NHTSA Complaint #11172422 — 2015 FORD F-150

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY ROAD WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED ON 11/13. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD GO DARK FOR A MINUTE AND THEN COME BACK ON FOR A FEW SECONDS, DURING WHICH I RECEIVED NUMEROUS WARNING MESSAGES. WHEN THE SYSTEM WAS OUT, THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WAS DEAD AND POWER STEERING WAS OFFLINE. I STARTED TO RECEIVE WARNING MESSAGES ABOUT THE CHARGING SYSTEM ON 11/6. I BROUGHT IT TO THREE DIFFERENT PLACES BEFORE IT FAILED. ON 11/6 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS TOLD ME IT WAS FINE. THE LIGHT WENT AWAY AND LATER RETURNED.ON 11/8 AUTOZONE SAID THE BATTERY NEEDED A CHARGE. 11/9 MONRO SAID THE ALTERNATOR MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER MONRO, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH FORD. FIRST AVAILABLE WAS 11/14. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER NOT DRIVING THE TRUCK 11/10-11/12. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO FORD FOR SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY AND RELUCTANTLY TOLD ME THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. APPARENTLY, ONE OR MORE OF THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE ALTERNATOR HAD BEEN SEVERED BY RUBBING AGAINST THE HOUSING MEANT TO PROTECT THEM. THE TRUCK WAS ONLY 3.5 YEARS OLD AND HAD FEWER THAN 15,000 MILES ON IT. FORD REFUSED TO COVER IT AS IT WAS 6 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE SEEMS TO BE EITHER A DESIGN FLAW OR A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE. IF EITHER OF THOSE ARE THE CASE, A RECALL MAY BE NECESSARY.