Months ago, experienced loss of power, deacceleration and a grinding noise as it downshifted by itself. I ran an ODB-II on it and got 4 codes. Had it towed to dealership and was told it was the manifold arm and paid over $4,200 to replace it. Now, it'd happening again- with the same 4 codes and according to FORD whom I just talked to, states that this is the Powertrain molded lead frame issue. It is a known issue(recall 26S28/26V237) and that is has no remedy. The current value is over $13,000 but it's been sitting at the dealership where I had to have it towed. With no end in sight. What are we supposed to do with a non-operative vehicle? How can ford just say, "Sorry- there's nothing we can do." And the issue have been know for years. Where is the proof they are actively searching for a remedy??
2017 Ford F-150 transmission complaints
Page 2 of 20: complaints 11 to 40 of 560, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My vehicle is experiencing the exact severe safety risk detailed in the federal safety agency Recall 26V237 (Ford Campaign 26S28) - dropping gears and risking a crash. The dealer technician confirmed the lead frame has physically failed but is denying the remedy due to a technicality over ancillary speed sensor codes embedded in that very part Molded Lead Frame.
This complaint is regarding the failure and inadequacy of the safety remedy for Ford Safety Recall 26S28 (the federal safety agency Campaign Number 24V237000) on my 2017 Ford F-150. My vehicle was brought to an authorized Ford dealership one month ago to satisfy Recall 26S28 due to an intermittent loss of the transmission output speed sensor signal (DTC P0722), which causes sudden, unexpected downshifts on the highway. The dealership performed the mandated PCM software update but refused to replace the physically failing molded leadframe hardware. The safety recall remedy has failed. The physical component has degraded further, and the vehicle is once again dropping the transmission speed sensor signal (Code P0722) while in motion, forcing the truck into limp mode on active roadways. Ford Motor Company corporate customer service and their authorized dealer network are actively refusing to replace the physical molded leadframe, (Case Ref: CXH09624298), claiming the recall only mandates a software flash for this specific code. By refusing to replace the physically failing internal transmission hardware, Ford is leaving an unsafe vehicle on the road. The software patch is an inadequate safety remedy that does not prevent the underlying electronic components from failing while driving at highway speeds.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while accelerating at 70 MPH, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power followed by transmission gear hunting and hesitation, causing the transmission to improperly downshift. Additionally, the wrench warning light illuminated. The contact associated the failure with a recall notification received for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The dealer was contacted; however, the parts to complete the recall repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
My vehicle is experiencing the exact severe safety risk detailed in the federal safety agency Recall 26V237 (Ford Campaign 26S28) - dropping gears and risking a crash. The dealer technician confirmed the lead frame has physically failed but is denying the remedy due to a technicality over ancillary speed sensor codes embedded in that very part.
Sudden downshifts too 1st gear and 3rd gear from highway speeds. Also goes into limp mode. The codes needed to replace the molded lead frame are present, was at the dealer yesterday and Ford will not let them make the needed repairs under warranty. Ford said I must wait an undetermined amount of time for them too try and find a fix for this before anything else can be done. Besides this being the only vehicle I have at the time too drive, it is totally UNSAFE to drive. Ford needs to come up with a fix now or replace the molded lead frame now so repairs will be complete and I will have a safe vehicle to drive. This problem is happening almost everytime I drive. It started on 9/26/26 and continues today.
My 2017 Ford F150 has been downshifting unexpectedly now for weeks. There have been a few times when I literally lost control of my truck. I am afraid to drive on Highway. I use my truck for work and everything else. The local Ford dealership here Astro Ford in D'Iberville, Ms told me yesterday they will not repair my truck based on guidance from Ford...they recieved just a few days ago....saying the recall repair is inadequate and another remedy is being worked on. I cannot drive my truck to go to work to make money to pay bills. Based on what I have read they will also refuse to give me a car loaner of some kind for the time being. What XXX am I supposed to do now??????
My Transmission will townshift suddenly on the Highway. The error code I get is the (P0720) output-speed-sensor. I have noticed it has been recalled before. It is very scary when I am driving, and I know it has to be hurting my engine and transmission. I got a recall notice and thought it was for this, but it was for other error codes similar to this. According to my research they all seem to very closely associated. I took it to the dealership, and they said ford won't cover my issue.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from 6th gear to 2nd gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the torque converter was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the recall repair appointment could not be scheduled because the manufacturer had placed a hold on the recall on September 28, 2026. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Driving on interstate when my truck suddenly flashed a wrench light and downshifted to 5th gear. Truck went into limp mode limiting my gears to 3rd through 5th gear. Had vehicle towed to Ford Dealership. They wanted $399 just to do a diagnostic and scan for codes. My truck was showing code P0720 (Output Shaft Speed Sensor) at my house before being towed. This output shaft speed sensor is integrated into the internal molded lead frame, which is the part that was recalled for replacement on Safety Recall Notice 26S28/the federal safety agency Recall 26V237. However, Ford will not cover this under the lead frame recall. My guess would be because they know it’s a loophole and they can still make money off of repairs for the same part.
2017 F-150 is dropping into limp mode due to code P0722 (OSS sensor), but Ford's safety recall 26S28 framework fails to replace the broken hardware for this specific code. Dealership performed PCM Update recall campaign 26S28/26V237. Charged me for a diagnostic fee because P0722 is not covered in the customer satisfaction program campaign 26N04, Even though P0722 points to the same transmission molded leadframe failure. After the PCM update my truck will still drop into limp mode and can be dangerous if pulling onto highway and stuck in 3rd gear causing no power during taking off. It also will sometimes stay in 1st gear and I have to pull over and shut the truck off to get it to shift again.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the failure occurred after the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission started slipping. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a diagnostic test was needed to determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
The torque converter has malfunctioned and the vehicle is currently at the dealership for repairs. The truck experiences significant vibration and shuddering at speeds above 45 mph. There is an existing recall for this exact issue; however, our VIN is not included in the affected vehicle population. With only 60,000 to 70,000 miles on the truck and less than 10 years of service, a major component such as the torque converter should not require replacement, especially on a vehicle that has been properly maintained throughout its life.
My vehicle's transmission changed gears suddenly and unexpectedly causing a slight difficulty to control. Following the sudden gear change, some lights on the dashboard began flickering erratically. I have video of the dashboard after the gear change. For this incident, I was driving about 25 MPH. I experienced similar behavior before and at highway speeds. Since then, the vehicle was serviced by Ford for a Safety Recall Notice 26S28/the federal safety agency Recall 26V237. The service performed under the recall did not fix the problem. The local Ford dealer told me they would charge me to have the problem investigated, so I have not brought the vehicle in to them.
In 2025 my 2017 Ford F-150 started randomly downshifting. We took the car to the ford dealer who could not assess what the problem was exactly (Rowe Ford in Westbrook, Maine). They suggested a new transmission to be safe and clearly indicated that this was not a safe truck to drive at the time. We took the truck to another ford dealer to try to get an actual determination of what was wrong (Casco Bay Ford, Maine). They also advised that no codes were being given but that the truck was clearly downshifting and not safe. With no real alternatives or clear problem, we paid $8,000+ for a new transmission. Then, months later we get the recall notice: (Campaign 26S28 / the federal safety agency Recall 26V237) - Ford F-150's were downshifting... We had Ford do the software update as this is now a new transmission, but when we asked about the Recall and if there was anything we could do about the $8,000 we just paid lower and upper management (we talked to both) advised that because they could not definitively put a label to the problem before we fixed the transmission that they could not attribute the downshifting to the same problem and so will not help or otherwise reimburse us for the cost of having to fix the problem that was recalled later. No remedy was offered by Ford.
My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fails to downshift to 1st gear when coming to a stop. Instead, it remains in 3rd gear, requiring the truck to pull away from a complete stop in 3rd gear. The dealership did perform the software update on 08/20/2026 ,yet the issues remain the same. The vehicle has set diagnostic trouble code P0722 for the transmission output speed sensor. I have been informed that the output speed sensor is molded into the transmission lead frame and cannot be replaced separately, requiring replacement of the lead frame. Today, the transmission malfunction created an immediate and potentially life-threatening safety situation. As I pulled out of my driveway, the truck remained in 1st gear and would not properly progress through the gears. It then abruptly jumped into 2nd gear and caused the vehicle to stall/lose forward progress while I was entering the roadway. Oncoming traffic was nearly upon me and I was almost struck. The vehicle eventually engaged the proper gear and continued moving, but by that time I was in a dangerous, life-threatening situation. This is not an isolated incident or an occasional inconvenience. The transmission has been repeatedly malfunctioning, including going into limp mode in 5th gear and failing to downshift appropriately when stopping. The vehicle's inability to properly select and engage the appropriate gear creates a serious risk when pulling into traffic, stopping, accelerating, or attempting to avoid another vehicle. Ford has a customer satisfaction program related to the transmission lead frame/output speed sensor issue. However, I was told that my vehicle is not covered because P0722 is not one of the diagnostic codes included for coverage.
The vehicle has a ten speed transmission. It started with the transmission making minor down shifts from 3 to 1 and then 7 to 1. Without any engine warning light. It has subsequently started a severe shift from 3 to 1 and 7 to 1 and the engine light has now come on. This creates a dangerous situation when it down shifts from 7-1 when your speed is 45 mph of above. I contacted a dealership regarding a repair but was told there is no recall and it would cost $215 to diagnose and from $4,500 - $8,000 for the repair. It is a known issue to the Ford dealers but without a recall they are gouging the consumers who is at risk of accident.
The 4-5-6 drum ring in my transmission went out on my truck that has 70, 318 miles on it. Vehicle was missing shift points and would not always shift properly causing power to not be available when expected - especially dangerous when trying to merge onto a highway. Vehicle was inspected by a Ford dealership and by ABC transmissions of Tacoma WA. I paid ABC Transmissions $9,693.98 to fix the problem. The transmissions would clunk badly and was very obviously missing shift points. They first appeared 30k miles ago but Ford lied to me saying it was a "software problem".
Vehicle is subject to active Safety Recall 26S28 for transmission lead frame and range sensor failure causing unexpected downshifts into 1st gear. Vehicle experienced downshifting symptoms creating severe road hazard and risk of rear-wheel lockup. Dealership cleared diagnostic trouble codes without saving freeze-frame logs, mis-entered VIN on billing estimates, and refused to complete the recall repair. Vehicle is available for inspection.
Driving back from tri cities and when we were on I5 the transmission abruptly shifted down and went to a very high RPM. Was able to limp off the freeway by UW, and then drove home slowly. Had it trailered by the dealership i had just bought it from and they brought it to a shop where they said the transmission needed replaced.
On XXX, my [XXX] son was driving this 2017 Ford F-150 when the transmission suddenly downshifted while traveling on the road. The downshift was severe enough that the rear tires lost traction and the vehicle fishtailed, nearly resulting in an accident. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Ford dealer on 8/18/2026. We reported the sudden downshift, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the condition. The dealer performed Ford Recall 26S28/the federal safety agency 26V‑237 and campaign 19G01, and the vehicle was returned on XXX. On XXX, only two days after the recall repair, the engine unexpectedly shut off while the vehicle was being driven. It restarted afterward. On XXX, the engine again unexpectedly stalled while the vehicle was moving. When the engine stopped, power-steering assist was lost and the driver had to coast the vehicle safely to the side of the road. The engine restarted immediately. When attempting to drive away, the transmission appeared to be starting in approximately third gear rather than first gear. After the vehicle was moving, the transmission eventually began operating normally again. Ford Customer Relationship Center was notified on XXX and formally documented these incidents. The vehicle is available for inspection. I am concerned because the original sudden downshift closely resembles the safety defect addressed by Recall 26V‑237/26S28, and serious intermittent stalling and abnormal transmission operation have continued after the recall remedy was performed. I am requesting that the federal safety agency document and evaluate these post-recall safety symptoms and whether the recall remedy adequately addresses the underlying defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine now, it’s been 1 year. the incident caused my truck to go into park or possibly reverse at highway speed just as I passed a semi truck and returned to the right lane. If the trucker had not been paying attention it would have been bad. There was nothing I could do. . On top of this, he was under the impression that it was intentional. So I almost got into a physical altercation until I convinced him to look inside my truck as my gear indicator light was dancing from gear to gear while not touching anything.. To add to the seriousness, my taillamps never came on because I didn’t touch the brake. It was a horrible timing.. . Shortly after this i received a notice from Ford explaining the cause and symptoms of this issue, but then stated there was no fix at the time, but the vehicle was “safe to drive.” That is irresponsible. This was the only time mine did it, no prior issues. I got new ford parts and had it replaced. my mechanic said they deal with this weekly! Then I get a letter from Ford saying there is a fix and it’s a computer programming issue which is totally not true. That’s just a smoke screen, but it also goes on to say it could be a lead frame and if you’ve already fixed it before you got a letter, they will refund your money, but I highly doubt that. But they should stop claiming these vehicles are safe to drive because they absolutely are not if they’re having an issue regarding recall 26S28. So not only did i use new Ford parts, I paid a reputable EX Ford Technician Who owns his own business to perform the services because ford didn’t offer a fix. only to waste my time reprogramming the ecm. I work, I don’t have time.It’s irresponsible to say it’s not a safety concern. It’s just bad policy
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear, causing the rear wheels to lock up. The contact pulled over, turned off and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the transmission was rebuilt, but the failure persisted. The contact later received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a diagnostic test was needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,200.
I am filing a formal complaint regarding improper service practices, breach of safety recall protocols, and severe resulting vehicle damage committed by Fox Grand Traverse Ford. On April 23, 2026, independent facility Kinney’s Complete Auto Repair replaced the lead frame connector on my vehicle. During service, the transmission pan was dropped and inspected. The transmission was certified clean, free of metal shavings, and operating normally. On August 3, 2026, a mobile service technician from Fox Grand Traverse Ford performed Safety Recall 26S28 (PCM Software Update) at my workplace parking lot. Ford Motor Company’s official support guidelines explicitly state: "Ford Mobile Service is unavailable for Recall 26S28." Servicing requires in-dealership PCM reprogramming and post-flash adaptive calibration. Because the service was performed in a parking lot, the technician omitted the mandatory post-flash adaptive learning drive cycle. The vehicle immediately suffered harsh shifting, hydraulic pressure spikes, and forward rolling while in Reverse. Fox Ford now demands $7,883.73 for a complete transmission replacement, falsely claiming there metal shavings in the gear box and that the damage was a "pre-existing condition," despite the recent clean pan inspection from April 2026.
My 2017 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission experiences repeated harsh and unpredictable shifting. The transmission will hesitate or delay during shifts and then engage very hard, sometimes producing a severe bang or jolt through the truck. It also experiences abnormal gear hunting and inconsistent shifting behavior. These symptoms can occur during normal driving and create a safety concern because the transmission does not always respond predictably to driver input. Ford has issued technical service bulletins addressing harsh engagement, delayed engagement, harsh shifting, and delayed shifting on 2017-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission. My vehicle is experiencing these same types of symptoms. I am reporting this because I believe the 10R80 transmission in affected 2017 F-150 vehicles should be investigated for a potential safety defect.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after receiving notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (POWER TRAIN), the dealer was contacted, and a mechanic was sent to the residence to perform a software update on the vehicle. After the software update was performed, the vehicle experienced hard shifting, and the gear became stuck in 5th gear and 3rd gear on occasion, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the transmission leadframe was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 155,062.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted and the powertrain warning light illuminated. The transmission was stuck between third and fifth gear. In addition, the transmission failed to shift from park to drive until the vehicle was turned off. The failure was a persistent failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and a portable scanner was attached; DTCs P0722 and P061A were retrieved. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired under the recall. The contact was informed that the failure codes were not the required failure codes associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
I purchased a 2017 Ford F-150 on July 9th. It is covered under Safety Recall 26S28 (the federal safety agency Campaign 26V23700). On July 25th, the vehicle entered highway limp mode due to an Output Speed Sensor failure (Code P0722). A Ford dealership performed the 26S28 software flash but left the failing physical lead frame hardware in the vehicle. On August 15th, the truck reverted to a dangerous limp mode on the highway due to the same unaddressed P0722 hardware failure. Ford Corporate is refusing to authorize the physical hardware replacement under the safety recall framework, leaving the vehicle fundamentally unsafe to drive.
The transmission started skipping 4th gear a couple days later started randomly changing gears from 1st through 10th, and neutral while driving after reaching speed limits. While making a left hand turn it went into neutral and was almost hit broadside by an 18 wheeler with my grandson in the truck. There is a TSB and 3 class action lawsuits on this issue. My vehicle is a 2017 f150 with 50,365 miles which is EXTREMELY low miles for its age. I asked for goodwill assistance but was told no by the dealership and customer support. I called EXECUTIVE AFFAIRS twice and have yet received a call. I written a letter to Ford Consumer Affairs about my situation with contact information but have not received a response. A vehicle with this mileage should not be having a major issue regardless of its age. This is a life threatening safety issue that needs immediate attention. My vehicle is currently at the dealership having this 8600 dollar repair. Ford should be waving this charge or at least financial assistance with it but all I get is being told NO or IGNORED.
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