Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 870,000 F-150 trucks in the U.S. over a potential wiring issue that could result in the electric parking brake suddenly activating while you’re flying down the road.
According to the safety recall report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 2021 through 2023 models of the popular F-150s “are equipped with a single exhaust system.”
“In the affected vehicles, the rear axle wiring harness bundle may contact the rear axle housing,” the report explains. “The affected vehicles may experience an unintended activation of the electric parking brake while driving if the electric parking brake wiring is damaged and the circuit shorts to ground.”
(Video: YouTube)
The report continues:
Initial investigation determined that the damaged wiring is part of a rear axle wiring harness assembly that contains wires for the rear electric parking brakes and other electrical components. The rear axle wiring harness bundle may contact the rear axle housing which can, in certain circumstances, result in chafing of the wiring harness bundle.
Further investigation determined that, over time, the chafing of the rear axle wiring harness assembly can wear through the abrasion resistant tape and circuit insulation, ultimately exposing copper wiring which can result in the grounding of circuits on the rear axle housing. This abrasion can be expedited due to corrosion on the rear axle housing.
“As of July 11, 2023, Ford is aware of 918 warranty and three field reports for the wire chafing condition in North America, received within the range of August 2021 and July 2023,” Ford stated. “Of these reports, 299 indicated that the electric parking brake had unintended activation, of which nineteen (19) allege electric parking brake application while driving.”
Overall, the company estimates 1% of the vehicles are affected by the defect, and to date, the company said it is not aware of any accident or injury reports related to the issue.
Owners of the affected F-150s can expect to receive a letter in the mail instructing them to “take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the rear axle wiring harness inspected.”
“If the abrasion tape that covers the wire bundle exhibits wear-through, the suspect harness will be replaced with a new service harness,” the report states. “If the abrasion tape does not exhibit wear-through, the dealer will install a protective tie strap and tape wrap. There will be no charge for this service.”
“Notification to dealers is expected to occur on September 11, 2023,” it reveals. “Mailing of owner notification letters is expected to begin September 11, 2023 and is expected to be completed by September 15, 2023.”
The ending date for reimbursement eligibility is estimated to be September 11, 2024.
On social media, many are longing for the good old days, when electric brakes were manual.
“That’s what happens when you move away from Mechanical systems,” wrote one X user. “Electronic systems are great until one runs into faulty code or wiring. The good old lever and cord hand brake is guaranteed to never do that. High tech is not always a solution.”
That’s what happens when you move away from Mechanical systems. Electronic systems are great until one runs into faulty code or wiring. The good old lever and cord hand brake is guaranteed to never do that. High tech is not always a solution.
— Solomon Assefa (@solassefa) July 28, 2023
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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