general problems of the 2016 Ford F-150 - part 1

There was no incident. Ford announced the recall in may with no remedy until August. I had to rent a truck to pull a trailer to [xxx] from [xxx]. They said there was no compensation as there was no "stop driving" notice on the recall but it stated the the vehicle could abruptly slow down /downshift increasing the risk of a crash. Wanted to go on record that compensation should be covered by Ford as this was a considerable safety issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I got the recall 26s28 done on my truck, and immediately after getting my truck back the transmission is shifting super bad. Really early up shifts, aggressive engagement into drive… truck has 190,000 miles on it and shifted perfectly before the recall was done.

2016 f150 transmission downshift recall was preformed, didn’t fix the intermittent downshift at highway speeds. A week and a half after it caused a skid on a wet road. Was told at the dealership, they’re not allowed to do anything else without an active engine code.

Dangerous, unpredictable transmission behavior violent downshifting sudden jerks and deceleration and power loss: heavy jerking loud clunks gears making noises following the forced downshift, the truck will experience a massive, unexpected drop in speed, sluggish and difficult maintaining speed like limp mode driving in normal speeds then loss of power engine stalling in the middle of rush hour traffic the orange wrench light and check engine light will come on with codes p0720 I went did the reprogramming as recommended Ford dealer performed safety recall 26s28, which immediately aggravated the transmission failure and left the vehicle completely disabled. In the highway the dealer's recall software update directly caused a total transmission failure the next day, and I feel unsafe driving the vehicle due to the severe unprompted downshifting risks outlined in NHTSA campaign 26v237 felt unsafe to drive truck and also it became undrivable and had to have it towed to the Ford dealership that did recall.

Ford recently did a software update for a unexpected downshift recall that had previously happened to me while doing 60 miles an hour in my vehicle downshifted into first gear in my truck went sideways because the rear end locked up. Drove my vehicle home and took it out today and while doing 45 miles an hour it downshifted into first gear locking up the rear wheels again. Thankfully, this was at a lower speed so I was able to control the vehicle easily. . The turnpike speed limit in maine is 70 miles an hour so if this happened at that speed in traffic, I’m almost positive there could have been a serious accident. So their update did not fix this issue.

Vehicle suddenly seemed to shift while driving causing a loud sound, jerk and caused a loss of control suddenly.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. While the contact’s wife was driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to 1st gear. During the failure, the vehicle abruptly decelerated and failed to exceed 20 mph. The contact stated the failure had occurred while driving at undisclosed speeds. The failure also occurred while the vehicle was idling at a stop light. During the failure, the message "service advance track" was displayed. The wrench icon was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 135,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a software update. Upon retrieving the vehicle, the transmission failed to shift out of low gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be driven for 250 miles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, after the recall repair, the vehicle made abnormal grinding sounds and went into limp mode before shifting to second gear while driving. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.

I have a problem with my truck with the molded lead frame. It is shifting erratically and not shifting below 3rd gear. I has an open recall for it, 26n04, but Ford won't perform the service because they are not getting the correct code from the computer system. So I am now forced to drive this truck in this unsafe condition until I get the correct codes.

I was driving on the highway speed limit 65, and all of the sudden it down shifted to first gear, jerking the truck almost to a complete stop, very scary and unsafe. I pulled over to recoup myself . It is now happening more frequently, wrench light on the dash . Not sure what I need to do , my truck is my life support for me and my family! help me please! thank you,.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would independently upshift or downshift while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The message "see manual" was displayed. In addition, the contact performed a diagnostic scan with an obd2 scanner and retrieved diagnostic trouble code: p0732. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from fifth gear to a lower gear. Additionally, the contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle remained stuck in fifth gear, requiring the driver to shift into park(p) until the vehicle responded as intended. The check engine and powertrain warning lights illuminated. The driver was then able to resume driving. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the powertrain control module software update was completed; however, the molded leadframe was not replaced. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving two days later. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to return the vehicle for verification that the software update was successfully completed, and the contact was informed that any additional repairs would be at the owner's expense. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 179,100.

I own a 2016 Ford F-150 involved in safety recall 26s28. The vehicle suffered an unexpected downshift and also temporarily locked into 5th gear. The dealership confirmed the transmission lead frame failed. Ford is denying coverage because the failure registered as code p0717 (input sensor) instead of an output sensor code, even though both sensors are manufactured as a single, un-severable piece on the exact same recalled lead frame part. Beacuse my sensor that is housed within the exact same lead frame broke down, instead of other sensors, Ford is denying to cover the cost. The issue is that the lead frames are place in a location that they get very hot and can become brittle over time. Causing any wire or sensor housed within it to become under extreme stress and potentially fail. I dont understnad how Ford can say some sensors inside the lead frame are covered but others inside the very same part are not. My truck is currently in the dealership and the technician has informed me that this lead frame part is bad. I did have the wrench light illuminate in my truck and the po717 trouble code was present. Because an abrupt downship can occur, this is a safety risk with known reported injuries already reported via the recal. Recall #26s28 case # with Ford motor company is cxh-08688952.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the contact attempted to accelerate, but the transmission seized in second gear. Additionally, while driving 50 mph, the vehicle suddenly downshifted to second gear, and the vehicle went into limp mode, with an orange wrench warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 210,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The failure was intermittent. The message “service vehicle” was displayed and the wrench symbol was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train) and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that approximately 5 miles after retrieving the vehicle, the failure reoccurred. The contact called the dealer and confirmed that the recall had been closed because the recall repair was previously performed, and that any further inspections or repairs would be out-of-pocket. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact was uncertain of the repair but confirmed that the failure had not occurred since the repair. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and while the vehicle was idling, the transmission suddenly disengaged. The accelerator pedal was released for a while, then the contact attempted to engage the transmission to accelerate. The vehicle failed to accelerate intermittently and then suddenly accelerated. The contact became aware that the message “service vehicle”, and the wrench symbol were temporarily illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously included in NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train), and the powertrain control module software was updated. The contact stated that, immediately after the software was updated, the failure persisted and became more persistent. The contact stated that the warning lights became illuminated again. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, and a week later the dealer diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the park(p), reverse(r), and drive(d) and gears 1-6 lights were consistently flashing. The vehicle revved at high speeds and unexpectedly downshifted; however, the contact could not determine what gear the transmission downshifted to due to the constant flashing lights. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure was approximately 110,000.

We received the safety recal 26v237 in may. Today 6/16/26, while driving the vehicle, it began acting like the recal said, however, the truck failed and will not start. My husband went and purchased a battery first because we didn't realize it was the recall at first. We cannot go without the vehicle. We will need to have someone tow the car once there is a repair available, however, in the mean time, we need a loaner/replacement truck. We called the number on the form, but they could not help with a failed vehicle and we called the manufacturer, but there is no button for the vehicle is failed and we need help. It hung up on us because they don't have a fix for the defect, there is nothing on the warning about what to do when the vehicle fails and you don't yet have a fix.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the transmission was shifting abnormally rough. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,500.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop light, the transmission was slipping. During the failure the wrench icon was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 180,000.

First time it happened on a side road. The vehicle stopped shifting. The wrench illuminated on the dashboard. Following the incident. The vehicle continued to drive slowly without shifting. Shortly after that, the wrench symbol disappeared and the truck operated normally. Second time an incident occurred was two weeks later. I was on a side street when the second incident occurred. The wrench appeared. The truck stopped shifting. It remained in first or second gear. The accelerator is unresponsive.

The contact owns a 2016 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 vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the roadway. The check engine and powertrain warning lights were illuminated. The contact was frightened, and the vehicle went into limp mode. The vehicle was almost involved in two crashes with other vehicles behind the vehicle during the failure. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that later, while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start; however, after several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to o'reily's, where a diagnostic machine was connected to the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed with a power train sensor failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-60 mph, the park, neutral, and drive lights started to cycle and flash. The transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear with the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The local dealer was contacted about NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 162,009.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received notification for NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to complete the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated while downshifting, the power train warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended until it built up speed. The local dealer was contacted but was unable to repair the vehicle because the remedy was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,500.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted into a lower gear and then lost motive power with no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The contact received notification of NHTSA recall number 26v237000 (power train); however, the remedy was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 55 mph, she depressed the brake pedal as she attempted to exit the highway. Upon depression of the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly downshifted as several warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the contact lost control of the vehicle as the vehicle began to skid off to the shoulder of the road. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road and placed the vehicle into park(p). The contact resumed normal driving after the initial failure; however, the contact stated that the failure occurred again just before reaching her destination. Prior to the failure; the contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000(power train); however, the part for the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the transmission suddenly downshifted unintendedly. The contact parked on the shoulder of the road and switched to manual transmission. The vehicle was driven to the residence. After parking and turning the vehicle off, the vehicle failed to restart. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 105,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train), however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the remedy parts were not yet available and were on backordered. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact's son owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact's son received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, causing the rear wheels to seize. The transmission warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact's son stopped and parked the vehicle before shifting to drive (d). The failure recurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the cruise control activated, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted while the rpm was high, rendering the cruise control inoperable. The transmission warning light was illuminated intermittently. The failure recurred. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to o'reilly's, where diagnostic trouble codes p0706 and p0707 (transmission range sensor) were retrieved. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then to the dealer, who related the failure to the recall but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 182,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford f-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v237000 (power train); however, the part required for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly ran rough and shifted into neutral(n). The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond and entered limp mode. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road, where the brakes were applied, and the vehicle was turned off. After about half an hour, the contact's son arrived and assisted the contact in driving to a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was then driven to the dealer below 40 mph. The service traction control and power train warning lights illuminated. The dealer informed the contact that no diagnostic trouble code was retrieved; however, the contact was charged for the diagnostic test. The contact stated that the failure occurred twice, and the vehicle became operable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,112.

2016 Ford F-150 experiencing intermittent and dangerous transmission behavior consistent with the current Ford safety recall involving unexpected transmission downshifts on vehicles equipped with the 6r80 transmission. Vehicle previously required a full transmission replacement/rebuild in September 2025 after repeated violent downshifting and drivability problems. Diagnostic codes at that time included p0705, p0707, p1702, and p1921 involving transmission range sensor and intermittent transmission signal faults. Following the rebuild, intermittent drivability concerns continued. Over several months, vehicle would periodically not “sound right” during operation, although symptoms were difficult to duplicate consistently. Check engine light would intermittently illuminate after approximately one hour or more of continuous driving and later clear itself after vehicle cooled down overnight. Current symptoms have worsened and include unexpected downshifting, inability to manually shift using dash controls, skipped gears, delayed downshifts/upshifts, remaining in 3rd gear while slowing to a stop, and behavior consistent with being stuck in low gear while traveling above 50 mph with excessively high rpms. Vehicle intermittently appears unable to properly determine gear position. On may 19, 2026 I experienced uncontrollable downshifting and engine revving that resulted in an inability to safely operate the vehicle. Transmission behavior creates unsafe driving conditions and concern for loss of vehicle control during highway operation. Vehicle is now considered unsafe to operate and will be towed to a Ford dealership for evaluation related to the active safety recall.

My truck violently downshifted randomly and caused me to lose control for a little bit. I was lucky to narrowly avoid a crash. The truck is showing transmission range sensor codes after the truck downshifts harshly. My local Ford dealer did a diagnosis and confirmed that it has a faulty molded lead frame. However, they are refusing to cover the repair and are saying that I either pay them or stop driving the truck because the lead frame replacement is not explicitly listed as a remedy on the recall even though recall 26s28 lists the lead frame as a cause of the issue and even says that dealers will replace it at no cost if it has already gone bad, which mine has.

2016 Ford F-150 affected by Ford recall 26s28 / NHTSA 26v237. Vehicle experienced a sudden unintended downshift while driving on the freeway. The event caused abrupt deceleration and rear tire squeal, consistent with rear wheel speed reduction. A transmission-related diagnostic trouble code is currently stored and has not been cleared. Ford recall lookup shows no remedy currently available. I am concerned the vehicle is unsafe to drive while awaiting the final remedy.