Ford Recalls F-150 Pickups Over Transmission Defect

Ford F-150 owners will want to see if their vehicles are covered by a new recall before getting behind the wheel again.

The automaker recently told federal regulators that it is calling back nearly 50,000 vehicles that could unexpectedly slip into neutral. The issue, caused by a software glitch, could lead to accidents.

“The Transmission Fluid Pressure Low Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) may falsely activate and cause the transmission to shift into a neutral state,” Ford said in a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “This can occur at any speed.”

“A loss of motive power while driving can increase the risk of a crash,” Ford added.

The recall covers certain 2021 F-150 vehicles, which were built between late July and late December 2021. Ford said it would mail recall notification letters to owners in early May.

The company is asking owners of recalled vehicles to bring them to a local dealer for a software update, free of charge. 

Ford Recalls

Recalls like this are unfortunately all too common for Ford drivers. 

Like other major vehicle manufacturers, the company frequently calls back vehicles for serious defects that pose a safety threat to everyone on the road. The recalls are usually announced long after the defective cars have been sold to unsuspecting owners.

Ford announced in March, for example, that it is calling back some 330,000 Mustang vehicles. The cars’ rearview camera wiring may be loose or damaged, increasing the risk of an accident, the company said. 

Ford also said in December it was recalling some 185,000 F-150 pickup trucks. The company blamed faulty insulators, which Ford said could damage driveshafts and cause drivers to lose control or driving power.

Even when the company recalls vehicles, it does not mean the cars and trucks are actually being fixed. Federal regulators recently said some 300,000 Ford pickup trucks that were recalled over faulty tailgates may not have been repaired.

California Ford Owners: Understand Your Legal Rights

The good news for car owners in California is that you do not need to wait for a recall to get a defective vehicle fixed. The state’s lemon law gives you some valuable rights and options.

The law generally forces carmakers to perform a wide variety of repairs on cars while they are under warranty. It also forces the companies to buy back cars that they cannot or refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the purchase price, along with financing fees and other related costs.

The law allows car manufacturers to offer to replace a malfunctioning vehicle, instead of buying it back. It is up to the owner to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement, however. 

Speak with a Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney

If you are stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a car manufacturer over repairs, the Los Angeles lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help. 

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a Los Angeles lemon law attorney.