The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into the Ford F-150, saying almost 1.3 million of the trucks could have an issue that causes an unexpected gear shift and a potential for a rear-wheel lockup.
The NHTSA said it had received 138 owner complaints about the truck. Reports state that the transmission unexpectedly shifts into a lower gear while traveling at highway speeds. Drivers received no warning and did nothing to initiate the shift, and the sudden gear change caused lockups in some complaints.
None of the complaints involved crashes or injuries, but a sudden rear-wheel lockup can have dire consequences, especially for a vehicle that could be carrying or towing a heavy load. While the investigation covers temporary lockup conditions, it wouldn’t take much to cause a serious crash.
NHTSA investigations are not recalls and do not require owners to take their vehicles in for repair, but the situation could reach that point if the agency finds that there is a widespread issue with the trucks. The investigation currently covers Ford F-150s from the 2015 through 2017 model years, but that could change as the probe progresses.
If it expands into a full recall, this action would be the 14th for the 2015 Ford F-150. The truck has been recalled twice for an issue with the block heater connector, which could cause a fire, and other actions cover issues related to the brake master cylinder, upper ball joint, and doors opening unexpectedly.
[Images: Ford]
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