- Virtually 12,000 Ford F-150 Lightnings manufactured in 2023 and 2024 may very well be affected.
- The problem is an insufficiently torqued ball joint nut that would trigger suspension and steering parts to come back unfastened
- This has to date solely been the supply of 1 accident attributed to this flaw and Ford will start notifying homeowners in early February.
Ford ended 2024 with an F-150 Lightning recall highlighting a critical problem that would trigger a lack of steering whereas driving. The issue stems from entrance suspension parts that will have been improperly tightened on the manufacturing unit and will come unfastened and separate, doubtlessly resulting in a critical accident.
Just one recognized accident has been attributed to this defect, and it noticed the truck veering right into a freeway barrier whereas touring at round 60 mph. When Ford investigated the automobile, it discovered that the truck, which was brand-new and had lined lower than 700 miles, was lacking an higher management arm nut, which induced the steering knuckle to separate. This prompted a broader investigation that resulted in a recall.
In accordance with the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA), which quotes data from the producer, “the nut on the higher management arm ball joint might not have achieved the right torque on account of variation within the alignment or orientation between the fastening software and the fastener that will have induced lateral forces on the software, stopping it from correctly seating on the fastener.”
The variety of doubtlessly affected autos is 11,922, and so they had been constructed between November 6, 2023, and February 12, 2024—all might want to go to a seller for an inspection. “Sellers will examine the higher management arm ball joint nut and change the nut and/or the knuckle meeting, as mandatory, freed from cost.” Ford intends to ship notification letters to the homeowners of the affected autos beginning in early February.
The Ford F-150 Lightning was one of many first commercially accessible electrical pickup vans, so it’s not stunning that it’s been the topic of a number of earlier remembers. One other recall additionally concerned an improperly mounted or lacking nut, however not one holding the suspension collectively—it was on the battery bus bar and will end in a battery pack fireplace.
Photograph by: Ford
In case your Lightning is among the many almost 12,000 affected autos, a number of the signs brought on by the defect may very well be looseness and lack of steering precision or perhaps a shudder despatched up via the steering column. You might also hear noises coming from the entrance suspension whereas driving the truck usually or when making use of steering lock whereas stationary.
Some Lightning homeowners on the F-150 Lightning Discussion board have reported an inexplicable steering judder that they couldn’t repair by altering or rebalancing the tires. In case you are experiencing any of this, you are able to do a fast visible inspection of the affected half by wanting contained in the wheel nicely behind the wheel and searching for looseness within the nut highlighted within the diagram above. For those who see it’s not achieved up all the best way, it’s most likely not a good suggestion to drive your truck till you’ve got it checked by a seller.
