Vehicle recalls occur when a car or truck is not safe or is unreliable. Even though manufacturers like Ford spend a significant amount of time in development and research to ensure problems don’t happen, sometimes they do after owners start driving them. That’s when things like the vacuum pump need to be considered.
Is there a recall on the Ford F-150 vacuum pump? There is a closely matching recall to vacuum pump concerns as well as several other concerns with the Ford F-150 including these recalls:
- Brake master cylinder may leak into booster
- Damage to block heater cable may cause fire
- Fire after seat belt pretensioner deployment
It’s always wise to maintain information about recalls related to the vehicle you own. Additionally, it is important to stay up to date on changing conditions, which is something you can do at Vehicle History for your Ford F-150. Here, we’ll talk about some of the largest recalls impacting these modern trucks.
Brake Master Cylinder May Leak into Booster
NHTSA Recall ID: 20V332000
Ford alerted owners of a problem with the brake system and hydraulics on the 2014 through 2017 F-150 pickup trucks. This only affects those vehicles with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. In these vehicles, the master cylinder may leak brake fluid into the brake booster. It’s important to note that while this is not specifically related to the vacuum pump, it is the most likely reason for brake fluid leaks related to these trucks.
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration has had over 300 complaints related to this area. In these vehicles, the pedal goes to the floor while a person is driving it and trying to brake. When this happens, the driver can see the brake light is on and a brake fluid light comes on. However, there does not seem to be any leaks of brake fluid on the pavement.
The potential concern is that the vacuum brake booster line in these vehicles lacks the negative pressure in the intake manifold requiring it to use a vacuum pump. This pump is then connected to the rear of the exhaust camshaft and runs on a constant basis.
In the recall, Ford noted that loss of brake fluid like this can lead to brake pedal travel and feel changes. This can mean the driver has to apply significantly more pressure to get the vehicle to stop. It may also mean there is a need for more space for the truck to stop before hitting other vehicles. This can increase the risk of an accident.
To fix this, Ford alerted owners of the problem. They then had dealerships replace the brake master cylinder. They also inspected the brake booster to determine if damage occurred. If it was damaged, it was replaced. Owners began to see repairs for this in June of 2020 as parts become available.
Damage to Block Heater Cable May Cause Fire
NHTSA Recall ID: 20V098000
In February of 2020, Ford issued a recall on the engine and equipment of the 2015 and 2016 Ford F-150 pickup trucks. This only applies to those trucks with a 3.5L GTDI engine and block immersion heaters. In these vehicles, these heaters were potentially positioned in a secondary location from where they were supposed to be. This can happen during a repair as well. The improper location puts the heater too close to the hot engine components.
In some situations, the improper location can lead to a damaged cable. In these cases, a resistive short can occur. This can cause the vehicle to overheat. Wires may also melt. This increases the risk of a fire occurring.
Ford let owners know about this problem. They then had dealerships inspect the block heater and its location. They also had them inspect the cable associated with it. They replaced any damaged components and repositioned the location of the block heater as needed. Repairs began in April of 2020.
Fire After Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment
NHTSA Recall ID: 18V568000
Ford recalled 1.6 million vehicles for a problem with the seat belt pretensioner. This affects the 2015 through 2018 Ford F-150 both SuperCrew and Regular Cab vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat belt pretensioner will deploy as it should during a crash. However, it releases sparks that can cause a risk of fire if the sparks hit the carpet or the insulation in the B-pillar area.
In either of these vehicles, the sparks can cause the vehicle’s carpeting to catch on fire. This increases the risk of injuries if an accident occurs resulting in the deployment of the pretensioner.
Ford alerted owners of this problem in August of 2018. It then had dealerships remove the B-pillar insulation material (most common to catch on fire) and added material and wiring harness tape to the area. It also added heat resistant tape to avoid the risk of sparks catching the vehicle on fire.
How Do You Handle an Open Recall on the Ford F-150?
Further recalls related to the vacuum pump may occur on the Ford F-150 over time. Other recalls can also happen. Owners need to stay up to date on this information. They can do that using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website.
For vehicle owners, entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle into the website will produce a full list of all applicable recalls. It also will note any that still need to be repaired. Owners can then call Ford directly at 1-866-436-7332 to find out how to have these recalls fixed and their vehicles services at local dealerships.
If you are thinking about buying the Ford F-150, it helps to know about related recalls. You can look this information up without a VIN. Just enter the make, model, and year into the website. It provides information on all recalls affecting that model.
You can also stay up to date and informed about any concerns with pre-owned Ford F-150 pickup trucks when you check the Vehicle History.
