2014 Ford F-150 Powertrain (other) Problems

While driving, the malfunction indicator light (yellow wrench) will illuminate, followed by a complete loss of communication between the instrument cluster and the transmission. The speedometer immediately drops to zero even though the truck is still moving, and other information, such as the fuel range, goes blank. The truck will also struggle to accelerate from a stop, almost as if it is starting in second gear. If I shut the truck off and restart it, everything returns to normal. Before the malfunction light comes on, the transmission will often make a very hard downshift or remain stuck in first gear and refuse to shift as speed increases. After a few seconds, the warning light appears, communication is lost, and the transmission shifts again, often very harshly. This seems to happen more often at lower speeds. This creates a serious safety risk because I lose all knowledge of my speed while driving, and the transmission may not respond properly when pulling into traffic or trying to reach a safe place to pull over. The dealer is aware of the problem. Recall 24S37 was supposed to correct it, but it did not. Recall 26S45 acknowledges that the original repair was not effective for all vehicles, but my VIN is not included even though I am experiencing the same failure. I have reported the issue to the dealer multiple times by phone and through their online service system. A dealership representative told me I am not the only customer experiencing this problem, but the dealer has not inspected the truck since completing Recall 24S37 and has not taken action or returned my calls. The malfunction indicator light consistently appears about four seconds after the transmission begins acting abnormally and immediately before the instrument cluster loses communication with the transmission. I am now nervous to drive the truck, especially from a stop or at lower speeds, because I never know when the problem will occur.

NHTSA ID

11755274

Incident

Jun 15, 2026

Vehicle Information: Year: 2014 Make: Ford Model: F-150 Component: Power Train (Transmission / Powertrain Control Module) Dealership Involved:Midway Motors Ford, 2075 E Kansas Ave, McPherson, KS 67460 Complaint Description:I am filing a formal safety complaint against Ford Motor Company and Midway Motors Ford in McPherson, KS, for failing to provide a free remedy under active federal safety recall 24S37 (NHTSA Campaign 24V444).My 2014 Ford F-150 was brought to the dealership to complete safety recall 24S37, which addresses severe, sudden transmission downshifts. The dealership performed a software update to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Immediately following this update, the truck's drivability severely deteriorated, and the transmission began violently slamming into 3rd gear, locking itself into a dangerous transmission fault "limp mode." The diagnostic scans post-update indicate a failure of the molded lead frame/speed sensor. According to Ford's official technical service bulletin for recall 24S37, physical replacement of the molded lead frame is an explicitly authorized remedy when diagnostic codes appear following the software flash. However, both the local servicing dealership (Midway Motors Ford) and Ford Corporate Customer Service are actively refusing to perform this physical safety repair free of charge. They are wrongfully claiming that because my vehicle has over 200,000 miles, it is disqualified from financial assistance. They are confusing a federal, non-expiring safety recall with an older, expired warranty extension program (19N01).By refusing to replace the defective lead frame that their own software update triggered into an active failure state, the manufacturer and dealer are leaving my vehicle in an unsafe, undrivable condition and violating federal recall mandates. I request that NHTSA intervene to compel Ford to complete the mandatory safety recall remedy at zero cost to me.

NHTSA ID

11754506

Incident

Jul 25, 2026

The vehicle experienced an uncommanded, severe downshift from 5th gear directly into 1st gear while traveling at approximately 45 mph on a public road. This caused sudden, violent engine braking and an immediate drop in speed, creating an extreme rear-end collision hazard and potential loss of vehicle control. This vehicle previously received the PCM software update under Ford Safety Recall 24S37 (NHTSA Campaign 24V444). The software update failed to prevent the sudden downshift event caused by the failing Output Shaft Speed (OSS) sensor on the transmission molded lead frame. When contacting Ford Corporate Customer Service and local dealerships, Ford refused to cover diagnostic scanning or hardware replacement, claiming the recall is marked "completed" in their database because the software patch was installed more than 12 months ago. A software update that fails to prevent a 5th-to-1st downshift leaves a defective physical sensor on the road. Ford is refusing to evaluate or remedy a persistent, life-threatening recall failure on a 6R80 transmission.

NHTSA ID

11754376

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The RPM's increased and the powertrain warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V444000 (Power Train) months prior to the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the diagnostic test and repair were not covered under the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 206,000.

NHTSA ID

11753557

Incident

Feb 17, 2026

Mileage

206,000 mi

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the rear wheels locked up, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle, and the vehicle stopped suddenly. The contact regained control of the vehicle after 3 attempts. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); as a possible cause for the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not covered under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11753063

Incident

Jul 20, 2022

Mileage

150,000 mi

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11752357

Incident

May 27, 2026

Mileage

140,053 mi

I brought my 2014 Ford F-150 to Gentilini Ford in Woodbine NJ in response to recall notice number 24S37 on XXX for an issue with the molded leadframe on the 6R80 transmission. The recall gave the option of reprogramming the existing leadframe or replacing the leadframe. My leadframe was reprogrammed and not replaced. Shortly after the recall while driving back to [XXX] from NC, the transmission dropped into first gear while cruising down a narrow road causing the back tires to chirp. Several dash lights then came on and the transmission went into limp mode which included rough shifting, sluggish starts, no speedometer or several gauges. When I made it to a point where it was safe to pull over, I immediately turned off the truck and did a visual inspection to make sure there was no damage. I returned to my truck began researching the issue online and quickly realized that it was caused by the actions taken during the recall. I placed several calls to Ford with no recourse. In late May of 2026, I learned of a new recall aimed at the correction of the recall and Ford was replacing the leadframes that were reprogrammed. Upon further research, I learned that late year 2014 f-150's with the 6R80 transmission were not included in the recall. I am reaching out for help in forcing Ford to include my truck in the recall. The issue happens almost every time I drive now and will eventually reset back to normal mode after several stops and restarts. It is a very dangerous situation when my speed drops dramatically on the narrow roads of North Carolina. There are no shoulders on the roads and the only place to pull over in the majority of situations is into a drainage ditch. Please help!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11751788

Incident

Feb 25, 2026

While driving on the highway Vehicle appeared to downshift into to low of a gear range causing me to almost lose control of the vehicle

NHTSA ID

11750806

Incident

Jun 24, 2026

On July 2, 2026, the vehicle was brought to an authorized dealer for a scheduled appointment to resolve active Safety Recall 26S45 / NHTSA Campaign 26V378 (6R80 transmission sudden downshift defect). The dealership refused to perform the recall software update, claiming it was not needed for the vehicle. On July 12, 2026, while traveling at highway speeds on a public highway, the transmission suffered the exact un-commanded sudden downshift described in the recall. The violent mechanical force instantly snapped the rear driveshaft in half and severed the undercarriage air conditioning lines, creating a sudden, life-threatening loss of control and wheel speed reduction on a live highway. The vehicle is now permanently disabled due to the dealer's refusal to fulfill a federal safety mandate.

NHTSA ID

11750595

Incident

Jul 12, 2026

The truck suddenly decided to downshift from sixth gear to second gear. This has happened twice on our way to Staunton, Virginia.

NHTSA ID

11748618

Incident

May 29, 2026

Traveling at 65mph on I-275 in Tampa while changing lanes vehicle suddenly downshifted to 1st or 2nd gear enough to cause the vehicle to jolt and squawk the rear tires. The vehicle remained in this state with elevated rpm's and gear indicator was blank. This has occurred on many occasions and is extremely dangerous. It has been an ongoing problem that Ford refuses to correctly solve. It's already been in for service under prior recall which hasn't really solved anything. The 2013 models had the same issue which Ford issued a replacement of the lead frame, yet now they continue to slap bandaids on with software patches. The software doesn't solve the problem of a garbage lead frame.

NHTSA ID

11746929

Incident

Jun 25, 2026

Hello, I recently brought my 2014 Ford F-150 (VIN: [XXX]) to the dealership regarding Recall 24S37. The vehicle experienced the following symptoms: • Check Engine Light illuminated. • Wrench Light illuminated. • Intermittent loss of power. • Abnormal transmission behavior. • Intermittent no-start condition. • Vehicle would only start after moving the gear selector. The dealership informed me that no physical repairs would be performed because the diagnostic trouble codes retrieved were different from those associated with Recall 24S37. However, the vehicle continues to exhibit transmission-related symptoms, and I am concerned that the underlying condition may be related to or aggravated by the conditions addressed in Recall 24S37. I am requesting that Ford review this case and determine whether additional diagnostic evaluation or repairs should be considered. However, they refuse to accept that the codes have anything to do with the recall, even though it is the same part and the affected sensor that is triggering the error codes on the scanner. They are asking me to pay for the transmission repair because the codes are not the ones approved for the recall, but based on the signs and symptoms the truck is showing, it is a chain reaction that triggered the previously mentioned failures. Thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11746012

Incident

Jun 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving approximately 50-55 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted into first gear, and the rear wheels locked up, causing the vehicle to stop in the middle of the road in a slightly sideways position. The powertrain warning light was blinking, and the infotainment screen turned black. Upon restarting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the vehicle responded briefly and made a clunking sound. The instrument cluster and the infotainment system were inoperable. The vehicle was towed to an acquaintance's residence, who informed the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V444000 (Power Train). The vehicle was then towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer at the owner's expense. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the PCM had failed and could not connect to the computer at the dealer. The dealer determined that the PCM needed to be replaced for further diagnostic tests. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and several complaints were filed. The failure mileage was approximately 204,000.

NHTSA ID

11744276

Incident

Mar 16, 2026

Mileage

204,000 mi

My 2014 Ford F-150 is exhibiting symptoms consistent with the Ford transmission molded lead frame safety recall 24S37. While driving approximately 55 mph late at night on a five-lane roadway, the vehicle suddenly and violently jerked, downshifted and came to a complete stop becoming stalled out as I was approaching a major traffic intersection. The truck was disabled in traffic and would not restart for approximately 2-3 minutes, leaving me stranded in an active travel lane and at risk of being struck from behind by another vehicle at high speed. The vehicle has displayed transmission-related symptoms including inability to correctly indicate gear position, harsh shifting, unexpected downshifts into 1st gear while driving, transmission fault warnings, and check engine lights. Initially it was mostly dying while idling and we thought it was the common "Fuse 27" issue, being unaware of the recall. Then the condition reproduced multiple times and symptoms worsened dramatically. Ford dealership inspected the vehicle. According to the technician's written report, the truck was found to be "having transmission problems, unable see what gear the truck is in and shifts to 1st gear while driving" and recommended replacement of the molded lead frame. The dealership confirmed transmission-related diagnostic trouble codes were present and documented symptoms consistent with lead frame failure. Despite the recommendation of the lead frame replacement and documenting symptoms consistent with the safety recall, the repair was not approved. The vehicle continues to experience symptoms associated with the recalled defect and is unsafe to drive away. Dealership confirms software update will not correct problem. I am submitting this complaint as the transmission defect poses a significant safety hazard to me, my children, and other drivers due to unexpected downshifts, loss of power, stalling, and the risk of becoming disabled in traffic. The truck remains available to inspect

NHTSA ID

11743580

Incident

May 10, 2026

In 2025 I took my truck in for a recall reference 24S37 which was a software update to prevent intermittent failure of my output shaft sensor in my transmission. My sensor is now failed and FORD is claiming that there is no remedy for coverage as I already did the software update but my truck is still experiencing problems

NHTSA ID

11740466

Incident

May 27, 2026

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2014 Ford F-150 XLT equipped with the 6R80 transmission. My vehicle previously received Recall 24S37 in 2024 for the known transmission downshift safety defect involving Output Shaft Speed (OSS) sensor signal loss. Despite completion of the recall repair, my vehicle is now exhibiting the same dangerous symptoms associated with the recall condition, including: • Sudden erratic transmission behavior• Speedometer intermittently dropping to zero while driving• Wrench warning light activation• Check engine warning light• Airbag warning light• Unsafe drivability conditions and intermittent limp mode operation These symptoms create a serious safety concern because the vehicle unexpectedly changes driving behavior and loses speed signal information while operating on public roads. I presented the vehicle to Dick Smith Ford in Columbia, South Carolina for evaluation and was informed the truck requires a complete transmission replacement estimated at approximately $11,000. After extensive research, I discovered many Ford truck owners nationwide reporting nearly identical symptoms involving the 6R80 transmission, molded lead frame failures, OSS sensor failures, and unintended downshifting conditions. Ford previously acknowledged similar issues in Recall 24S37 and Customer Satisfaction Program 19N01. I am concerned the original recall remedy may not fully address the underlying hardware failure associated with this transmission system. My vehicle is demonstrating the same safety-related symptoms after the recall repair was already completed. Vehicle Information:2014 Ford F-150 XLTVIN: [XXX] I respectfully request NHTSA review this issue for continued safety concerns involving the Ford 6R80 transmission system and post-recall failures associated with Recall 24S37. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11739781

Incident

May 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the speedometer became inoperable, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift from 1st gear to a lower gear with the check engine warning light and power train warning light illuminated. The contact also stated due to the failure that the odometer would also appear blank. The contact stated that the VIN was associated with a previous recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the vehicle did not require the recall remedy involving transmission and lead frame replacement because no trouble codes were detected. The contact was informed that the transmission would instead be reprogrammed. The contact stated that the failure persisted on multiple occasions. The dealer was contacted again. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

NHTSA ID

11737926

Incident

May 14, 2026

Mileage

139,000 mi

I have had the 24S37 recall applied to my truck it was a software update, after the update it was ok for about a month then the problem became worse than it was before the software update. My truck is now downshifting and locking up the rear wheels and dose not shift sometimes and skips gears. This problem is getting worse everyday. I talked to the Ford dealership by my house and they told me I needed to buy a new transmission from them and there was no remedy for my problem other than the new transmission. I noticed the are recalling the 2015 trucks with the same transmission problem. Will my truck be added to the recall ? I have the same transmission

NHTSA ID

11735892

Incident

May 4, 2026

My 2014 Ford F150 truck went into “limp mode” last week. A wrench showed up on my dashboard, my speedometer didn’t function, and it sounded like the transmission was “winding up” if I tried to accelerate. After hitting “ok” to remove the wrench and restarting the truck a couple of times, my check engine light illuminated. I was driving at about 40 MPH when this occurred and it was a scary moment. Luckily I was able to keep my truck under control and drove very slowly back home considering I was less than 4 miles from my home. The truck went into a Ford dealership in 2024 for the “transmission recall” in which the only thing I noticed different was that I couldn’t see the digital shifting of the transmission on the screen anymore and they “killed” my battery. I still had issues every so often with power loss or the transmission shifting down abruptly, but it wouldn’t throw a code. Last week it threw a code. P0720 to be exact, the reason for the transmission recall in the first place. There was no fix done with the recall and it made it so that I had to watch my RPM’s to track my transmission shifting. This is extremely concerning especially since I was having the issues prior to a computer reprogram and it wasn’t addressed. I have also seen that there’s yet another Ford transmission recall that could affect my truck considering it was assembled in June 2014 and fits the transmission 6R80 that needs fixed. Could someone please help? Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11735821

Incident

Apr 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly downshifted. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted, and the transmission felt sluggish. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V444000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11734792

Incident

Apr 23, 2026

Mileage

100,000 mi

After they replaced my transmission lines, my transmission slams into 4th gear and sometimes 5th gear. They said it was a manufacturer defect. I'm waiting for it to give out. I can't afford a new one.

NHTSA ID

11732014

Incident

Apr 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted into first gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the transmission wiring had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure might be related to a previous recall associated with the vehicle. The contact indicated that under the recall, only a software update was performed, and the wiring was not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact expressed concerns that the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to the risk of sudden unexpected downshifting. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11731170

Incident

Apr 14, 2026

Mileage

79,000 mi

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly went into LIMP Mode several times, with the powertrain warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted after each failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times; however, it was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure started after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V444000 (Power Train); and the software update was performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 156,484.

NHTSA ID

11729448

Incident

Apr 6, 2026

Mileage

156,484 mi

An intermittent failure of the output shaft speed (OSS) sensor in the transmission. It downshifted while traveling over 45 MPH> The dashboard lights went away, and the transmission will only stay in first gear. Restarting the vehicle (sometimes multiple times), addresses the issue temporarily. safety recall 24S37 addresses the issue but my vehicle is not part of this recall.

NHTSA ID

11726931

Incident

Mar 7, 2026

Consistent with NHTSA Recall bulletin 24V444000, my truck suddenly downshifts on its own from 5th or 6th gear to 1st or 2nd gear, even at highway speeds. When that happens, the RPMs increase dramatically and the truck slows down. I have almost wrecked while driving in snow when this happens, because the rear wheels slide out of control when the transmission drops to 1st or 2nd gear. So, why isn't my truck covered by this recall bulletin? This has been occurring with increasing frequency for over three months. Today (3-18-26) it occurred at least eight (8) times - and it's snowing.

NHTSA ID

11725224

Incident

Mar 18, 2026