US probes nearly 1.3 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks over faulty gear shift

Group 1 - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into approximately 1.3 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks due to a faulty gear shift that may lead to wheel lock-up [1][3] - The investigation was prompted by over 130 consumer complaints regarding unrequested gear downshifts while driving at highway speeds, causing rapid deceleration [2][5] - Complaints indicate that the trucks' rear wheels may temporarily lock, seize, or skid following the unexpected gear shift, which poses a risk of losing vehicle control [2][4] Group 2 - Ford is cooperating with the NHTSA in its investigation, although no crashes or fires related to the faulty gear shift have been reported so far [4]