Ford Recalls Nearly 900,000 F-150s for Potential Parking Brake Malfunction

Ford is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 pickups due to a parking brake issue that could cause inadvertent activation while driving. Owners will be notified of the recall starting in September 2022.

Over 870,000 F-150s Recalled

Ford's recall covers a huge number of their bestselling F-150 pickup:

871,000 trucks affected - Massive recall impacting recent model years
2021-2023 model years - Includes all trucks made for those model years
Single exhaust versions - Dual exhaust F-150s not affected

Such a sizable recall of Ford's bread-and-butter pickup demonstrates the severity of the issue. Hundreds of thousands of owners will be impacted.

Nearly 900,000 F-150s at Risk for Parking Brake Activation

This safety recall covers the majority of F-150 trucks built for the 2021 through 2023 model years, pointing to a widespread manufacturing defect.

Rear Brake Wiring Short Circuit the Culprit

The cause of the unintended parking brake activation in these recalled F-150 pickups relates to a wiring issue:

Rear axle wiring harness - Located near the rear axle housing
Repeated rubbing and vibration - Causes wiring insulation breakdown
Exposed conductors short circuit - Leads to inadvertent brake activation
Brake warning light illuminates - Signaling malfunction

The short circuit tricked the truck into thinking the driver depressed the brake pedal, engaging the parking brake unexpectedly.

Faulty Wiring Diagnosis Explains Unwanted Braking

Repeated vibration and friction on the rear brake wiring led to exposing and shorting of the conductors - the trigger behind the random braking incidents.

Risk of Activation While Driving

The most serious hazard with the F-150's parking brake issue revolves around potential activation while driving:

919 owner complaints - As of July 2022 per NHTSA filings
299 reports of parking brake activation during driving
19 known instances at speed - Worst cases put trucks into hazardous situations
No known crashes - But increased risk of losing control or getting rear-ended

The faulty parking brakes randomly engaging mid-drive creates safety risks Ford understandably prioritized addressing.

Recall Averts Potential Loss of Control Situations

Inadvertent hard braking from the parking brake could lead drivers into perilous situations - making Ford's recall urgent.

Owner Notification Coming in September

Owners affected by the recall will receive notice from Ford starting in September 2022:

Official recall notification letters - Mailed to registered owners starting September 11th
Ford dealer will repair for free - No cost to owners for fix
Replacement wiring harness - Repair involves inspecting and replacing if necessary
Tie strap also added - Prevents wire from contacting housing

Parts are available now, so owners receiving recall letters can schedule service immediately. Repairs may take just a few hours.

Ford Dealers Will Fix Impacted F-150s Starting in September

Owners of potentially affected F-150s should prepare for recall notices next month and contact their Ford dealer to arrange the free fix.

How Owners Can Check Recall Status

Rather than waiting for official word from Ford, owners can be proactive and check their specific F-150:

Call Ford customer service - Provide VIN to check status
NHTSA Recall Site - Enter VIN to see open recalls
Local Ford dealer - They can check if truck requires the fix
Reference NHTSA Campaign #22V497 - Identifies the recall

These options allow concerned owners of 2021-2023 F-150s to take action before being notified. Knowing in advance allows scheduling service quickly.

Multiple Ways to Check Before Notification Arrives

Owners don't need to sit idle - checking many F-150s can be done now through various channels using the vehicle's VIN number.

Only Single Exhaust F-150s Impacted

An important qualification on the F-150 recall is that it only affects trucks with single exhaust systems. Dual exhaust models will not show the issue:

Single exhaust - Parking brake wire vulnerable
Dual exhaust - Wiring harness located differently
Lower trims affected - XL, XLT more likely single exhaust
Higher trims not impacted - Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum

So owners of F-150s with dual exhaust systems installed can breathe easier knowing they dodged this recall bullet. But single exhaust trucks should be checked.

Dual Exhaust Models Don't Share Risk

Thanks to differing wiring routing, F-150 models optioned with dual exhaust avoid the short circuit defect and remain unaffected by the recall.

Repair Procedure for Recall

The repair process Ford dealers will perform for the recalled F-150s is relatively simple and quick:

Inspect wiring harness - Check if damaged or exposed
Replace if needed - Some will require new harnesses
Install protective tie strap - Secures harness away from contact points
Add protective tape - Further reduces vibration and friction
Test parking brake - Confirm proper operation
Road test truck - Validate repair fixed issues

With proper parts in stock, dealers report repairs take well under 2 hours in most cases.

Straightforward Wiring Harness Fix

Technicians can correct the fault with basic wiring repairs in minimal time - good news for affected F-150 owners.

FAQs

Owners of potentially impacted F-150 pickups likely have these common questions:

What causes the parking brake to activate?

A rear axle wiring harness short circuit triggers the inadvertent activation.

What model years are included?

2021 through 2023 model year F-150 trucks.

Do I need to stop driving my truck?

No, but use caution and contact a dealer to schedule the fix.

Does this affect Super Duty trucks?

No, only the light-duty F-150 is impacted.

Is this repair free?

Yes, Ford will fix trucks at no charge to owners.

These frequently asked questions help provide essential details for owners of potentially affected F-150 pickups. Check your truck's status using the VIN.

Severity Justifies Large Scale Recall

Given the serious safety implications of unexpected parking brake activation, Ford's decision to recall every potentially affected F-150 makes sense.

Having a parking brake suddenly engage while driving poses risks like:

Losing control if traction is compromised
Increased stopping distances
Getting rear-ended by following traffic
Potential secondary collisions

While no crashes were reported yet, the consequences could be severe in the wrong circumstances. Ford wisely took preventative action.

It also suggests their confidence in identifying the root cause of the issue. When recalls balloon this large, the automaker believes they have zeroed in on the specific problem.

Preventing Catastrophic Failures Dictated Wide Recall

Though expensive, Ford undoubtedly determined recalling hundreds of thousands of trucks to be the only acceptable path to averting potential deadly incidents.

Quality Control Process Breakdown

For such a major issue to slip through unnoticed points to possible gaps in Ford's quality control processes. Some questions arise:

Were safety protocols adhered to by suppliers?
Should assembly plant inspections have noticed wiring issues?
Did engineers not fully vet the durability of brake harness routing?
Why didn't prototype testing expose the short circuit risk?
How did the issue avoid detection during PDIs?

A defect impacting recent model year vehicles on this scale indicates mistakes in engineering validation or oversight during manufacturing.

Flaw Should Have Been Caught Sooner

Ford has some tough internal questions to answer on why its safeguards failed to uncover a dangerous defect affecting brand new trucks.

Minimal Owner Inconvenience

While recalls are never welcome news, the relatively quick fix for the F-150 parking brake issue will minimally disrupt owners.

Factors that reduce headaches:

Repair takes just a few hours in most cases
Loaner vehicles and shuttle services offered
Scheduling flexibility with huge dealer network
Repaired under warranty at no charge
Low likelihood of parts backorder delays

Truck owners can take solace that aside from a short dealership visit, the recall will pass by largely unnoticed and get their F-150 fixed up safely.

Quick Fix With Minimal Owner Disruption

A brief trip to the dealer is a small price to pay for securing peace of mind around resolved safety issues.

Does Not Affect F-150 Reliability Reputation

Since the recall focuses on a wiring defect originating from the supplier rather than a larger mechanical design flaw, it shouldn't tarnish the F-150's sterling reputation for reliability.

The F-150's durability and dependability remainbacked by facts:

#1 on Consumer Reports reliability rankings
Lowest repair frequency in class per J.D. Power
90% of F-150s sold in last 30 years still on the road
Million mile truck examples with original powertrains

Teething issues are inevitable on any new vehicle program. This wiring problem seems an outlier rather than systemic weakness.

An Isolated Incident Rather Than Reliability Crisis

While any recall hurts, data confirms the F-150's dependability remains head and shoulders above competitors. This appears an anomaly.

Software Updates Offer Recall Flexibility

One recall approach automakers are utilizing more today is performing fixes via over-the-air software updates versus physical repairs. Ford chose the conventional route here, likely because:

Only a wiring harness and connector involved
No electronic control modules affected
Software couldn't override the short circuit

But for recalls involving aspects like engine or transmission control unit programming faults, wireless software flashes provide a convenient alternative to bringing vehicles into dealers.

Expect automakers to lean on over-the-air updates to complete more recalls remotely as vehicle technology progresses. But for mechanical defects like this one, workshops still rule for now.

No Substitute for Tangible Fixes - Yet

While convenient, wireless software updates still can't replace physical repairs in most mechanical defect cases like this F-150 recall. But future potential exists.

Steps to Get Vehicles Fixed Quickly

Between inevitable delays in getting recall appointments scheduled and potential challenges getting the required parts, recalls can drag out. F-150 owners can take proactive steps to speed things up:

Contact dealer promptly - Get on their schedule right away
Ask to be waitlisted - First in line if cancellations free up sooner slots
Consider loaner vehicle - Reserve rental/loaner to maintain flexibility
Check other dealers - Expand search radius to find openings if needed
Inquire on parts availability - Helps set expectations on how quick the fix can happen
Follow up frequently - Check back for appointment changes or new times

Persistent, proactive owners can help pressure dealers to prioritize their repair, avoiding open-ended delays.

Getting Pushy Can Pay Off to Shorten Repair Wait

Engaged owners willing to frequently check in with their dealer and request the earliest possible fix will help minimize recall completion time.

Ford's Truck Recall History

While the scale of the current F-150 recall makes headlines, Ford has issued significant truck-related recalls before. A look back at some notable ones:

2021 - 120,000 Super Duty Trucks - Tailgate opening while driving
2020 - 2.4 million F-150s - Transmission downshift issue
2019 - 1.48 million F-150s - Transmission gear indicator error
2018 - 2 million F-150s - Seat belt fires
2014 - 1.4 million F-150s - Steering loss risk
2012 - 458,000 F-250/350s - Fuel tank leaks

Although the blue oval has faced truck recalls before, the nearly 900,000 F-150s in this case still represent a massive scale.

Previous Recalls Prove No Truck Lineup is Immune

Ford has taken its share of truck lumps before. It comes with being America's bestselling pickup brand. This F-150 issue joins a lengthy list of prior recalls.

Smart Prevention is Better Than Reaction

While recalls are unavoidable, Ford hopefully takes lessons from this event to improve truck development and catch issues sooner:

Additional prototype testing focused on durability assessments
Critical wiring reviews by separate validation team
Extensive test fleet monitoring before Job 1 dates
Additional supplier oversight for mission critical components
Enhanced scrutiny during Pre-Production builds
Review of PDI sign-offs before greenlighting sales

Detroit automakers have come a long way improving quality processes. But there are always new lessons and areas of refinement.

Learn and Improve - The Only Positive from Setbacks

Recalls like this provide opportunities to reevaluate procedures and safeguards. Preventing issues trumps reacting down the road.

https://wiack.com/news/ford-f-150-parking-brake-recall/?feed_id=4047&_unique_id=64cc2fc1b729a #Wiack