Ford Recalls 870,701 F

Jun 01, 2023

Chafing of the rear axle wiring harness is to blame for the unintended brake usage.

Ford Motor Company issued another recall notice for its F-150 pickup truck, this time covering more than 870,000 units from the 2021 through 2023 model years. The recall comes after complaints and evaluation of unintended parking brake activation.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filings submitted by Ford on July 21, the rear wiring harness on specific F-150 models may become chaffed after making unintended contact with the axle housing. Over time this chafing can wear through the protective tape and insulation surrounding the wiring harness, freeing the copper inside to ground onto the axle housing itself. If the low-side electric parking brake motor is shorted to ground, the parking brake can be activated on its own. Only F-150 models equipped with a single-exit exhaust from the factory are at risk of the fault. The automaker believes that just 1 percent of the 870,701 potentially impacted vehicles will actually display a defect.

Ford has received 918 warranty claims related to the harness chafing, as well as three field reports from company service representatives. Of those claims, 299 owners indicated that they experienced an unintended parking brake activation, with 19 of those taking place while the owner was on the road. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this issue at this time.

Owners of impacted trucks will receive a notice about the recall starting on September 11. Dealers will be tasked with inspecting the rear harness for damage, and will replace any units with missing protective tape. For trucks that have not worked through their factory harness protection, Ford will install a new tie strap and more tape for added peace of mind. Owners with any additional questions related to the issue can visit the NHTSA website or contact Ford at (866) 436-7332.

Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.

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