Ford’s F-Series pickup trucks were the best selling truck series in 2023, with a total of 750,789 units sold in the United States. Though Ford purports that its trucks are “Built Ford Tough”, its 2023 Ford F-150 has received numerous complaints failing instrument clusters, 4-wheel drive not working, back-up camera freezing, and repeated display of “Stop Safely Now” on its dash.
If your 2023 Ford F-150 has experienced problems that your dealership has yet to fix, do not wait for more complaints to surface. Read through the common Ford F-150 problems below, check if your Ford pick-up has experienced any of these issues, and then consult an attorney (for free!) for advice on your situation.
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2023 Ford F-150 Recalls Issued
Ford has issued recalls due to vehicle rollaway risk, front and rear axle issues, airbag problems and sudden, unexpected braking. While remedies exist for many of these recalls, some 2023 Ford F-150 owners may merely get interim repairs while the final, permanent remedy is still being determined.
Ford F-150 Rollaway Issue
Twice, Ford issued recalls for a vehicle rollaway risk. The first recall covered 2021-2023 Ford F-150 trucks with Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a ¾ float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, resulting in damaged axle hub splines that allow the vehicle to roll away or lose drive power. The second concerned 2022-2023 Ford F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles with loose bolts that prevent the automatic transmissions from engaging in the PARK gear.
Ford F-150 Airbag Issue
The 2023 Ford F-150 recall may be at risk of its airbags failing to deploy when you need them. Depending on which recall applies to your car, either your driver’s frontal airbag or your passenger-side airbag may fail to deploy. A recall covering many 2023 Ford F-Series trucks alleges that the driver’s frontal airbag may lose its electrical connection if the steering wheel clock spring has an insufficient weld. If the passenger-side airbag fails to deploy, it’s likely due to the instrument panel top cover preventing it from deploying.
Ford F-150 Front Axle Issue
If your 2023 Ford F-150’s front wheels locked up, it may be caused by a fractured front axle pinion. The front axle pinion may fracture if it has not been properly heat-treated. The fractured front axle pinion may also cause a loss of 4-wheel drive.
Ford F-150 Sudden Braking
If your 2023 Ford F-150 has experienced sudden activation of the electric parking brake, it may be caused by issues with the rear axle housing. According to a Ford recall, the electric parking brake may activate at random if the rear axle housing contacts the rear axle wiring harness bundle, damaging the wiring harness.
Common 2023 Ford F-150 Problems
Problems in the electrical system, drivetrain and engine commonly plague owners of 2023 Ford F-150 trucks. If your dealership can’t fix your problems, your Ford F-150 truck may be a lemon.
Ford F-150 Electrical Malfunctions
Electrical problems in the 2023 Ford F-150 include:
- Instrument cluster going blank
- Air conditioner lines freeze
- Air does not blow through vents, even though fans are on
- Back-up camera screen freezing or going blank
When the instrument cluster goes blank, drivers can no longer see their vehicle speed, braking features or other important safety features. When the back-up camera screen freezes, drivers may not realize the screen is broken. An owner of a 2023 Ford F-150 reports that when this happens, “you are seeing a camera image that is not related to the actual view behind you.”
Another owner of a 2023 Ford F-150 reported the following on CarComplaints:
“While backing out of a parking spot, the screen with the rearview camera froze. I was not aware the screen had frozen and continued to back up believing I was seeing what was behind me. Fortunately, there was no accident. The screen remained frozen until I stopped the vehicle and cycled the engine.”
Sometimes, the 2023 Ford F-150 may show either “Full Accessory Power Active” and “Stop Safely Now” warning on the instrument cluster. Sometimes, this is followed by an inability to start the vehicle.
Ford F-150 Engine Symptoms
When engine problems surface, some Ford drivers may see the following on their instrument cluster:
- “Full Accessory Power Active”
- “Stop Safely Now”
- An illuminated Check Engine Light
This is common in 2023 Ford F-150 trucks with the PowerBoost hybrid engine. Ford F-150 owners report being unable to restart their vehicle or shift into gear after these warnings appear on their dashboards. Some drivers attempt to restart their trucks multiple times. Other drivers report having to wait overnight to test their trucks again.
Ford F-150 Powertrain Issues
The 2023 Ford F-150 truck reportedly experiences grinding, vibration, rumbling or an “audible growl” when external temperatures are below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Drivers with this issue report the following problems:
- Steering wheel, floorboard or gas pedal vibrates
- Rough shaking at the front of the vehicle
- Squealing or knobbing noises from front tires
- Rumbling noises in cold temperatures
- Grinding noises when switching to/from 4-wheel drive
Some drivers attempt to make these noises go away by switching between 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive modes. Some complaints report the issue being resolved by returning to 2-wheel drive, while others report that switching to 2-wheel drive makes the issue resurface.
However, other powertrain issues persist. One 2023 Ford F-150 owner reported the following:
“EIWE (Electronic Integrated Wheel End) failure or malfunction. Ford has multiple Field Service Engineers aware of the issue with no fix found. Multiple vehicles not only at one dealership but across the country have confirmed issues. Ford Customer Relations is aware and has an open case with me and many other owners. As requested for the Ford case manager, the vehicle is currently going back for a third time to the dealership for something ‘they can’t currently fix’.”
– A NHTSA complaint submitted December 9, 2023
Call A Lemon Law Attorney Today
If you’ve taken your Ford F-150 to the dealership for problems that they can’t seem to fix, then gather your repair documents and contact a lemon law attorney for a consultation. Don’t worry, consultations with our lemon law attorneys are completely free of charge.
If you decide to retain a lemon law attorney, you will not have to pay for anything we provide out of pocket. We take the risk. If we win your case, the auto manufacturer has to cover our attorneys’ fees and costs as part of the final settlement. If we lose, we don’t get paid.
Ready for a consultation? Call us at 877-217-7676 or answer some quick questions in our form below this blog post.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2020–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
