NHTSA investigates certain Ford truck models for sudden downshifting at highway speeds
If you own a Ford F-150 between the model years of 2015 and 2017, you might be getting a letter soon. Early this morning, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it was investigating those model years due to an increasingly common complaint that the truck will suddenly downshift on the highway.
Because Ford trucks have been among the best-selling vehicles in the nation for decades, a large number of them are now under investigation. Like, a lot. Think almost 1.5 million of them, reported the Detroit Free Press.
If the sudden downshifting wasn’t enough to scare owners, several of the 138 official complaints to the Office of Defects Investigation mentioned that the rear wheels would lock up shortly after the downshift. Which, of course, is incredibly scary and dangerous. It was enough for the agency’s division to prompt an investigation.
The NHTSA says the locking wheels increase the likelihood of skidding or sliding, which poses a danger to the driver and other drivers. Current owners haven’t reported any associated fires, yet. At least not yet.
Ford’s going through a bit of a rough patch
It isn’t just the older trucks that are under a microscope. Ford recently issued a safety-related recall for the 2022-2024 Maverick PHEV and the standard Maverick due to a battery issue. The company is also recalling the 2021-2022 Bronco, Edge, and F-150, along with the 2022-2023 Mustang, because of a loss of drive power.
In case you forgot, Ford recalled over a million Fusions from 2013-2018 because the steering wheel could come loose, increasing the risk of a crash.
Last year, 91,000 Fords were equipped with the 2.7-liter or 3.0-liter Nano EcoBoost engine for faulty intake valves that could break and destroy the engine. Cracking fuel injectors was a serious issue with those engines, too.
Several thousand Lincolns have been recalled, too. The 2017 MKZ with the 2.0-liter engine had issues with faulty welds on the torque converter studs. If they fail, the torque converter falls off and the car can’t move.
