CNN
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Ford is recalling greater than 550,000 F-150 pickups in the US due to a problem that may trigger the transmission to out of the blue and unexpectedly, at any velocity, shift right down to first gear.
These vehicles have six-speed transmissions. Often, first gear is used to drive a automobile at very low speeds, so out of the blue shifting to first gear at excessive velocity might trigger the truck to sluggish quickly and even trigger the driving force to lose management.
The vehicles concerned are older fashions from the 2014 mannequin yr. The issue with these explicit vehicles first got here to Ford’s consideration in February of this yr, although, because the automaker obtained a lot of studies of 2014 F-150s out of the blue downshifting on the mistaken time.
Earlier than that occurs, a malfunction indicator gentle within the truck’s gauge cluster might activate Ford spokesperson Maria Buczkowski mentioned in an e mail to CNN. In some circumstances, the issue might shortly rectify itself and the truck will proceed driving usually. In different circumstances, the truck might have to be shut down and restarted earlier than the transmission begins working usually once more.
In 2019, Ford recalled roughly 1.2 million mannequin yr 2011 via 2013 F-150s for a similar challenge. The issue outcomes from a lack of sign between a velocity sensor and a management module that operates the automated transmission.
To repair the issue, Ford sellers will replace the vehicles’ management module software program without charge to the proprietor. Ford will begin mailing letters to homeowners of the vehicles concerned in a number of days.
A brand new software program replace to repair the 2014 vehicles will likely be prepared someday within the subsequent three months, Buczkowski mentioned.
Clients with questions can name Ford customer support at 866-436-7332 and ask for details about recall quantity 24S37.