Ford is recalling 2,416 vehicles because a suspension component could fall off.
The recall includes 2024-2025 Ford Bronco SUVs and 2024 Ford Ranger pickup trucks assembled between June and September of this year. Some of these vehicles may have a missing or improperly torqued nut on the ball joint that secures the front upper control arm to the knuckle assembly, according to the NHTSA. This could cause the front upper control arm to separate from the knuckle assembly.
Detachment of the control arm from the knuckle assembly could cause loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash, the NHTSA said.
Ford told the NHTSA that it first became aware of the issue through a warranty report describing a missing ball joint fastener on a 2024 Ranger. The automaker said it’s aware of four such reports related to this issue, but no crashes, fires, or injuries caused by the condition.
The remedy is a trip to the dealership, where technicians will inspect the front suspension to ensure that ball joint fasteners are tightened properly. If the fastener is loose or missing, dealers will tighten it or replace the ball joint and knuckle assembly. All of this work will be performed free of charge.
Ford plans to mail owner notification letters Oct. 28. For more information, owners can also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or visit Ford’s recall site here. Ford’s reference number for this recall is 24S64.
The Ranger was redesigned for 2024 with three turbocharged engine options, large touchscreens, and styling that apes the larger Ford F-150. The Bronco has been around in its current form since the 2021 model year. For 2024, Ford dropped the base trim and made a larger touchscreen standard. Some 2021 and 2022 Bronco models were included in a large recall of Ford turbocharged engines announced last month.