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NHTSA May Expand Ford Recall for Gearbox Downshift Flaw
U.S. safety authorities are deciding whether to widen by a factor of nine a previous recall to fix Ford Motor Co. transmissions that can unexpectedly shift into first gear.
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U.S. safety authorities are deciding whether to widen by a factor of nine a previous recall to fix Ford Motor Co. transmissions that can unexpectedly shift into first gear.
The flaw involves a defective speed sensor in Ford’s “6R80” 6-speed automatic gearbox. The device could send an erroneous signal to the transmission’s computer controller, thereby triggering a sudden downshift. Depending on vehicle speed, the abrupt gear change could lock up the rear wheels and cause a skid.
The problem prompted Ford in March 2016 to recall 202,000 of its 2011-2012 model F-150 pickup trucks, Expedition/Navigator SUVs and Mustang sport coupes in the U.S. and Canada.
Now the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it may broaden the campaign to cover 2013 models and a combined 1.38 million vehicles in the U.S. alone. The agency says it has received 123 complaints about the problem occurring in pickup trucks and SUVs either not covered by the earlier recall or recalled but not successfully repaired.
NHTSA isn’t clear whether a wider recall would include 2013 model Mustangs.
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