The problem
Some of the involved vehicles may have been built with improperly heat treated front suspension lower spring seat attaching studs. These studs could fracture during vehicle operation, allowing the lower spring seat to move and possibly slide off the axle.
The fix
The dealer will replace the lower spring seat studs on both the left and right sides of the vehicle at no charge to owners.
Contacts
Vehicle description: light trucks.System: suspension; front suspension assembly studs.Consequences of defect: this could cause erratic steering. A rupture of thefront brake hose could occur, resulting in loss of front wheel braking. Changesin steering and a loss of front brakes could cause a loss of vehicle controlpossibly resulting in an accident.Note: the operator may be forewarned of the condition by a change in vehicleattitude, abnormal position of the affected front wheel, front end noise, achange in steering efforts or steering pull, or illumination of the brakewarning light.
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Ford dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 83V032000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.