Ford F-150 Recalled for Parking Brake Malfunction

Ford is recalling more than 870,000 F-150 pickup trucks from 2021–2023 model years to fix a potentially malfunctioning parking brake.Documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explain that the electric brake can be inadvertently activated because of a wiring problem.Owners will be notified starting September 11.

The ultra-popular Ford F-150 could experience a problem with unintended activation of the parking brake. The problem affects some 870,701 pickups from the 2021 through 2023 model years. The recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describes a problem in which the rear axle wiring harness may come in contact with the rear axle housing. Over time, this contact could cause the tape and circuit insulation to wear down and expose the wiring underneath, leading to a short circuit. Owners may see a parking brake warning light illuminate, along with an instrument-panel message about a problem.

Andrew Trahan|Car and Driver

As of July 11, NHTSA had been informed of 918 reports about the wire chafing problem. Of these, 299 stated they experienced unwarranted parking brake activation, 19 of which happened while driving. There were no accidents or injuries reported related to the problem, which affects single-exhaust F-150 models built from January 2020 through February 2023. To remedy the issue, dealers will install a tie strap and tape wrap, and if needed will replace the harness.

Owners can visit the NHTSA recalls website to determine if their truck is included in the recall. Ford will send a notice of next steps to owners in September.

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Alessandra Kaestner, a Chicago native, has always been interested in journalism. She remembers listening to NPR every day before school with her parents and trying to race her dad to get the New York Times from the front door. Alessandra continued her passion for journalism by working at her university’s newspaper during her first year and into her sophomore year: the Cornell Daily Sun. She is majoring in psychology and philosophy and wants to explore law and journalism. Although she does not have a lot of background in the world of cars, Alessandra is interested in expanding her knowledge and gaining experience. She could not be more excited to work with so many talented people at Car and Driver.