Ford is recalling nearly 300,000 2018 F-150 pickup trucks and 2018 Expedition SUVs, as well as some 2018 commercial trucks, in the U.S. because they might not stay in the gear selected by the driver.
The problem driving the recall relates to the gearshift cable. If a clip that locks this cable to the transmission gets dislodged, the transmission could shift into a different gear, which could result in unintended vehicle movement.
Ford explains: "This could allow the driver to move the shifter to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission gear may not be in Park, with no instrument panel warning message or warning chime when the driver's door is opened that indicates the vehicle is not secured in Park. If the parking brake is not applied, this could result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of injury or crash."
The automaker said it is aware of one crash and injury related to the problem.
The Details
Vehicles recalled in the U.S.: 292,909 F-150 pickup trucks, Expedition SUVs, and F-650 and F-750 commercial trucks, all from the 2018 model year.
The problem: According to the Ford recall notice, "a clip that locks the gear shift cable to the transmission may not be fully seated." This clip can dislodge over time, which "may allow the transmission to be in a gear state different from the gear shift position selected by the driver."
The fix: Ford says that the dealer will inspect and verify that the shift cable locking clip was properly installed. If it wasn't, the dealer will fix the problem at no cost to consumers.
How to contact the manufacturer: Contact Ford at 866-436-7332.
NHTSA campaign number: There is not yet a campaign number from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for this recall. Ford's reference number is 18S10.
Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: Plug in the 17-digit vehicle identification number at the NHTSA website. The Safety Issues & Recalls page will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.
CR members can stay up to date on their car recalls using our Car Recall Tracker.
