On Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary probe into roughly 1.3 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks. The agency received 138 consumer complaints, citing unexpected transmission downshifts to a lower gear while traveling at higher speeds. Some of the complaints also noted that during the downshift, the vehicle’s rear wheels would lock up, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Currently, no crashes or fires have been reported in correlation to the complaints. However, the increased risks of crashes leading to injuries and potential fatalities are of concern.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has been tasked with the probe and will assess the severity of the issue and its potential safety implications. The investigation covers Ford’s F-150 pickup trucks from model years 2015 to 2017. The problem could lead to a widespread recall if the defect is confirmed.
Ford has consistently been plagued with quality and safety issues. Last year, the automaker was one of the top manufacturers with the most significant number of recalls. The company missed several financial and operation targets in 2024, including its quality objective. However, the severity of Ford’s failure was glaringly evident when NHTSA slammed the automaker with a $165 million civil penalty, the second-largest in the agency’s history, due to delayed recalls. The fine underscored ongoing concerns about Ford’s ability to address safety defects promptly, putting further pressure on its leadership to implement stronger quality control measures.
