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If you drive a 2015–2017 Ford F-150, this is the kind of “wait, what was that?” problem you don’t ignore. The feds just upgraded the F-150 downshift probe into a deeper review, after reports of sudden, unasked-for downshifts. Owners say it can yank speed fast, and some reports include a brief rear-wheel lock or skid. A recent Reuters report on the expanded investigation pegged the case at about 1.27 million trucks.

No, it’s not a recall. Not yet. But an “engineering analysis” is NHTSA’s next gear up. It means the agency wants deeper testing, more data, and harder answers.

What NHTSA’s F-150 downshift probe upgrade means

NHTSA opened an engineering analysis after a preliminary evaluation into 2015–2017 F-150s with the 6R80 six-speed automatic. The agency saw enough complaints to stop just reading reports and start digging into parts and failure modes. The key docs are the EA26001 engineering analysis opening resume and the earlier PE25002 preliminary evaluation file.

The core pattern is ugly and simple. Drivers report the truck downshifts without warning or driver input, often at highway speed. The truck then slows hard. NHTSA says some complaints describe a short rear-wheel lockup or skidding.

NHTSA also flagged an extra risk from early testing. It says a loss of signal tied to the transmission range sensor can make the truck shift into neutral while reversing uphill. If that happens, the truck can roll forward when you least expect it.

Ford told NHTSA this issue is not the same as earlier 2011–2014 F-150 recalls tied to a supplier speed-sensor problem. For these newer trucks, Ford pointed to wear in electrical connections over time. Heat and vibration can do that. The end result can be signal loss from a different transmission sensor, which lines up with what NHTSA is now testing.

My Verdict

If your truck has ever done a surprise downshift, treat it like a real safety issue.

Start with a quick VIN check on NHTSA’s recall lookup. An investigation won’t show as a recall, but you may find other open campaigns you still need to get done.

Next, document any episode the moment it happens. Keep it boring: speed, gear, road grade, weather, and what you felt. Add photos of any warning lights or dash messages. If you can safely grab the date and time, do it. That helps a dealer pull event data.

When you call a dealer, use plain words: “unexpected downshift without driver input,” “rapid deceleration,” and whether you felt a skid or rear-wheel lock. Don’t guess at the cause. Just report the symptoms and ask them to note the open NHTSA investigation.

One-sentence takeaway: if it repeats, stop driving it like nothing happened—get it checked before it picks the worst moment to do it again.