Yet another failed axle bolt

[Snakebitten]

At one time I might have had the passion to dig and look for even a hint.
For some reason(s?) the whole subject lost its weight. Its significance.

Not saying it's insignificant, but other than the poor customer service aspect regarding it, there just isn't that much impact on ownership experience. And that's a good thing.

A sheared axle bolt is hohum compared to something like a CDF drum slowly falling and the potential dealership/Ford run around that can come with that.

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[HammaMan]

I mean you do have a work around actually keeping the axles where they belong so I understand it not being high priority. The CDF flaw does suck to have looming somewhere on the horizon. Rarely do transmission failures occur when convenient.

 

[StevePeace]

I scheduled an oil change, tire rotation and an annual NYS inspection with my dealer a couple of weeks ago. The dealer saw that there was an open recall on my truck and asked me to get that taken care of as well. I asked for a loaner and they will provide one. Hopefully all goes well.

 

[simon]

I have called several dealers in the Atlanta area and it looks like Jim Ellis Ford is the dealer who can get me in the soonest on 11/14 and I've booked an appointment with them. If anyone has a hookup with an Atlanta area service man, let me know!

 

[Insman1515]

Just an FYI for everyone. I have a 22' Platinum Powerboost Max tow with the 7.2 onboard. It has had 5 axles since new. 2 replaced last week. I spoke with my dealer about trading it and they don't really want it on a trade. He gave me Ford's customer complaint number and told me to call and see if they would buy it back. The submitted a buy back request but it was denied. The reason they gave was because it was purchased in NC but registered in SC. I'm not sure what I'm going to do but even the recall states that what they are doing is a temporary repair. I'd definitely like to get out of it at this point.

 

[amschind]

This is going to be a class action lawsuit, and I am surprised that it isn't already

 

[Samson16]

Those of us who are rated to tow 11,200lbs( not saying I would) without the max tow axle:

 

[Snakebitten]

You've sheared 5 bolts?
Or you shear one, get 2 new axles.
Shear another, get 2 more axles.

Just curious, since it's a little outside the norm, for sure.

 

[VRFlyer]

For the record, my Axel Rose's still intact, Rock On!

And yes, even the CAD truck I bought falls under the recall campaign number using Ford's website VIN check.

 

[Buyer2021]

even the recall states that what they are doing is a temporary repair.

This is going to be a class action lawsuit, and I am surprised that it isn't already

IMO a bit more patience is in order.

• The recall has a projected 'permanent remedy' availability spring of next year (time will fly)
• Not likely to get a class-action going until Ford fails to come-through with that permanent remedy

Yeah, I know, this has been dragged-out and has been an inconvenience for some (some much more than others).

And yeah, I'll admit that my attitude is likely due to how very much I enjoy my F150 and the fact that even though I fall in the heart of the recall period I have not suffered a bolt-break yet (knock on wood).

 

[amschind]

IMO a bit more patience is in order.

• The recall has a projected 'permanent remedy' availability spring of next year (time will fly)
• Not likely to get a class-action going until Ford fails to come-through with that permanent remedy

Yeah, I know, this has been dragged-out and has been an inconvenience for some (some much more than others).

And yeah, I'll admit that my attitude is likely due to how very much I enjoy my F150 and the fact that even though I fall in the heart of the recall period I have not suffered a bolt-break yet (knock on wood).

I think that's fair, and I will caveat my statement with my underlying assumption that Ford will quietly fail to come up with a remedy and then quietly do nothing while trucks fall out of warranty or quietly keep replacing rear axles on a case by case basis. I actually wanted a Max Tow, and was quite relieved to have dodged this bullet through no fault of my own, but I would still love to get a Max Tow rear axle if a fixed version became available.

I have mostly given up hope, largely because this has been 3 years of the issue AND Ford's response with new vehicles was to simply eliminate the option entirely. If there were a viable fix, we would've seen it on new production in 2022 or 2023 at the latest with a retrofit fix coming out later. Instead, Ford canned the entire design and is still "working on" a hotfix. Quite simply, if a bunch of engineers deem a redesigned and newly manufactured part unsalvageable, then the likelihood of a dealer applied hotfix is VERY LOW. Further, if they do release a hotfix, I will remain quite suspicious of it until widespread use proves or disproves its quality because of the above reasons.

With regard to a class action, I am assuming that Ford will try to ignore this issue OR will step up and replace all Max Tow axles with regular axles. In the latter case, they are going to have to do something reasonable to compensate people who were sold a bill of goods. I sincerely hope that Ford chooses the latter.

 

[Insman1515]

You've sheared 5 bolts?
Or you shear one, get 2 new axles.
Shear another, get 2 more axles.

Just curious, since it's a little outside the norm, for sure.

The right side went out first and they repaired it. Then the left side went out. Both identical symptoms. The bolt shears off and falls inside the rim and it sounds like you are dragging a chain at low speeds. Then the right side failed again and was repaired. Then see the attached pic. After seeing that, I took it to the dealer again and they said the right side was bad again and replaced both axles. 5 new axles in total.

 

[Ed21]

I think that's fair, and I will caveat my statement with my underlying assumption that Ford will quietly fail to come up with a remedy and then quietly do nothing while trucks fall out of warranty or quietly keep replacing rear axles on a case by case basis. I actually wanted a Max Tow, and was quite relieved to have dodged this bullet through no fault of my own, but I would still love to get a Max Tow rear axle if a fixed version became available.

I have mostly given up hope, largely because this has been 3 years of the issue AND Ford's response with new vehicles was to simply eliminate the option entirely. If there were a viable fix, we would've seen it on new production in 2022 or 2023 at the latest with a retrofit fix coming out later. Instead, Ford canned the entire design and is still "working on" a hotfix. Quite simply, if a bunch of engineers deem a redesigned and newly manufactured part unsalvageable, then the likelihood of a dealer applied hotfix is VERY LOW. Further, if they do release a hotfix, I will remain quite suspicious of it until widespread use proves or disproves its quality because of the above reasons.

With regard to a class action, I am assuming that Ford will try to ignore this issue OR will step up and replace all Max Tow axles with regular axles. In the latter case, they are going to have to do something reasonable to compensate people who were sold a bill of goods. I sincerely hope that Ford chooses the latter.

If they replace max tows with regular axles it would totally derate our trucks and the reason why we purchased them.

 

[simon]

If you lived in Atlanta the timeline to replace 5 axles would be approximately eight and a half years.

The right side went out first and they repaired it. Then the left side went out. Both identical symptoms. The bolt shears off and falls inside the rim and it sounds like you are dragging a chain at low speeds. Then the right side failed again and was repaired. Then see the attached pic. After seeing that, I took it to the dealer again and they said the right side was bad again and replaced both axles. 5 new axles in total.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

………..I have not suffered a bolt-break yet (knock on wood).

Now you went and said it.

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