Lee 2012 F150 XLT

I have a 2012 F150 XLT V8 (6-speed) with 47k mile. It has a strange problem with the rpms going from ~600 to ~2500 and beyond without any input from the accelerator pedal. I purchased it with 31K; it has done this as long as I have owned it.

Here is the scenario,

The vehicle is in 3rd gear at about 20mph, when I slow down to go over a speed bump or do a rolling-stop at a traffic light, etc. slow to about 5 mph or just under, then let my foot off the brake, it will down shift to 1st skipping 2nd then the engine revs up to approximately 2000-2500 rpms, this is without me placing my foot on the accelerator pedal. It does this almost 100% of the time. When it is revving up there is no sensation of it pulling forward or increased in momentum - it feels more like it is in neutral.

I have had it to the dealership twice, they tell me the software is up to date and they can’t find anything wrong. I took the service manager and a service tech for a ride, they clearly saw the scenario as I described, but have no answer. The service tech recorded all the info and sent to Ford, no luck on an answer.

This also happens driving thru a parking lots, slowing down to make a 90 degree turns, the tranny will shift to 1st about half way thru the turn and then the engine will rev up to about 2000-2500 rpm, again no input from the accelerator, if I place my foot on the accelerator during the turn while it is in 1st the rpm may go as high as 3000 before it shifts to 2nd. This happens 90-100 percent of time.

To top this off, while at the dealer I/we drove 2 other F150’s, a 2012 and a 2013, they both do the same thing. I have 2 neighbors that have 2013 with V6 (6 Speeds) they both said theirs do not have this symptom, well I drove theirs this week and theirs have the same issue.


Please go to post #21 for a better/detailed explanation of this issue. (There is no video uploaded, just my breakdown on it.)
Go to POST #57, I did several more tests (9/30/14), I feel confident it has nothing to do with motor/tranny syncing, nor the slope of the hill. But I am open suggestions. If you own one of these trucks, try my scenarios and tests, then post back here. I loved to hear you comments.

mgauts

so it downshifts into into first and the engine is at 2500rpm? like if you had a manual trans and u were to go from 2nd to first the engine would be reving higher. kinda sounds normal to me but I could be wrong.

Lee 2012 F150 XLT

No, when slowing down it is in 3rd, at about 5 mph or lower (RPMs about 600 or lower) I let off the brake, it downshifts, then revs back up to 2000-2500 own its own. I don't feel that it is the speed giving feed back thru the tranny causing the motor to rev high. It feels like it is in neutral - free rolling. In my 40 plus yrs. of driving I have never had an automatic tranny do this.

mgauts

still sounds like its engaging first because of the speed and waiting for you to step on the gas. first gear at 10mph is not going to be 900rmp, it will be higher. engine rmp is relative to gear ratio and wheel speed. sounds like if anything it should be selecting 2nd and not first, that might be the issue but it is not reving up by itself, its simply engaging a lower gear then it should thus feeling like its over revving the engine. someone with more experience with this model year may chime in here....

Lee 2012 F150 XLT

Thanks mgauts, yes that is the issue, I feel it should shift to 2nd, the vehicle is still rolling - so why shift all the way to first. I forgot I had done a video of it, I went back to look at it. It down shifts at 600rpm - just below 5mph. I need to edit my original post.
If I step on the gas a little while it is in first the rpms will go to over 3k b4 it shifts.

Feathermerchant

As far as I know all F150's shift down from 3rd to 1st.

Oldsmuggler

Mine does....no issue.normal

Lee 2012 F150 XLT

I am new to this forum and appreciate all feedback. What I am experiencing with this truck is different than any vehicle I have ever owned/driven. So if the down shift from 3rd to 1st is normal, is it normal for it to rev back up to 2k - 2.5k without me stepping on the gas? The vehicle is below 5mph in 1st, why rev back up?

yotehunter

Ford has them shift from 3rd to 1st when stopping to make it feel smooth when stopping. The trans would feel rough when stopping if it went 3-2-1.

mgauts

I tried explaining this, let me try again. its not reving back-up it simply engaging first and because the wheels are moving faster than the engine, the engine catches up to the speed of the wheels. which depending on speed will be at around 2500rpm at 5-10mph. this is normal on any vehicle but perhaps more so on these trucks. is this your first light duty truck? once you step on the gas it is normal for it to accelerate then shift to 2nd at higher rpms since it was already at around 2500. yoi might want to downshift manualy yourself and see what it does in the same scenario just a thought.