Ford recalls F-150 pickups with faulty transmission

Ford recalls F-150 pickups with faulty transmission

April 16, 2022 Joseph Estabillo

Dearborn, MI – April 16, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) issued a recall for 47,084 vehicles over a transmission defect that could cause the vehicle to suddenly shift to neutral while in motion, increasing the risk of a crash.   

The recall includes 2021  Ford F-150 pickup trucks.

Recall summary

During normal driving, it is important for the transmission to remain in gear as much as possible so that the driver can maintain control over the vehicle while it is in motion. 

The transmission in the affected vehicles can shift to neutral on its own while driving due to a software error in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which acts as the “brain” of the car, as reported.

The component involved in this recall is the PCM/ECM Calibration Software with multiple part numbers, including ML3A-14C204-BGA and ML3A-14C204-BKA.   

Recall risks

Drivers will be unable to accelerate when the car is in neutral to avoid sudden hazards.

The neutral state also prevents the engine from assisting the brakes in slowing the vehicle down, augmenting the risk of an accident.  

For more information on risks, please visit the following article on a BMW recall due to the same issue.

Warning signs

A warning light in the shape of a wrench will activate on the dashboard when the problem occurs. This will be followed by the transmission shifting into neutral gear, followed by attempts to shift to Park if the vehicle is traveling slower than 2 miles per hour. 

Once the vehicle comes to a complete stop, the shifter will automatically engage Park mode. 

Safety tips

Drivers can temporarily regain use of the transmission by switching the engine off and on again.      

Other Ford F-150 recalls 

There have been at least two F-150 transmission recalls for earlier year-models.

More than 1.2 million Ford F-150 vehicles spanning the 2011 to 2013 model years were recalled in February 2019 for a similar PCM problem, as reported.

Another recall for the same model-years was issued in June 2019 over the same issue, covering more than 107,000 vehicles. 

The repair

Dealers will inspect the PCM on affected vehicles and perform a software update free of charge. Customers who have paid for previous repairs of the component involved will be reimbursed accordingly. 

Affected owners will be notified by May 6, 2022.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 47,000 vehicles are included in this Ford truck recall. To do a Ford recall check,  use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls F-150 pickups with faulty transmission
Ford recalls Ranger trucks with backrests not compatible with child seats

Ford recalls Ranger trucks with backrests not compatible with child seats

October 27, 2021 Rebecca Rand

Dearborn, MI – October 27, 2021 – Ford  (NYSE:F) has recalled 37,625 cars whose backseat headrests are incompatible with some children’s car seats, making the seats difficult to install and improperly positioned. This increases the risk of an injury to the child in the seat if there is an accident.

The recall includes 2020 – 2021 Ford Ranger Super Cab trucks.

Recall summary  

The trucks in question have a headrest positioned in a way that makes proper installation of taller children’s car seats difficult. The headrests in the backseats of this Ford truck recall are not removable, and may tilt some childrens’ car seats out of proper position.

Federal regulations require cars to be compatible with a wide range of different types and sizes of car seats. However, this headrest design was not checked against taller car seats.

Recall risks

Childrens’ car seats save lives, but they need to be securely attached and positioned on the seat in order to work properly. Learn more about child car seat safety in this article about a recent Nissan recall,

Warning signs

Owners may notice that it is difficult to install a child car seat in the back of the Ranger.

The repair

As Ford investigated this issue, the company also discovered the anchor points used to secure children’s car seats in the car were crooked. The remedy for this recall will address both issues: Ford dealers will check the car seat anchors and replace the headrests with an updated model. Ford will send owners recall notification letters with further instructions by November 19.

Recent similar recalls

Nissan, Stellantis and Jaguar recently recalled cars over a separate issue with the seat belts that could affect the safety of some child car seats. You can read more about the Stellantis recall here.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 37,000 vehicles are included in this Ford Ranger child car seat recall. To do a Ford recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandFord recalls Ranger trucks with backrests not compatible with child seats
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