Failed Console Gear Shift Lever

[libby2cm]

My issues culminated today while "fighting it" trying to get it into drive and the shifter snapped off, after putting a lift in my front yard this AM. Also, since it's all fly-by-wire, there is no way to 'cleanly' move the truck at this point, which is problematic when it's parallel to the street and against a large piece of machinery. I've also spent the afternoon fighting with ford roadside because they are on attempt 3 of dispatching a qualified wrecker co that can move this thing.

Sponsored

 

[F-150 Prius]

My issues culminated today while "fighting it" trying to get it into drive and the shifter snapped off, after putting a lift in my front yard this AM. Also, since it's all fly-by-wire, there is no way to 'cleanly' move the truck at this point, which is problematic when it's parallel to the street and against a large piece of machinery. I've also spent the afternoon fighting with ford roadside because they are on attempt 3 of dispatching a qualified wrecker co that can move this thing.

That looks flimsy for the job.

Part of the problem is it stays locked in park when the computers feel like it … as a rule, if you press the button on a shift lever, it must move, it cannot have a second opinion and refuse to move. Whether or not the trans engages PRND is a separate matter.

I don't like the "To Stay in Neutral" rigamarole, either. It should be possible to get the center diff in neutral regardless of the trans.

 

[Jaybird2022]

Following. Seeing how this keeps becoming an issue how is ford not making this a recall real quick? Heard someone on this forum talking about it trying to fall into park on the highway.

 

[libby2cm]

That looks flimsy for the job.

Part of the problem is it stays locked in park when the computers feel like it … as a rule, if you press the button on a shift lever, it must move, it cannot have a second opinion and refuse to move. Whether or not the trans engages PRND is a separate matter.

I don't like the "To Stay in Neutral" rigamarole, either. It should be possible to get the center diff in neutral regardless of the trans.

So, bit of an update. 9 hours and 4 tow companies later from ford roadside, I finally get a guy who is willing to move it, but we needed to move it up a few feet to get it lined up down driveway away from equipment. So, no problem, we pull neutral release under steering column and... ECM spaz's out, presumably because it thinks truck is running away and it locks ebrake on all wheels. I tried using service mode thru forscan and couldn't get it to let go either. You could say there is technically a neutral release, but ......

I told driver f-it, and he put back wheels on teflon wedges and yanked it out with a winch. Luckily there was a lot of dew on the driveway so collateral damage was minimal.

Ford basically 'laughed' as I tried summoning help on Saturday by reading my messages and not responding as I struggled with ford roadside.

Dealer called me yesterday to tell me they got my truck, but it would be a week before they can look at it because 1/2 of their shop is closed for painting. Something he could have told me one of the two times I talked to him Saturday.

So, this is on top of the electrical system issues at delivery. And, on principle, i'm pissed I still have to spend $ on a FDRS license to get updates for SW in the truck because jack all is really pushed OTA.

Ranting, I know, but this 3rd generation ford family is about done. Wife's explorer is ready for trade now too.

 

[libby2cm]

Following. Seeing how this keeps becoming an issue how is ford not making this a recall real quick? Heard someone on this forum talking about it trying to fall into park on the highway.

Because ford like any other large corporation doesn't care. They got their money, unless enough of a mass of people make a stink about it or die, they don't have a reason to do anything. Same with google and a simple phone replacement. Nobody GAF beyond that money. Who's in the wrong tho.. ford for selling it, or a sap like me for buying it? Who's to say i guess.

 

[sbi]

Ranting, I know, but this 3rd generation ford family is about done. Wife's explorer is ready for trade now too.

I really feel your pain, I really do.
But I hate to break this to you - they're all like this. Do you really think there is zero chance of you experiencing a crazy malfunction like this with GM, Chrysler, European, Japanese company? And if you do that they would treat you quickly and with respect (AKA actually care)?? If so, I hate to disappoint you. They're all the same.

I wish you luck and hope they fix the issue fast and the way YOU want it.

 

[Okotoks]

2021 F-150 Lariat Powerboost. The wife and I are on vacation from DFW, TX currrently in Asheville, NC touring the Smokey Mountains. Today while driving the Blue Ridge Pkwy, my truck would not let me shift from D to P while trying to park at a roadside overlook. The D position light on the console shifter assembly started blinking rapidly. I tried to troubleshoot but ultimately just shut the truck off and let it sit a while with the parking brake set but still in D… When I returned to the truck, I turned on the ignition to accessory and the shift lever automatically moved forward to P on its own….. After that everything seemed normal and I had no issues for a while. However that changed this evening. We were arriving into a parking lot and again I could not shift from D to P. This time though, I got a warning message on the cluster that said “Park not available, set parking brake before leaving vehicle”. I tried to let it sit like before, but didn’t work. I then did the Emergency Towing Procedure by manually engaging neutral so the truck would roll. I tried all kinds of things to get it to wake up and go to P so I could start it and drive it to Ford in Asheville….. Nothing worked, but I tried to troubleshoot further while Roadside Assistance dispatched a tow. While I was troubleshooting and reading forum posts etc… I even used Forscan to read the DTC’s and do a module reset on the GSM (Gear Selector Module). Again nothing working, but I tried to move from D to P one more time and all of a sudden the lever literally snapped. With very little pressure from myself. I guess I had fatigued it by trying to move it from D to P so much :-/ …..

I admit I shouldn’t have tried to keep troubleshooting but I didn’t want to be stranded halfway across the country from my home state… ugh. So now it’s at Asheville Ford and the Service Dept isn’t open for a few days due to Labor Day. What a mess. These console shifters are flimsy pieces of crap with electronic logic issues that cause unresolvable faults.

Now some questions for folks that may have had similar scenarios while traveling out of state….. What’s the protocol? There are no loaner vehicles these days….. Will Ford allow for a rental car reimbursement? It may be weeks before a part and fix is available due to backorders… So I guess we’ll have to drive back to Texas in a rental and then I’ll have to drive or fly back out here to Asheville, NC when it’s repaired. Completely at a loss with this situation. Sucks!

2021 F-150 Lariat Powerboost. The wife and I are on vacation from DFW, TX currrently in Asheville, NC touring the Smokey Mountains. Today while driving the Blue Ridge Pkwy, my truck would not let me shift from D to P while trying to park at a roadside overlook. The D position light on the console shifter assembly started blinking rapidly. I tried to troubleshoot but ultimately just shut the truck off and let it sit a while with the parking brake set but still in D… When I returned to the truck, I turned on the ignition to accessory and the shift lever automatically moved forward to P on its own….. After that everything seemed normal and I had no issues for a while. However that changed this evening. We were arriving into a parking lot and again I could not shift from D to P. This time though, I got a warning message on the cluster that said “Park not available, set parking brake before leaving vehicle”. I tried to let it sit like before, but didn’t work. I then did the Emergency Towing Procedure by manually engaging neutral so the truck would roll. I tried all kinds of things to get it to wake up and go to P so I could start it and drive it to Ford in Asheville….. Nothing worked, but I tried to troubleshoot further while Roadside Assistance dispatched a tow. While I

 

[Okotoks]

2021 F-150 Lariat Powerboost. The wife and I are on vacation from DFW, TX currrently in Asheville, NC touring the Smokey Mountains. Today while driving the Blue Ridge Pkwy, my truck would not let me shift from D to P while trying to park at a roadside overlook. The D position light on the console shifter assembly started blinking rapidly. I tried to troubleshoot but ultimately just shut the truck off and let it sit a while with the parking brake set but still in D… When I returned to the truck, I turned on the ignition to accessory and the shift lever automatically moved forward to P on its own….. After that everything seemed normal and I had no issues for a while. However that changed this evening. We were arriving into a parking lot and again I could not shift from D to P. This time though, I got a warning message on the cluster that said “Park not available, set parking brake before leaving vehicle”. I tried to let it sit like before, but didn’t work. I then did the Emergency Towing Procedure by manually engaging neutral so the truck would roll. I tried all kinds of things to get it to wake up and go to P so I could start it and drive it to Ford in Asheville….. Nothing worked, but I tried to troubleshoot further while Roadside Assistance dispatched a tow. While I was troubleshooting and reading forum posts etc… I even used Forscan to read the DTC’s and do a module reset on the GSM (Gear Selector Module). Again nothing working, but I tried to move from D to P one more time and all of a sudden the lever literally snapped. With very little pressure from myself. I guess I had fatigued it by trying to move it from D to P so much :-/ …..

I admit I shouldn’t have tried to keep troubleshooting but I didn’t want to be stranded halfway across the country from my home state… ugh. So now it’s at Asheville Ford and the Service Dept isn’t open for a few days due to Labor Day. What a mess. These console shifters are flimsy pieces of crap with electronic logic issues that cause unresolvable faults.

Now some questions for folks that may have had similar scenarios while traveling out of state….. What’s the protocol? There are no loaner vehicles these days….. Will Ford allow for a rental car reimbursement? It may be weeks before a part and fix is available due to backorders… So I guess we’ll have to drive back to Texas in a rental and then I’ll have to drive or fly back out here to Asheville, NC when it’s repaired. Completely at a loss with this situation. Sucks!

2021 F-150 Lariat Powerboost. The wife and I are on vacation from DFW, TX currrently in Asheville, NC touring the Smokey Mountains. Today while driving the Blue Ridge Pkwy, my truck would not let me shift from D to P while trying to park at a roadside overlook. The D position light on the console shifter assembly started blinking rapidly. I tried to troubleshoot but ultimately just shut the truck off and let it sit a while with the parking brake set but still in D… When I returned to the truck, I turned on the ignition to accessory and the shift lever automatically moved forward to P on its own….. After that everything seemed normal and I had no issues for a while. However that changed this evening. We were arriving into a parking lot and again I could not shift from D to P. This time though, I got a warning message on the cluster that said “Park not available, set parking brake before leaving vehicle”. I tried to let it sit like before, but didn’t work. I then did the Emergency Towing Procedure by manually engaging neutral so the truck would roll. I tried all kinds of things to get it to wake up and go to P so I could start it and drive it to Ford in Asheville….. Nothing worked, but I tried to troubleshoot further while Roadside Assistance dispatched a tow. While I was troubleshooting and reading forum posts etc… I even used Forscan to read the DTC’s and do a module reset on the GSM (Gear Selector Module). Again nothing working, but I tried to move from D to P one more time and all of a sudden the lever literally snapped. With very little pressure from myself. I guess I had fatigued it by trying to move it from D to P so much :-/ …..

I admit I shouldn’t have tried to keep troubleshooting but I didn’t want to be stranded halfway across the country from my home state… ugh. So now it’s at Asheville Ford and the Service Dept isn’t open for a few days due to Labor Day. What a mess. These console shifters are flimsy pieces of crap with electronic logic issues that cause unresolvable faults.

Now some questions for folks that may have had similar scenarios while traveling out of state….. What’s the protocol? There are no loaner vehicles these days….. Will Ford allow for a rental car reimbursement? It may be weeks before a part and fix is available due to backorders… So I guess we’ll have to drive back to Texas in a rental and then I’ll have to drive or fly back out here to Asheville, NC when it’s repaired. Completely at a loss with this situation. Sucks!

2021 F-150 Lariat Powerboost. The wife and I are on vacation from DFW, TX currrently in Asheville, NC touring the Smokey Mountains. Today while driving the Blue Ridge Pkwy, my truck would not let me shift from D to P while trying to park at a roadside overlook. The D position light on the console shifter assembly started blinking rapidly. I tried to troubleshoot but ultimately just shut the truck off and let it sit a while with the parking brake set but still in D… When I returned to the truck, I turned on the ignition to accessory and the shift lever automatically moved forward to P on its own….. After that everything seemed normal and I had no issues for a while. However that changed this evening. We were arriving into a parking lot and again I could not shift from D to P. This time though, I got a warning message on the cluster that said “Park not available, set parking brake before leaving vehicle”. I tried to let it sit like before, but didn’t work. I then did the Emergency Towing Procedure by manually engaging neutral so the truck would roll. I tried all kinds of things to get it to wake up and go to P so I could start it and drive it to Ford in Asheville….. Nothing worked, but I tried to troubleshoot further while Roadside Assistance dispatched a tow. While I was troubleshooting and reading forum posts etc… I even used Forscan to read the DTC’s and do a module reset on the GSM (Gear Selector Module). Again nothing working, but I tried to move from D to P one more time and all of a sudden the lever literally snapped. With very little pressure from myself. I guess I had fatigued it by trying to move it from D to P so much :-/ …..

I admit I shouldn’t have tried to keep troubleshooting but I didn’t want to be stranded halfway across the country from my home state… ugh. So now it’s at Asheville Ford and the Service Dept isn’t open for a few days due to Labor Day. What a mess. These console shifters are flimsy pieces of crap with electronic logic issues that cause unresolvable faults.

Now some questions for folks that may have had similar scenarios while traveling out of state….. What’s the protocol? There are no loaner vehicles these days….. Will Ford allow for a rental car reimbursement? It may be weeks before a part and fix is available due to backorders… So I guess we’ll have to drive back to Texas in a rental and then I’ll have to drive or fly back out here to Asheville, NC when it’s repaired. Completely at a loss with this situation. Sucks!

Just had the same thing happen to me. Ford stated the shifter module is the culprit and they will need to order one. Just before Christmas, fun times

 

[F-150 Prius]

I'm being especially gentle with the shifter … : )

 

[psambrose]

There are only a few areas of a vehicle that constantly come into contact with the 200 lb. gorilla that operates it. All of those things should be over-engineered and rugged, not made of flimsy plastic. A broken gear shift, brake pedal or steering wheel are simply unacceptable.

 

[Snakebitten]

I'm being especially gentle with the shifter … : )

Yea, me too. And not because of this thread. Early after switching from my 18 to this 2021 I could tell the shifter wasn't something to be quick with. It conveyed it's less-than-robust internals through my hands.

So I have been methodical and deliberate with it. It's even my muscle memory to do so now.

Including a motor in the mechanism is what I think is the culprit. And the motor itself was built to a price point that is obvious.

 

[F-150 Prius]

Yea, me too. And not because of this thread. Early after switching from my 18 to this 2021 I could tell the shifter wasn't something to be quick with. It conveyed it's less-than-robust internals through my hands.

So I have been methodical and deliberate with it. It's even my muscle memory to do so now.

Including a motor in the mechanism is what I think is the culprit. And the motor itself was built to a price point that is obvious.

It does feel like a game console control, not a truck transmission lever.
I think there's two problems:
1) when the button is pressed, the lever doesn't move until the software chooses
2) the "workspace" folding mechanism will use considerable force to lay the lever flat even if there's an obstruction in the space where it needs to lay down.

The solution would be to change the software so that as soon as the button is pressed the lever will move freely. Whether the transmission shifts is a completely separate matter, but the lever should move, just like any and I think every other automatic transmission.
The fold motor was reported by journalists before the truck went on sale as being "noisy" and flimsy. I've put black gaffer tape over the space where the lever folds flat so nobody puts something solid there (the tape will slip down if the lever tries to fold flat.)

While I'm sure some focus group or designers thought it looks Ford Tough, I think it's a silly waste of space and should be either on the column or just another knob on the dash. That center console real estate is expensive and valuable space in the cabin and shouldn't be wasted on a romantic memory of the long gone mechanical linkage to the gearbox.

 

[Ajzride]

Took the shop 9 days to replace my shifter between diagnosing it and ordering a new one. It quit working the day after Thanksgiving, so the lead time should still be realistic.

 

[maecomotorsport]

My appointment is for Xmas day 2:00 pm? What dealership expects their employees to work 12/25?

 

[Ajzride]

My appointment is for Xmas day 2:00 pm? What dealership expects their employees to work 12/25?

One that cares more about its customers than its employees?

Sponsored