Alerts have been raised again regarding the Ford F-150, the best-selling model in the U.S. market. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reopened an investigation into a potential mechanical defect that could compromise the safety of drivers and others. The scope of the case is significant: more than 1.3 million SUVs are potentially involved. The investigation was officially launched on January 30, 2016, and covers a total of 1,270,970 vehicles from the 2015, 2016, and 2017 model years. All of them share a key component: the 6R80 six-speed automatic transmission. The federal agency is seeking to determine if there are systemic failures that could lead to unexpected gear changes and hazardous situations while the vehicle is in gear. movement.

Sudden shifts and loss of control on the road

The main focus of the investigation is on sudden downshifts that occur without driver input. According to official documents filed with the NHTSA, Ford identified a possible source of the problem in the transmission, specifically in the degradation of the electrical connections within the main frame.

This deterioration would be caused by repeated thermal cycles and vibrations accumulated over time. As a consequence, a loss of signal from the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS), a critical component for the proper functioning of the automatic transmission, can occur.

When the system stops receiving reliable information from the TRS, the transmission can behave erratically. Reported scenarios include sudden downshifts, unexpected upshifts, or even sudden shifts into neutral.

All of this occurs automatically,without the driver having any opportunity to anticipate or correct the maneuver.

The most dangerous speed range

NHTSA researchers identified a particularly critical situation when the Ford F-150 is traveling between 35 and 64 mph. In this speed range, the transmission may abruptly downshift from sixth to second gear.

This action generates a violent deceleration that, in certain cases, can cause the rear wheels to temporarily lock up.

Such an event significantly increases the risk of losing control of the vehicle, especially on highways, expressways, or surfaces with low traction. The danger is not limited to the driver: other vehicles and pedestrians can also be affected by an unexpected maneuver of this magnitude.

Hundreds of Formal Complaints and Costly Repairs

The NHTSA's Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) collected 329 formal complaints filed by Ford F-150 owners within the investigated period. More than 60% of these drivers were interviewed directly to confirm the details of the reported incidents.

43% of the owners stated that they had experienced at least one wheel lock-up event. Many described these downshifts as recurring rather than isolated incidents. Some even stated that they stopped using the truck for fear of having a serious accident.

In addition, 114 owners reported having key transmission components replaced, such as the molded lead frame or valve body. In 80 of those cases, the repairs were confirmed by invoices. Several testimonies describe sudden loss of control, skidding, and high-risk situations both on highways and in urban environments.

Additional Risk When Reversing and on Inclines

The investigation added an even more worrying element after preliminary tests conducted by the NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC).

The tests revealed that if the TRS intermittently loses signal while the vehicle is in reverse on an incline, the transmission could unexpectedly shift into neutral.

This failure can cause the truck to begin moving forward, even when the driver expects it to remain stationary or continue reversing.

The scenario poses a serious risk to pedestrians, other vehicles, and nearby property.

What's next for Ford and the owners

Given the severity of the findings, the NHTSA escalated the case to an Engineering Analysis identified as EA26001, a more advanced phase that includes component-level testing,Dynamic vehicle evaluations and a thorough technical review of internal information provided by Ford.

While the investigation continues, all indications point to a recall of all affected units as the most likely outcome. In the meantime, owners of 2015, 2016, and 2017 Ford F-150 models should remain vigilant for any abnormal transmission behavior and report incidents to both NHTSA.gov and authorized Ford dealerships.

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