2018-2022 Ford Safety Recall: 5 Crucial Facts You Need to Know
- The recall targets a dangerous transmission issue found in over 350,000 Ford Bronco, Edge, Explorer, and Escape models from the 2018-2022 model years, where a faulty transmission control module can cause the vehicle to suddenly downshift into first gear without warning, even at highway speeds, leading to potential loss of vehicle control.
- This specific 2018-2022 Ford safety recall, known internally as Ford campaign number 22S43, is a direct result of investigations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) following numerous complaints about "ghost shifting" incidents that nearly caused crashes.
- Affected owners are entitled to a free software update rather than a physical replacement part, but critics argue this doesn't fix the underlying mechanical wear issue that typically surfaces after 60,000 miles, leaving some drivers at risk if the software fails to compensate.
- Ford's solution is finally being enforced after the company initially denied the problem existed, with the NHTSA pressing the automaker to issue the recall in June 2022, yet dealerships are currently backlogged, with wait times for the fix stretching up to eight weeks in many regions.
- To check eligibility, owners can input their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on Ford's official recall site or the NHTSA.gov database, and until serviced, experts recommend avoiding stop-and-go traffic or using manual mode if available to prevent sudden downshifts.