Ford is recalling certain 2011 F-150 pickups and 2012 F-250, F-350, F-450 an d F-550 heavy-duty trucks for transmissions that can be shifted out of “park” without pressing the brake pedal, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced today.
The problem with the brake/shift interlock violates federal safety regulations and would allow shifting into gear without braking, “increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian,” NHTSA says on its website.
The recall affects F-150s built from Sept. 9, 2011 through Sept. 22, 2011, and HDs built from Sept. 12 through Sept. 22.
The build date can be determined from the label on the driver’s door pillar. Ford will notify owners beginning next week and dealers will inspect for and replace faulty interlock switches.
For more information, you can call the Ford customer center at 1-866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).