Ford Pulls Nearly 1.4 Million F-150s After Sudden Downshift Risk

CBS News, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, and Forbes contributed to this report.

Ford Motor Company is recalling nearly 1.4 million of its best-selling Ford F-150 pickups after a transmission glitch that can cause the truck to suddenly drop into second gear – no warning, no time to react.

The issue affects models from 2015 through 2017, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Regulators say a faulty signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can trigger the unexpected downshift, raising the risk of losing control.

It’s not just theoretical. Ford has linked the defect to at least one crash and two injuries so far, alongside hundreds of complaints and field reports.

Drivers might get a hint something’s off – a warning light flashing on the dashboard – but that’s hardly reassuring when the transmission can act up mid-drive.

Fixing it, at least for now, is a software job. Dealers will update the powertrain control module free of charge, aiming to smooth out how the engine and transmission communicate. Owner notifications are set to roll out in April, with a more permanent solution expected by mid-July.

The recall adds to a growing pile. Ford has been issuing them at a record pace, racking up 153 recalls in 2025 alone – more than any automaker has ever logged in a single year in the US, covering nearly 13 million vehicles. Some were massive, including a multi-million vehicle recall earlier this year tied to software glitches affecting trailer lights.

That’s happening even as the F-Series line keeps selling. Ford moved over 828,000 trucks in 2025, an 8% jump from the year before, reinforcing its grip on the top spot in the US pickup market.

Strong sales, mounting recalls – a tricky balance. And for now, a lot of F-150 owners have a software update in their near future.