If there’s one thing that’s fairly certain when life gives you lemons, it’s that complaining to the right people can set stuff in motion. Drivers of 2015 to 2017 Ford F-150 trucks with 6R80 six-speed automatic transmissions have filed 138 consumer complaints for unexpected downshifts, and now NHTSA is launching a preliminary investigation into 1.3 million vehicles.
Now, you might be thinking that unexpected downshifts don’t sound so bad, and that you’ve experienced an automatic transmission that would downshift to second when fourth would’ve done the job. Well, this one’s a bit different. NHTSA claims that these unexpected downshifts can happen at highway speeds, and they can be severe enough to break traction. As per NHTSA:
Certain consumer complaints additionally allege that the vehicle’s rear wheels temporarily lock, seize, and/or skid during the downshift resulting in a loss of vehicle control increasing the risk for crash and injury.
Essentially, for a downshift into a lower gear ratio to happen smoothly, the engine speed has to rise to match the wheel speed of the vehicle. Modern cars with electronic throttle bodies and electronically controlled automatic transmissions should do this by automatically opening the throttle further while downshifting to get in that higher RPM window before engaging a lower gear, and drivers of stick-shift cars do this manually by blipping the throttle while the clutch is depressed and a lower gear is being selected.
However, when a lower gear is selected without matching engine speed to wheel speed, the drive wheels can slow dramatically, even causing the wheels to lock due to the speed difference – as the above YouTube video from user Jeff shows. Not only is this hard on drivetrain components, it can induce oversteer in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, and any loss of traction can result in loss of control.
Weirdly, this isn’t the first time that the 6R80 transmission has been recalled for sudden unexpected downshifts. In 2019, Ford recalled 1.26 million 2011 to 2013 F-150s with the six-speed automatic transmission because, as per the recall acknowledgement letter, “The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.” Sound familiar? In this case, the fix was an update to the powertrain control module firmware and revised calibration that might not have made it to newer F-Series models with the six-speed automatic transmission.
Indeed, owners have gone to NHTSA citing this prior recall in complaints about transmission issues in their 2015 to 2017 F-150. One owner wrote, “The vehicle will randomly shift into 1st or 2nd gear no matter what speed you are traveling,” which seems alarming, adding that “There is a safety recall on 2011-2013 Ford F150 models for the same issues I am having with my 2015 model.”
Given the recent troubles GM’s been having with its modified version of the Ford co-designed ten-speed automatic transmission, it’s interesting to see that transmission’s predecessor is under scrutiny. While the former recall covers a reasonable 90,000 vehicles, if NHTSA finds any issues worthy of a recall with this F-150 preliminary investigation, Ford might have to recall 1.3 million vehicles in America alone. That’s a huge number of trucks, and considering the F-150 is also popular in Canada and Mexico, many owners could be affected. Let’s see how this shakes out.
Top graphic image: Ford
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Maybe if Ford used a transmission that didn’t have to fuss with shifting, they’d be better off. I’ve got at least one idea of where they can source some from.
That would be terrifying on a slick surface!
It’s quite an accomplishment to make an automatic that can do a “money shift” all by itself.
Ford – Quality is Job #2,343,621.
As someone who recently cross-shopped them, I can say forums report that Ford is also having problems with harsh shifts on their version of the 10 speed. General concensus prior to this recent issue was that GM got it right and Ford didn’t.
I also read somewhere that they had limited their 8 speed to only 7 speeds (I think that was the one, but feel free to replace the numbers with N and N-1 if I’m wrong) because there was one particular shift that they just couldn’t fix. I think it was similar to the ZF 9 speed where there was a dog clutch that just sucked for smooth shifting so they basically disabled it.
And let’s not even discuss the PowerShift debacle. Seems like Ford has issues designing and tuning transmissions. Guess all the powertrain money was going toward the EcoBoost program.
For a long time now, there have been mechanically identical transmissions where the software made or broke them. A similar situation is the Aisin 5spd used in a zillion Volvos and Saabs back in the early ’00s. Absolutely bulletproof in Saabs, Volvo tried some tricks to address NVH and shift smoothness that caused horrendous issues with them in their cars.
Not to worry ,Ford will buy off someone in the current administration and the problem will mysteriously disappear,or they will shut down the NHTSA.which will come first?My guess is money will change hands first so Trump gets his share and then President Musk will doge the NHTSA .
Our Toyota Highlander Hybrid does this.
No, it’s not pedal misapplication.
Lucky for us the car manufacturers don’t build consumer grade operating systems. FFS how hard can it be to do a digital control system for a transmission. They need to up their game.
Why are automatic transmissions so difficult for manufacturers to get working correctly?
Honda had a big issue with autos back in the early aughts, and they were downright terrible. Same goes for Ford, but usually it was the trannies in the passenger cars that were abysmal crap. With F-150 being one of the best selling vehicles, you’d think that quality would be paramount, but yet, here we are.
Huh, the older 4 speed AOD series needed damn near WOT to downshift at highway.
Ford was just being considerate in making sure the auto transmission enjoyers can experience the glorious money shift 🙂
Is owner of 6R80 equipped 2014 Expedition. [browses recall dates] – 2015 through 2017, ok, my truck doesn’t have this issue. [reads about previous recall, browses those recall dates] 2011 through 2013. ok, also does not apply to my truck…?
Did Ford have one magical year of quality/technical righteousness, or did someone forget how to count sequentially?
2014’s are affected too, I think they’re their own separate recall. I had it done on my ’14 F-150 (just a reprograming). I too found it odd that only the 11-13 trucks seemed to be affected when the ’14, and 15-17 used the same trans, with the same problematic component. This feels shitty of Ford only doing the bare minimum until forced to do otherwise.
Not sure why all the hate towards Ford. I’ve been reading a lot lately about dead GMs, every V6 Tacoma needing an engine replacement, first gen Ridgelines rusting to the point the rear suspension will fall off, and lord knows Dodge/RAM quality issues have been a thing forever. (I know someone who just dropped about $5k on a turbo for their 3500 Megacab, for example.) Every manufacturer has problems of some sort.
I had this article’s issue happen with my 2012 F-150 a few years ago. Apparently it was a failure with the output speed sensor at the back of the transmission. It was giving bad readings to the computer, causing it to downshift to way too low of a gear suddenly and fairly violently.
The real kicker was they had to drain and drop the tranny to replace the sensor. Cost about a grand to get it fixed. (Stupid engineering.)
It was after this that the 2011-2013 safety recall happened, and they said it didn’t apply because that was a control module issue and not a sensor issue. Probably BS, but whatever. (This has shades of Boeing’s MCAS system all over it.)
Regardless, it’s been a beast of a truck. I’ve hauled trailers over the Rockies with it, and other than the expected consumables (I just replaced the front struts on it this weekend, about 35k miles past their expected life) just this and the stupidly placed HVAC blend door have been the only issues.
When the time comes to replace it, I’m expecting it will be with another Ford.
As always, YMMV.
I mean, this piece really didn’t come across to me as lambasting Ford. Just explaining this isn’t their first time with this kind of issue.
The article, no. The comments however have been pretty brutal.
Comments on recall articles tend to be brutal regarding the brand in question.
Very good point!
They do kind of hang a target on the manufacturer’s back that says “tomatoes go here!”
They’ve been consistently on the top 5 manufacturers in recalls over the last several years.
That may have something to do with the brutal comments, although I suspect about half of those are not even affected owners (nor Ford owners for that matter). Personally I’ve had good service out of the last 3 Ford vehicles I’ve owned so I don’t know what to make out of this..
The fact they take care of the issues is fine; let’s be real some manufacturers get away by not doing recalls and that’s worse than what Ford is doing but somehow they don’t get as much of a slamming.
Regardless, Ford’s execution has been quite mediocre. Not learning from these experiences over and over defies any logic at this point as if they were actively looking sabotage themselves (and alienate their customers in the process).
Having owned all 3 domestics at one point, my Fords were the least problematic and easiest to repair.
Nothing that a warning sticker on the dash can’t fix
Nice callback!
Well that looks terrifying. Imagine having that happen while you are towing. I’d be telling Ford they owe me a new transmission and probably new pants.
The Feds are Investigating Taco Bell for Violent Skid-Inducing Burritos.
Isn’t that a case of the product working as advertised though?
What Taco Bell advertising are you seeing that promotes their “violent skid-inducing” qualities?
Come on. Look at the piles of hot brown covered in neon yellow they advertise and try to tell me that isn’t a threat to your poor, unsuspecting colon.
I suppose one could interpret that as subtlety.
Ah, yes, Ford: Fix Or Recall Daily
First On Race Day
Found On Road Dead
Fix Or Repair Daily
I’ve heard them all…..
F$%^r Only Rolls Downhill
Not even that if it violently downshifts into 1st at speed!
Have you driven a ford lately, quality is job 1, like a rock, guts glory ram, the pride is back… moving forward, the power of dreams, sheer driving pleasure, zoom zoom, the best or nothing. Too bad none can live up to the hype. Left Tesla off the list bc Tesla says it all.
It does seem like there should be ironclad rules in transmission control modules preventing a shift into first from any gear other than second unless vehicle speed is zero.
The problem is what they’re using to infer vehicle speed. My 2012 apparently used the transmission output shaft speed sensor, and not the wheel rotation speed sensor from the ABS system.
I’m guessing the control module was updated to factor in additional inputs, rather than keeping the transmission operating logic tied to just the tranny’s own sensors, but I don’t know that for sure.
That does seem like something that should be measured redundantly.
Even my manual transmission car makes it very difficult (at least) to shift into first if you’re going too fast. I’ve never tried to push through it for obvious reasons, but when I’m pulling up to a stop sign I can’t down shift all the way until I’ve slowed below a certain speed.
Another day, another Ford recall.
Henry Ford said you don’t need to go that fast anyway.
It used to be the early “robot” twin clutch auto boxes which did this, both changing up and down. Early Peugeot ones used were cited for whiplash….
Even current dual clutches are going to give you a shitty shift every so often, particularly at low speeds. It’s not to the level that it unsettles the car or anything but unfortunately it’s just something that can’t really be engineered out of them. It’s one of the reasons they’re falling out of favor.
Ford and borking transmissions….name a more iconic duo
Jatco and CVT’s
A certain commenter would strongly disagree
I think you just hurt Jatco XTronic CVT’s feelings
I thought a common complaint with CVTs was their lack of feel
Hey now…when I look for early-aughts full-size vans, I didn’t find Ford-equivalent Facebook groups to “4l-slippy” or “4L60-E go pnnnnnn”
(although I’m sure the issue is exaggerated)
…and to think that most people would consider the 6 speed more reliable than the 10 speed that replaced it. The worst part is they’re still probably right.
And the 2014’s. I’ve got a recall notice on my fridge for exactly this.
I’d better check, I’m pretty sure my fridge has the 6-speed as well.
Ha! Well played. (After a recent look at washing machines and appliances in general, I would be less surprised than I would like to find some crazy junk like that crammed into white goods.)
My old fridge from 1981 probably never saw a pickup truck. When it died I hauled it to scrap in my Honda Fit, and since the whole development was outfitted with the same almond-color Kenmore appliances at the same time it probably showed up in the biggest box truck Sears had, probably a Ford C-series or Louisville.
Yet another reason to prefer a manual transmission.
Skid marks on the road to match the skid marks in your underpants after a harsh downshift.