Ford is recalling 931 units of its 2023 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks due to a defect in the windshield defrosting and defogging system, according to a notification sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The recall is being conducted under Federal law and has been assigned the NHTSA Campaign Number 23V-688.
The issue stems from the electronic cabin coolant heater module, which may be missing a solder joint. “The electronic cabin coolant heater module may be missing a solder joint, which can cause intermittent or no cabin heat and result in an inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system,” stated the letter from Alex Ansley, Chief of the Recall Management Division Office of Defects Investigation Enforcement.
This defect causes the vehicles to fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, “Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems.”
The malfunctioning defrosting and defogging system poses a safety risk as it may decrease the driver’s visibility, thereby increasing the likelihood of a crash. Ford dealers will replace the faulty electronic cabin coolant heater free of charge to remedy the issue. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 6, 2023.
Owners can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 for more information. Ford’s internal number for this recall is 23C32. Additionally, owners may reach out to the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit www.nhtsa.gov for further details.
Ford is required to submit all related notices and communications regarding this recall to the NHTSA no later than five days after their original dissemination.
Earlier this week, Ford recalled over 37,000 Mustang Mach-E vehicles due to a battery issue that can cause a power failure.
