As you're well aware, Ford's best-selling vehicle comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission exclusively for the 2024 model year. The 10R80 replaces the 6-speed 6R80, which is under investigation by the NHTSA's ODI for downshifting while driving without any warning.
More specifically, recall query 24-005 has been opened by the federal watchdog after the Office of Defects Investigation received a whopping 86 complaints from 2014 Ford F-150 owners alleging this issue. RQ 24-005 investigates the scope of two safety recalls, those being 19V-075 and 19V-433.
19V-075 from February 2019 concerns a staggering 1,263,051 trucks produced for model years 2011 through 2013 between April 2010 and November 2013. As for 19V-433 from June 2019, make that 107,857 examples of the 2013 Ford F-150 with the 5.0- and 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engines, produced from April 2012 to November 2013. Guess what?
The updated software calibration intended to be installed in 2013 model years F-150 vehicles mentioned earlier was not properly released into service, thus explaining recall 19V-433. As if that wasn't bad enough, the Ford Motor Company had previously issued another safety recall concerning the 6R80. Recall number 16V-248 from September 2016 comprised 153,581 examples of the 2011 through 2012 Ford F-150.
As per the complaints filed by 2014 Ford F-150 owners, their pickup trucks allegedly experienced unwanted downshift events similar to those described in recalls 16V-248, 19V-075, and 19V-433. In addition to sudden and unexpected downshifting in a lower gear, owners have also complained about rear wheel lock-up.
Photo: Mercie J Auto Care
It gets even worse, though. An unlucky owner crashed their 2014 Ford F-150 into a concrete barrier and another vehicle due to an unexpected downshift, injuring both drivers. What causes the 6R80 to downshift into a lower gear unexpectedly? Ford claims that an intermittent loss of the transmission output speed sensor to the powertrain control module makes the 6R80 shift into first.
Regarding why the Ford Motor Company didn't include 2014 models equipped with the 6R80 in previous recalls, your guess is as good as mine. If recall query 24-005 morphs into a safety recall, the Dearborn-based automaker could be forced into recalling 540,086 units of the 2014 Ford F-150.
2014 was the final year of the 12th-generation Ford F-Series, the generation that introduced the Raptor to the F-150's lineup. This generation also came with the 4R75E, a 4-speed tranny that was exclusive to the two-valve-per-cylinder version of the 4.6L V8 from the Modular engine family.
The 13th generation marked the switch to aluminum body stampings, whereas the 14th generation rolled out for the 2021 model year with revised styling, more tech, and a V8-powered version of the Raptor. Ford wants $36,770 (sans destination charge) for the most spartan F-150 in production today. The Raptor is $78,330, whereas the Raptor R equipment group adds a further $31,925 to the final price.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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