Ford identified an issue with the rear axle hub bolts on some F-150 trucks.
This recall campaign affects just under 113,000 examples of the latest fourteenth-generation F-150. Affected trucks were built between the 2021 and 2023 model years, and may have a problem where the rear hub bolts can possibly break due to fatigue, causing the vehicles to lose power if it happens at speed, or roll away if parked without the electronic parking brake engaged.
Specificially, Ford’s recall (number 23S65, or NHTSA recall number 23V-896) impacts 112,965 trucks built between January 28, 2020 and December 25, 2022. The problem only applies to a specific configuration, according to a report filed with the NHTSA: F-150s equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty pacakge and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design.
Ford told the NHTSA that “the rear axle hub bolt may break due to fatigue and will no longer prevent micro-movement between the hub splines and the axle shaft splines.” That movement can, over time, strip the hub splines — especially when you factor in corrosion — and then the hub splines cannot transmit power to the rear wheels, or hold the truck in place if it’s parked without the parking brake separately engaged. Four-wheel drive trucks may still put down some power to the front wheels, but obviously rear-wheel drive trucks will lose motive power completely in that case.
The automaker says a clicking noise indicates the rear axle hub bolt is loose. If it’s actually broken, the driver should hear a rattling noise (where the bolt head will be contained within the wheel’s center cap).
According to the report, Ford estimates about 2% of the total recall population presently have the defect. The company also breaks down the total number of impacted trucks by model year:
- Model Year 2021: 54,509 units
- MY 2022: 47,886 units
- MY 2023: 10,570 units
Is there a fix?
While the automaker says it will inform dealers on January 16 of the issue and send mailers out to owners on January 29, it does not yet have a fix for the problem. The NHTSA report notes, “the service remedy will be defined at a later date”. However, owners will be instructed as part of the notification to take their truck to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for inspection. There, technicians will make an interim repair if they experience the clicking or rattling symptoms of a broken rear axle hub bolt. Ford has not yet provided a copy of that letter to the NHTSA, so we don’t yet know exactly how the company will instruct its technicians to conduct the temporary fix until it finds a permanent remedy.
The interim repair is free, and those who have already paid out of pocket to fix the issue will be able to file a reimbursement claim before February 23, 2024.
