Last month, Ford encountered setbacks necessitating the temporary suspension of production for the 2024 F-150 in Michigan and Missouri, affecting approximately 9,700 employees represented by the United Auto Workers.
The news of these shutdowns has only recently come to light. Jessica Enoch, a spokesperson for Ford, informed the Detroit Free Press that production at the Dearborn Truck Plant was halted from January 25 to January 31, resulting in the temporary layoff of 5,200 workers during this period. Additionally, the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri, experienced downtime from January 25 to February 1, affecting 4,500 employees at the facility. While Enoch confirmed the production pause was due to an issue with supplier parts, she did not specify the supplier or the specific part involved.
Enoch stated to the Detroit Free Press, "Production has resumed after being paused temporarily because of a supplier parts concern. We are vigilant about ensuring that the vehicles our customers receive are built with the quality they expect and we are taking appropriate actions to deliver on that commitment."
The impact of the recall extended beyond the traditional combustion-powered model, as production of the F-150 Lightning was also halted from January 25 to January 31. This interruption stemmed from the shared responsibility of the paint shop at the Dearborn Truck Plant, which handles both ICE and electric F-150s.
This recent production disruption for the F-150 Lightning follows a series of alterations in recent months. In January, Ford reduced production due to "slower-than-expected sales," and a forthcoming work schedule for factory workers indicates a transition to a two-shift pattern with one crew on rotating layoffs throughout February and March. Ultimately, the site will transition to a single shift on April 1.
The 2024 F-150 was unveiled by Ford in September of the previous year as part of a mid-cycle refresh. Various design enhancements were introduced to the perennially popular pickup truck, with notable additions including a 12-inch touchscreen, a head-up display, and Ford's latest BlueCruise 1.2 Level 2 advanced driver assistance system integrated into the cabin.