Automatic Transmission Control Module problems of the 2016 Ford F-150

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that vehicle was taken to the local dealer for a recall repair associated with the pcm reprogramming. Upon retrieval, the vehicle went into limp mode while driving. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to a lower gear, and the vehicle lost motive power. The dealer was contacted and provided the contact with an estimate for a diagnostic test. The contact spoke with a supervisor, but no additional assistance was provided.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, and the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated. Additionally, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle with the power train warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was confirmed. The contact was informed that an unknown pcm software update was completed. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Xxx: I scheduled an oil change online and selected the open transmission safety recall. [xxx] Ford executed recall 26s28 (pcm programming) under verification code rglkt7masipij. The truck had absolutely no shifting issues prior to this flash. Xxx: within two weeks of the software update, the truck began experiencing the exact erratic shifting and violent gear-dropping safety hazards described in the recall. I returned the truck to the dealer. Xxx: after days of complete silence, I had to initiate contact. First by phone, then by physically walking into the service desk on xxx to get answers because the dealer ignored my vehicle. Mid-xxx: after the truck sat on their lot for three weeks, they finally scanned it and retrieved code p2701. The dealer stated the recall wouldn't cover it and immediately quoted me $8,000 to rebuild or $10,000 to replace the transmission. They claimed they would submit the case to Ford corporate. Xxx: having heard nothing, I returned to the dealership in person. I was told they still had no response from corporate. The paperwork contradiction: the technician's notes on page 3 explicitly state: "no update so that one recall cannot be performed, must been updated at some point. " this proves the technician failed to look at their own shop's service history from xxx (page 2), where they signed off on completing the update. Furthermore, they condemned the entire transmission based strictly on a digital code scan; they never dropped the pan or performed any physical diagnostic work. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

In April of this year my 2016 f150 began having issues related to the automatic transmission. Symptoms included unexpected and irregular downshifting from 6th gear into 4th gear while traveling on the highway, random and irregular shifting from gear to gear, and not gearing down below 3rd gear when coming to a complete stop. While these symptoms were happening the truck displayed the mil and powertrain warning lamp. These issues put myself and others at risk because having the vehicle unexpectedly downshift while traveling at a high speed causes the vehicle to become difficult to control, increasing the risk of a crash. It is also difficult for the vehicle to increase speed in a timely and safe manner when it is starting out in 3rd gear. In may I received a recall notice from Ford, eventually in July having the dealer closest to me perform a pcm software upgrade. While waiting for Ford to make this software upgrade available I received a notice from Ford referencing customer satisfaction program 26n04. This notice states that if my vehicle set a mil and/or powertrain warning light (which my vehicle did both) I may need to get the transmission molded leadframe replaced as part of this recall program. When I picked up my vehicle from servicing dealership I was informed my vehicle "did not have the appropriate code" to warrant this repair. However, the software upgrade performed has done nothing to fix the problem I am experiencing. My vehicle still downshifts randomly and unexpectedly while displaying a powertrain warning light, and making my vehicle unsafe for highway travel.

On may 10, 2026, my 2016 Ford F-150 (6r80 transmission) went into limp mode and displayed a wrench warning light while driving. The truck lost normal transmission function and would not shift properly, creating a hazardous situation in traffic. The pcm has stored active output shaft speed sensor codes p0720 and p0722, confirmed by a paul miller Ford ids diagnostic scan, indicating a failing molded leadframe inside the transmission. When the oss signal drops out at road speed, the pcm can command a sudden unintended downshift into a low gear, causing abrupt deceleration and potential rear-wheel lockup and loss of control — a serious safety hazard. Ford recall 26s28 (26v-237) / program 26n04 for 2015–2017 F-150s only covers a pcm software recalibration for the transmission range sensor codes (p0705/p0706). It does not replace the leadframe hardware for the oss codes (p0720/p0722) my truck is actually throwing. Ford's system auto-rejected the claim, and a dealer sssc prior-approval request was denied. I am being told to pay out of pocket for a known defective part. For 2014 trucks, Ford replaced this same leadframe for free under recall 24s37 when p0720/p0722 were present. My 2016 has the same transmission, same part, and same failure, but the current recall remedy is software only. I'm filing so NHTSA has documentation that the oss leadframe failure is occurring on 2015–2017 F-150s and to request the remedy be expanded to cover leadframe replacement. No crash or injury occurred; the defect was confirmed by a Ford dealer.

Ford corporate will not reimburse for the repairs that need to be made or provide a loaner car until the recall equipment is available. Need vehicle to drive to work. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the automatic lead frame has gone due to the pcm recall for my Ford 150 2016 vehicle safety or the safety of others put at risk? family in the car driving to an event has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes it has been identified by a local service center with the computer codes were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? yes, orange wrench light came on, sudden downshifting of the vehicle, the traction control would shut off, the gear and drive lights would shut off powertrain control module pcm reprogramming recall incomplete recall service not available right now. We have a remedy but parts are not available right now. We will inform you when the service is available. Or, you can contact your dealer. Issue date 2026-04-14 campaign 26s28/26v237 description on your vehicle, an unexpected downshift to a lower gear may occur and cause an abrupt wheel speed reduction for a short duration. In some cases, this could cause the rear tires to slide until the vehicle speed slows down. You may also experience a malfunction indicator lamp mil andor a powertrain warning lamp wrench symbol in the instrument panel cluster prior to an unintended downshift occurring. Safety risk this may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy a remedy is not yet available. Ford motor company is working to provide software for this repair. When the remedy becomes available, Ford motor company will notify you via mail to schedule a service appointment with your dealer for repairs to be completed free of charge. The remedy is anticipated to be available in July 2026.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The powertrain warning light illuminated; however, the warning light was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed of an unknown pcm software recall. The contact was informed that the recall repair needed to be completed. The dealer sent a tech to the residence, and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure occurred immediately after the pcm software was completed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with leadframe failure. The contact was informed that the leadframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the required failure codes were not displayed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. In addition, the contact recently received a customer satisfaction program: 18664367332. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the customer support program. The contact was advised to contact the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

My vehicle keeps downshifting randomly at highway speeds and will also not shift out of 1st or 2nd. Rear tires keep locking up. 1. Pcm 2. I have a hard time keeping vehicle in control 3. Yes, active recall can't repair until July 4. Yes, it has been inspected 5. Yes, check engine and wrench light.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced unexpected transmission downshifts, which required the driver to pull over to the side of the road. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the molded leadframe was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist, where the transmission was rebuilt. The contact stated that while driving after the repair, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the transmission specialist, where an unknown repair was performed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the transmission specialist, where the molded leadframe was replaced, but the failure persisted. The contact received notification for NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the powertrain control module (pcm) software update was completed; however, the failure recurred the same day. The driver pulled over, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and resumed driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the molded leadframe needed to be replaced; however, the contact informed the dealer that the molded leadframe was replaced twice in the previous three months, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure prior to the recall repair, and a case was filed. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 199,325.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, with the power train warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was driving rough and the transmission was shifting hard. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that parts were unavailable to repair the vehicle. The contact was informed that there was an open recall on the vehicle; however, there was no notification that the vehicle should not be driven. The contact was advised that the vehicle could be driven until the parts became available. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to repair the vehicle was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a pcm failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the age and mileage of the vehicle exceeded the coverage limitation. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

Truck suddenly downshift into 5th gear and bucked for second starting out to get up to 60 mph wrench light comes on transmission at 60 mph. Holding back due to communications from the output sensor and the pcm. Took it to a Ford dealer and had transmission flushed it was diagnosed with code po722. Dealer said earlier years of these type of transmission on f150 had same problems.

My truck will suddenly downshift when driving at highway speeds to a lower gear, causing the rear end to lock-up. Same issue that Ford is addressing with the 2014 F-150's with recall 24s37, where they are replacing sensors & reprogramming the pcm. This is going to cause an accident and potential loss of life if this is not fixed by Ford. The recall that was issued should have included many other model years. My truck only has 60k miles on it and have heard of many issues around the same mileage on other years.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and accelerating, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The dealer replaced the throttle control and the pcm; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted and became stuck in a lower gear before shifting into the intended gear. The powertrain warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where dtc: p0705, p0706, p0707, and p1702 were retrieved, indicating a powertrain control module (pcm) and leadframe failure. The vehicle was not repaired because the warranty had expired the day prior. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the pcm software update was completed. The contact was advised to drive the vehicle for an extended period and return to the dealer to determine if the leadframe needed to be replaced. The failure persisted while driving, and upon returning to the dealer, dtc: p0717 and p0715 were retrieved. The dealer submitted a claim to the manufacturer, but coverage for the leadframe replacement was denied because the diagnostic trouble codes did not match the recall specifications. The contact stated that the pcm software update erased the initial diagnostic trouble codes, preventing the leadframe replacement under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

The contact's wife owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 75-80 mph, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from 6th gear to 3rd gear. The power train warning light was illuminated. The contact shifted to neutral(n) and pulled to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as needed while driving. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer several times; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the transmission failed to shift from third gear to first gear. The contact was able to continue driving. Additionally, the contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal until the engine revved to 80 mph, and the vehicle responded, but then failed to exceed 5 mph. The contact pulled to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to another dealer, where the transmission control module and the crankshaft pressure sensor were replaced. The vehicle was repaired, and the contact was provided a two year warranty for the tcm. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on various occasions, the transmission was downshifting into first gear and causing the vehicle to come to sudden stops. The check engine and power train malfunction warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module (tcm) and lead frame needed to be replaced. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 19v433000 (power train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was 56,736.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 45 mph the pcm warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was take to the dealer for diagnosis and they stated that the lead frame needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they stated that the VIN was not under recall and advised to contact NHTSA. The failure mileage was 68,000.