The Ford Motor Company has identified an iffy powertrain control module calibration affecting the 2014 model year F-150 to the tune of 552,188 pickup trucks. In case of a loss of signal between the output shaft sensor and the powertrain control module, said trucks will downshift into first gear, which obviously leads to rear wheel lock-up.
According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the Dearborn-based automaker's behalf, the 6R80 equips affected pickups. Derived from the ZF 6HP automatic, said transmission made its debut in 2005 with the 2006 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer.
As implied, 6 stands for six forward gears, R for rear-drive applications, and 80 comes from the maximum torque input of 800 Nm or 590 pound-feet. 10R80 replaced it back in 2016 with the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, which used to retail at $49,520 for the SuperCab, including destination.
Due to increasing reports alleging unexpected transmission downshifting on 2014 models equipped with the 6R80, the Ford Motor Company's Critical Concern Review Group started looking into this matter on February 8, 2024. The NHTSA requested information regarding said reports, and further provided FoMoCo with 86 vehicle owner questionnaires related to the aforementioned recall condition.
Discussions between Ford and the federal watchdog continued through June 2024, with the Field Review Committee ultimately approving a recall. In April 2024, the Ford Motor Company was aware of 96 field reports, 124 customer complaints, and 300 warranty reports corresponding to 482 vehicles in the United States and its territories. The reports in question were received between March 2014 and March 2024.
Photo: Mercie J Auto Care
Of those 482 vehicles, 40 had – allegedly – experienced rear wheel lock-up, a loss of control, or both. Of no fewer than 130 vehicle owner questionnaires, 52 alleged rear-wheel lock-up, a loss of control, or both; 2 alleged injury; 1 alleged an accident attributable to the unexpected transmission downshift. Given these numbers, Ford has come up with updated PCM calibrations with an OSS signal plausibility check that prevents unintended downshifts into first gear.
Dealers already have said calibrations, but owner notifications will have to wait until July 1 through July 5. As ever, Ford-branded envelopes will arrive via first-class mail. Regarding the population of vehicles, Ford lists 2014 models produced between June 17, 2013 and December 23, 2014. It should be noted that 2014 was the final model year of the 12th-generation Ford F-Series, which introduced us to the F-150 Raptor.
2024 marks the mid-cycle refresh of the 14th-generation Ford F-Series, whose half-ton lineup is topped by the twin-turbo V6-powered F-150 Raptor at $78,440 and the zero-emission F-150 Lightning Platinum Extended Range at $84,995. As opposed to ICE-only and hybrid trucks, Lightning comes with independent rear suspension. By comparison, the F-150 Raptor transitions from leaf springs to some coily boys.
Including the heavy-duty line, F-Series moved 152,943 units in the United States of America in the first quarter of 2024, putting it ahead of the Chevrolet Silverado. Putting the Silverado and Sierra together, however, puts GM in first place.
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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