Ford recalls F-150 pickups with faulty transmission

Ford recalls F-150 pickups with faulty transmission

April 16, 2022 Joseph Estabillo

Dearborn, MI – April 16, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) issued a recall for 47,084 vehicles over a transmission defect that could cause the vehicle to suddenly shift to neutral while in motion, increasing the risk of a crash.   

The recall includes 2021  Ford F-150 pickup trucks.

Recall summary

During normal driving, it is important for the transmission to remain in gear as much as possible so that the driver can maintain control over the vehicle while it is in motion. 

The transmission in the affected vehicles can shift to neutral on its own while driving due to a software error in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which acts as the “brain” of the car, as reported.

The component involved in this recall is the PCM/ECM Calibration Software with multiple part numbers, including ML3A-14C204-BGA and ML3A-14C204-BKA.   

Recall risks

Drivers will be unable to accelerate when the car is in neutral to avoid sudden hazards.

The neutral state also prevents the engine from assisting the brakes in slowing the vehicle down, augmenting the risk of an accident.  

For more information on risks, please visit the following article on a BMW recall due to the same issue.

Warning signs

A warning light in the shape of a wrench will activate on the dashboard when the problem occurs. This will be followed by the transmission shifting into neutral gear, followed by attempts to shift to Park if the vehicle is traveling slower than 2 miles per hour. 

Once the vehicle comes to a complete stop, the shifter will automatically engage Park mode. 

Safety tips

Drivers can temporarily regain use of the transmission by switching the engine off and on again.      

Other Ford F-150 recalls 

There have been at least two F-150 transmission recalls for earlier year-models.

More than 1.2 million Ford F-150 vehicles spanning the 2011 to 2013 model years were recalled in February 2019 for a similar PCM problem, as reported.

Another recall for the same model-years was issued in June 2019 over the same issue, covering more than 107,000 vehicles. 

The repair

Dealers will inspect the PCM on affected vehicles and perform a software update free of charge. Customers who have paid for previous repairs of the component involved will be reimbursed accordingly. 

Affected owners will be notified by May 6, 2022.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 47,000 vehicles are included in this Ford truck recall. To do a Ford recall check,  use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls F-150 pickups with faulty transmission
Ford recalls trucks whose wipers may fail

Ford recalls trucks whose wipers may fail

March 20, 2022 Bojan Popic

Dearborn, MI – March 20, 2022 –   Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 157,306 2021 Ford F-150 trucks, whose windshield wipers may stop working. This reduces drivers’ visibility, increases the risk of crash and injury. 

Recall summary  

Both windshield wipers are operated by the same electric motor, which is located within the engine compartment. Wiper arms and the motor itself are linked together with a scissor-like mechanism. In affected vehicles, due to a supplier manufacturing error, the motor may stop working. If that happens, both windshield wipers will become inoperable. 

The component in question is the windshield wiper electric motor with part number ML34-17504-A.

Recall risks

With wipers not working, the driver will not be able to clean off dirt or water from the truck’s windshield. This reduces visibility and may lead to a crash, increasing the risk of an injury. 

Warning signs

Prior to failing completely, windshield wipers may start moving erratically. 

Other Ford F-150 recalls

There are several previous recalls that may be affecting these vehicles. The latest one, caused by driveshafts that could fracture while driving, was issued this January. It is also worth mentioning that seatbelt issues with certain F-150 Super Cab trucks led to a recall in October 2021. 

How to replace the windshield wiper motor in your Ford F-150

To replace your windshield wiper motor, take your car to a Ford dealer. All repairs will be done free of charge. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between April 18 and April 22, 2022.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford F-150 windshield wipers issue is affecting more than 150,000 trucks. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls trucks whose wipers may fail
Ford tells owners not to drive F-150 trucks with faulty seat belts

Ford tells owners not to drive F-150 trucks with faulty seat belts

October 2, 2021 Vishal Venugopal

Dearborn, MI – October 2,  2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) recalled F-150 trucks that have been equipped with incorrectly routed seat belts, which may increase the risk of an injury in a crash.  The recall includes 16,430 ​​2021 F-150 Super Cab pickup trucks.

Ford is advising drivers to perform a “preliminary self-inspection” on the vehicles and to NOT drive the car or use the front passenger seat if the respective seat belts are found to be improperly routed. Instructions on how to perform the inspection were set to be provided in the mail this week. 

The affected component is the “Front Outboard Seat Belt Assembly” with part numbers ML3B-18612D64-ADW and ML3B-18612D65-ADW.

Recall summary

Affected vehicles are equipped with front seat belts that have not been routed properly.  The faulty seat belt assemblies have only made their way onto the Super Cab body style – F-150 models with the Regular Cab and Crew Cab body styles have not been affected. As a result, models like the 2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab are not a part of this recall.

Recall risks

The improperly routed seat belt may not do an adequate job at restraining the occupant in the event of an accident. This can result in serious injury or even death. 

Other Ford F-series recalls

Last month, Ford advised F-series owners not to drive their cars over a concern that the vehicle’s wheels may fall off. A quick Ford recall check on our website will also bring up results on an investigation conducted by an auto-safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over how the company handled a recall of over 600,000 vehicles to address issues with the rearview camera.

The repair

Owners should have received instructions on how to perform a self-assessment of their F-150’s seat belts in mail. The self-assessment will help them decide on whether their driver or passenger seat belt is faulty. If the driver seat belt is faulty, drivers should have the car towed for inspection where it will be replaced. For more information, please see the recall notice. All repairs are free.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

To find out if your vehicle is a part of this Ford truck recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalFord tells owners not to drive F-150 trucks with faulty seat belts
Ford recalls vehicles that may stall or roll away

Ford recalls vehicles that may stall or roll away

June 18, 2021 Mikaela Bolker

Dearborn, MI – June 18, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has announced a recall for 4,436 2021 Ford F-150 pickup trucks due to faulty driveshafts, which are components of the vehicle responsible for powering them. This defect can cause sudden loss of power or “unintended” movement while parked without warning, increasing the risk of injury due to a crash. 

The affected part is the driveshaft with multiple part numbers, including ML34-4K145-KHE and ML34-4K145-JHE.

Summary

Recalled vehicles feature a two-piece rear driveshaft that transfers power to the vehicle’s rear wheels. Due to a supplier error, the circlip –  a fastener that connects the two pieces together – was not installed properly. The installation issue may result in the pieces of the driveshaft separating, which in turn may cause a sudden loss of vehicle power or “unintended” vehicle movement when “the parking brake is not applied.”

Risks

Stalling while driving may result in the driver getting hit from behind, which may create a multi-car pileup and cause severe injuries. If the car rolls away while parked, it may hit people or inanimate objects, causing injuries or property damage.

Warning signs

Drivers may experience a “clunking or banging noise” before the car stalls or rolls away.

Other Ford recalls

Earlier this month, the manufacturer recalled close to 200,000 Transit vans for the risk of rollaway. In December of last year, Ford issued a recall for 10,905 vehicles with faulty driveshafts, including the 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUV.

Repair

Owners were sent letters instructing them to take their cars to a dealership for assessment and possible driveshaft replacement on June 14. The assessment and replacement, if necessary, will be free. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall? 

An estimated 4,436 vehicles are part of this Ford recall. To see if your Ford 2021 F150 is one of them and to do a Ford Recall check,  use Motorsafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Mikaela BolkerFord recalls vehicles that may stall or roll away
Ford recalls 79,017 vehicles due to faulty windshields

Ford recalls 79,017 vehicles due to faulty windshields

March 1, 2021 Suhas Ramachandra

Dearborn, MI – March 1, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has announced a recall of 79,017 Ford F-series trucks with faulty windshields, which may fail to adequately protect the car occupants or injure them during a crash.

The recall includes:

  • 2021 Ford F 150 vehicles 
  • 2020-2021 Ford super-duty vehicles 

Recall summary

The front windshields of the affected vehicles are not glued well to the vehicle body structure.  This violates the federal safety standards, which state that a windshield should be strongly bonded to the body of the car.

The bonding defect is caused by a supplier using a “non-conforming” batch of paint.

Warning signs

The driver may be alerted to a loose windshield if he or she hears “wind noise” or notices a water leak.

Safety risks

A loose windshield is more likely to crack or even separate from the car, especially in the case of an accident. This may result in the car occupants getting injured by broken glass or being exposed to road debris and other objects hitting their face and body at a high speed.

To learn more about the dangers of road debris, please see our recent article about a Land Rover recall for fly-away spoilers.

Other Ford recalls

2020 F 150 trucks were among Ford vehicles recalled last fall for faulty rearview cameras that distorted the image for the driver, resulting in a higher risk of a crash. Over 400 F150 2020 were also recalled in April for a risk of fire.

Repair

To fix the issue, dealers will detach the windshield and reinstall it. The repair is free of charge.  Repair notifications will be sent out to the owners starting on April 6.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 79,000 vehicles are included in this Ford F-series recall. To see if your vehicle is one of them, bookmark MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool and visit the website when more details become available.

Suhas RamachandraFord recalls 79,017 vehicles due to faulty windshields
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