NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Ford F-150. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after placing the vehicle in the park in the driveway, the vehicle started to roll backwards. The contact was able to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that there was an abnormal acid odor near the passenger’s side rear wheel, and the contact became aware of discolored gear oil and soot on the rim. The contact stated that the passenger’s side rear axle hub bolts had completely sheared off and detached from the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
My 2023 F150 has been having issues with the key fob connecting to the vehicle and responding to commands (unlock/lock, remote start etc). On the date of this incident the truck was not responding to the remote start key fob function. While standing outside the vehicle from a distance of about 10 feet I attempted the remote start function with no success approximately five times. On the last attempt I heard the audible sound of the parking brake releasing (moving from the “brake on” mode to the “brake off” mode). Once inside the vehicle I confirmed that the parking brake had been released. I was ultimately able to get the truck started and driving in a normal condition. The parking brake has not malfunctioned since. The key fob / truck connection continues to malfunction to various degrees. Sometimes no response, sometimes no remote start, sometimes the truck will be running and display a dashboard message indicating the key fob is not present leaving the truck running but “locked” in park. During this parking brake incident the vehicle was parked and locked with the parking brake set as normal (on or about May 10 , 2025). It was on level ground in a parking lot. No other vehicles were parked near mine. It was morning time, the truck was “cold” after being parked all night. No other unusual condition were noted. Weather conditions were dry and mild (50 degree temperatures). The remote connection issues have been going on about 6-8 months. I have replaced the battery in the remote 2x with no improvement. The vehicle has been inspected by the selling dealer once for the fob with no results (April 17, 2025). I have an appointment for the latest issues on June 2 2025. It is my belief that the random release of the parking brake system poses a risk for myself and other members of the public that may be injured by a sudden “roll away” of this vehicle by parking brake failure. I am in possession of the vehicle and it’s available for inspection. .
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that the front headlights had become inoperable. The contact stated that the radio flickered on and off, and the power windows would not function properly. The vehicle was taken to several dealers; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was not available.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, was warning message was displayed reading "Brake fault detected. Service now.", prompting him to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who had not yet provided a diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 14,000.
I received the first recall notice last May, 2025. Safety recall notice: 23S65 - 9.75" Rear Axle Bolt Breakage. No dealer within 3 hours driving has the parts for the repair 8 months later! And, they have no idea when (or even if!) those parts will be available. Once a safety issue is identified and a recall notice sent out, what time frame does the manufacturer have to make those repairs? It has been over 8 months - that is unacceptable. xxx INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Rear Axle Hub Bolt Breakage - the rear axle hub bolt sheared off.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while decelerating and coming to a stop light, there was a rattling sound coming from the hub cap. The contact pulled over to inspect the vehicle and noticed that the rear axle bolts had detached and was moving around in the hub cap. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who diagnosed that the rear axle hub bolts had detached and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired due to the parts being on backorder. The dealer informed the contact that they were informed to prioritize the vehicles included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train) by the VIN. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that the button located on the shift lever had detached. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
The vehicle was recalled in October 2023 for water getting into the tailgate lens that could cause the reverse lights to malfunction. The vehicle was brought in for repairs on Jan 24, 2024. I notice that the tailgate lens has water in it now.
On three separate occasions when I open my door, I get a “brake fault service soon” notification. I’ve done research and forums say this was a recall in the past. I’m aware my truck doesn’t have any current recalls but it has me wondering if it was ever fixed or if the repair was not good enough. I never owned the vehicle when the original recall came out so I’m not too sure what happened.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Active Air DAM System fault detected" was displayed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the driver's Side Active Air Dam Motor Actuator. The contact was informed that the part displayed signs of external damage as if the driver had struck an object. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who again diagnosed a failure with the driver's Side Active Air Dam Motor Actuator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 4,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150 equipped with an inverter. The contact stated that the inverter was intermittently inoperable throughout the day. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was later taken to Bill Talley Ford Inc(6280 Mechanicsville Tpke, Mechanicsville, VA 23111), where it was diagnosed that the inverter module needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that upon attempting to order the part, the manufacturer advised that the part was on a “Do Not Sell” list due to a factory defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,436.
Rear light bar has water inside. Recall has not been fix since October 2025. Rear light flickering on and off. Been pulled over by the police
A considerable amount of water intrusion has occurred in the rear light bar which is for braking and reverse lights. After taking it to my dealer, Ford has stated that unless water is "pooled" inside the unit this is normal, and that some condensation inside the assembly is "normal". I don't believe a sealed unit is supposed to have any water inside it, and this is the exact issue that lead to the recall campaign 23S30, which was performed on this truck in probably late 2023. I am concerned that this water will lead to malfunction as is happening to many other owners on the discussion forums, and I won't know.
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report a recurring water intrusion issue with my vehicle, which poses a potential safety risk. Whenever it rains and the vehicle is parked outside, water consistently leaks into the passenger-side interior. While driving, especially during acceleration or braking, I can hear the sound of water moving within the passenger side area. Upon inspection, I have found water pooling in the front passenger footwell, where multiple electrical wires are located. Additionally, there is an electrical control box situated beneath the passenger seat that may also be exposed to moisture. I also discovered water leaking behind the rear seat area. This section contains two air vents, which may be contributing to the issue. The water intrusion raises serious concerns about electrical system integrity, especially given the presence of wiring and components in affected areas. Although my vehicle has not yet experienced electrical failure while driving, I am aware of multiple reports from other owners who have encountered similar leaks that led to sudden engine shutdowns, including while driving in traffic — a serious safety hazard. I brought my vehicle to the service center for evaluation, but as of now, I have not received any resolution or updates regarding a fix. I have several videos of the situation as well. Given the potential risk to both vehicle occupants and others on the road, I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate this matter further to determine whether a recall or other safety action is warranted. Thank you for your attention to this serious issue.
I’m very concerned about the actual malfunction of my entire steering rack & pinion assembly at just over 6,000 miles. The failure on my 2023 F150 (bought as NEW in Sept. 2024 from dealer w/ 1200 miles) occurred at more than 80 miles per hour when I had punched it to pass another vehicle. The steering became very wonky and was 'soft-locking' in stuttering positions – about 2 degrees apart in moving the steering wheel. It was very touch and go coming into town – even back at 60 mph. I was still hitting the hard spots and making all sorts of racket in full turns as we pulling into a parking lot to check it out. At that time, the only thing I could relate it to as far as how it felt was that the steering assist/ lane keeping assist was wanting to run the show. But I don’t use the feature and have only tried it a couple times since I got the truck – specifically to see how it felt. There was NO MESSAGE on the instruments. Anyway, my point is: this seems to be a serious safety issue, and I would think Ford would want to figure out what happened. The Ford dealership service manager kind of blew it off like, ‘well, stuff happens’. That’s all good and I’m not faulting him – they did a great job of repair, and the truck now drives like a new truck (new steering assembly shipped overnight from Memphis, TN to Livingston, TX) – steering is actually better that the first day I had it. It was always a little quirky in its ‘feel’ so I just thought it was kind of what it would be. Didn’t feel perfect but not enough to complain or even say anything about. I just figured Ford had done something that just gave the steering a little bit different feel. I’d really like to find out what the Ford engineers figure out and HOW could this have been a one-off thing? This seems like a very serious, potential safety issue. The dealership has not replied to 2 emails from their apparently automated 'are you happy with your service' inquiry.
rear axle shaft/hub broken. Rear differential leaking
Emergency brakes automatically deployed. Vehicle not letting me retrieve key from ignition. Vehicle does not indicate it is in park.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the wiring harness had failed due to rodents chewing on the wires. The contact was informed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
While not a safety issue, i would like to lodge a complaint against Ford for not including my vehicle's VIN on a NHTSA published recall that it should be eligible for. For 22G06, my 2023 Ford F-150 had the heated steering wheel removed due to the chip shortages. Ford is refusing to either fix or explain why my vehicle is not eligible, even though it meets the "Affected Vehicles" requirements on the document at the below link. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop on several occasions, the vehicle was sluggish while depressing the accelerator pedal. The failure mostly occurred while driving between 10 and 20 MPH, and the vehicle jerked while driving 20 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received a message for "Power Train Malfunction - Reduction" from the Mobile App. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. Upon investigating online, the contact associated the failure with TSB Number: 22-2428. The dealer advised the contact that the manufacturer would be notified of the failure. The contact was awaiting a call back from the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Safety Defect: 4-6 second engine power loss/stalling while driving Life threating incident (recorded by Ford via phone call)Semi truck nearly collided with us as well as multiple other near misses road rage honking and obscene gestures all of which has my 13 year old son terrified to ride in the truck. First took it in 08/29/2025 @ 33,808 miles Second attempt 09/30/2025 still in shop at Gary Crossley Ford >30 days (unfixable) Ford Lemon Law Ford Case # CXHXXX 11/03/2025 Claim Manager Devin Dean Missouri Lemon Law MO AG CASE#XXX 11/04/2025 filrd today for **Mandatory Repurchase** Request: Investigate this safety defect and force immediate buy back. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Down shift to a very low gear at times 60 mph downshift to second gear
My 2023 Ford F-150 XLT (base 4×4—2H, 4H, 4L only) is experiencing a front-axle/IWE malfunction that causes the hubs to partially engage on their own in cold weather. When temperatures drop below freezing, the truck produces a very loud, physical pop when turning in 2H and a mechanical grinding/rumble noise from the front axle while driving straight. This happens even though the roads are dry and I have not engaged 4WD. The noise immediately disappears when I switch into 4H, which indicates the integrated wheel ends (IWEs) are partially engaging due to vacuum loss or actuator failure. When the hubs fully lock in 4H, the grinding stops. This confirms the IWEs are not disengaging properly in 2H. This occurs only in freezing temperatures, to date, and it feels as if the front axle is binding or locking during turns. The loud popping feels violent enough that it could lead to CV axle, differential, or IWE gear failure. My Ford dealer stated they have “not heard of this issue,” but this condition matches the symptoms described in Ford TSB 25-2513 for incomplete IWE disengagement on 2021–2025 F-150 trucks. Despite Ford saying this is not a known problem, there is significant owner evidence online showing that many 2021–2024 F-150 owners experience the exact same symptoms. Multiple threads on F150Forum, F150Gen14.com, and Reddit describe identical cold-weather popping and grinding caused by IWEs partially engaging in 2H. In many of those cases, owners report that dealers dismissed the issue or stated it was “normal,” even though the symptoms are widespread and consistent. This is a safety concern because the front axle partially engages without driver input, causing binding, loss of smooth steering, loud mechanical pops, and grinding while in 2WD. This could lead to sudden front drivetrain failure, loss of control, or damage to steering/braking components. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA is aware that this issue is occurring F-150s and may not be isolated.
Driving down the road, a "service needed" code will pop up on the dash. It will then go away. However, in the next few minutes a "Shift Service Fault" will pop up on the screen. I then get a notification on my Ford app that says I have a Powertrain Fault.
See attached document for complaint.
I continually get remote features disabled to preserve battery. Have taken it in to dealer, they can't find anything. I am told to drive truck for forty minutes or so. This doesn't help because in a couple of days it goes back to the warning., It offers updates for the software for the ford pass app It will never download. It says an error has occurred I didn't pay over $70000 for this truck to have to take it for a forty minute drive every couple of days to keep the battery charged If t can not be repaired, I would like a refund of my money and you take your truck back. This incident occurs every three or four days. .
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway turned off and unattended, the contact became aware that all the interior and exterior lights were flashing. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V682000 (Exterior Lighting). The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and transferred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
I was driving down the road at approximately 35mph. The vehicle began to sputter and then started loosing power. I was only able to drive approximately another 150 meters and get over to the shoulder of the road. Once stopped the vehicle stopped running all together. The vehicle did have power but only to the electronics. The engine had shut down. I shut off the vehicle all the way and then restarted. It ran fine after that. This was on 01/29/2025. The vehicle had a previous instance where it did not start. It would crank the motor for approximately 6 to 8 seconds, the engine would fire and then shut off after about 1-2 seconds. The fuse box and wiring harness have both been replaced and the vehicle still seems to be having issues that could cause major damage and or injuries/death to the occupants.
My F-150 has been a nightmare since I purchased it in April. Ford dealers are unwilling to even look into my complaints. It has now got to the point where I cant drive the vehicle on the interstate because it is too unstable at those speeds. As in the steering wheel moves one way and the truck steers another. The truck is on its 3rd set of tires with only 30k miles on the odometer, but Ford always comes up with some excuse to blame it on me. That is not the case though, I've had 3 4X4 F-150s prior to this one, so I know what to expect from and how to drive a truck.
Available for inspection. The "brain" of the truck is in the stereo system. the time on the call varies, but, the call will drop the Bluetooth or wired connection with the truck, the radio will reset, and go to a broadcast radio station, from which it will stay for about 5-30 seconds while resetting, and then the call will recommence on the in-house system again. Neither party knows until I start hollering that the call has been dropped. I have checked with Apple, and there are no issues with it, and all updates have been completed. During the call with the tech people at Ford, the tech said it is a known problem.The truck has been in the shop on several occasions at Ford Villages and in Ocala, Florida, starting in February 2025. On 3/14/25, eight modules had to be updated & I was assured that it would fix the issue. After is was dropped it off, it happened again. I took it back on 3/21, and this time they said they could not duplicate the problem. Furthermore, the issue would need to be fixed, most likely by an over-the-air update.On the way home, I called my brother, and it happened not more than ten minutes out of the shop! 3/25/2025, I contacted Ford again through their customer service line and told them I wanted to start the Lemon Law buyback process. A few days later, I got a call back – denied. I am going through the lemon law process now. They offered a $4k buyback, which I soundly rejected as an insult. REGARDLESS, this truck is unsafe to operate due to the distractions that are created by the unreliability of the CarPlay system. I have ended up in a ditch, almost ran off the road by other drivers and various other close calls, all because I have had to adjust the phone to where it would work while I am driving. Most likely the CarPlay (Android-based) incompatibility with the Apple software and users are made to suffer for it Whatever it is, it must be immediately resolved. Consumers do not need to be caught in between the petty games. Still or moving.
2.7 liter ecobost engine . Cam Phaser Failure, cam phasers control the performance, air intake and exhaust of the engine. Failure from these parts will affect engine performance and can cause engine damage. Similar recalls were issued for similar ford 3.5 liter engine in the past.
This vehicle started having issues. The truck would shut off going down the highway at 60-65 mph. The radio would blink on and off. The truck would shut down and not turn back on for multiple hours. Dealer couldn't replicate the problem. Our son utilized the truck to go and pick up LP gas for us from his shop. On the way back to our home, he stopped at a stop sign and suddenly noticed smoke coming from the dash. He attempted to put out the fire which was then raging under the dashboard and hood. He got the fire out, fire department arrived, truck ignited again. The fire department put out the truck. Son was burned trying to not have the truck explode with gas tanks in the back.
I started receiving notifications that the battery on my 2023 Ford F150 was in battery save mode due to low battery. I called my dealership and set up an appointment. I took in my vehicle and they charged the battery but told us that Ford has an issue with these batteries not holding a charge. He recommended we just run our truck in the driveway for 30 min when this happens. The charge lasted 3 day's, I drive this vehicle multiple times daily and we have taken many trips in it. I have never had a vehicle that the battery will not charge properly and then to be told they know this is an issue but aren't doing anything to fix it is unacceptable.
I am writing to request assistance regarding the Customer Satisfaction Bulletin published by NHTSA, titled "Heated Steering Wheel Performance Upgrade 22G06": [XXX] I purchased a 2023 Ford F-150 Tremor from Ryan Ford in Sealy, TX, as a custom order with a build date of December 2022. While I originally paid for a heated steering wheel as part of the vehicle's configuration, this feature was removed during production due to supply chain issues. The omission is noted on my vehicle’s window sticker. Upon reviewing the 22G06 bulletin, I understand that certain F-150 vehicles, including those built in December 2022 at the Dearborn plant, qualify for the upgrade. Based on this information, my truck appears to meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the bulletin. I initially contacted my sales agent at Ryan Ford to arrange the upgrade but was informed that my truck is not eligible and was directed to contact Ford Customer Service. When I reached out to Ford Customer Service, I was advised to contact NHTSA, as Ford is unable to consider adding my truck to the VIN list for eligibility without NHTSA approval. This back-and-forth has left me without a clear resolution or pathway forward. Could you please clarify why my vehicle is deemed ineligible for this upgrade, despite seemingly meeting all the stated criteria? Furthermore, I would appreciate your guidance on how I can ensure my dealership completes this upgrade, considering my vehicle's apparent qualifications. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance system unintendedly activated. During the failure there were no other vehicles or large objects nearby. The "Collision Alert" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on several occasions while while driving at various speeds, the driver’s window switch was depressed; however, the window froze momently and failed to work as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
My Ford F150 was hit by another vehicle going at least 45 mph on the passenger which push my vehicle into another vehicle. However, the airbags was never deployed which cause injury to my right side from steering wheel.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was missing the "Heated Steering Wheel Performance Upgrade". The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The bill of sale stated that the semi-conductor chip was not installed due to a chip shortage. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 22G06; however, the VIN was included. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the transmission downshifted to second gear unexpectedly, causing the rear wheels to squeal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road temporarily. The contact stated resumed driving at highway speeds; however, the failure recurred, and the vehicle downshifted to 2nd gear. The contact was able to drive to the nearby dealer, where the vehicle was being diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
My 2023 Ford F-150 3.5 eco boost with 35,000 approx. started having issues about 2000 miles ago with the transmission. It tends to slip gears between 3-4, 4-5 and 9-10. Sometimes it isn’t bad but other times it feels like the transmission is going to drop out from the truck. I also have an issue where the truck shifts into neutral while driving but still displays it is in drive. This doesn’t happen often but 4 times now in 2,000 miles. When this occurs I can’t put the truck back into drive and go, I have to stop, turn off the engine and wait from 5-10 minutes before I can drive away. When these issues occur there is no check engine light and the dealer said there are no snapshots recorded.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH on a flat road surface, the vehicle made an abnormal exploding sound, and the contact noticed that the panoramic sunroof rear glass panel had shattered without impact. The contact stated that the shattered glass did not fall into the interior of the vehicle because the sunroof interior canvas cover was closed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and assessed the damage. The vehicle was driven to the nearest dealer, where it was determined that the panoramic sunroof rear glass panel needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the autobody repair department would perform the extensive repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and declined to cover the repair under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.
The rear axle bolts - both - were sheared. Specifically, the bolt head and a portion of the bolt shaft were loose within the small hub cap that covers the axles. I was unaware that either bolt had failed. The failure was discovered on [XXX] when I took the vehicle into a Ford dealership for an oil change tire rotation. I was waiting for the service to be completed. The service advisor, Rocky Garcia, approached me and informed me that one of the rear axle bolts had sheared, and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. At my request he returned with one fairly large bolt head with a shaft that had clearly sheared. He said that this was not the subject of a recall, but that it was covered under warranty. When the vehicle was returned to me on Saturday, December 14, 2024 I learned from the invoice that both rear bolts had failed. The invoice states that both rear "axle shafts" were replaced. The vehicle was manufactured in July or August of 2024 and falls outside of the recall that exists for 2023 Ford F-150 with the Trailer Tow Max Package, Ford reference No. 23S65. A simple internet search reveals Ford has struggled with this same defect for years. The rear axle bolt is a critical component, and it is absurd that in 2023, Ford is struggling with using a bolt of sufficient strength. As I am reminded every time I start the vehicle, the Ford F series was in its 75th year in 2023. One would think that developing an axle bolt of sufficient strength after 75 years would not be hard. I have towed a camper approximately 10 times since the purchase of the vehicle in August 2023. The camper, fully loaded, weighs at most 3,600 lbs. The sheared bolt was retained by Covert Ford in Austin, TX. I felt no change in the handling of the vehicle at any time, there were no warning lamps, etc., and heard no noise.
Passenger side rear axle bolt broken. Ford has issued a recall on earlier vehicles, but they still have not created a permanent fix and it is happening to the 2023 models as well
The engine and/or power train malfunctioned, rendering the vehicle difficult to bring to a stop. The longer than normal stopping distance carried the vehicle past the stop line, crosswalk and into the intersection of a crossing roadway. Anyone in the crosswalk or vehicle in the crossing roadway in the path of the vehicle would have been impacted. By placing the gear selector into Neutral, the vehicle was finally brought to stop. It is at this point I noted the tachometer read approximately 3500 RPM then slowly reduced to normal idle RPM. These aforementioned symptoms have not recurred since. The incident was brought to the attention of the manufacturer who referred me to the service department (local Ford dealer) who, in turn, did not identify any malfunctions. Service instructed me to monitor the operation of the vehicle and advise them of any problems. No malfunction codes/warnings/lights were present immediately before or after the incident.
The contact owns a 2023 FORD F-150. The contact stated that the Pre-collision Alarm Sensor Default was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced two sensor cables. While driving at approximately 35-40 MPH, there was a sudden winding sound coming from the bearings, which could be heard underneath the hood. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, who replaced the alternator, and while repairing the vehicle, the dealer noticed that the idler pulley had failed. The idler pulley and serpentine belt were replaced. After having the vehicle repaired, the driver’s side seat cushion started deteriorating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the driver’s seat cushion. The contact smelled burning transmission fluid entering the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The final decision for the repair was not yet provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
While driving my 2023 Ford F-150 on the freeway, the sunroof spontaneously shattered without warning. The failure occurred at highway speeds, producing a loud gunshot-like sound that startled me. The glass broke in an upward trajectory, which is inconsistent with the possibility of an external object, such as a rock, causing the damage. There were no other vehicles around me at the time, and no debris struck the windshield or surrounding areas. The shattered sunroof remains available for inspection upon request. The safety of myself and others was put at significant risk. Shattered glass could have fallen into the cabin while I was driving, potentially causing injuries or a distraction that might lead to an accident. Minutes prior to the incident, I had two young children under three years old in the vehicle, heightening my concern about the severity of this issue. Thankfully, they were not present when the sunroof shattered. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, but I did bring the vehicle to the dealership where I purchased it. The dealership, after consulting with Ford corporate, denied warranty coverage and suggested the damage was caused by a rock. This conclusion does not align with the circumstances or the nature of the damage. Neither the manufacturer nor any independent service center has inspected the sunroof further for potential defects. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the incident. This failure was entirely sudden and unexpected. Based on my research, spontaneous sunroof shattering is a documented issue that has occurred in similar vehicles, often attributed to defective tempered glass or thermal stress. I believe this incident is the result of a manufacturing defect in the sunroof glass.
The contact son owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on several occasions while her son was hauling a boat and driving approximately 5 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, the transmission downshifted hard, and the vehicle jolted forward. The vehicle was taken residence. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that prior to the unexpected downshifting, while the vehicle was parked, transmission fluid was leaking from the vehicle and was seen on the driveway. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that three days later there was transmission fluid on the driveway again, and the vehicle inadvertently shifted into 4WD while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 3,828.
This is something I've noticed a few times, it's concerning, and I'm trying to hash out what's actually happening. After reversing at slow speed (from a parking spot for example) and then shifting into drive, I've felt what appeared to be uncommanded throttle response. The cruise control engages as if it had been set to 15mph and trying to accelerate to that speed. Being in a parking space and shifting to drive, I was at a stand still. This morning, after backing out of driveway, slowing to a near stop, and selecting drive, it felt like the truck had a significant throttle engagement which I imeddiately had to brake. The cruise control had again engaged to 15mph and was green signifying it was active and accelerating to catch up to the 15mph. This occurs immediately when shifting from reverse to drive. The only common factor I can isolate to is when backing, if I simply shift to drive after slowing to a near stop, without braking, it engages. I cannot replicate and Ford says they are not aware of any issues.
The contact owned a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and the front passenger side of the vehicle crashed into a tree. No warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. The air bags were not deployed. No injuries were sustained and no medical attention was sought. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was totaled; the failure cause was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.