Ford has been hit with another major recall affecting nearly 1.4 million 2015–2017 model-year Ford F-150 trucks, adding to what is shaping up to be another high year for recalls.
The details: The recall, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is tied to the pickups’ 6-speed automatic transmissions, where a faulty sensor signal may trigger an unintended downshift into second gear while driving.
In certain conditions, the issue could cause the rear wheels to slip, increasing crash risk.
Ford is aware of one reported accident and two injuries potentially linked to the issue.
The automaker will provide a free software update to the powertrain control modules of affected vehicles, with owner notification letters expected to begin on April 27.
In cases where diagnostic codes indicate prior failure, dealers will also replace the transmission lead frame at no cost.
Why it matters: While service departments may benefit from increased warranty work and traffic, the frequency and scale of these recalls can strain capacity, erode customer confidence, and complicate trade-in and resale values, especially for high-volume models like the F-150.
OUTSMART THE CAR MARKET IN 5 MINUTES A WEEK
Get insights trusted by 55,000+ car dealers. Free, fast, and built for automotive leaders.
Not to mention: The F-150 recall is the latest in a string of major callbacks for Ford in 2026, putting the automaker on pace for another outsized year.
As of March 3, Ford had recalled more than 7.3 million vehicles, accounting for roughly one-third of all recalls at that point.
Last year, Ford issued 152 recall notices covering a record 12.9 million vehicles, nearly double the previous record set by General Motors in 2014.
And as of early March, Ford and Lincoln had already accounted for 56.6% of the nearly 13 million vehicles the company recalled in all of 2025.
Bottom line: Ford’s rising recall volume underscores the growing role service departments play in managing customer relationships, making efficient handling of recall work critical for long-term retention.
A quick word from our partner
“Mostly accurate” isn’t a real number.
Behind every financial statement is a system juggling inconsistent data, manual processes, and too many points of failure.
The result? Numbers that look right, but aren’t fully reliable.
We unpack this with Jen Speerbrecher in a recent CDG podcast:
"DMS is Not the Truth!” The Unspoken Dealer Accounting Secret Costing Thousands (+ How to Fix it)
