Ford has recalled nearly 1.4 million F-150 pickup trucks in the United States due to a gearshift defect that can cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle — increasing the risk of a serious crash. If you or someone you love was injured in a crash involving one of these recalled trucks, you may have more than just an auto claim on your hands. You may have a product liability case against one of the largest automakers in the world.
What Is the Ford F-150 Recall About?
The recall covers F-150 light trucks equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission that were manufactured between March 12, 2014 and August 18, 2017. According to Ford, a defect in the gearshift system can cause the vehicle to move in a direction different from what the driver selected — or to roll when the driver believes the truck is securely in park.
That kind of unpredictable vehicle behavior isn’t just a mechanical inconvenience. It’s a recipe for a serious crash. A truck that rolls unexpectedly in a parking lot, lurches forward when the driver intended to reverse, or behaves erratically can injure the driver, passengers, pedestrians, and anyone else nearby. Ford’s remedy is a software update to the truck’s powertrain control module (PCM), performed by dealers — but for those already hurt, a software fix doesn’t undo what happened.
NHTSA’s recall announcement confirmed that Ford was already aware of at least two injuries and one crash potentially linked to this defect before the recall was even issued. Those are only the incidents Ford knows about.
How This Type of Crash Typically Happens
Defective gearshift crashes don’t always look like traditional highway collisions. Because the defect affects how the vehicle responds to driver input, these crashes often happen in unexpected ways and places.
Common scenarios include a parked truck rolling into a person, another vehicle, or a structure because the transmission didn’t fully engage park, a driver attempting to reverse out of a driveway or parking space and the truck lurching forward instead, a vehicle shifting unexpectedly while the driver is partially outside the cab, a loss of vehicle control at low speeds in parking lots or residential areas, and crashes where the driver had no reasonable warning the vehicle would behave the way it did.
In many of these situations, the driver did nothing wrong. The vehicle failed them. That distinction matters enormously in a product liability claim.
Why You Need a Lawyer — Not Just a Recall Notice
Here is where many people make a costly mistake. They assume that because Ford issued a recall, the company will do the right thing and take care of anyone who was hurt. That is not how it works.
A recall means Ford acknowledged the defect. It does not mean Ford is automatically going to compensate you for your injuries, your medical bills, your lost wages, or the pain and suffering you’ve experienced. Getting what you’re owed requires building and pursuing a legal claim — and going up against Ford and their insurers is not something you should attempt alone.
Product liability cases involving major automakers are complex. Ford will have experienced legal teams whose job is to limit the company’s exposure. They will scrutinize your medical records, question whether the recall defect actually caused your specific crash, and look for any way to shift blame away from the vehicle. Without an attorney who knows how to handle product liability and vehicle defect cases, you are at a serious disadvantage.
An experienced attorney will investigate the crash and secure evidence tying the defect to what happened, obtain the vehicle’s data and service history, work with engineering and medical experts to build your case, identify every potentially liable party — which in a defective vehicle case can include the manufacturer, a dealership that failed to perform a recall repair, or a third-party service provider — calculate the full value of your damages including future medical costs, and fight for maximum compensation whether through settlement or at trial.
Time matters in these cases. Evidence can disappear. Statutes of limitations vary by state. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the stronger your position.
What Cronauer Law Can Do for You
At Cronauer Law, we handle product liability and vehicle defect cases for injured clients across the country. We have the experience in product liability claims that will assure we bring justice. You don’t have to be in Illinois to work with us. If a defective Ford F-150 caused your crash, we want to hear from you.
We move quickly to investigate and preserve evidence, identify all liable parties, and build the strongest possible case on your behalf. We consult with automotive and medical experts, handle all communication with Ford and their insurance carriers, and take cases to trial when that’s what it takes to get our clients what they deserve.
We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Final Thoughts
Ford’s recall of 1.4 million F-150 trucks is an acknowledgment that something went dangerously wrong. If that defect contributed to a crash that hurt you or someone you love, you have rights — and you have options.
Don’t wait. Don’t assume Ford will handle it. Talk to an attorney who handles product liability cases and knows how to take on major automakers.
Contact Cronauer Law today at 815-895-8585 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We represent injury victims nationwide and we’re ready to fight for you.
Cronauer Law Office: 815-895-8585