NHTSA Complaint #11444706 — 2020 FORD EXPEDITION

The contact's husband owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at 65-70 MPH on cruise control, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted, skipped a gear, and lurched forward several times. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle would skip from 3rd gear to 5th gear whenever she would depress the accelerator pedal. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, upon picking up the vehicle from the dealer and driving home, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle inadvertently decelerated instead. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the RPM of the vehicle was jumping between 2,000 and 3,000 RPM. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who test drove the vehicle but was unable to diagnose it. The dealer reset the adaptive learning of the vehicle; however, the failure persisted, and the vehicle would make abnormal clunking sounds while shifting into drive. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred increasingly and significantly while driving. Additionally, the driver’s side rear brake had an abnormally strong burning odor. The vehicle was taken to Lebanon Ford (770 Columbus Ave, Lebanon, OH 45036) who was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure. The manufacturer's field technician advised the dealer to replace the brake light sensors. The contact stated that the brake light sensors were replaced; however, upon picking up the vehicle, the start button was depressed but the vehicle failed to start. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered a buy back. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 7,400.