Ford is going through one of its worst moments as a company and it seems that things are not going very well for it. Now, they have discovered a bug in their vans that could activate the parking brake without warning the driver, we can’t think of anything more terrifying… If you have a Ford F-150, pay attention because this recall will be massive and will activate the alarms of 870,701 vehicle units around the United States.
The notice has been submitted to the NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and according to the report, the problem is related to wear in the rear axle wiring harness, which could create a connection that activates the parking brake without warning.
Which models are affected?
This recall covers F-150 vehicles from the 2021, 2022 and 2023 models, as long as they are those models that come equipped with a single-pipe exhaust system.
Does it affect everyone?
All vehicles are recalled because they prefer to be cautious than regret losses, but Ford believes that only 1% of the vehicles recalled will have this defect. It does not seem like a high percentage, but as we say, Ford is taking the safety of its users very seriously and prefers to review them all rather than have accidents on the road that catch them off guard.
What problems can this fault cause?
As we said before, the biggest danger is the possibility that the parking brake will activate only while the vehicle is moving… To date, Ford has received 918 warranty claims related to this problem, including 299 reports of unintentional activation of the parking brake. In 19 of these cases, activation occurred while the vehicle was moving!!! Fortunately, no accidents or serious injuries have been reported related to this problem.
How has Ford acted?
Ford has established a fairly simple action plan because they want to make it clear that they take the safety of their users very seriously. Their action plan is as follows:
- Affected users have been warned since September 11th
- They will be asked to take their vehicles to authorized dealers or workshops for inspection
- They will replace the defective harnesses and for those that are not defective they will add a protective strap to prevent future problems.
Of course, this repair will be completely free for Ford users.
What do I do if I have a Ford?
If you are one of the users who owns one of these trucks, wait for the official notification from Ford to arrive in your mailbox. If you think you can’t wait, check your vehicle’s VIN number on the NHTSA or Ford website and schedule an appointment with your nearest workshop.
Remember that Ford is doing everything it can to continue maintaining the trust of its consumers and that it is not going through its best moment due to the numerous recalls it is facing.
Remember to schedule your appointment with your dealer early so you can drive safely and safely.