In recent years, Ford has faced its fair share of transmission woes, prompting its fair share of trials and tribulations, ranging from recalls to investigations conducted by federal agencies into customer complaints pertaining to that gearbox. Earlier this year, in fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into select 2014 Ford F-150 models equipped with faulty transmissions after it received a number of customer complaints. However, that investigation is now officially closed.
The NHTSA opened this investigation after receiving 101 complaints from 2014 Ford F-150 owners, who stated that those vehicles were experiencing “an unintended, unexpected vehicle transmission downshifting to a lower gear without warning or driver input, often accompanied by temporary rear wheel lock-up.” Impacted models were produced between June 17th, 2013, and December 23rd, 2014.
After some investigation, Ford determined that the primary cause of this particular defect was related to the molded lead frame and the control assembly transmission main in select pickups, impacting 38 percent of those vehicles. Additionally, 35 percent of affected pickups needed repairs to the control assembly transmission main. Ultimately, a loss of signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module was to blame.
After discovering these root causes of its transmission woes, The Blue Oval issued a recall just last month for 550k 2014 Ford F-150 pickups, which addresses this issue by updating the powertrain control module software. The automaker also began using updated PCM programming starting with the 2015 model year that rectified these issues for ensuing models. As such, the NHTSA decided that FoMoCo has taken appropriate action, and ultimately chose to close its investigation – though it has the right to reopen it if these issues persist in the future.
We’ll have more on this investigation soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford F-Series news, Ford F-150 news, and continuous Ford news coverage.
Comment
The update to the PCM is a temporary fix. They just changed the programming so when there is a loss of signal to the speed sensor the trans does not downshift to 1st gear. The “fix” has the Trans shift to 5th gear. I experienced the shift to 1st gear at 50mph. That was scary. Truck went sideways. I only got yelled at by my wife because she thought I was “hot doggin”. That was fun to try and explain that it wasn’t me…I got the recall “fix” at the dealership after that and a few weeks later while towing a trailer the trans went into 5th gear. Speedometer read zero. I was able to limp home. Got the truck to dealership and after months of back and forth with dealership and ford customer service I was able to get the speed sensor replaced for no cost. The real fix is replacing the speed sensor in the trans. Just under $1000. My truck is a 2013 f150 xlt crewcab 5.5ft box 4×4 with 5.0. Thos happened in 2020.