NHTSA Complaint #11691758 — 2016 FORD EDGE

On September 1, 2025, at approximately 11:30 PM, I was driving my 2016 Ford Edge (VIN: [XXX] ) Southbound on Red Arrow Highway near [XXX] , returning home from work. Without any warning lights or prior symptoms, the vehicle suddenly lost all ability to provide power, even though the engine continued running. The transmission stopped engaging gears, and the vehicle began making grinding noises while rocking back and forth violently. The posted speed limit on this section of road is 45 MPH, and there were several vehicles traveling behind me. The sudden loss of propulsion created an immediate traffic hazard, forcing me to pull over onto a very narrow shoulder, putting myself and others at risk. After coming to a stop, the vehicle could not shift into drive or reverse and had to be towed. The failure was diagnosed by Pro Transmission in Benton Harbor, MI, which confirmed a complete transmission failure. The odometer reading at the time was approximately 154,000 miles. Ford Motor Company has acknowledged transmission issues in this model and year through a Customer Satisfaction Program, but coverage is limited to vehicles under 10 years old and below a specific mileage threshold. My vehicle qualifies by age but exceeds the mileage limit, even though the transmission failure occurred suddenly and prematurely. This vehicle has also been subject to multiple recalls, including one for engine coolant leaks and two new ones (for the backup camera and brake line leaks). These repeated failures raise broader safety and reliability concerns. The sudden transmission failure at well driving posed a serious safety hazard and nearly caused an accident. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Ford’s known transmission defect in the 2016 Ford Edge and consider whether the existing Customer Satisfaction Program should be expanded to include higher-mileage vehicles experiencing the same issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)