Ford Issues Do-Not-Drive Advisory for Certain 2021-2026 Maverick; Owners Urged to Contact Dealerships Immediately (June 1, 2026)

[Chops]

Any speculation as to why Ford/NHTSA waited a full year to issue the “do not drive” instruction? Even after the problem was discovered last June - some trucks were incorrectly repaired. Maybe Ford was trying to figure out how to properly fix before announcing the recall?

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[Grand Nat.]

Okay I'm not too good with stuff like this. So I went and took a picture and I'll post it does this look like it's seated properly? I did put my VIN in and it shows no recall, but I also have one spot that shows I have two recalls for the camera and some towing thing and another spot where it only shows the camera recall. So I wasn't sure how accurate it was. So I decided to take a picture and see if you guys could tell me.

It looks okay however I think you need to check the torque spec. I check mine it was tight and the pinch bolt was okay. With the torque wrench I hit well above 85 FT pounds. You will need a Torx Plus bit 55 and a 18 mill to check it

 

[NoVaJimmy]

Thanks for your helpful reply. Always good when someone contributes good information Jimmy.

The truth hurts I guess

 

[MavStangVa]

The truth hurts I guess

Thanks again for contributing an intellectual reply to the discussion. Your input is so greatly enhancing this thread. Glad to see you back after 7 months. We all missed you knowledge and contributions.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

 

[Bdesign]

if you're not on the recall list and you want piece of mind crawl, under with a flashlight and make sure the ball-joint stud is fully engaged into the hub. Then go have a beer and relax- there are ~ 2400 ? Mavericks affected out of all the trucks built before June 2025. If you're on the list, call and get in the que and be sure to get a loaner. The only issue will be if they have enough "pinch-bolts". That seems to be the only part that needs to be replaced. Per the posts, they will put it on the rack, remove and discard the pinch-bolt, place a stand under the ball-joint, lower the truck to allow the ball-joint stud to seat into the hub, replace the pinch-bolt and torque it down. Off the rack into the parking lot- I would guess a hour to do.

 

[Chops]

The ball joint is made from hardened forged steel while the hub spindle is heavy duty cast iron.

The slightly larger top lip of the ball joint was torqued down inside the hub spindle. Did this “leave a mark” on either the ball joint lip or the hub spindle inner surface? Would it even matter if it did?

The tolerances here are probably much looser than say the cylinder walls!

 

[Darnon]

The slightly larger top lip of the ball joint was torqued down inside the hub spindle. Did this “leave a mark” on either the ball joint lip or the hub spindle inner surface? Would it even matter if it did?

The top diameter is the same as the bottom.

 

[Grand Nat.]

I believe the issue here is whether the pinch bolt is torqued correctly. The pinch bolt can't be inserted if the ball joint is not seated correctly into the spindle do to the machine grooved on the ball joint shaft. A design that Ford has been using for years. I did not here of any talk of defective ball joints up to this point. I check my pinch bolt and it was tighten to 85 FT pounds. Spec is 81. I have been using my Tremor on the beach all of last year if it was not installed correctly I would still be there.

 

[Darnon]

I believe the issue here is whether the pinch bolt is torqued correctly. The pinch bolt can't be inserted if the ball joint is not seated correctly into the spindle do to the machine grooved on the ball joint shaft.

It's not a matter of torque. The pinch bolt can be inserted and tightened if the ball joint is partially installed in the bottom of the bore, but not so much as to obstruct the cross hole.

 

[MetalThunder]

This is the moment when I'm glad i have no luck winning lottery's lol - my number is never drawn lol My streak continues - in this case Thank God

Cheers

 

[Grand Nat.]

It's not a matter of torque. The pinch bolt can be inserted and tightened if the ball joint is partially installed in the bottom of the bore, but not so much as to obstruct the cross hole.

That would be clearly be visible 3/4 of the ball joint shaft would be sticking down and you would have a big gap between the spindle assembly and the lower control arm. You can't install the pinch bolt unless it's lined up with the groove. If partially installed then the bolt can't be inserted through .If the bolt could be installed that would mean the top of the ball joint shaft is resting on the bolt. All you have to do is look at the assembly and see an unsafe condition. I have done lots of them in my years. It would be unlikely that it would get past Ford's inspection however if there were lots of errors there probably would've been lots of catastrophic failures already reported I don't know one individual that lost control because of a separation of components on a Maverick yet. That's why I assumed that improper pinch bolt installation could be the issue . So I checked it myself. Just look at the photo and understand what I am saying.

 

[Darnon]

That would be clearly be visible 3/4 of the ball joint shaft would be sticking down and you would have a big gap between the spindle assembly and the lower control arm. You can't install the pinch bolt unless it's lined up with the groove. If partially installed then the bolt can't be inserted through .If the bolt could be installed that would mean the top of the ball joint shaft is resting on the bolt. All you have to do is look at the assembly and see an unsafe condition. I have done lots of them in my years. It would be unlikely that it would get past Ford's inspection however if there were lots of errors there probably would've been lots of catastrophic failures already reported I don't know one individual that lost control because of a separation of components on a Maverick yet. That's why I assumed that improper pinch bolt installation could be the issue . So I checked it myself. Just look at the photo and understand what I am saying.

Except that's literally the condition that Ford's documentation says may have been the case and to inspect for.

For vehicles built prior to June 1, 2025, the vehicle assembly plant operator may not have fully inserted the front lower control arm ball stud into the front wheel knuckle before securing an associated pinch bolt.

And Ford was logging torque of the installed pinch bolt, but installing the balljoint partially in the fashion described doesn't prevent torquing adequately.

On June 1, 2025, HSAP implemented an assembly station improvement to ensure correct joint assembly. This improvement was implemented following identification of the improper assembly condition on a vehicle during internal plant inspection. Prior to the improvement, assembly station error proofing criteria could be satisfied upon achieving specified torque for the pinch bolt even with the ball joint stud only partially inserted.

The vehicles identified for inspect after that June 2025 date seem to be any that were flagged during production for a potential issue with the assembly, whether it was corrected or not, as one of the vehicles that exhibited a failure had been marked for repair (on August 28, 2025) but was shipped anyways.

 

[BouseBill]

Not Mine either

 

[MavStangVa]

13 pages with most saying their Maverick is not on the list. I am not saying if mine is or not on the list. I want to keep you in suspense.

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