Ford Issues Massive Recall of Over Half a Million F-150 Pickup Trucks
By letter dated June 24th, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officially acknowledged Ford Motor Company’s notification to it of a safety recall of 552,188 model year 2014 F-150 pickup trucks. Ford dealers were notified of the recall on June 17th, and letters are expected to start going out to vehicle owners on July 1.
At issue in this massive recall is a loss of signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module, which can cause the transmission to suddenly and unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of how fast the vehicle is traveling at the time. An unexpected downshift into first gear, especially at higher speeds, could result in a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a dangerous crash.
The fix for this defect is for Ford to update the powertrain control module software. This repair can be done at the dealership at no cost to the consumer. It is unknown how long the repair will take, but this information may be provided in the recall notice soon to be sent to customers. The NHTSA recall campaign number is 24V244.
Not a New Problem for the F-150
NHTSA opened an investigation on March 27, 2024, into the unexpected transmission downshift problem, leading up to this present recall. Ford had earlier recalled 2011-2012 F-150s with six-speed transmissions back in 2016 for this same issue, citing the problem and potential for rear wheel lock-up and loss of vehicle control. A NHTSA query into the effectiveness of the recall led to an expanded scope of the recall to also include 2013 models. One wonders whether the issue will stop with 2014 models or be found to extend into later models as well.
Not the Only Problem for 2014 Ford F-150s
The Ford F-150 is the best-selling pickup truck in the United States and has been so for the last 47 consecutive years. It’s also one of the most popular vehicles of any type in the U.S. and even worldwide. This recall is the latest and largest recall of 2014 Ford F-150s, but it is by no means the only one. For example, the NHTSA database currently includes seven recalls, two investigations, and 1,184 complaints related to the 2014 Ford F-150 Super Crew.
Other open recalls related to this particular model include:
- An Urgent, Do Not Drive recall related to the loss of steering control in trucks equipped with Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS). An incorrectly installed EPAS gear motor position sensor magnet could lead to a total loss of steering control. This recall was initiated in 2014 and is thought to only impact 4,647 units.
- A 2020 recall related to the brake master cylinder, which could leak into the booster, possibly requiring greater effort to stop and increased stopping distance to avoid a crash.
- A 2017 recall related to the possibility that seat, seatback and seatbelt anchors and mounting bolts may fracture, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- A 2016 recall related to a master cylinder rear cup seal leak. This loss of brake fluid from the primary reservoir could create a complete loss of front brake function.
- A 2014 recall related to improper airbag suppression of the passenger airbag, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant in a crash requiring the airbag to deploy.
- A 2014 recall related to the possibility that the brake lights might fail or be slow to illuminate.
Not the Only Problem for Ford
While the F-150 is the most popular model from this Big Three Automaker, it is only one of several popular Ford models, many of which have been subject to recalls of their own. In total, these recalls impacted more units overall than the massive F-150 recall. In addition, many of these recalls affect newer models that are more likely to still be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty and therefore covered under California lemon law, should the defect not be adequately repaired according to the requirements of the lemon law. Some of these recalls include:
- 2015-2017 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. The vehicle’s front blower motor, which is seated behind the glove box, could fail and raise the risk of a cabin fire.
- 2017-2020 Ford Super Duty and Lincoln Continental. The anti-reflective coating on the lens of the rearview camera could degrade, creating a cloudy or foggy rearview camera image.
- 2021-22 F-150. The driveshaft could fracture, causing loss of drive power or vehicle control while the truck is in motion, or movement of the vehicle while it is in park but the parking brake is not engaged.
- 2022 Maverick. The side-curtain airbags might not deploy properly, raising the risk of vehicle ejection or other serious injury in a crash.
Contact Nita Lemon Law Firm for Help With Lemon Law Issues in California
California’s lemon law protects consumers who bought a vehicle with defects affecting the safety, use or value of the vehicle. If the defect cannot be satisfactorily repaired during the warranty period after a reasonable number of attempts, customers are entitled to a refund or replacement, along with compensation for other economic harm. Nita Lemon Law Firm advocates for vehicle owners and helps them enforce their lemon law rights to the fullest extent. For a free initial consultation, contact attorney Nick Nita via email at nick@nitalemonlaw.com or by calling 213-232-5055 in Los Angeles or 877-921-5256 statewide.
