Ford Motor Company has announced a global recall of 668,000 F-150 pickup trucks from the 2014 model year due to a defect that could lead to an unexpected shift into first gear, potentially causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle or the rear wheels to lock up.

Ford explained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that this defect could result in an unexpected change in transmission speed, regardless of the vehicle’s speed. Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to address this issue.

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The Ford F-series pickup truck has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for over 40 years. This recall is part of Ford's ongoing efforts to address a problem that has been emerging since 2016. In March, the NHTSA opened an investigation to determine whether 2014 model trucks needed to be recalled after receiving numerous complaints about unexpected transmission shifts.

The new recall covers 552,000 vehicles in the United States. Ford reported that it received 300 warranty reports, 96 field reports, and 124 customer complaints regarding this issue, with 482 related to the transmission of the 2014 F-150, including two reports of injuries and one accident linked to the defect.

One owner informed the NHTSA that they experienced an unexpected shift in the transmission, causing their vehicle to crash into a concrete barrier and another vehicle, resulting in injuries to both drivers.

In 2016, Ford recalled 153,000 F-150 trucks from the 2011-2012 model years equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions to address a similar issue. In December 2017, the NHTSA opened an investigation into the matter, and in February 2019, Ford expanded its recall to include 1.48 million F-150 trucks in North America, including 2013 models. Later in 2019, Ford issued a recall for 107,000 F-150 trucks from the 2013 model year due to a repair issue.

Since March of this year, Ford and the NHTSA have met several times to discuss the matter, and Ford has finally agreed to this latest recall.