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Ford F-150 starter cable nut can spark and burn

NHTSA campaign 20V467000 · Reported 2020-08-10 · Ford Motor Company

critical How serious is it? About this label

This is a fire risk under the hood; the notice does not tell owners to park the truck or stop driving, but have the nut replaced as soon as you can get an appointment.

What's wrong, in plain English

The wrong nut may have been used to fasten the main positive battery cable to the starter motor on some F-150 trucks. A poor connection there does not carry electricity well, so the spot can get very hot and throw sparks. Those sparks can start a fire under the hood. The repair is straightforward: the dealer replaces the nut that holds the battery cable to the starter, free of charge. Ford began notifying owners in August 2020.

What you should do

1. Look up your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your F-150 is affected. 2. Call your Ford dealer or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 (recall 20S40) and schedule the free nut replacement. 3. If you ever smell burning or see smoke from under the hood, stop, shut the truck off, and get everyone out.

Affected vehicles (1)

2020 Ford F-150

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Why do Ford hybrid batteries and power cables keep getting recalled? · all 39 Ford recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 vehicles. An incorrect attachment nut may have been used to attach the battery positive (B+) power supply cable to the starter motor, possibly affecting the electrical conductivity, resulting in excess heat and electrical arcing.
Safety risk: Electrical arcing can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the starter motor B+ power supply attachment nut, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S40.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.