DETROIT — Last month, Ford announced a recall last month involving 112,965 F-150 trucks from the 2021-23 model years having discovered issues with the rear axle hub bolt which can fatigue and break. In Canada, Ford similarly recently recalled 20,000 F-150 pickup trucks due to the same issue. Specifically, it has been identified that the problem impacts trucks that are equipped with the trailer tow max duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design, according to documents posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If the axle hub bolt were to break it can then damage the axle hub splines. When the splines become damaged, the result can cause the truck to roll away when it is in park without the parking brake applied or, alternatively, it can cause a loss of drive power. The NHTSA stated that both of those issues increases the risk of a crash.
“Stripped rear axle hub splines may also result in loss of motive power in 4X2 operation,” Ford Canada spokesperson Matt Drennan-Scace indicated in a written statement.
Drennan-Scace said Ford is “not aware of any accidents or injuries pertaining to this issue,” adding affected customers and dealers would receive a notice “later this month.”
While a permanent fix is still being developed, in the interim impacted owners should take their truck to a local dealership for a repair if symptoms related to rear axle bolt breakage are experienced, such as a clicking or rattling noise, the NHTSA says.
Drennan-Scace said the company has already started manufacturing 2024-model F-150s and that dealers are in the process of selling the last of the 2023 stock.
“If a vehicle has any open recalls before delivery, the repair work is to be completed before the vehicle is delivered to the customer,” he explained.
It is expected that impacted owners will be notified via mail starting on Jan. 29. Owners may also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
— with files from ctvnews.ca and mlive.com
Pretty much all new vehicles have problems with either the drive train or the fancy new (less reliable) engines, or both. At the crazy prices they sell for this should not be so.