Ford Motor is recalling 2023 model-year Bronco Wildtrak and 2022 Bronco Raptor SUVs because internal damage to the steering gear may require increased steering effort or cause the steering wheel to lock-up. In details just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the required filing, Ford said owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy is performed. Ford is also recalling 2021-2022 Bronco models for different safety defect.*
However, owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 27 March 2023. Nexteer Automotive in Auburn Hills Michigan is the supplier of the steering gear.
The replacement parts will have undamaged internal components. Recalled Broncos are built with a steering gear ball nut retainer that may be cracked. A broken steering gear ball nut retainer can allow balls in the ball nut assembly to displace and wedge. Continued steering wheel movement can further wedge the balls and displace the retainer, resulting in increased steering effort. Should this continue and the balls do not transition back into the return guides, the ball nut may not be able to rotate.
As a result, the driver may not be able to rotate the steering wheel while driving increasing the risk of a crash. The gauge key on the steering gear assembly tooling became loose over time which allowed the key to contact and damage the ball nut retainer during the steering gear assembly process A driver may experience noise and/or increased steering efforts
Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge as required by federal regulations. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 23S09. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov for NHTSA recall 23V155
Timeline
March 3, 2023: Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action. There have been no reports of accident or injury associated with this safety defect. Steering gears (NB3V-3D070-BD and NB3V-3D070-AF) will be replaced. Ford is aware of one (1) warranty claim that is attributed to this concern, received January 17, 2023.
March 2, 2023: An issue pertaining to a broken ball nut retainer in a warranty-returned steering gear was brought to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) for review. As part of the warranty return process, steering gears are sent to the steering gear supplier and they assess and analyze the returned part. The technician comments on the warranty claim alleged a grinding noise while steering and loss of power steering function – there was no indication of a loss of directional control.
February 27, 2023: The steering gear supplier, Nexteer Automotive, completed the part tear down on and contacted Ford. Nexteer inspection found that the ball nut retainer was broken and displaced. A broken ball nut retainer can allow the balls within the ball nut assembly to displace and wedge. Ford conducted a review of the steering gear supplier’s assembly processes and production records and identified an assembly concern at the supplier’s manufacturing facility.
A review of supplier assembly process records was conducted for each steering gear produced for 2022 model year and 2023 model year production to identify steering gears that may contain a cracked retainer and two suspect windows of production were found. The first suspect production window consists of certain steering gears produced during a period in July 2022 and includes the warranty-return steering gear initially reviewed by the supplier. The second suspect window includes certain steering gears produced in February 2023. Suspect steering gears were then traced by serial number to specific vehicle VINs.
*Ford is also recalling 2021-2022 Bronco models for different safety defect. (See autoinformed.com on Ford Motor Recalling Bronco SUVs Again)
Ford Recalls Steering on Bronco Wildtrak, Bronco Raptor
Ford Motor is recalling 2023 model-year Bronco Wildtrak and 2022 Bronco Raptor SUVs because internal damage to the steering gear may require increased steering effort or cause the steering wheel to lock-up. In details just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the required filing, Ford said owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy is performed. Ford is also recalling 2021-2022 Bronco models for different safety defect.*
However, owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 27 March 2023. Nexteer Automotive in Auburn Hills Michigan is the supplier of the steering gear.
The replacement parts will have undamaged internal components. Recalled Broncos are built with a steering gear ball nut retainer that may be cracked. A broken steering gear ball nut retainer can allow balls in the ball nut assembly to displace and wedge. Continued steering wheel movement can further wedge the balls and displace the retainer, resulting in increased steering effort. Should this continue and the balls do not transition back into the return guides, the ball nut may not be able to rotate.
As a result, the driver may not be able to rotate the steering wheel while driving increasing the risk of a crash. The gauge key on the steering gear assembly tooling became loose over time which allowed the key to contact and damage the ball nut retainer during the steering gear assembly process A driver may experience noise and/or increased steering efforts
Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge as required by federal regulations. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 23S09. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov for NHTSA recall 23V155
Timeline
March 3, 2023: Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action. There have been no reports of accident or injury associated with this safety defect. Steering gears (NB3V-3D070-BD and NB3V-3D070-AF) will be replaced. Ford is aware of one (1) warranty claim that is attributed to this concern, received January 17, 2023.
March 2, 2023: An issue pertaining to a broken ball nut retainer in a warranty-returned steering gear was brought to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) for review. As part of the warranty return process, steering gears are sent to the steering gear supplier and they assess and analyze the returned part. The technician comments on the warranty claim alleged a grinding noise while steering and loss of power steering function – there was no indication of a loss of directional control.
February 27, 2023: The steering gear supplier, Nexteer Automotive, completed the part tear down on and contacted Ford. Nexteer inspection found that the ball nut retainer was broken and displaced. A broken ball nut retainer can allow the balls within the ball nut assembly to displace and wedge. Ford conducted a review of the steering gear supplier’s assembly processes and production records and identified an assembly concern at the supplier’s manufacturing facility.
A review of supplier assembly process records was conducted for each steering gear produced for 2022 model year and 2023 model year production to identify steering gears that may contain a cracked retainer and two suspect windows of production were found. The first suspect production window consists of certain steering gears produced during a period in July 2022 and includes the warranty-return steering gear initially reviewed by the supplier. The second suspect window includes certain steering gears produced in February 2023. Suspect steering gears were then traced by serial number to specific vehicle VINs.
*Ford is also recalling 2021-2022 Bronco models for different safety defect. (See autoinformed.com on Ford Motor Recalling Bronco SUVs Again)