Ford Recalls Nearly 30,000 F-150 Lightning EVs Due to Suspension Defect
Ford is recalling nearly 30,000 F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks in the United States due to a potential issue with a suspension nut that may be loose or missing. This defect could lead to the separation of the front upper control arm from the knuckle assembly, posing a risk of partial loss of steering control.
The recall impacts a total of 29,501 Ford F-150 Lightning units manufactured between February 15, 2024, and April 14, 2025. This includes 20,528 vehicles from the 2024 model year and 8,973 from the 2025 model year.
Issue Explanation
Ford has identified that certain vehicles within this production period may have an improperly torqued nut on the ball joint. This nut is crucial for securing the front upper control arm to the knuckle assembly. The improper torque is believed to be due to variations in the alignment or orientation between the fastening tool and the fastener during the assembly process, which may have prevented the tool from seating properly and applying the correct torque.
If the ball joint nut is loose or missing, drivers may experience:
- Lack of steering control
- Front wheel failure
Recall Details
Ford is aware of one field report dated March 6, 2025, detailing a 2024 F-150 Lightning owner who reported a right front wheel failure after just 634 miles. A dealership technician found that the control arm had detached from the knuckle due to a missing ball joint nut.
Ford improved the design of its factory tooling on April 14, 2025, meaning trucks built after this date are not included in this recall. However, it’s not the only recall this year. To address the issue in affected vehicles, Ford and Lincoln dealers will perform the necessary repairs free of charge.
F-150 Lightning Sales Performance
The F-150 Lightning is currently the best-selling electric pickup truck in the United States. In the first quarter of this year, Ford sold 7,187 F-150 Lightnings in the U.S., narrowly outselling the Tesla Cybertruck, which was the best-selling battery-powered truck in America last year.
Despite this issue, the F-150 Lightning remains one of the top electric trucks out there, even when compared to the Cybertruck. If you are thinking of buying one, check out the best Ford EV deals.
