Ford has yet again notified the federal authorities that a recall for over 550,000 F-150s distributed in the United States and Canada is in effect. The cause of the recall was a faulty wiper motor that may cause the apparatus to stop functioning. Wiper malfunction, especially in inclement conditions, results in a significant decline in the visual ability of drivers. Especially in snowy weather, a malfunctioning wiper spells danger. When notifying the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford specified recalling 453,650 vehicles in the States and 103,077 in Canada.
In a statement, Ford detailed that the problem stems from the wiper motor integrated circuit boards degrading easily with temporary voltage spikes. Inferior-quality wiper motor terminals exacerbate the issue. Models affected by the recall are Jan. 8, 2020, to March 22, 2021 trucks. Fortunately, Ford reported that they do not have complaints of any accidents from wiper malfunction.
Ford F-150 Windshield Wiper Recall
It wasn’t all bad news, as some F-150 owners did not have to bring in their trucks. Models assembled at Dearborn Truck Plant between the dates of May 3rd and Sep. 10th, 2021, aren’t subject to the recall. A shortage in microchips during manufacturing led to Ford incorporating a different motor design. Ford was not the only manufacturer to suffer the shortage, as much of the industry felt its effects too. However, the timing for Ford could not have been worse. They remodeled the truck for 2021, and the shortage couldn’t have come at a worse time. During this period, Ford even had to produce some F-150s without certain features. Another notable effect was when they had to pause Mustang production for a while.
The faulty wipers manufactured by Trico Componentes, a Mexico-based company, will give way to new ones built after August 1st. Dealer and owner notifications were reportedly dispatched on Jan. 3rd, 2023. If you are curious as to whether your vehicle is subject to a recall, the NHTSA website has a recall tool that you can use. All you need to do is enter your VIN and if a recall does not present itself, then you are safe. As mentioned above, Ford also sent out owner notification paperwork to affected parties.
A History of Recalls
In the recent past, Ford saw itself suffer the curse of recalls. The situation got so bad that they had the highest number of recalls in 2022. Not only did they lead in the number of cases, but also in the number of vehicles affected. Among other recalls that the company initiated are:
- 2022 Ford Maverick truck. This one expanded to the Escape SUV and Lincoln Corsair too. For this recall, the car was susceptible to an under-hood fire, liquefying engine parts, and smoke. That would definitely make it hard to drive your truck down the highway.
- 2022 Maverick truck, again. Some of the models came with side-curtain airbags that did not adhere to NHTSA stipulations for discharge alleviation.
- 2021 to 2023 Bronco Sport & 2020 to 2022 Escape SUV. In this case, the fuel injector was susceptible to cracks causing an under-hood fire. Ford advises that if you notice a strong smell of gasoline or smoke, park your truck in a safe spot and get in touch with your dealer.
- 2013 to 2019 Escape, 2015 to 2018 Edge, 2013 to 2018 C-Max, 2013 to 2021 Transit Connect, and 2013 to 2016 Fusion. As a major recall, this one affected more than 2.9 million cars in the States and approximately 400,000 in Canada. This time, an inferior or absent shift cable bushing prevented gear shifting at times and caused the vehicle to roll when in the parking position. For this recall, Ford did have reports of both property damage and injuries.
The top five brands that lead in recalls in 2022 are Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen, Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and General Motors.
Customer Complaints
Numerous Ford F-150 owners reported problems with their windshield wipers before the recall. As mentioned above, luckily, there haven’t been any major incidents, but the issue did present itself to owners.
- A Florida man complained that his F-150’s wiper had an inferior function in wet weather.
- An F-150 owner from New Jersey said that his wipers simply stopped working. Upon restarting the truck, the problem arose every three to five minutes.
- The electronic wiper control also malfunctioned on the screen. This complaint was made on 4th October 2022.
- A White Lake, Michigan dweller simply reported his wipers not working and that it was raining.
- Another F-150 owner from Tennessee complained about the wipers working intermittently. However, they completely stopped working in the rain. This came as a great inconvenience as his truck was his means of getting to work.
The Solution
Your local Ford dealer should remove the defective wiper assembly and replace it with a reliable model. Ford’s standard service procedures ensure the problem does not persist and that you are safe in case of wet or snowy weather. The new wiper components and service do not cost the customer anything, and Ford often helps people in need of secure loaners. At the clients’ convenience, Ford makes the effort to pick up, repair, and drop off the affected vehicle at no cost to the owner. Quite an advantage of their Ford Pickup and Delivery service.
However, even if Ford were not inclined to remedy the issue for free, federal law would force them to. Automakers are bound by law to repair for free problems that make their cars a potential danger to drive.
In 2022, Ford even fixed the wipers on a 2018 F-150 model that wasn’t included in the recall after the owner asked for assistance in an interview with CTV News. He faced the same problem with the 2020-2021 models as his wipers failed and didn’t resume operability. Previous communication with the company’s dealers wasn’t successful, but as soon as the news network picked up the story, Ford stepped in. They were kind enough to offer the man a rental till he got assistance with his wipers. The company urges motorists with failing wipers to contact their dealer as soon as possible.
