Accidentally downshifted with paddle shifters

[akhil23]

I have a new 2024 Explorer ST with 1200 miles now on it. I was at a red light yesterday and saw an over enthusiastic F150 driver pull up next to me. The 16 yr old inside me popped up and said, let's gap this guy when the light turns green. I put it in Sport mode (first time since buying the vehicle), still in Auto shifting...light turned green, I pull away, and about 4-5 seconds in, I don't know why but my hands hit the paddle shifters, and I guess I downshifted...next thing I know, I'm probably doing 50mph and I'm in 2nd-3rd gear (sport manual) and the engine is revving really hard (didn't make a note of the rpm count because I basically froze at this point)....I want to say it probably redlined because I didn't hear the revs come down. I slowed down by braking, probably another 5 seconds later, and manually switched the car back into normal driving mode.

I know, really stupid of me to do what I did without understanding how everything worked. I didn't hear any unusual noises, and the car seems to be driving fine. But this morning, I felt like the car has lost a little bit of torque....not sure if it's really different or it's just in my head. Any thoughts? Anything I should look out for?

 

[WaferTech]

You should be ok, it won't let you kill it that way.

 

[UNBROKEN]

It’s smarter than we are…it won’t downshift lower than it safely can.

 

[akhil23]

It’s smarter than we are…it won’t downshift lower than it safely can.

Clearly lol, thanks!

 

[akhil23]

You should be ok, it won't let you kill it that way.

View attachment 23129

Thank you!

 

[2020FordRaptor]

I have a new 2024 Explorer ST with 1200 miles now on it. I was at a red light yesterday and saw an over enthusiastic F150 driver pull up next to me. The 16 yr old inside me popped up and said, let's gap this guy when the light turns green. I put it in Sport mode (first time since buying the vehicle), still in Auto shifting...light turned green, I pull away, and about 4-5 seconds in, I don't know why but my hands hit the paddle shifters, and I guess I downshifted...next thing I know, I'm probably doing 50mph and I'm in 2nd-3rd gear (sport manual) and the engine is revving really hard (didn't make a note of the rpm count because I basically froze at this point)....I want to say it probably redlined because I didn't hear the revs come down. I slowed down by braking, probably another 5 seconds later, and manually switched the car back into normal driving mode.

I know, really stupid of me to do what I did without understanding how everything worked. I didn't hear any unusual noises, and the car seems to be driving fine. But this morning, I felt like the car has lost a little bit of torque....not sure if it's really different or it's just in my head. Any thoughts? Anything I should look out for?

The car will not do anything to hurt itself. If it can’t rev as high as the gear requires it will deny the shift. You won’t have to worry about any accidental shifting.