Ford is pulling more than 422,000 vehicles off the road for a safety fix after federal filings flagged a problem that is about as basic as it gets: windshield wipers that might quit when you need them most. The U.S. recall covers certain Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition SUVs plus a range of F-Series pickup trucks, and calls for dealers to inspect and swap out faulty front wiper arms at no cost to owners, according to Reuters.
Reuters reports that a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration spells out the recall population of roughly 422,613 U.S. vehicles and details the defect. Certain wiper-arm components can strip or snap during use, which can stop the front wipers from working at all. The outlet notes that the filing with regulators lays out the specifics of the campaign.
Which Vehicles Are Affected
Federal recall records from earlier wiper-arm campaigns show a familiar pattern: the fix is for dealers to inspect the front wiper arms and replace any that are defective, free of charge. Those prior actions also listed Expedition, Navigator and several F-Series variants among the affected nameplates, according to NHTSA documents.
In similar filings, regulators have cited worn or undersized spline teeth and retention hardware that can allow the wiper arm to strip out or separate when it is under load. Eligibility is tied to specific vehicle identification numbers, so not every Expedition, Navigator or F-Series truck on the road will fall under this particular recall.
What Owners Should Do
Owners driving an Expedition, Navigator or F-Series truck are being urged to run their vehicle identification number through the recall lookup tool on Ford and then reach out to a local Ford or Lincoln dealer to book an inspection, according to Reuters. Ford typically sends notification letters once a remedy is ready and will handle the inspection and any needed front wiper-arm replacement without charging owners.
Anyone with immediate safety concerns can also call Ford customer service directly at 1-866-436-7332.
Where This Fits in Ford’s Recall Run
This latest campaign is part of a busy recall year for the Dearborn automaker. In early March, Ford filed a separate National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall that covers about 604,533 Explorers, Escapes and Lincoln SUVs for a windshield-wiper motor problem, according to WardsAuto.
With several large recalls hitting in quick succession, many Ford and Lincoln owners may see more than one letter land in their mailbox and could run into crowded service departments as parts shipments and appointments are juggled.
For now, the marching orders are straightforward: check your VIN, read any mail from Ford carefully and schedule a visit if your vehicle shows up in the recall system. The fine print in federal filings and dealer bulletins will dictate timing and parts availability, but the inspection and any wiper-arm replacement should cost owners nothing.
