Ford F-150 Electronic Parking Brake Problems Result in Recall of 870k Pickup Trucks

Ford is recalling more than 870,000 F-150 pickup trucks, due to a risk that the parking brake may activate without warning, increasing the risk of a pickup truck accident.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Ford F-150 recall on July 21, after the automaker determined the electronic parking brakes may be prone to damage, which can result in the unexpected activation.

An investigation into the defect was launched after Ford received hundreds of reports involving problems with parking brakes in model year 2021 F-150 pickup trucks, which discoved noticeable damage to the brake’s wiring and electrical components.

While no accidents or injuries have been reported in relation to the recall, Ford is aware of at least 918 warranty claims and 3 field reports involving deterioration of the electronic parking brake wiring. Owners have reported at least 299 incidents of unintended parking brake activation.

Officials warn that the faulty parking brakes may inadvertently activate while the vehicle is in motion, which can diminish the driver’s ability to maintain control of the vehicle and result in a crash.

The automaker determined that the wiring of the electronic parking brake, which is part of the rear axle wiring assembly, can come in contact with the rear axle housing and deteriorate the protective tape and electrical circuit insulation, leaving the bundle of wires susceptible to damage. The exposed wiring harness assembly can lead to electrical grounding of the circuits, and cause the brake motor circuit to ground, resulting in unexpected activation.

The recall impacts approximately 870,701 model year 2021 through 2023 Ford F-150 pickup trucks equipped with a single exhaust system. The affected vehicles were produced from January 8, 2020, until February 25, 2023.

Ford expects to begin notifying owners of the recall on September 11, 2023 with instructions on how to schedule an appointment to receive free inspection and repair of their vehicles from a licensed Ford or Lincoln dealer. Owners who have already had their vehicles repaired at their own expense are eligible for reimbursement through Ford’s general reimbursement plan until September 11, 2024.

For more information on the recall, owners may contact Ford customer service by phone at 1-866-436-7332, and reference recall number 23S35. They may also contact the NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline by phone at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit their website at www.nhtsa.gov.