Ford’s F-Series of pickup trucks is a genuine American icon. The F-150 is one of the country’s most popular and best-known full-size pickups, and the F-series overall has been the highest-selling vehicle in the US since 1981. They have been in production since 1948 and have seen many changes in the past seven decades. However, not all of those changes have been for the better.
Ford has been under fire for reduced production quality in the past few years, and the F-150 is no exception. Since 2018, there have been more than 28 recalls for dangerous problems with the pickup line. This doesn’t include well-known issues that aren’t dangerous enough to warrant intervention from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
You bought a Ford F-150 expecting reliable performance and longstanding value, not poor craftsmanship and flaws. If your truck has manufacturer defects impacting its value, performance, or safety, you may be eligible to make a lemon law claim against Ford.
At Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys, we have years of experience helping car owners like you stand up to big car manufacturers. We’ve worked for those manufacturers on the other side of lemon law cases, so we understand how the other side thinks. We will work with you to ensure your claim is solid and use our in-depth understanding of the process to pursue fair compensation for your defective truck.
If your Ford F-150 has a manufacturing flaw, we’re ready to help you resolve the issue for good. Call our Ventura, California law office at 805-870-8732 or reach out online to schedule your consultation.
Recent Ford F-150 Recalls
In the last few years, Ford has recalled trucks dozens of times. We’ve broken down the most recent, dangerous, and widespread recalls that your truck may have been subject to.
2021 F-150 Recalls
The 2021 year model hasn’t been out very long, but it’s already been subject to a recall:
- Loose windshield (79,017 vehicles affected): Critical fasteners on the vehicles’ windshields may not be installed correctly, potentially allowing the windshield to separate from the truck in a crash. This could put occupants at risk of serious injuries.
2020 F-150 Recalls
The 13th generation of the F-150 really was unlucky. This generation covered the 2015-2020 year models and was plagued with problems the whole time. Even in the last year of the generation, trucks were recalled for the following issues:
- Incorrect gear indicators (55,158 trucks affected): Trucks were shipped with wrong gear position indicators (PRNDL), potentially causing drivers to misunderstand what gear the transmission is in. Critically, this included mislabeled neutral and park gears. Drivers who trust the incorrect PRNDL labeling risk unintended vehicle movement if they park without using their parking brakes.
- Poorly constructed seats (639,137 trucks affected): The front seat reclining mechanisms in the affected trucks were assembled improperly, leading to reduced strength. This weakness may lead to insufficient restraint in an accident, leading to a greater risk of injury.
- Faulty headlights (166,196 trucks affected): Affected vehicles had DRL headlights that may not dim appropriately. At night, the headlights were too bright for safety, potentially reducing visibility for oncoming drivers and increasing the risk of accidents.
- Loose battery cables (135,725 trucks affected): Faulty battery cables may cause engine stalls or inoperative vehicle systems in affected trucks, including reduced power braking and steering, making crashes more likely. Furthermore, cable flaws make resistive shorts more likely, creating fire risks.
2019 F-150 Recalls
In addition to all of the problems listed above, the 2019 year model F-150 also faced recalls for issues such as:
- Faulty heater (410,289 trucks affected): Corrosion in the engine block heater creates a fire risk during prolonged use. The corrosion may cause resistive shorts, leading to melted wires and overheating and increasing the chance of engine fires.
- Damaged cables (131,068 trucks affected): In connection with the above problem, some engine block heaters were found to have damaged block heater connectors. This damage could also increase the risk of shorts, overheating, and engine fires.
Most Common F-150 Complaints
Owners of Ford trucks have filed hundreds of complaints with the NHTSA regarding problems that haven’t led to recalls. Common issues include:
- Excessive oil consumption
- Incorrect transmission shifting
- Damaged, faulty, or falling apart dashboards and glove boxes
- Wiring eaten by rodents
- Faulty electrical systems, including locks and touch screens
These problems affect the utility and value of your car just as much as a recall. Under California law, manufacturers must repair, replace, or refund vehicles with factory defects that reduce utility, safety, or value.
Manufacturers have the right to make a “reasonable number” of attempts to repair a vehicle before replacing or refunding it. That means they have two chances to repair potentially deadly issues and four opportunities to fix defects that are unlikely to be dangerous. However, if they have used up those chances and the problem comes back, you may have grounds to file a lemon law claim.
You can file a lemon claim if your truck is still under warranty and demonstrated a manufacturing defect at less than 18 months or 18,000 miles after your purchase and the manufacturer can’t fix it. If your claim is successful, you could receive a full refund for the cost of the vehicle.
If you think your car meets those qualifications, you can read our Consumer’s Guide to Lemon Law to learn more about how California lemon law works. You can also take our quiz to better understand whether you qualify.
Consult Experienced California Lemon Law Attorneys
You shouldn’t have to worry about your supposedly dependable F-150 falling apart around you. If your new truck has manufacturing flaws, you deserve to get it repaired, replaced, or refunded. The first step is to talk to the expert attorneys at Johnson & Buxton – The Lemon Law Guys.We’ll discuss your situation, help you determine if you’re eligible to make a claim, and guide you through the process of filing and receiving compensation. Schedule your free consultation to learn more by reaching out through this online form or calling 805-870-8732.
