NHTSA Complaint #11416159 — 2012 FORD EXPEDITION

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR, RPMS REVVED UP, SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL TEMPORARILY HAD NO EFFECT, "FUEL LEVEL LOW" LIGHT CAME ON AND "TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT" LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THOUGH THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING. I STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT AND THE VEHICLE WORKED FINE. THIS EVENT HAPPENED THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST MONTH. SHEEHY FORD IN ASHLAND, VIRGINIA SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW "LEAD FRAME" AND THAT THE CHARGE WOULD BE $900. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I LEARNED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FOR THE 2012 FORD EXPEDITION, BUT MY 2012 EXPEDITION VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND FIXED BY FORD. I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. RECALL INFORMATION FOUND ONLINE: "FORD HAS ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE 2011-2012 FORD F-150, AND 2012 FORD EXPEDITION FOR A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION'S LEAD FRAME; IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE PART CAN LEAD TO A TEMPORARY DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. DEPENDING ON HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING, THAT COULD LEAD TO AN ABRUPT REDUCTION IN SPEED THAT COULD CAUSE THE REAR TIRES TO SLIDE OR LOCK UP. FORD SAID IT'S AWARE OF THREE ACCIDENTS REPORTED AND NO INJURIES RELATED TO THE ISSUE. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE A 6R80 TRANSMISSION IN CERTAIN FORD F-150S BUILT AT DEARBORN ASSEMBLY PLANT AND KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT, AUG. 19, 2011 THROUGH MARCH 9, 2012; 2012 FORD EXPEDITION VEHICLES BUILT AT KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT, AUG. 19, 2011 THROUGH DEC. 19, 2011; FORD MUSTANG VEHICLES BUILT AT FLAT ROCK ASSEMBLY PLANT, AUG. 19, 2011 THROUGH FEB. 21, 2012; AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR VEHICLES BUILT AT KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT, AUG. 19, 2011 THROUGH DEC. 17, 2011.