2011 Ford F-150 Powertrain & Transmission Problems

The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.

Approximately one month ago, I noticed that the vehicle would not accelerate the way it normally does. A error code came on. I took the vehicle to Auto Zone for error code check. I was informed that the powertrain control module speed sensor had gone bad. I looked this up and found that Ford had a recall on 2011 Ford F-150s for similar issues. I disconnected the battery, as recommended on an internet site, and the vehicle began to operate normally. About one week later, I noticed that the vehicle would not shift above third gear and was accelerating very sluggishly. On further investigation I fount that the vehicle would not shift out of third gear (up or down). I again disconnected/reconnected the battery, and again it began operating normally. I contacted the local Ford dealership and they said that I should have received a letter in May 2019 about the PCM recall. I didn't recall receiving the letter, but Ford Motor Co. Customer Service says the PCM was actually reprogrammed on March 29, 2019 to repair the issues related to the recall. My concern is that the PCM speed sensor is malfunctioning again even after the repairs were supposedly performed by Ford. I am concerned that the vehicle may again be potentially unsafe to operate at highway speeds. I wanted to make NHTSA aware of the potential for ongoing safety issues with this vehicle even after Ford's proposed fix.

Trans mission input shaft speed sensor. Transmission is downshifting and going into limp mode while driving.

The truck will randomly downshift from 4th or 5th gear to 1st gear. I was driving around 64 miles per hour and the truck downshifted into first gear. It made me swerve out of my lane on the highway and sounded terrible on the engine. It’s very dangerous and is going to cause a wreck or ruin the engine. Ford had an extended warranty for up to 150,000 miles on the molded leadframe and my truck has 156,000. Ford refused to fix this issue and I feel as if they should replace the faulty part.

The range sensor Clunk into reverse Down shift sometimes The light on dash cuts off when put into reverse and the wrench light comes on. Only has 137k miles. Just replaced the motor now transmission Other years f150 have recalls why isn’t this year ??

P072200-68, CMDTC, Output Shaft Sensor Circuit No Signal. There has reportedly been multiple recalls for the 2011 Ford F-150's 6-speed automatic transmission related to an issue with the molded lead frame that can cause an unexpected downshift into first gear.

I faced an unexpected transmission downshift that came without warning or driver input. Transmission 6R80. The same problem that is being investigated for the 2015 - 2017 Ford F-150. The truck only had 105,904 miles. I was almost hit in the rear when this happened. This happened in November 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after the dealer had reprogrammed the PCM under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (Power Train), the vehicle started to experience failures. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle downshifted to first gear unintendedly. The powertrain warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact resumed driving; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the residence. Additionally, the contact stated that the brake lights, the hazard lights, the turn signal lights, and the infotainment system and the A/C system became inoperable after the recall repair. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure might be related to the electrical system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

After a short drive on the highway, upon slowing down to turn off, automatic transmission was erraticly changing gears. kept switching from 1st to 2nd gear. really jerky with tires locking up. pulled to side of the road, shut off truck and restarted. seemed to work fine for the 2 mile drive to my destination. when leaving to head home it shifted ok but i noticed some weird shifting patterns. then upon slowing to a stop off the highway again, when i left the stop sign it repeated the process off shifting back and forth from 1st to 2nd gear again. shut off truck started again. drove home ok. i am dropping it off to be looked at today. i really do not feel safe driving this pickup not knowing when and where this could happen again. no warning lights

Going down the highway at 60mph. Car went from 6th gear to 1st gear and tires locked up and I started sliding. I could smell the tires burning. I threw it into neutral and the tires unlocked. I dropped back down to 40 mph and went back into drive. No issue after.

I was driving in the morning car was started to lag on accelerating and shifting gears slightly. My dashboard and gps system flickered on and off when this happened. The truck putted as well. On my way home the car had trouble accelerating and dropped from 5th gear all the way to first causing me to almost lose control of the vehicle. It continued hard shifting and loss all acceleration. It continued flickering everytime it would sputter and slip gears, Gps and dashboard would flicker. They gears were going haywire. I could not accelerate with the pedal all the way to the floor, and was hard to turn steering wheel. Almost like the Truck was coasting. When we took it to the mechanic they stated it was a transmission range switch which is an issue and many F150's of my year, make and model. My vehicle was not listed as a recalled vehicle yet has the same issue as the other recalled ones. Total repairs are going to cost around $2000. I have not driven my vehicle since the incident and I am frightened after almost losing control from the hard shifting. Prior to this the vehicle ran great. It was an out of nowhere issue. the truck has been maintained well, with all oil changes, and regular maintenece. there is less the 96,000 mile son the truck as well.

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, and DTC: P0720 was retrieved, which indicated a failure with the output shaft speed sensor. The contact was informed that the output shaft speed sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under any unknown recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that neither repair was covered under the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

Hard downshifts from 5 to 4. At low speeds, like parking lots it shifts hard from 1 to 2. At freeway speeds while attempting to pass instead of dropping a gear to passs it downshifts to 1st, rpm’s shoot up and it results in having to pull off stop and place in park. Once in park back to D and able to take off. At any speed from 30 mph or more there is a sort of “tap of brakes” feeling every .15 of a mile.

Entering the highway, the transmission shifted into 1st, the gauges blanked out and a service light came on. Upon taking it in for inspection, FORD compliant 19N01 already existed but had limited mileage/date that has now expired. The problem and solution is the same found under 19N01

Speedometer stopped working and automatic transmission would not shift out of first gear without manually shifting. Transmission then would not come out of third gear.

I own a 2011 Ford F-150. While driving at highway speed, the transmission unintendedly downshifted to first gear, causing the vehicle to lose motive power. This can, by Fords admission, cause accidents and Injury. The check engine warning light and Wrench Symbol was illuminated. Sometimes it is able to restart and reset sometimes not. This problem has occurred several times while driving. I took it to my normal mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an output shaft speed sensor failure. He said that the transmission lead frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle has not yet been repaired. I spoke to Ford customer service and they refuse to fix it and said my VIN was not included. See NHTSA Safety Recall Report 16V-248

When driving on the interstate with the normal flow of traffic at 55mph, the vehicle abruptly downshifted from 6th gear to 1st gear causing the the vehicle to lock up an nearly caused an accident. This was followed by a a mechanic warning light and the speedometer to lock out and no longer work. Once pulled over, the vehicle was powered down. When the vehicle was turned back on operation returned in a limp state.

The transmission unexpectedly downshift's to 1st gear, instrument gauges go dark, wheels have locked up, motor then lacks power. The issues have been going on for a while and recently had to stop on the side of the road 5 times in the 20 mile trip home from work. 2011 F-150 is unsafe to drive. Called Ford Customer Service on July 2, 2025. Case Number [XXX]. Was informed a prior Recall 16S19 addressing these issues was performed in 2016. A second recall 19S07 was issued for the same reasons. The service rep said this vin number is not listed; apparently it does not cover this vehicle. Ford customer service rep suggested filing a complaint with NHTSA.gov as this has been an ongoing safety issue. Unless NHTSA is made aware of an issue can it be addressed or in this case readdressed because the repairs by Ford has failed as a long term solution. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The RPM fluctuated, and the transmission shifted roughly. The gear shifter indicator was randomly illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that after a while, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact used a scanner and retrieved DTC: P0705 (Transmission Range Sensor Circuit Malfunction (PRNDL Input)" was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred, and the contact parked the vehicle and the vehicle was no longer driven due to safety concerns. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

As i was driving around 45 mph this Sunday, my 2011 f150 suddenly shifted hard down to first gear. i thought someone hit me from behind at first, i don't think i have ever been so scared in a vehicle in my life! this truck has been so good to my family otherwise. Anyway, i started researching online and found there was a recall for this but has ended. I called Ford thinking maybe they would stand behind a problem that was a known ford issue. whether its been 10 years or 20. this is my 7th f150. i have dealt with all there issues in the past. From blown out sparkplugs in the 4.6 to the leaking intake manifold to cam phasers. you may ask why i keep buying them, but its because i love ford. Is there anything you can do for me? I'm scared i could kill myself or someone. This is a dangerous problem and i don't see how this recall could have ever had a deadline on it. Thank you for you time, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)