The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating 86 complaints of the 2014 Ford F-150 unexpectedly downshifting. 

The investigation follows recalls of the 2011-2013 models of the Ford F-150 in 2016 and 2019 for similar concerns. 

NHTSA documents say the recent complaints involve the vehicle abruptly slowing down without warning after the downshift. 

“The unexpectant downshift can also result in rear wheel lock-up and/or skidding, increasing the risk of a crash and/or injury,” the documents say. 

It says one consumer claims to have crashed into a concrete barrier and another vehicle after his F-150 downshifted. The driver and driver of the other vehicle both sustained injuries, it says. 

The recall query was opened on March 27, according to the document. If a recall is made, it would impact 540,000 vehicles. 

The Associated Press reports Ford says it is working with NHTSA on the investigation.

Chrysler also recently recalled 280,000 vehicles due to right and left air bags that could rupture resulting in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, according to the NHTSA. 

The recall follows an NHTSA investigation into the air bag inflator ruptures. The investigation focused on compressed gas rapidly escaping from the inflator during a rupture. The gas potentially could propel material into the vehicle, NHTSA documents say. 

Certain 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 models are impacted by the recall. Notification of dealers and vehicle owners will start May 3. 

Joyson Safety Systems is listed as a component manufacturer on NHTSA records. The documents don’t clarify which component. The company supplies multiple air bag products including inflators.

Approximately 67 million air bags used by 19 OEMs have been recalled because the inflators can explode when the air bags are deployed, causing serious injuries or death. 

The son of a woman who was allegedly killed by an ARC Automotive air bag inflator rupture in 2021 previously lobbied the NHTSA to recall ARC air bag inflators. 

Jacob Tarvis told the NHTSA his mother Marlene Beaudoin, 39, died after her air bag exploded “like a dirty bomb” with him and his seven siblings in the vehicle. 

A lawsuit filed by the family in August 2022 against ARC, General Motors and Toyoda Gosei North America Corp. is pending in Michigan. 

A class action lawsuit filed in San Francisco the same year accuses ARC, GM, Ford, and Volkswagen of knowingly selling vehicles containing air bag inflators that are at risk of exploding. 

Another class action suit against ARC, Audi, Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, Joyson Safety Systems and Toyoda Gosei was filed in 2022.

Multiple suits were combined with other class action suits against ARC before one judge in Atlanta’s U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation in late 2022, according to court documents. The case is ongoing.

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