- Ford just recalled 552,277 units of its 2014 F-150 due to potential safety concerns.
- Almost all trucks need a software calibration to stop them from unexpectedly shifting into first gear.
- Some 2021 F-150s also need a software update to regain backup light functionality
Owners of the 2014MY Ford F-150 might want to check to see if they own a truck in need of a recall service. Today, the Blue Oval announced that over half a million pickups need just such treatment. Most in the new recall population are subject to a dangerous transmission flaw. Additionally, the automaker issued a separate recall for a backup lighting problem affecting a couple hundred 2021 F-150s.
Let’s tackle the bigger of the two recalls first. Specifically, the population includes 552,188 trucks from the 2014 year model only. It doesn’t appear as though engine, drive type, or trim has anything to do with determining the population. What’s clear is that all involved trucks share the same 6R80 six-speed automatic gearbox. It expands on a previous recall involving over a million F-150s.
Read: 11,000 Tesla Cybertrucks Recalled For Loose Bed Trim And Rain-Averse Wiper
In some cases, the “vehicles may experience an intermittent loss of the transmission Output Shaft Speed (OSS) sensor signal to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), potentially resulting in a temporary, unintended downshift into first gear.”
That’s directly from Ford to the NHTSA in its recall filing. The automaker also confirms that it has a record of 482 reports related to unexpected downshifting. Two reports allege injury related to the issue and one says it’s responsible for an accident.
Reports both on the NHTSA’s official site and on forums indicate just how scary this issue can be. “The RPM went past the redline and I was almost rear-ended by a police office [sic] following me in her personal auto,” said one. “I was driving down [XXX] and my truck down shifted 4 times at speed of 75.. when it did the first 2 times a car was behind me and had to swerve to keep from rear ending me,” said another.
In a separate recall for 2021 year model trucks, Ford says that 159 F-150s have backup lights that don’t work. They all ended up with the issue after a body module update caused the problem. In both recalls, owners will need to take their trucks to the dealer for a software update that should fix the potential issue.
