Recall Date: 4/14/2026
NHTSA ID: 26V237
MFr. Campaign Number: 26S28
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Affected Components: Transmission Range Sensor (TRS), Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Calibration
Potential Number of Units Affected: ~1,393,935
This recall covers 2015–2017 Ford F-150 trucks equipped with the 6-speed automatic 6R80 transmission. Affected vehicles were produced between March 12, 2014, and August 18, 2017.
Ford estimates approximately 1% of the 1,392,935 vehicles in the population carry the active defect, roughly 13,929 trucks.
The root cause is the degradation of the electrical connections in the transmission lead frame. Over time, thermal cycling and vibration cause those connections to break down, resulting in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) receiving a momentary incorrect signal from the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS). That faulty signal can trigger an unintended downshift, in the worst case, a sudden drop from 6th gear all the way to 2nd gear at highway speeds.
When the PCM receives an incorrect TRS signal and commands a downshift, the transmission drops to a lower gear abruptly. That causes a sudden reduction in wheel speed, which in some situations can cause the rear tires to slide until the vehicle slows. The result is a loss of vehicle control and an elevated risk of a crash. The risk is amplified on wet roads and when the truck is towing a trailer.
In some cases, drivers will see an illuminated malfunction indicator light (MIL) or wrench light in the instrument cluster before the downshift occurs. That warning is a signal that the TRS connection has begun to degrade. Not all affected vehicles display a warning, though; the downshift can occur without prior indication.
The fix is a software update. Ford dealers will reprogram the PCM with a revised calibration that gives the control system additional time to detect a failed or failing TRS signal before commanding the downshift. That buffer lets the system distinguish a momentary bad signal from an actual shift command, rather than acting on it immediately. If an affected vehicle already displayed certain diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) linked to this condition before the software update, the dealer will also replace the transmission lead frame under an extended warranty program. There is no cost to the owner for either repair.
Dealers were notified on April 15, 2026. Interim owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed between April 27 and May 1, 2026. Final remedy owner notifications will follow between July 13 and July 17, 2026. VINs have been searchable on the NHTSA recall database since April 15, 2026. Owners can check whether their vehicle is affected by visiting nhtsa.gov/recalls or calling Ford’s toll-free line at 1-866-436-7332. The repair is covered at no cost to the owner.
This recall has been building for over a year. NHTSA first flagged the issue in October 2024, providing Ford with Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) describing unintended downshift events on 2015–2017 F-150s with the 6R80 transmission. Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) opened a formal investigation the following day.
Through late 2024 and into early 2025, the CCRG reviewed prior investigation data and conducted track evaluations to assess deceleration forces and the impact on vehicle control during 6-2 downshifts. NHTSA elevated its own investigation to an Engineering Analysis in January 2026 and provided Ford with additional VOQs. The CCRG continued testing throughout, including evaluations with vehicles on wet surfaces and vehicles under tow load, two conditions where an unexpected downshift carries the most consequence.
As of April 2, 2026, Ford had logged 444 warranty claims, 121 field reports, 105 customer service reports, and 316 VOQs across 891 unique VINs, covering a reporting window from April 2015 through November 2025. Ford is aware of two injuries and one accident potentially related to this concern. Ford’s Field Review Committee approved the field action on April 7, 2026, and the recall was formally submitted to NHTSA on April 14, 2026.
With nearly 1.4 million F-150s in the population, this is a high-volume recall touching one of the best-selling vehicles in the country. The software-only remedy keeps the fix straightforward, but it also means every affected owner needs to schedule a dealer visit. Ford dealers with deep F-150 customer bases should expect inbound volume from owners who receive the April notification letter and are looking to act.
For a full view of Ford’s recall activity and other major OEM recalls this quarter, see BizzyCar’s most recent quarterly recall report.
Read the latest BizzyCar Quarterly Recall Report →
Nearly 1.4 million F-150s is a lot of recall outreach to manage, and every one of those owners needs to schedule an appointment at a Ford or Lincoln dealer. With interim notification letters going out in late April and final remedy letters following in July, there are two distinct windows where owners will be looking to act. Dealers who wait for inbound calls will handle one batch at a time. Dealers who proactively identify which of their customers are affected and reach out first will be ahead of the curve.
BizzyCar’s Recall Outreach product cross-references a dealer’s customer database against open recall data to identify which vehicles are affected. From there, BizzyCar’s AI agent reaches out to those owners through automated two-way SMS, scheduling appointments without requiring service advisors to make manual calls. For high-volume F-150 dealers, that means turning 1.4 million affected vehicles into a manageable service opportunity rather than an uncoordinated surge. Book a Demo.