2014 Ford F-150: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Transmission · 171,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving, the transmission became stuck in fifth gear. The “WRENCH” warning light was illuminated at start-up. The contact stated that while shifting from neutral(N) to reverse(R), the vehicle made a clunking sound and lurched backward. The failure became progressively worse. While driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. A dealer was notified of the failure. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.

Filed Jun 11, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · TX

My 2014 Ford F-150 is exhibiting symptoms consistent with the Ford transmission molded lead frame safety recall 24S37. While driving approximately 55 mph late at night on a five-lane roadway, the vehicle suddenly and violently jerked, downshifted and came to a complete stop becoming stalled out as I was approaching a major traffic intersection. The truck was disabled in traffic and would not restart for approximately 2-3 minutes, leaving me stranded in an active travel lane and at risk of being struck from behind by another vehicle at high speed. The vehicle has displayed transmission-related symptoms including inability to correctly indicate gear position, harsh shifting, unexpected downshifts into 1st gear while driving, transmission fault warnings, and check engine lights. Initially it was mostly dying while idling and we thought it was the common "Fuse 27" issue, being unaware of the recall. Then the condition reproduced multiple times and symptoms worsened dramatically. Ford dealership inspected the vehicle. According to the technician's written report, the truck was found to be "having transmission problems, unable see what gear the truck is in and shifts to 1st gear while driving" and recommended replacement of the molded lead frame. The dealership confirmed transmission-related diagnostic trouble codes were present and documented symptoms consistent with lead frame failure. Despite the recommendation of the lead frame replacement and documenting symptoms consistent with the safety recall, the repair was not approved. The vehicle continues to experience symptoms associated with the recalled defect and is unsafe to drive away. Dealership confirms software update will not correct problem. I am submitting this complaint as the transmission defect poses a significant safety hazard to me, my children, and other drivers due to unexpected downshifts, loss of power, stalling, and the risk of becoming disabled in traffic. The truck remains available to inspect

Filed Mar 11, 2026 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where a computer update was performed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, and the speedometer failed to display the speed that the vehicle was driving. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the lead frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the costs. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V444000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Feb 16, 2026 · Transmission · UT

I had the factory recall done at a local dealership. The ensured me the programming was completed to solve the down shifting of gears while driving. It’s been a couple years since the reprogramming and I still have problems with the truck downshifting at different speeds. It also indicates the wrench on the screen and makes all the gauges including the screen, stop working. During acceleration, if you are merging and need extra speed, the truck stops accelerating and slows down. The only way to reset the wrench on the screen is to stop the vehicle immediately and shut it off until the mileage indicator shows the mileage the vehicle has. Several posts online indicate the same issues for those who own the F150. Driving on the freeway at freeway speeds the truck shifted into first gear while traveling at 75 mph. The tires skidded and the truck jerked hard when it happened. It startled myself and my kids who were in the truck.

Filed Jul 29, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · AL

After receiving a call from Mullinax Ford in Mobile, AL regarding a recall for our 2014 Ford F-150 Raptor (recall related to unexpected downshifting), I brought the vehicle to my workplace on [XXX], where a technician performed the software update (flash) on-site. Before the update, the vehicle was functioning without issue. That same evening while driving home, I experienced extremely hard downshifting, initially in lower gears, and worsening over time. The truck now violently downshifts, primarily into 4th gear, and sounds as if the transmission is slipping. I drove the truck again the next morning and the symptoms persisted. I contacted Zachary, the original representative at the dealership, who said it may be part of the “relearning” process. My husband drove it a week later after returning from a business trip and he confirmed the issue. It has progressively worsened to the point of being undrivable. We returned the truck to Mullinax Ford for evaluation on 7/29/25, and they claimed the failure was unrelated to the update and that the transmission needed to be replaced, at our expense. The truck unpredictably drops gears at high speeds, creating a sudden jerk that could lead to loss of control. This poses a serious safety risk to both the driver and others on the road. The dealership performed the recall software update and later diagnosed the truck with transmission failure, but is denying responsibility. No other third-party inspections have been done at this time. There were no warning lights or issues prior to the update. The issue started immediately after the recall software was flashed and worsened over the next 24–48 hours. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and available for inspection. We believe the issue stems directly from the PCM/TCM update applied under recall conditions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 21, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · 178,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH and exiting the gas station, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and then stalled. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the timing chain was stretched and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that three months prior to the failure, the heater on the vehicle failed to operate as intended. The heater was repaired. The contact also stated that several weeks later, the backlight failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the socket had corroded. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.

Filed Apr 27, 2025 · Acceleration, Engine · CA

Truck randomly downshifts/ jerks really hard while driving all speeds. On 4/19 I was driving 65mph and truck felt like slamming brakes on, while speedometer pin bounces around, then a wrench showed up on the dash screen, I pulled over turned truck off sat for a few minutes, turned it back on, everything seemed finer and continued driving home, with no more issues. On 4/27 I was coming home from groccery store going about 30-35mph truck dropped down to first gear and then back to 4th gear. My pregnant wife and daughter were in the car when this happened. I've called local Ford dealership, and they ask me to come in for diagnosis, but I know this is a factory recall issue via 24V‑444. I'm not sure if the truck is safe to drive, this randomly happens, but seems to be happening more and more frequently past 2 months or so

Filed Mar 27, 2025 · Acceleration · CO

On [XXX], about 20 minutes into my 30-minute commute, while driving at highway speed, my trucks transmission suddenly downshifted dramatically, jerking and throwing me forward in my seat and causing the truck to slow down so abruptly that I was almost rear ended, putting drivers around and behind me at risk of high-speed collisions. Less than 5 minutes later it happened a second time. This is the exact same abrupt transmission downshift issue that happened to me in this vehicle a few times before in early 2024. I received a Safety Recall notice on this known issue about a week after the first incident in 2024. I took my vehicle into the AutoNation Ford Dealer in Littleton, Colorado immediately after I received that notice and they supposedly 'fixed' the issue under the recall 24S37. Obviously, the issue has not been resolved. I am asking for a deeper look into the safety issue as I am sure I am not the only one this is happening to. I am also concerned that there were no warning lamps or messages that would indicate a problem that needed to be addressed! The truck is currently back at the AutoNation Ford Dealer in Littleton and is available for inspection. They are telling me there is no current recall for this issue. How can that be true if it’s the exact same problem and their Safety Recall ‘repair’ didn’t work? I believe the repair was just a software patch, but I can’t be sure. Can you please help me find out what the recall (24S37) was supposed to fix and why it didn’t fix the problem? Their suggestion now is to replace the Valve Body with a cost of $2,554.63 (in addition to a $219.95 diagnostic fee). My concern is that even this expensive repair might not actually solve the problem, and I am truly afraid to drive this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 25, 2025 · Transmission · FL

Just seen about recall of f150 shifting problem. On a recent trip my 2014 f150 did exactly that. While making an right turn onto a street as it shifted it jerked pretty bad, scared the heck out of me. as I drove it would not shift out of 3rd gear. I had to drive several miles before I could pull over, My display showed a wrench on the screen. I turned off the engine and let it cool down, started it again. The wrench icon did not come on. It seemed to drive normal after that. I'm not sure this problem is with this year as well. I have not had it looked at by any shop.

Filed Mar 25, 2025 · Transmission · 93,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated while at a complete stop, the vehicle jerked forward, and attempted to accelerate independently while the brake pedal was depressed. Additionally, the engine was revving. The contact stated that upon slamming on the brake pedal, the vehicle responded as needed while stopped. The contact stated that while almost coming to a stop and then accelerating, the vehicle jerked, accelerated unintendedly, then responded as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer and was repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V444000 (Power Train); and the failure ceased temporarily. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for a diagnostic test and for the repair. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

Filed Nov 21, 2024 · Transmission · 141,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after the dealer had completed the recall repair under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V444000 (Power Train), the vehicle started to experience transmission shifting failures. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the transmission was stuck in first gear. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle responded as needed; however, the failure recurred several times while driving, causing the contact to pull to the side of the road several times. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle jerked abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission lead frame failure. The contact was charged a fee for the repair. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

Filed Nov 4, 2024 · Electrical, Transmission · 165,000 miles · MO

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 60-70 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. The contact was able to pull over safely and restart the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for the recall repair under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V444000 (Power Train). The vehicle was repaired, but after leaving the dealer, the vehicle began to jerk. The speedometer and instrument cluster were blank. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the molded lead frame. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.