A Ford vehicle with a faulty wiper, awaiting inspection.
Ford is recalling over 422,000 vehicles in the U.S., including Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition SUVs, plus select F-series trucks, due to a potential windshield wiper failure. The recall, announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Tuesday, covers model years 2021-2023 for Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition, and 2022-2023 for Ford Super Duty trucks.
According to the NHTSA, the windshield wiper arms may operate erratically or break, leading to complete failure. This poses a safety risk as impaired driver vision could increase the chance of accidents. The defect is estimated to affect 3% of the recalled vehicles.
The issue stems from an incorrectly staked latch retention plate at the supplier, which secures the wiper arm to the wiper head. Dimensional variability may also reduce the engagement between the knurl and wiper arm, compromising operation.
Production improvements implemented by the supplier in December 2022 have addressed the issue, limiting the recall to vehicles made within a specific timeframe. Ford has stated they are unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the defect.
Dealers were notified on April 1, with owner notifications expected to begin on April 13 and conclude by April 17. Owners can search their VINs on the NHTSA website as of April 1 to check if their vehicle is affected. The remedy involves inspecting the windshield wipers and replacing them if they fail inspection. Replacement wiper arms will be manufactured with correct staking of the latch retention plate and wiper arm splines within specifications.
This recall follows a previous recall of over 615,000 Ford vehicles for wiper and driveshaft defects, and another of 1.74 million vehicles for rearview camera issues, highlighting ongoing quality control challenges for the automaker.
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