NHTSA Complaint #11090916 — 2013 FORD F-150

ON APRIL 14, 2018 I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 F-150 ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 70MPH IN THE RAIN WHEN THE BACK WHEELS SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND I ABRUPTLY BEGAN STOPPING AND I LOST CONTROL, FISHTAILING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT (ALMOST TO A SPIN), BARELY MISSING VEHICLES AROUND ME AND THE WALL TO THE LEFT. THE CAR BEHIND ME SOMEHOW VEERED AROUND AND MISSED ME TOO. AS THIS WAS HAPPENING THE TRUCK WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AS IT AUTOMATICALLY SLOWED DOWN. I SOMEHOW MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I PARKED AND SHUT THE TRUCK OFF AND TRIED TO SETTLE DOWN AND GAIN MY COMPOSURE (...IT WAS SCARY, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE FROM THIS INCIDENT!). I RESTARTED THE TRUCK AND SLOWLY BEGAN DRIVE. IT SEEMED TO DRIVE OK SO I DECIDED TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. AS I WAS DRIVING CAUTIOUSLY, WELL BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT ON A 40MPH ROAD THE ENGINE THEN SHUT DOWN AND I COULD SEE A SCREEN APPEAR WITH "LOW OIL PRESSURE". I GLIDED TO A PARKING LOT AND HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK (SUBURBAN FORD OF WATERFORD MICHIGAN). THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE AND SAID IT THREW A ROD. THEY SAID THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF THE WHEELS LOCKING UP. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON 2013 F-150'S WITH THE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTING TO A LOW GEAR CAUSING THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP. THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS AND SAID THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ON 2011 AND 2012 F-150'S FOR THIS BUT NO RECALL PRESENTLY ACTIVE ON THE 2013 F-150. I PURCHASED A FULL WARRANTY FOR THE TRUCK WHEN NEW BUT THE TRUCK IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AT 110K MILES. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD PROVIDE A REFURBISHED ENGINE FOR $10,000. I'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH FORD AND THE DEALER AT THIS POINT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. SEE: HTTP://AUTOWEEK.COM/ARTICLE/RECALLS/FORDS-DOWNSHIFTING-RECALL-MAY-EXPAND