2021-2023 Ford F-150 Parking Brake Electrical Recall (23V509)
Ford Motor Company · 870,701 vehicles · Reported July 21, 2023
Ford Motor Company is recalling 870,701 2021-2023 Ford F-150 vehicles. Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly. Unexpected activation of the electric parking brake while driving increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V509 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V509000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 23S35 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 21, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2023 Ford F-150 |
| Units affected | 870,701 |
| Component | Parking Brake > Electrical |
| Safety risk | Unexpected activation of the electric parking brake while driving increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Ford F-150 in recall 23V509?
Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a single exhaust system. Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2023 F-150 with recall 23V509?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Unexpected activation of the electric parking brake while driving increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Unexpected activation of the electric parking brake while driving increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the electrical.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V509?
Recall 23V509 covers 870,701 vehicles: 2021-2023 Ford F-150.
NHTSA lists 870,701 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2023 | Ford | F-150 |
What is the fix for the F-150 parking brake electrical recall?
Yes. Dealers will install a protective tie strap, tape wrap, and replace the harness as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will install a protective tie strap, tape wrap, and replace the harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S35.
When was recall 23V509 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V509 to NHTSA on July 21, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as February 12, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 21, 2023 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V509000. |
| February 12, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 38 months ago. If your F-150 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my F-150 is part of recall 23V509?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V509 is open on your F-150, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should F-150 owners do about recall 23V509?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V509000 applies to your F-150.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the electrical happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are F-150 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 2,017 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 170 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 23V509 was reported on July 21, 2023, owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 16 of them (12%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the brakes and were received on or after July 21, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 2,017 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 170 of them involve the brakes. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford F-150: 1,015 complaints in total, 76 about the brakes
- 2022 Ford F-150: 594 complaints in total, 42 about the brakes
- 2023 Ford F-150: 408 complaints in total, 52 about the brakes
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and could only be driven at an excessively slow speed. The traction control, brakes, and ABS warning lights were illuminated.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11654561, filed April 14, 2025
The same brake booster that allegedly only had 51 vehicles included in it? Same exact issue as this link: [XXX] not working seems like a pretty big safety issue.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, RI, NHTSA complaint 11665468, filed June 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal became significantly hard to depress. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal with added force. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, WI, NHTSA complaint 11669285, filed June 25, 2025
Can recall 23V509 make my F-150 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this electrical recall means their F-150 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Brake defects are safety defects. California's lemon law presumption can apply after two repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, when the manufacturer has been notified directly.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2023 Ford F-150 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your F-150 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford F-150 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V509
Did the recall 23V509 fix work?
Since recall 23V509 was reported on July 21, 2023, owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 16 of them (12%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed February 12, 2024.
Is the 23V509000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my F-150 is part of recall 23V509000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V509000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.