Documented TSB vs Recall vs CSP Answers for an F-150 Quote
Table of Contents
Recall, TSB or CSP? Start with your VIN
Ford sends owners three kinds of documents about known problems, and they pay out differently. A safety recall repair is free. A Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) is free until its printed date. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is free only if your warranty covers the part.
Holding a quote? Check your VIN before approving it. Still in warranty? Your coverage dates matter more than the bulletin.
What a VIN check shows
A VIN search on NHTSA shows open safety recalls; Ford’s recall page also lists CSPs.
What it won’t show
A VIN search doesn’t list TSBs. NHTSA files them by year, make and model, so look yours up separately. Model-year problems are mapped in F-150 problems by year.
ℹ️ Safety Note: This explains how Ford and federal programs work and isn’t legal advice. Shifting or shifter faults can affect vehicle control, so have them inspected by a qualified technician.
Three documents, three different promises
Each document commits Ford to something different.
Safety recall: a federal remedy duty
A recall covers a safety, compliance or emissions problem. NHTSA says a recall never expires, and Ford says recall parts and service are free through a dealer.
CSP: a Ford program with its own dates
A Ford CSP upgrades a part or extends a warranty, free within its time and mileage terms. It is not Ford Protect’s Continued Service Plan, which is paid.
TSB: repair guidance for dealers
A TSB tells technicians how to repair a condition that several trucks share. Manufacturers file copies with NHTSA, and Ford also circulates Special Service Messages to dealers. The bulletin itself isn’t a payment promise.
Who pays: recall, CSP and TSB side by side
One real F-150 example for each document.
The three-row answer table
| Document | Who pays | Expires? | Where to look | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety recall | Ford | No, per NHTSA | VIN lookup | 26V237/26S28, 2015–2017 |
| CSP | Ford, within its terms | Yes, on its dates | Ford recall page, VIN | 25B09, 2024 builds |
| TSB | Warranty or service plan | Coverage limits unchanged | NHTSA, year/make/model | 25-2324, 2021–2025 |
Sources: NHTSA; Ford; TSB 25-2324.
Reading the table for your truck
One wrinkle: NHTSA and Ford say recalls don’t expire, but the federal free-remedy rule stops applying to trucks first bought more than 15 calendar years before the recall notice or order. If yours is that old, ask Ford to confirm in writing.
When a TSB repair is free, and when it isn’t
Ford pays for a TSB repair only if your warranty or service plan covers the failed part. A bulletin changes how the repair is done, not who pays.
Warranty clocks decide the bill
Ford’s TSB 25-2324 covers console-shift gear shift module concerns on 2021–2025 F-150s built on or before March 17, 2025, and says “Limits/policies/prior approvals are not altered by a TSB.” On a 2026 F-150, Ford’s warranty guide lists 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage; older trucks need their own year’s guide.
Ford’s adjustment programs and goodwill
Ford’s guide says it sometimes offers special adjustment programs beyond warranty; call 1-800-392-3673 with your VIN.
The cost maths to ask a shop for
💵 What It Costs: Bill ≈ (labor hours × shop rate) + part + diagnosis. Ford’s published time to replace this bulletin’s gear shift module on 10- or 12-inch-screen trucks is 0.9 hours; shops may quote differently, and rates vary by dealer, independent shop and region. Estimate yours with the Repair Cost Estimator.
Reading a CSP: the date that ends your free fix
A CSP letter states its own terms, so read the dates first.
Window, mileage limit and build dates
📋 On the Record: Ford CSP 25B09 replaced the floor-console gear shift module on 2024 F-150s built at Dearborn (June 3–November 1, 2024) or Kansas City (June 7–October 23, 2024). It had no mileage limit and ran through July 31, 2026. Status checked October 2, 2026: that date has passed and no extension was found.
How to check your VIN today
Ford’s CSP page says to enter your VIN on Ford’s recall page or sign in to your account. Then run the Recall & VIN Lookup Helper.
One F-150 downshift, three kinds of Ford coverage
One problem family shows how the three documents stack.
2011–2013: software recall plus a leadframe CSP
On 2011–2013 F-150s with the 6R80, Ford ran recall 19V-075 (PCM software) and CSP 19N01, extending leadframe coverage to 10 years/150,000 miles from warranty start. For trucks already past those limits it ended October 31, 2019. See the 2011–2014 downshift recall.
2015–2017: investigation, recall 26S28 and a lead-frame program
📋 On the Record: NHTSA opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25002 on March 21, 2025 and upgraded it to Engineering Analysis EA26001 on January 30, 2026. Ford filed recall 26V237 (Ford 26S28) on April 14, 2026 for 1,392,935 six-speed 2015–2017 F-150s built March 12, 2014–August 18, 2017. The remedy is a free PCM software update, plus lead-frame replacement under an extended warranty program when certain codes were stored; Ford’s owner page says 15 years/150,000 miles, remedy available July 9, 2026. Status checked October 2, 2026.
Ford’s recall report to NHTSA traces the defect to degraded lead-frame connections and estimates about 1% of these trucks have it; our 26S28 recall guide covers owner steps.
What the timeline means for your quote
✅ Do This: Before approving a lead-frame quote on a 2015–2017 F-150, ask whether recall 26S28 is open on your VIN, whether range-sensor codes were stored before the update, and for the extended program’s number in writing. Have unexpected downshifts inspected by a qualified technician.
Already paid or still waiting? What to do next
Refund and complaint routes differ by document.
If you already paid
NHTSA’s owner booklet says manufacturers must reimburse certain pre-recall repairs, with receipts, and Ford says a refund may apply if you paid to fix an issue later tied to a recall. CSP refunds vary: 25B09 approved none.
If the dealer says it isn’t covered
Call Ford’s Recall Assistance Center at 1-866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236. Read your CSP letter too: 25B09’s says Ford can deny coverage for damage caused by skipping the repair.
F-150 recall, TSB and CSP questions
1. Is a TSB the same as a recall?
No. A recall is a safety, compliance or emissions remedy; a TSB is dealer repair guidance and changes no coverage limits.
2. Does Ford pay for TSB repairs?
Ford pays for a TSB repair only if your warranty or service plan covers the failed part.
3. What does CSP mean on a Ford?
A Ford CSP is a Customer Satisfaction Program: a part upgrade or warranty extension with set dates. Ford Protect’s Continued Service Plan is paid.
4. Do Ford customer satisfaction programs expire?
Yes, Ford CSPs expire by date or mileage. CSP 25B09 ended July 31, 2026; check your VIN for extensions.
5. Do F-150 recalls expire?
NHTSA and Ford say F-150 recalls don’t expire, but federal law’s free-remedy rule has a 15-year first-purchase limit. Ask Ford about older trucks.
6. How do I check my F-150 for recalls and CSPs?
Enter your VIN on Ford’s recall page or sign in to your Ford account; both list recalls and CSPs. NHTSA’s lookup shows recalls.
7. Where do I find TSBs for my F-150?
Search NHTSA by year, make and model, then open the manufacturer-communications link; bring the TSB number to your shop.
8. Is the 2015–2017 F-150 downshift fix free?
Yes. Ford’s recall 26S28 software update is free, and lead-frame replacement is covered under an extended program when certain codes were stored.
9. Can I get a refund if I already paid?
Possibly. Refund rules differ by program: NHTSA sets reimbursement rules for recalls, while CSP 25B09 approved no refunds.
10. Can a dealer charge me for a recall repair?
Ford says recall parts and service are free at a dealer. If refused, call Ford’s Recall Assistance Center or NHTSA’s hotline.
Check your VIN first, then match the document to its promise: recalls are free repairs, CSPs are free until their dates, TSBs follow warranty. Keep numbers and dates on the “Is it covered?” worksheet.
