Ford recalled 103,000 vehicles? How important are fasteners in the automotive industry?

Due to the risk of axle bolt failure, Ford Motor Company recalled over 103,000 2023-2025 model year F-150 pickups.

Ford Motor Company recalled certain 2023-2025 model year F-150s in the United States, totaling over 103,000 vehicles. The defective bolts may cause damage to the wheel hub splines. Damaged wheel hub splines may result in the vehicle rolling away when parked without the parking brake engaged, or may cause loss of drive power. Either of these situations could increase the risk of a collision.

Ford stated that if the rear axle bolts become loose or break, owners may hear unusual clicking sounds. As a remedy, authorized dealers will replace the faulty rear axle components free of charge.

This incident once again highlights the importance of quality control for critical components in the automotive supply chain. Quality control in the automotive supply chain is the lifeline of a company, especially for critical components such as fasteners. Although fasteners may seem unremarkable in terms of appearance and size, they play a crucial role in connecting and securing various components to form mechanical equipment, significantly influencing the overall quality and performance of the equipment. In the automotive industry, fasteners are used in the production of various components and parts, as well as in the assembly of sub-systems to form the entire vehicle, holding a significant position in vehicle manufacturing.