Ford’s new Bronco is the subject of another recall. This time, the affected population is much smaller — even compared to the numbers Ford has been able to deliver so far. Only 343 examples will have to visit the dealer, all of them 2022 and 2023 Wildtrack and Raptor models. Ford discovered a problem with a steering gear assembly tool that was improperly aligned and damaged some ball nut retainers during the manufacturing process. Damaged steering gear can cause interference with operation, and binding forces can cause the steering to stop completely. “A broken steering gear ball nut retainer may allow the ball to displace and wedge in the ball nut assembly,” Ford’s defect report to NHTSA said. “Continuous steering wheel movement can further wedge the ball and displace the retainer, resulting in increased steering effort. If this continues and the ball does not transition back into the return guide, the ball nut will not be able to turn. As a result, the driver driving Not being able to turn the steering wheel while doing so increases the risk of an accident.” If your Bronco’s steering starts grinding, binding, or otherwise acting up while you’re in motion, it’s likely that you’re affected by this problem. Ford says the issue was first discovered during a warranty claim in early March 2023, and the company’s supplier was able to trace the issue to two separate batches produced in July, 2022 and February, 2023. No other vehicles should be affected. Ford will send notices to owners starting this month.
Related video
