2016 Ford F-150 acceleration problems

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I was at my granddaughters and I went to leave and it was like dead except the wrench came up in the dash panel , I waited before calling my husband and I went back to try and start it again and it started no wrench in the display or anything , this was in February 2026. In March of 2026 I was in the middle turn lane on [XXX] by Tuttle, Ok. And it stalled as I was trying to turn and would not move I put it back into park and then back to drive and it turned . Next incident was in April2026 and I was on [XXX] south of Mustang , Ok. And I was in the passing lane passing a vehicle going 65 mph and it just stalled and went down into 1 st gear I managed to get it to the shoulder of road an then it died it would not start but the radio and lights were still on and there was a wrench popped up in the panel . I waited for about 30 minutes and kept trying to start it after several attempts it started again and I made it home . The next incident my husband drove to doctors office and it did the same thing to him and would not move in the parking lot . About 15 minutes later he got it to start and he made it home . We quit driving it. Then we got a letter from Ford with the recall 26V237 .i waited for 2 nd letter and had not gotten it with a fix for it so I called the Ford Service Repir Center and they got us on the phone connected to a Ford Dealership in Yukon , Ok and they came and got the pickup on August 10 th and took it and brought it back on August 11 th and they did the soft ware update and told us no codes came up and we know better . When I had previously talked to the Ford Repair Center I was told if the wrench came up that they would replace the lead frame at no cost to us and give us a 150000 mile warranty. So it is now our word against the mechanics that the wrench ever came up INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11756379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Vehicle suddenly seemed to shift while driving causing a loud sound, jerk and caused a loss of control suddenly.

NHTSA complaint #11752526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

My 2016 Ford F-150 is currently subject to Recall 26S28 / NHTSA Recall 26V237. Prior to the recall remedy becoming available, the vehicle began experiencing erratic transmission shifting and illuminated the check engine light, wrench symbol, and codes P0720 and P0722 were present. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Ford dealership for diagnosis. The dealership documented that the vehicle was experiencing erratic shifting and was considered not drivable. The technician determined that the erratic shifting condition was related to DTCs P0720 and P0722 and recommended replacement of the transmission lead frame/conductor plate. The technician also noted the need for additional diagnostics involving the Output Speed Sensor (OSS) circuit within the transmission. The vehicle remains available for inspection at the dealership. This condition created a safety concern because the transmission was shifting erratically and the vehicle could not be relied upon for normal operation. Unpredictable transmission behavior creates a risk during acceleration, merging, highway travel, and other driving situations where consistent vehicle response is required. At the time, I was preparing for a cross-country military PCS move and did not believe the vehicle was safe or reliable to drive long distance. The problem was confirmed by an authorized Ford dealership who documented the condition, diagnostic codes, and repair recommendation. The findings were provided to Ford Motor Company through Corporate Case Number CXH-08096574-L9M6T4. Ford representatives advised that the Automotive Safety Office was notified regarding the technician findings and the open recall. My concern is that the vehicle developed transmission-related symptoms involving P0720, P0722, erratic shifting, and a recommended lead frame/conductor plate replacement while subject to an active safety recall affecting related transmission systems. Ford has stated that the recall remedy is not available until July 2026.

NHTSA complaint #11742178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2016 Ford F-150 experiencing intermittent and dangerous transmission behavior consistent with the current Ford safety recall involving unexpected transmission downshifts on vehicles equipped with the 6R80 transmission. Vehicle previously required a full transmission replacement/rebuild in September 2025 after repeated violent downshifting and drivability problems. Diagnostic codes at that time included P0705, P0707, P1702, and P1921 involving transmission range sensor and intermittent transmission signal faults. Following the rebuild, intermittent drivability concerns continued. Over several months, vehicle would periodically not “sound right” during operation, although symptoms were difficult to duplicate consistently. Check engine light would intermittently illuminate after approximately one hour or more of continuous driving and later clear itself after vehicle cooled down overnight. Current symptoms have worsened and include unexpected downshifting, inability to manually shift using dash controls, skipped gears, delayed downshifts/upshifts, remaining in 3rd gear while slowing to a stop, and behavior consistent with being stuck in low gear while traveling above 50 mph with excessively high RPMs. Vehicle intermittently appears unable to properly determine gear position. On May 19, 2026 I experienced uncontrollable downshifting and engine revving that resulted in an inability to safely operate the vehicle. Transmission behavior creates unsafe driving conditions and concern for loss of vehicle control during highway operation. Vehicle is now considered unsafe to operate and will be towed to a Ford dealership for evaluation related to the active safety recall.

NHTSA complaint #11740613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Low idol sputters then dies down shifts clunks and stays stuck in 3rd gear cruse control fails different modes stop working wrench light on dash truck is lurching on takeoff basically just destroying itself while in operation rendering it undriveable

NHTSA complaint #11740291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

My car is experiencing a harsh down shift from 3rd to 4th gear with lack of power on acceleration on my vehicle since 10/25/2024. I have taken it in to three service departments including Karl Flammer Ford in Tarpon Springs, FL. Each service department has said the only remedy is a New Transmission estimated to be $7,000-$8,000 (receipts of diagnostics can be provided). We have already spent $524.95 for diagnostic testing. Because we have been unable to afford to have the problem fixed we are currently driving around in an extremely dangerous vehicle. I have received the notice of Ford's "Important Safety Recall" Notice 26S28/ NHTSA Recall 26V237 and have researched that other F-150's from previous years have experienced similar issues with the transmission and have been recalled. I would like to be on record, incase something were to happen because of this transmission, that the NHTSA as well as Ford Motor is completely aware of how dangerous this situation is. Quoting from the recall notice: an unexpected downshift to a lower gear can occur causing an abrupt wheel speed reduction. This may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA complaint #11740069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Our truck has been experiencing downshift to a lower gear and the powertrain warning lamp wrench symbol in the instrument panel cluster comes on. This has been happening from about 4/1/2026 and ongoing.

NHTSA complaint #11737764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

My vehicle keeps downshifting randomly at highway speeds and will also not shift out of 1st or 2nd. Rear tires keep locking up. 1. PCM 2. I have a hard time keeping vehicle in control 3. Yes, active recall can't repair until July 4. Yes, it has been inspected 5. Yes, check engine and wrench light

NHTSA complaint #11734757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Ford Corporate will not reimburse for the repairs that need to be made or provide a loaner car until the recall equipment is available. Need vehicle to drive to work. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The automatic lead frame has gone due to the PCM recall for my ford 150 2016 vehicle Safety or the safety of others put at risk? Family in the car driving to an event Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes it has been identified by a local service center with the computer codes Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, orange wrench light came on, sudden downshifting of the vehicle, the traction control would shut off, the gear and drive lights would shut off Powertrain control module pcm reprogramming Recall incomplete Recall service not available right now. We have a remedy but parts are not available right now. We will inform you when the service is available. Or, you can contact your dealer. Issue Date 2026-04-14 Campaign 26S28/26V237 Description On your vehicle, an unexpected downshift to a lower gear may occur and cause an abrupt wheel speed reduction for a short duration. In some cases, this could cause the rear tires to slide until the vehicle speed slows down. You may also experience a malfunction indicator lamp mil andor a powertrain warning lamp wrench symbol in the instrument panel cluster prior to an unintended downshift occurring. Safety Risk This may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy A remedy is not yet available. Ford Motor Company is working to provide software for this repair. When the remedy becomes available, Ford Motor Company will notify you via mail to schedule a service appointment with your dealer for repairs to be completed free of charge. The remedy is anticipated to be available in July 2026.

NHTSA complaint #11734861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Turn Signals stop working Cruise Control stopped working Vehicle Control Stopped working All Buttons on Steering column stopped working Windshield Wiper controls stopped working 4WD Controls stopped working Radio Controls stopped working Lawsuits have been filed and won by people against Ford yet No Recall has been opened !

NHTSA complaint #11733018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

On my way home from a trip on Tuesday 4-14-26 at about 60 mph with cruise control on the truck downshifted and turned cruise control off and a small wrench came on display. I made my way to next town at reduced speed, wouldn't get out of 5th gear, found a ford dealer had them scan and check out. They found 2 codes P061B:00-24- pcm and P0722:00-68 They cleared codes and drove truck with no return of trouble. I resumed my trip home and same thing happened about 1 hour later, stopped for fuel, and returned to the road with no problem or wrench on display. Came home went to my local transmission shop and he informed me that this was a known problem and warranty has been extended to 10years or 150k miles. Went to my local Ford dealer and they didn't know anything about extended warranty coverage

NHTSA complaint #11731596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

While driving the instrument cluster would flicker and then the truck would down shift gears. The first time it did, it dropped from 6th gear to 3rd gear at 70 mph, and the next time it dropped from 6th to 1st around 65 mph. It also occurred at lower rates of speed.

NHTSA complaint #11725872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Today I was driving my truck at 55mph on a local highway and all of the sudden I felt/heard/experienced a massive clunk out of nowhere - almost like the truck tried to downshift into 1st or something similarly jarring. It only lasted a second, and then I got a dash light on that said Service AdvanceTrac. Based on the service codes I'm seeing (two of them that are both UO100 codes which indicate loss of communication), I did some research and found out about the OSS sensor issue and think that's what is going on with my truck too. Unfortunately I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get a Ford dealership to do anything about it since there isn't an official recall, and I'm afraid to keep driving it as this is likely going to keep happening - but fixing it myself is going to be expensive I think. It is available for inspection upon request. I felt that my safety was and continues to be at risk - downshifting into 1st gear, or whatever that was, while driving high speeds is dangerous and could potentially significantly damage my vehicle and myself. I have not taken it anywhere yet to be reproduced or confirmed - just plugged my scanner in and did a bit of research. No one has inspected it.

NHTSA complaint #11725389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

My transmission started down shifting on its own while driving one morning and the check engine light and wrench light illuminated. I took it to the dealership that afternoon and had the conductor board replaced. They said it was the speed sensor that malfunctioned.

NHTSA complaint #11718956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

while driving at about 50 mph, the truck will go from 6th to 1st, and lock up the rear end briefly. I'm the mechanic filing this for my customer, seems to me, its the lead frame failing in the trans, and they have done nothing about it, customer says ford worked on this transmission, the only updated part i found was 1 extra magnet. old part number for the lead frame, and a known failing lead frame #, I'm pretty sure you guys have a open case for these trucks.

NHTSA complaint #11716532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

On 11/22/18, Thanksgiving Day, I was driving our 2 year-old Ford Lariat F-150 Supercrew alone on a backroad in Northern Colorado. I was going approx., 65MPH when out of nowhere the truck downshifted from 6th to 2nd gear and caused the truck to lockup, slam me into the drivers seat, and stop in the middle of a thankfully empty road. The engine made a popping sound. The truck made creaking noises from the wheels as I drove it home. It immediately started leaking oil. I took the truck that was still under warranty to the local dealer we bought the truck from the following week as it was a holiday, where I left the truck for a few days, and upon pickup, was told my concerns could "not be replicated" other than an oil leak. I spoke to the 'managers' in a backroom who were 2 men who LITERALLY told me I just needed to learn how to drive my truck better. I asked them if they had actually driven the truck to LISTEN to what a truck still under warranty sounded like after it how downshifted for no logical reason and dead stopped in the road after locking up. They did not. I told them I thought they wiped the codes and were relying on computers to diagnose issues and if Ford knew they had a problem and were hiding it, and people died, Ford would be sued. True story. I reported this to the FBI due to the response because it was disturbing. I know what happened to me when our truck downshifted. If I was on the highway people would have died. Period. I have 10 years worth of documents and all the Ford notes on everything that went wrong with the truck after that catastrophic event. I have 4 official complaints filed with Ford Corporate starting in early Feb., 2019 through late 2025. Shoutout to FormulaFord Rutland for being kind and ethical. I have pictures and video of our truck acting like "Christine" because the software goes haywire when it feels like it. I have the oil leaks and sounds from the wheels recorded on video. Ford Fusion did the same thing. Ford knows. Not ok

NHTSA complaint #11716448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Turn Signals, Speed Control Radio Functions, Windsheild Wipers STOPPED WORKING! It effects people in front ,back or side knowing what I am doing so they can react like turning in any direction , My vision is blocked during rain or snow and will cause an accident harming me or others . ' No warning lamps came on when problem happened ! ' Problem has been confirmed by a Qualified Mechanic !

NHTSA complaint #11715906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I was driving home and the truck started to shift very harshly and had died at a stoplight , I put it into park and restarted it and the engine light came on tried to put it into drive and it had jumped forward very rough as soon as I did, started driving again and then the truck shifted into 5th gear and would not shift out of 5th gear at all was very slowly leaving from stop signs and the high speed fans had turned on and ran the entire rest of the time. Causing very irratic shifting where at times it would down shift and skid the tires

NHTSA complaint #11708919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE TRANSMMISSION DOWN SHIFT WHEN GOING 60 MPH

NHTSA complaint #11705390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

All push button controls on steering wheel are not functioning. Appears the Steering Wheel Clock Spring is going bad. Which in turn affects airbag, steering, cruise control ect.

NHTSA complaint #11699449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Unexpectedly shifting down to first gear during any speed

NHTSA complaint #11694705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I’m a single mother driving a 2016 Ford F-150, my only vehicle, while transporting small children daily. I’ve been experiencing sudden, violent shaking and unexpected downshifting while driving, especially at highway speeds. On more than one occasion, it has felt like the rear wheels try to lock, causing the entire truck to jolt and decelerate rapidly, putting my safety and the safety of my children at serious risk. I’ve taken the truck to the dealership and multiple independent mechanics, but no one can diagnose the issue because no error codes appear related to the transmission or shifting. The only code that comes up is for a faulty catalytic converter, but both catalytic converters have already been replaced. The dealership confirmed that the check engine light keeps coming on anyway, even though there’s no actual issue with the new parts. They said it’s as if the system is being triggered by something else, but they don’t know what. I was relieved to learn that NHTSA is investigating this exact issue in 2015–2017 F-150 models, because what I’m experiencing matches it exactly. I depend on this truck for everything, school drop-offs, groceries, and survival, and I have no backup vehicle. I am asking NHTSA to prioritize this investigation and take action. This is not just a transmission defect, it’s a public safety threat, and families like mine are being forced to drive dangerous vehicles simply because there’s no help yet. Please step in and hold Ford accountable before someone gets seriously hurt.

NHTSA complaint #11653978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

When traveling at around 70-75 mph the vehicle will downshift to 5th gear and vehicle speed drops as well, without warning. This causes the vehicle to not want to excel until it comes to a complete stop or turns off and then turns back on.

NHTSA complaint #11651255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Vehicle downshifts unexpectedly sometimes and it also kicks hard when slowing down or coming to a stop. Brought it to Hempstead Ford and test drove it with Charlie the senior service advisor, he said he understands and feels what I’m explaining, but Ford says its normal.

NHTSA complaint #11651325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The truck wrench symbol showed up. The second time it showed the truck didn’t seem to shift correctly. It hesitated to progress in speed like usual, creating a situation that I could have been hit by cross traffic because it was moving at a lot slower speed than expected for trying to accelerate. I had ford inspect my vehicle for what might be working incorrectly and they couldn’t diagnose the issue. It has not acted up since I had it looked at. As far as I know they couldn’t determine what created the shifting problem and no course of action to repair it was taken.

NHTSA complaint #11650705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Occasionally on startup will hard shift then get stuck in 5th,3rd,or 1st gear and will move slowly upon accelerating.This will also happen when driving at different speeds.Cooling fan will also be running on high speed.Had lead frame and valve body replaced($2000) but within two weeks symptoms returned.Truck is now in dealer waiting for replacement transmission to come in($7000) Will add receipt when vehicle is returned.

NHTSA complaint #11650379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

When shifting the truck into gear the lights such as the parking, driving, neutral, reverse and lower gears lights as well as the lights showing which gears the trucks shifting into do not light up! Therefore, you cannot tell what gear the truck is currently placed into. Also, if the lights do light up, they flicker very erratically, and the truck will change gears on its own. When driving the vehicle, the truck will just suddenly change gears and makes a hard shift into lower or higher gear or gears which is extremely dangerous. This makes the truck feel like I've been hooked up to another vehicle that is trying to snatch me backwards. I was driving on the highway the other day and the truck went from 6th gear doing over 70mph to all of a sudden downshifting and dropping down to 40mph on the highway. I thought the engine and transmission were both going to explode on me and cause an accident. This was extremely terrifying and if I didn't keep my cool it could have easily caused a wreck. Most people would have freaked out had an accident. The truck barely made it home because of the gears shifting all over the place and the truck wanting to lose power and shut down. This is extremely dangerous and the representative I spoke to from Ford agreed that considering the mileage of the truck and with the recent recalls concerning transmissions being recalled for the exact same issues that my truck is experiencing that I needed to call you guys and get my tuck added to the Ford F-150 recall list for the transmission issues ford trucks have been having. The Truck is a 2016 Ford F-150 XLT. This is the case number provided to me from Ford to give you Ford Case # CXH03020325

NHTSA complaint #11628366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Driving down the expressway at 70 mph, vehicle gear light indicators started to flash between gears, and vehicle abruptly entered limp-home mode and downshifted to 3rd gear, causing the vehicle to aggressively decelerate to the point of the back wheels squealing. If another car was in standard following distance, it would have been a certain accident.

NHTSA complaint #11608646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The transmission lead frame failed. It was replaced by the mechanic. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The transmission suddenly shifted to a lower gear and locked up the rear tires. This suddenly decreased the speed while traveling in traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The service center scanned the truck and recorded the error codes. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The transmission shifted erratically and the gear indicator on the dash blinked. After the sudden downshift the check engine and see service manual light came on.

NHTSA complaint #11603486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Transmission does not shift into gear when idle and pushing in the gas pedal. Truck randomly shuts off when at stop lights and have to restart it. Transmission shifts randomly into different gears at different speeds while driving. Transmission struggles to shift into gear and when it does the whole truck shakes and loud clunk noises happens. Cruise control speeds go up and down while driving and engine has trouble shifting into gears to keep up speed.

NHTSA complaint #11603168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.