More than 870,000 Ford F-150 pickup trucks are being recalled due to the risk of electric parking brakes suddenly activating while driving.
The recall affects 870,701 model year 2021-2023 Ford F-150 trucks. The 2021-2023 Ford F-150 trucks may brake at random if the electric parking brake wiring is damaged and the circuit shorts to ground. The damaged wiring is part of a rear axle wiring harness assembly, which contains wires for the rear electric parking brakes and other electrical components.
Why Does My Ford F-150 Brake At Random?
If the rear axle wiring harness bundle comes into contact with the rear axle housing repeatedly, the abrasion resistant tape and circuit insulation of the copper wiring may become chafed. As a result, the electric parking brake wiring gets exposed and damaged. Further abrasion can occur when the rear axle housing sustains corrosion.
The Ford F-150 driver may see a parking braking warning light and a message on the instrument panel cluster.
Ford conducted an internal investigation into reports of unintended parking in 2021 Ford F-150 trucks. After reviewing warranty and field reports, Ford determined that wires for the rear electric parking brakes are susceptible to damage. Further investigation yielded a culprit: the wiring’s abrasion resistant tape and circuit insulation was worn down after the rear axle wiring bundle contacted the rear axle housing repeatedly. Corrosion of the rear axle housing can exacerbate the problem. Further vehicle testing and data analysis showed that if the low side electric parking brake motor circuit is shorted to the ground, the electric parking brake would activate unintentionally.
As of July 11, 2023, Ford is aware of at least 918 warranty claims and three field reports for the wire chafing condition, which it received between August 2021 and July 2023. Out of these reports, 299 showed that the electric parking brake had unintended activation, of which 19 allege that the electric parking brake activated while driving.
Recall notices were sent to Ford F-150 owners beginning on September 11, 2023, according to the ODI resume. Ford F-150 owners were instructed to take their vehicles to Ford or Lincoln dealerships to get the rear axle wiring harnesses inspected.
If the abrasion tape hasn’t chafed yet, the dealer will put on a protective tie strap and tape wrap. If the abrasion tape has already worn through, the harness will be replaced with a new service harness.
Your Dealership Can’t Fix Your Ford Braking Issues? Contact Our Lemon Law Attorneys
If your Ford F-150 continues to have braking problems, take your vehicle to the dealership for repairs and keep a copy of the invoice you receive. These invoices, called “work orders” or “repair orders”, will provide a paper trail of your recurring Ford braking problems. If your dealership is unable to repair your vehicle within a reasonable number of repair attempts, the next step is to contact a lemon law attorney.
Consultations with lemon law attorneys are free. If a lemon law attorney decides to take on your case, you do not pay anything out of pocket. The California Lemon Law has a special provision that forces the manufacturer to cover your attorney’s fees and costs if you win your lemon law claim. If you lose your case, you pay nothing.
To consult a lemon law attorney, fill out our consultation form at the bottom of this page or call us at 877-217-7676.
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: 2017–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.
