- The recall affects Ford F-150 Lightning models built from November 5, 2023, to February 13, 2024.
- Ford reports that some electric trucks may have an improperly torqued nut on the control arm joint.
- Owners will be notified of the recall starting February 3 and directed to contact a dealer.
If you own a 2023 or 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning, this one’s for you. Ford has issued a recall for nearly 12,000 of these electric pickups in the US, citing a safety defect with the front upper control arms. Why does this matter? Because this flaw could cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles entirely.
It’s a significant safety concern that has already been linked to at least one alarming incident. In that case, an F-150 Lightning unexpectedly swerved into a highway guardrail at 60 mph. Now, Ford is taking steps to ensure no one else faces a similarly dangerous situation.
The F-150 Lightning was one of the first electric pickup trucks to hit the market, but several recalls have been issued for it over the past couple of years, addressing problems related to the battery pack, the cabin coolant heater system, and even a potential fire hazard. This latest recall impacts 11,922 models manufactured from November 5, 2023, to February 13, 2024.
Read: F-150 Lightning Owners Might Get Chilly This Winter As Ford Recalls 931 EVs Over Busted Heater
Ford’s recall notice states that certain F-150 Lightnings may have an improperly torqued nut on the ball joint, which secures the front upper control arm to the knuckle assembly. A loose nut could cause the upper control arm to separate from the knuckle assembly. If this happens, drivers may “experience a partial loss of directional control.” Clearly, that’s not a good thing, and increases the risk of a crash.
The nut in question may not have been torqued correctly due to variances in the alignment or orientation between the fastening tool and the fastener. This could have induced lateral forces on the tool, preventing it from properly seating on the fastener. According to the recall notice, owners of trucks with a loose or missing ball joint nut might notice unusual vehicle vibrations or hear clunking or rattling noises while driving.
Ford is aware of two field reports and one warranty claim related to the issue.. The problem came to light on September 12, when an owner’s F-150 Lightning unexpectedly veered into a highway side rail. While the truck had just 639 miles on the clock, an inspection by a Ford dealer revealed that the upper control arm nut was missing, and the joint had separated from the knuckle, resulting in the crash.
The Blue Oval plans to alert owners starting February 3, 2025. Dealerships will inspect the nuts on affected vehicles and run a torque test. If the nut fails the test, both the nut and the knuckle assembly will be replaced. For now, if you own one of these trucks and hear unusual noises or notice anything off with your vehicle’s handling, don’t wait, get it checked out immediately.
