The federal investigation into an automatic transmission issue in Ford F-150 pickups is gaining momentum. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is intensifying its review of incidents that could pose a serious threat.
Intensified Federal Investigation
The story of Ford F-150 pickups randomly downshifting is taking a new turn. Federal investigators are no longer just collecting statistics but are moving to an active phase: they are getting behind the wheel to personally verify whether a full-scale vehicle recall is warranted.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) at NHTSA has officially upgraded its preliminary review to a full engineering analysis status. This stage involves technical testing of parts and vehicles, which makes automakers worry significantly more. The focus remains on approximately 1.27 million F-150 pickups from the 2015-2017 model years.
Problem Description and Risks
Drivers report that the trucks can suddenly downshift without warning or any command from the driver. Imagine driving on a highway when the transmission suddenly decides to engage second gear. Owners describe abrupt braking and, in some cases, brief locking of the rear wheels, which can lead to a skid.
Attempted Fixes and Possible Cause
The vehicles under scrutiny are equipped with the Ford 6R80 six-speed automatic transmission. According to investigators, many owners have already replaced parts such as the lead frame or valve body in an attempt to fix the issue. This suggests the matter is not a one-time glitch but something that persistently recurs in certain vehicles.
Ford states that this situation differs from previous recalls involving older F-150s. Those were related to the loss of a signal from one speed sensor. In these newer trucks, suspicion falls on the electrical connections inside the transmission lead frame, which wear out over time due to heat and vibration, leading to the loss of a signal from a different sensor.
Unexpected Shift to Neutral
Investigators have also uncovered another alarming scenario. During testing, a truck moving in reverse up a slope could lose the transmission signal, shift into neutral, and then roll forward. Not a very reassuring prospect if you’re trying to hook up a trailer on an incline.
Implications for Ford
All of this does not yet guarantee a mandatory recall, but it means that scrutiny of the problem has significantly intensified. If engineers confirm the existence of a safety-related defect, Ford could be obligated to fix it for a huge portion of the pickup fleet that is America’s favorite. For a company that endured a recall nightmare in 2025, this would be bad news.
This situation once again raises questions about the durability of complex electronic systems in modern vehicles, especially in workhorses like pickups. Problems arising after several years of operation due to wear and tear on electrical connections can have serious safety consequences for millions of drivers. The success or failure of this investigation could set a precedent for similar cases in the future, forcing other manufacturers to also pay more attention to long-term fatigue testing of components.