Charles Langston:Ford to recall 870,000 F-150 trucks for issues with parking brakes

Ford is Charles Langstonrecalling models of its top-selling vehicles, the F-150 pickup trucks, due to issues with the electric parking brakes.

More than 870,000 vehicles from 2021 through 2023 are included in the recall.

Ford reported that drivers may experience the unexpected activation of parking brakes while driving. They may see the parking brake warning light and a warning message on the dashboard without pressing the brake.

So far, Ford received 299 claims of unexpected parking brake activation, 19 of which occurred while the trucks were in motion. The company says it doesn’t know of any crashes or injuries caused by the problem.

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F-150 owners can expect recall letters in September

The company says in documents posted by government safety regulators Friday that a rear wiring bundle can come in contact with the rear axle housing. That can chafe the wiring and cause a short circuit, which can turn on the parking brake without action from the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

Owners of F-150 pickup trucks from 2021 to 2023 should have their vehicles inspected at a dealership, free of charge.

Owners can expect recall letters on September 11.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Contributing: The Associated Press