10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 11 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 9 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 75,997 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
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« Read the previous 20 complaints
On multiple occasions the truck will randomly shift gears causing the truck to jerk and slow down. My truck will shift sporadically between 1st, 3rd, and 5th and then get stuck in 1st gear and requires me to reset the key to get it to shift properly.
- Hoover, AL, USA
Takata recall my truck keeps downshifting and locking up my back wheels on the highway. I just almost had a wreck and this is getting ridiculous.
- Douglasville, GA, USA
A bushing responsible for holding the shifter cable in the transmission detached. The transmission ends up in a different gear than what the driver sees on the shift console. For example, you might put the car in park, and the dashboard would show park, but the car would still be in gear. 2012 Ford F150 --> same exact issue repaired on 4/24/2017. There is a recall from Ford today and it does not include the F150. Yet experienced same exact issue and repair on 2012 F150 over 1 year ago. F150 at the time only 57,500 miles and 4.5years old.
- Madison, CT, USA
While driving at approx. 40 mph on city street the truck downshifted to 1st gear. Had to stop, turn truck completely off and restart to get it to work properly.
- Suffolk, VA, USA
While driving at highway speed the vehicle's automatic transmission dropped into a much lower gear causing a tire skid and large increase of RPM. A "wrench" icon appeared on the dash. When I researched the issue I found that an recall for this problem had been issued for the same year, make and model but my VIN was not included in the recall.
- Ste. Genevieve, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. While driving 65 mph, the transmission would automatically downshift. The contact stated that the transmission made abnormal sounds and various warning indicators illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle in order for the transmission to function normally. The vehicle was taken to star Ford Lincoln (1101 S brand blvd, glendale, ca 91204, (818) 956-0977) for diagnostic testing, but no failure codes were found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the same symptoms as listed in NHTSA campaign number: 16V248000 (power train). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 164,000.
- Glen Dale, CA, USA
Radio, clock and heater-air would shut off. Next day, the engine would start. All fuses were checked to be in good condition. When turning key onto "on" position the only thing that would light up was the odometer.
- Saxonburg, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle's gear shifted without warning and caused the rear tires to seize. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (metro Ford auto sales, 1000 barnes crossing rd, tupelo, ms 38804, (662)-841-1000) where it was awaiting diagnostic testing and repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,000. The consumer the transmission harness had to be replaced.
- Shannon, MS, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. While driving, the vehicle would jerk and lunge forward. The contact also stated that the vehicle would spontaneously become stuck in gear without warning. The contact called larry H miller Ford lakewood (11595 West 6th avenue, lakewood, co 80215, (888) 927-9286), but was unable to schedule a service appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 100,780.
- Littleton, CO, USA
Over the last few weeks while driving at various speeds my truck would shift erratically( go from 1st to 5th, 6th to 3rd etc.). when it down shifts at speeds of 55 and above, the back tires lock up, the speedometer zeros out and the RPM gauge moves sporadically. After a little research I found there was a recall on this issue, (power train #16S19) but after speaking with Ford my VIN was not covered on the recall.
- Oscar, LA, USA
My 2012 Ford F150 XLT supercrew ecoboost has about 85000 miles and abruptly went from about 30-40mph to about 0mph a few times now while driving. Once time was very scary on a congested road. After this happened, its like my transmission misfires and misses gears all of the time. There is now a vacuum noise also coming out if the engine and it doesn't run right. I brought it to Ford and they told me that I probably wasn't changing the oil properly (I had changed my oil every 3000-5000 miles regularly.), but now they said I messed up the timing chain and phasers and they had to be changed for a price of about 4000 dollars. I have owned other Ford not ecoboosts and they all ran fine. I started doing some research and I am sure this is an engineering flaw on the part of Ford. I actually read that the NHTSA did research on this topic. There are tons of forums that have the information on them and believe that Ford should do the right thing and do a recall or fix the problem. I know its a big problem. I don't think it is fair to the american consumer to have to shell out that kind of money on a bad design flaw on apart of Ford that almost got me into an accident bad one time and when my kids and I have to go to an erupt stop. I don't tow anything and drive the truck like a car. This shouldn't be happening.
- Lambertville, NJ, USA
The vehicle will lose speed sensing and then the transmission shifts gears or is erratic and jumps back and forth between gears. Worst case I was approximately doing 40 mph, speedometer went to 0 the truck shifted from 4th gear to 1st gear. Usually the erratic behavior is at lower speed and lower gears, but is gradually getting worse.
- Howell, MI, USA
Vehicle is randomly shifting into 1st gear. It doesn't matter what speed you are going (it has done it to me at 45 locking up the rear wheels) Ford has a recall on this, but our pickup isn't included for some reason.
- Nampa, ID, USA
Despite not being included in the recent recall, my 2012 F-150 suddenly downshifted while cruising at 45-50mph, resulting in a dangerous sudden slowdown and lurching forward on busy city thoroughfare. Two days later, a sudden stop resulted in a temporary check engine light. Dealer diagnostics indicated the leadframe connector needed to be replaced. This is the same repair covered under the current recall that does not include the production that my truck was a part of. Approximately 1 month prior, the truck was taken to the dealership for erratic shifting at slow speeds, but the issue was not able to be diagnosed at that time. Instead, a transmission flush and slip-yoke lubrication were recommended.
- Dothan, AL, USA
While driving my 2012 F150 on the highway at about 65 mph I experienced unexpected downshifting from 6th gear to a low gear. The rear tires skidded and the rear started to come around. Did all I could to maintain control. Dangerous and scary. Subsequently, I check and learned there was a recall. Went to Ford and the VIN was put into the computer and I was informed my VIN was not part of the recall. Had vehicle repaired cost$1249. The problem the dealer diagnosed was identical to the recall notice issue. Fix was to remove and replace lead frame. Installing main control assembly and transmission pan. New fluid and codes cleared. What is also frightening is according to nthsa web site this problem is specific 2011 -2012 and 2013 F150's. I am under 150K in mileage and well within 10 years from date of warranty. There are many more F150S that did not come under the recall mine being one of them. NHTSA notes that attempts to fix the problem in recalled vehicles have been unsuccessful. What can I do" I have complained to Ford and have an open case pending review. How can Ford justify some vehicles are subject to the recall and others are not" especially when I have the identical symptoms and remedy.
- Vacaville, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would inadvertently shift into first gear and the "wrench" warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to autonation Ford frisco (6850 tx-121, frisco, tx 75034) where it was diagnosed that the lead frame failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact believed the failure was relevant to NHTSA campaign number: 16V248000 (power train). The approximate failure mileage was 90,137. The VIN was not available.
- Frisco, TX, USA
On 7 occasions over the past month, my F150 has had 2 transmissions issues occur. The one to happen 4 of the times is that I'll be driving and all of a sudden it will downshift in to 3rd gear and stay only in 3rd, 4th, or 5th gear. The check engine light comes on, the speedometer stops working, and the control panel/gauges stop working. If I stop, put it in park, and turn off the engine; it goes back to "normal" when I start it back up. The second issue that has happened is when I'm coming from a stop and trying to accelerate, the engine feels like it is in neutral for about 3-5 seconds, even when pushing the accelerator all the way down. This has occurred when turning on to another street with oncoming traffic and has nearly caused collisions because I'm sitting halfway in the oncoming lane. I took the truck to the Ford dealership and they ran a diagnostic test and confirmed that the lead frame needs to be replaced, but claim that it's not part of NHTSA campaign number: 16V248000.
- Wake Forest, NC, USA
The vehicle would downshift into 1st gear without warning, has occurred when vehicle was traveling approximately 35 mph. The vehicle would also remain in 1st gear after these incidents and intermittently when leaving from a stop, at an intersection. Vehicle has done this several times, in which case the dashboard displayed an illuminated malfunction indicator light and gone into limp mode, with only 5th gear available, while in an intersection. This problem would also cause the odometer to read '-------.--' and the speedometer to read '0 mph', even when the vehicle is in motion, travelling at any speed. Vehicle is in otherwise perfect operating conditions. Diagnostic trouble code P0720 was displayed during these incidents. The manufacturer has customer satisfaction program 16N02 for 'certain' vehicles, in which the dealers are replace the molded lead frame within the transmission. In the case of my vehicle, this program did not apply to my vehicle, while at the same time, the molded lead frame within the transmission was determined to be the source of the issue and subsequently replaced. With my vehicle not applying for the noted customer satisfaction program, with the same faulty part as noted within the specific customer satisfaction program, it is my opinion that the affected vehicles with deficient molded lead frames is far greater than what was initially thought and therefore, the recall program should be extended to all F-150S and similar vehicles within the specified build dates, as noted within the customer satisfaction program. The molded lead frame failure should be considered a manufacturing defect and causes serious safety concerns for the drivers of those vehicles and to the travelling public.
- N Chesterfield, VA, USA
Driving on the highway, truck was supposed to shift from 5th to 6th gear, but shifted into first instead. Happened 3 times today and a couple more times in the past week. Tires squealed, throws your forward in your seat due to the sudden drop in speed.
- Mansfield, OH, USA
- Hoover, AL, USA