Ford is initiating a recall of 552,188 units of its 2014 F-150 trucks to rectify a transmission flaw that may cause unexpected downshifts into first gear at any speed. This defect, if it occurs at high speeds, can result in loss of vehicle control and potentially immobilize the vehicle. The root of the issue is a malfunctioning driveline sensor.
According to Ford’s recall report, “Some vehicles may experience an intermittent loss of the transmission Output Shaft Speed (OSS) sensor signal to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), potentially resulting in a temporary, unintended downshift into first gear. Depending on the vehicle speed at the time of an intermittent OSS failure, an abrupt transmission downshift to first gear could occur. A downshift to first gear without warning could result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.”
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Ford has identified several causes for OSS signal disruptions, including contamination, power shorts to ground, connector corrosion, connector pin swaging, and incorrect outputs from the OSS sensor. Due to these varied causes, there’s no straightforward fix. Ford plans to update the shift logic, incorporating a “plausibility check” to ensure that the speed indicated by the OSS is reasonable before allowing a shift into first gear.
This isn’t the first time the F-150 has faced this issue; previous model years were recalled for similar problems. While Ford’s report does not mention any irreversible driveline damage caused by these downshifts, it does highlight multiple instances where the problem led to rear wheel lock-ups or drivers losing control of the truck.
Owners are advised to wait for a notification from Ford before bringing their F-150s in for service. Ford will begin sending out mailers in early July. Additionally, owners who previously had related repairs done outside of warranty may be eligible for reimbursement.
