Which of the following is NOT a danger when an automatic transmission is forced into a lower gear at high speed?

Forcing an automatic transmission into a lower gear at high speed can lead to several potential dangers, but loss of steering control is not one of them. Steering control is primarily influenced by the vehicle's handling characteristics, tire condition, and surface traction. The act of changing gears does not directly affect the steering system's integrity or response.

In contrast, forcing the transmission into a lower gear at high speeds can indeed cause damage to the transmission. This occurs because the engine revs to a much higher RPM than it is designed to handle, which can lead to internal damage or failure. Moreover, there is a loss of engine braking effect when shifts are made abruptly at high speeds since the vehicle is not able to use engine braking effectively if the gear is suddenly changed, which could be dangerous during rapid deceleration.

Thus, while certain situations may cause loss of steering control, it is not a direct consequence of shifting to a lower gear at high speed. This understanding highlights the importance of seamless gear shifts and maintaining control during all driving scenarios.