Diagsheet

2015 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet

"Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on

  • 68owner reports
  • 75,000median miles
  • $1,600median quote
  • 4involved a crash

Newest report Sep 26, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026

1004 of the 1,714 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 68 of those describe transmission warning light.

4 recalls on this systemcovering the 2015 model year
4 crashesin 68 reports
NHTSA investigations2 covering the 2015

Tick what matches of 68 reports

3
60
24
16
9
7

Transmission warning light on other F-150 years

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.

What this problem usually is

This sheet is for a "Service Transmission" message, a transmission fault warning or a wrench light. Owners say it often shows up with lost power, a stall or a car that won't accelerate, and sometimes clears on the next start.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission control module (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

4 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

26V-237Apr 14, 2026
Power Train:Automatic Transmission

A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 26V-237

20V-098Feb 21, 2020
Engine

The incorrect location could put the heater too close to hot engine components, possibly resulting in a damaged cable.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 20V-098

19V-278Apr 8, 2019
Engine

During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 19V-278

18V-894Dec 18, 2018
Engine

Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 18V-894

All 14 recalls on the 2015 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the F-150

EA26-001opened Jan 30, 2026
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2015 to 2017

Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Open, led to recall 26V-237.

PE25-002opened Mar 21, 2025
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2015 to 2017

Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Closed jan 30, 2026.

PE24-019opened Jul 29, 2024
Fuel system · model years 2018 to 2022

Low-pressure fuel pump failure. Closed sep 19, 2025, led to recall 25V-455.

RQ24-005opened Mar 27, 2024
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2014

Unintended transmission downshift. Closed jul 29, 2024, led to recall 24V-444.

EA23-002opened Sep 29, 2023
Engine · model years 2021 to 2022

Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.

RQ17-010opened Dec 25, 2017
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2011 to 2013

Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.

PE13-018opened May 22, 2013
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2011 to 2013

Reduced power during hard acceleration. Closed apr 7, 2014.

EA11-006opened May 4, 2011
Fuel system · model years 1997 to 2004

Fuel tank strap failure due to corrosion. Closed aug 19, 2011, led to recall 11V-385.

PE10-036opened Sep 7, 2010
Fuel system · model years 1997 to 2001

Fuel tank strap corrosion/rust. Closed may 23, 2011.

PE08-063opened Oct 31, 2008
Fuel System, Other · model years 2003 to 2004

Cng regulator leak. Closed feb 27, 2009.

DP05-005opened Sep 22, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 1997 to 2004

Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.

EA05-005opened Mar 22, 2005
Electrical · model years 1994 to 2002

Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.

PE04-078opened Nov 19, 2004
Speed control · model years 2000

Speed control deactivation switch fire. Closed mar 22, 2005, led to recall 05V-017.

EA99-032opened Nov 4, 1999
Speed control · model years 1991 to 1993

Dual fuel tank crossflow/leakage. Closed dec 6, 2001, led to recall 00V-424.

PE99-047opened Jul 12, 1999
Speed control · model years 1998 to 1999

Blow back during refueling. Closed sep 23, 1999.

EA98-018opened Aug 31, 1998
Speed control · model years 1997 to 1998

Alleged loss of throttle control. Closed sep 30, 1999.

RQ98-008opened May 29, 1998
Fuel system · model years 1991 to 1993

Ford f-series dual fuel tank leakage. Closed nov 4, 1999, led to recall 93V-125.

PE98-021opened Apr 1, 1998
Speed control · model years 1997

Loss of throttle control. Closed aug 31, 1998.

RQ98-005opened Mar 13, 1998
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1997

Automatic transmission control. Closed aug 27, 1998, led to recall 97V-147.

RQ98-003opened Mar 6, 1998
Speed control · model years 1997

Ice formation in the throttle body. Closed may 22, 2000, led to recall 96V-251.

PE97-019opened May 6, 1997
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1997

Failure transmission park engagement/loc. Closed sep 16, 1997, led to recall 97V-147.

EA93-022opened Jul 30, 1993
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 1991 to 1992

Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed aug 31, 1994.

PE93-010opened Mar 2, 1993
Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 1991 to 1992

Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed jul 30, 1993.

EA93-001opened Jan 7, 1993
Speed control · model years 1991 to 1992

Fuel expulsion. Closed aug 20, 1993, led to recall 93V-125.

PE92-077opened Sep 9, 1992
Speed control · model years 1991 to 1992

Fuel expulsion. Closed jan 7, 1993.

EA91-031opened Jun 26, 1991
Speed control · model years 1991

Fuel expulsion. Closed nov 1, 1991, led to recall 91V-146.

PE91-064opened Apr 9, 1991
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1991

Transmission fluid fires. Closed jul 5, 1991.

What owners paid

8 of the 68 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,200 to $2,400.

$1,200$1,600$2,400
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 47,000 and 100,000 miles, from the 26 reports that gave a mileage.

Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2016: 1, 2017: 2, 2018: 5, 2019: 6, 2020: 4, 2021: 3, 2022: 3, 2023: 2, 2024: 6, 2025: 8, 2026: 281'162'175'186'194'203'213'222'236'248'2528'26

What owners wrote

“Truck does not shift the gears when in drive but will in manual mode. No communication to the transfer case. Wrench light on.”

Filed Jun 23, 2026

“While driving at night a random engine light came on as well as the wrench light came on. Truck downshift and gets stuck at 3rd gear”

Filed Apr 13, 2026

“Hard clunk from first to second shift. The wrench light comes on, telling you to check the manual. Vehicle stays in 3rd gear. Will not shift into 6th gear. Will not downshift into 2nd or 1st gear. stays in 3rd gear at a dead stop. The problem was independently reproduced.”

Filed Feb 11, 2026

“Was driving my truck to work and all of a sudden it down shifted from gear 6 to gear 4. Then through up the wrench icon on dash. Would not come out of 4th gear. Code was p0720. Output shaft speed sensor. Once code was cleared, it was ok again for about 20 miles then did it again.”

Filed Feb 4, 2026

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 4 of 68 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works

Other problems on this car