Ford Recalls 222,000 F-150 Trucks for Wiper Arms That Can Strip and Detach

In early March 2023, Ford Motor Company submitted NHTSA recall 23V-163, covering 222,454 model-year 2020 and 2021 F-150 pickup trucks whose wiper arms might become inoperable or detach entirely. The defect posed visibility risks for drivers caught in rain or snow.

The Part 573 Safety Recall Report identified worn tooling at the supplier as the root cause — specifically, worn wiper-arm head spline core inserts that produced spline teeth with insufficient height. The result was a wiper-arm attachment that could strip under normal operating load. The filing identified the supplier as Trico Componentes SA de CV.

The recall affects vehicles built from January 8, 2020, through August 16, 2021. Certain trucks built between June 7 and August 16, 2021, may not have the defect because production was not sequential with VIN range. Owners were directed to call Ford's toll-free line at 1-866-436-7332 or visit a dealer to use the OASIS database for vehicle-specific confirmation.

For glass shops, this recall is a reminder that wiper-system integrity is closely linked to windshield service. When a shop installs a new windshield, technicians typically reconnect or reinstall wiper arms. Inspecting the spline connection at that point — and flagging any looseness or irregularity to the customer — adds value and protects the shop from downstream complaints if a marginal wiper arm fails shortly after a glass job.

The wiper is also the component most commonly implicated in post-replacement customer satisfaction issues involving streaking, chattering, or poor coverage. Shops that include a brief wiper inspection in every windshield replacement service build customer confidence and reduce callback rates.

The ADAS implications are also worth noting: forward-facing cameras on ADAS-equipped F-150s depend on a clear windshield field of view in front of the sensor. A failed wiper arm that leaves a portion of the windshield uncleared can impair camera function in rain, reducing the reliability of emergency braking or lane-keeping systems.