Ford’s quality problems are getting worse. In the third recall of 2023s, the front axles break into 4×4 F-150s, expeditions and navigators. As you can imagine, this defeats all-wheel drive functionality. But it can also cause the front wheels to lock up, with serious consequences. Hey Ford, you’re in order.
Why do Ford F-150 front axles break?
The problem is that the front axle wing can break because it has not been annealed. Usually, they always are. Besides locking the front wheels suddenly, the driveshaft can come into contact with the front cross member and stability bar when this happens. This can cause a loud noise, along with physical damage.
The same axle unit is found on the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models as well. Ford makes the gear for a 3.73:1 front axle gear set. The part number is CL3W-3A410-BB.
The annealing process involves heating the pinion to make the part less brittle, which means it is less likely to break under load. Because the accidents you are aware of occurred during transport to dealers, Ford is not aware of any accidents that occur in the field. So Ford says there are no warranty claims or owner complaints arising from this problem.
How many F-150 trucks are in the recall?
Ford says there are about 240 vehicles with undisclosed gears. Trucks and SUVs were built in 2023 around January 12th and January 24th. Dealers will replace the front axle gear assemblies at no cost. In the event of a broken axle pinion, the dealer will replace the entire front axle assembly, again, at no charge under the warranty.
As mentioned earlier, this is the third recall in 2023 for the F-150 pickup truck. The other two withdrawals are from early February. One is that Park will not be entered, even if the shift indicator is in the Park position. The problem is a loose bolt that is stopping the shifter at the transmission from entering Park.
What can you do if you have questions about the F-150 recall?
The other was the airbag problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that dashboard covers do not allow the passenger-side airbag to deploy during an accident. Dealers are required to replace the instrument panel cover. These three safety recalls in 2023 follow seven recalls issued for the F-150 in 2022.
If you have questions regarding the 2023 F-150, Expedition, or Lincoln Navigator, you can call or contact the NHTSA website. Have your VIN handy as you will need it to locate your vehicle.
