Do You Have a New F-150 with a Long Repair History?
In 2021, the Ford F-150 continued its market dominance in the U.S., retaining its title as best-selling vehicle and best-selling truck, as it has for almost forty years. However, despite its ongoing popularity, the F-150 has been the subject of numerous complaints, investigations, and recalls in recent years, with vehicle owners raising concerns with everything from faulty transmission gears to engine failure to vibration in the axles.
The F-150 debuted in 1948, when it was introduced to the public as the Ford Bonus-Built. Fast forward nearly seventy-five years, and the Ford 150 has firmly established itself atop the pickup truck market. In fact, in the past four decades, Americans have purchased more F-series trucks than any other vehicle on the market. And even though the Ram 1500 and Chevy Silverado outsold the F-150 in the second quarter of last year, the F-150 reclaimed its title as the top seller in the third quarter, selling 172,000 vehicles between July and September—which was almost 50,000 more than either of its competitors on the market.
Not only was it named the 2021 North American Truck of the Year, but the 2021 Ford F-150 also earned the lowest 5-Year Cost to Own Award from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com for overall brand. There is no denying the popularity of the Ford F-150 throughout the country, as many Americans seek to buy this award-winning vehicle year after year. However, not only is the truck popular, it can also be very problematic.
The 2020 Ford F-150 Regular Cab was subject to seven recalls according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The first recall occurred in December 2019 for certain 2020 F-150 trucks that had 17-inch spare tires, as these tires could have potentially been damaged when they were installed. In April 2020, certain vehicles were recalled because their gear position display could be inaccurate. According to the recall, the transmission shift cable lock clip in affected vehicles may not be fully seated, which could ultimately cause the transmission to be in a different gear than the gear intended by the driver. In August 2020, certain 2020 F-150s were recalled because an incorrect attachment nut may have been utilized in order to attach the battery positive power supply cable to the starter motor. For affected vehicles, this issue could potentially result in both electrical arcing as well as excess heat. A month later, certain 2020 F-150 vehicles were recalled because a possible issue with an electrical connection could cause the rearview camera to potentially show either a blank or distorted image, which could lead to an increased risk of a crash.
In addition to the recalls, F-150 owners have had a number of different complaints regarding their vehicles. For instance, in one complaint, an F-150 owner said that while their spouse was driving, the F-150 lost electronic power and rolled to a complete stop. In another complaint, an F-150 driver said that their vehicle had very hard downshifting and also displayed erratic rough shifting when they were in traffic. From complaints relating to the propulsion system to concerns about vehicle speed control, owners of Ford F-150 vehicles have had a number of issues with their vehicles in recent years.
The experienced automobile attorneys at Timothy Abeel & Associates have an extensive track record when it comes to negotiating with the world’s top vehicle makers, including Ford. We work tirelessly to get the results that our clients deserve. At Timothy Abeel & Associates, we do not charge our clients for fees—instead, our fees are paid by the auto manufacturers when we earn the settlement or award our clients are looking for. To find out more about what Timothy Abeel & Associates can do for you, contact us today.