2012 Ford F-150 Transmission Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 27,000.

NHTSA ID

11673875

Incident

Jun 2, 2025

Mileage

27,000 mi

Attempted to merge onto a highway and car stayed in first and not allowing for proper acceleration. Ended up not being included under a current recall. Replace the lead frame connector in the transmission.

NHTSA ID

11551234

Incident

Sep 5, 2023

While driving down the highway, a wrench appeared on the display, then the speedometer went down to zero and the truck wasn’t shifting or accelerating. I took it to the Ford dealership and the diagnosed it as an issue with the Leadframe sensor assembly. They also let me know this is a known issue and there was an extended warranty program that my vehicle is over mileage for. The repair cost estimate was $800 for parts/labor. They also stated that the part is on back order and may be a month before they could get it. When I asked about driving with the issue they said it won’t do damage to my transmission but may intermittently cause shifting issues and could result in loss of reverse. I don’t feel comfortable driving it like that but it is my only vehicle. I also contact Ford customer care directly but there was nothing they could do to assist and pointed me here.

NHTSA ID

11546985

Incident

Sep 27, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently shifted gears while the traction control warning light blinked once. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle restarted after several attempts. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the PCM software needed to be updated. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11503835

Incident

Jan 23, 2023

Mileage

104,000 mi

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the transmission downshifted from 7th to 6th gear, without warning. The contact pulled to the side of the road and shifted the vehicle into park(P) then back into drive(D). The contact stated that the transmission then selected 5th gear remained in 5th gear. The wrench warning light then illuminated. The contact stated that after arriving home, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact was able to clear the codes and the vehicle operated as needed. The contact stated that the transmission continued to slip, causing the contact to continually clear the codes to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the lead frame needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 10201087 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired due to the contact needing to clear the codes in order to drive the vehicle to the dealer; however, removing the trouble codes would prevent the dealer from performing the Customer Satisfaction Program. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11496538

Incident

Dec 1, 2022

Mileage

145,000 mi

2012 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO EXPERIENCING RANDOM DOWNSHIFTS INTO FIRST GEAR WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL DETAILING THE SAME DOWNSHIFTING FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN RECALLS 16V248000, 19V075000, AND 19V07500.

NHTSA ID

11475247

Incident

Jul 22, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unintendedly downshifted upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel during the failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (Power Train) which she linked to the failure. The dealer was contacted about the failure and the contact was informed that there were no open recalls on the VIN. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.

NHTSA ID

11469624

Incident

Feb 15, 2022

Mileage

240,000 mi

GOING DOWNHILL LAST NIGHT IN 5 PM TRAFFIC AND MY TRUCK SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR BY ITSELF AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED LET ALONE SOMEONE COULD HAVE REARENDED ME AND THERE WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE LET ALONE MAYBE ANOTHER DEATH. I PUT ON MY FLASHERS RIGHT AWAY, PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT THE TRUCK OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. GATHERED MY THOUGHTS TURNED IT BACK ON AND DROVE ON THE SHOULDER FOR A WAYS, AND THE TRUCK WENT INTO GEAR NO PROBLEM. THEN I HAD TO STOP AT THE STORE, SHUT THE TRUCK OFF, STARTED IT WHEN I GOT BACK IN AND IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. AGAIN A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES - I DO HAVE VIDEO OF LAST NIGHTS OCCURRENCE. THERE ARE MANY FACETS TO THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT THERE IS A CUSTOMER SAFETY NUMBER THAT IS RELATED TO THIS HOWEVER MY TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 150000 MILES. I TOOK IT INTO FORD THIS MORNING AND ALSO TALKED WITH NATIONAL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID 10 YEARS OR 150000 MILES. ACTUALLY 2 DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES TOLD ME 2 DIFFERENT THINGS, ONE TOLD ME IT IS COVERED AND THE 2ND TOLD ME IT IS NOT COVERED. MY TRUCK HAD 149000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT, SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS STOLEN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND WHEN I GOT IT BACK IT HAD UMPTEEN THINGS WRONG WITH IT, SO IT HAS BEEN IN THE MECHANIC SHOP AND BODY SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE HAD IT. HAD I KNOWN THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE I COULD HAVE HAD IT FIXED BEFORE IT WAS STOLEN.

NHTSA ID

11422958

Incident

Jun 29, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR INDEPENDENTLY AND THE POWER TRAIN WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V198000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10967885

Incident

Nov 12, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi