officially start car recalls after receiving complaints from consumers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it opened a preliminary investigation of certain Ford F-150s after reports of the pickup trucks suddenly downshifting while moving at "highway speeds."
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) said it had received dozens of complaints about the issue, which is "often accompanied by a temporary rear wheel lock-up."
Here’s what to know:
F-150: Unexpected gear downshift issue reported
What we know:
The probe centers on 2015-2017 Ford F-150 trucks, according to an announcement on the NHTSA website. ODI said it received 138 consumer complaints of the vehicles experiencing "an unexpected, unrequested transmission downshift to a lower gear while traveling at highway speeds without any prior warning or driver input."
FILE - Ford F-150 pickup trucks are seen on Metro Ford's sales lot on Oct. 26, 2017, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
What they're saying:
"This unrequested transmission downshift would cause unexpected rapid vehicle deceleration," the announcement states. "Certain consumer complaints additionally allege that the vehicle's rear wheels temporarily lock, seize, and/or skid during the downshift resulting in a loss of vehicle control increasing the risk for crash and injury."
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By the numbers:
An estimated 1,270,970 Ford F-150s are under scrutiny, the announcement says.
Dig deeper:
The preliminary probe is meant "to determine the scope and severity of the potential safety-related consequences," the announcement added. The company has previously issued safety recalls regarding problematic downshifting in other model year F-150s.
The 50th anniversary of the F-150 is in 2025, according to Ford.
What's next:
A Ford spokesperson told FOX News Digital on Monday that the company is "working with NHTSA to support its investigation," and that "this investigation is on 6speed transmission only."
The Source: Information used in this story came from a document posted on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration website about the preliminary evaluation, which began on March 21, 2025. It was reported from Cincinnati, and FOX Business contributed.