It dawns in the US and another Ford recall is in sight. More than 100,000 units of the F-150 will have to go to the workshop due to a serious failure in the rear axle… The main reason happens in the rear axle bolts which can cause the truck to lose power while driving… or to move on its own while parked, scary! This was confirmed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which did not hesitate to describe it as a serious failure. And not for nothing: if it is not repaired in time, the risk of an accident is real…
What is happening to Ford?
The problem is in the bolts that hold the rear axle hub. Probably due to wear, these bolts can break, and when that happens, the splines of the hub are damaged and the assembly loses strength and stability. In other words, the vehicle could roll on its own if parked without the handbrake or could lose traction or power while driving. And of course, imagine the possible accidents…
Which models are affected?
In this case, it is the F-150s manufactured between January 2, 2023 and May 21, 202 that have the Trailer Tow Max Duty package, the 9.75-inch heavy-duty rear axle and the three-quarter floating design.
The official campaign has been registered as number 25S82. And although Ford estimates that only 1% of those trucks could have the problem, they prefer to check all the units to avoid issues.
How to know if your vehicle is affected
According to the NHTSA, one of the first warnings is a metallic sound, a click coming from the back. If the damage progresses, that click can turn into a louder noise, something like a rattle.
In either case, the best thing is not to take risks: stop driving and take the truck to be checked as soon as possible.
Free repair
So far there have been no reported accidents or injuries due to this failure, but Ford has already received 200 claims for broken bolts, so be careful if you are going to drive your F-150.
And yes, the company has already started sending the letters (last August 18), and the inspection and repair will be completely free if necessary. It will be enough to take the vehicle to any official Ford or Lincoln workshop. There they will check the rear axles and, if necessary, replace them completely. The recall campaign will be active until May 2026, and by then, all affected should have been notified.
Is your F-150 on the list?
To be sure, you only need to have the VIN number (the 17-digit one). You can enter it on the NHTSA website or on Ford’s official portal. There are also phone numbers available: 1-866-436-7332 (Ford) and 1-888-327-4236 (NHTSA).
In a few seconds you will know if your truck is part of the campaign or not.
Ford does not stop…
Although most of the affected units will not suffer the problem, the margin of error here is very narrow. A car that loses power while driving or moves on its own in a parking lot is not something you can ignore. And even if there are no injuries yet, better not wait until there are.
And the worst thing is that Ford is carrying out several recalls this year, it has not had even a week of truce, what is happening to our brand? Has the American dream lost strength for them?
Ford seeks with this action to reinforce trust in one of its best-selling models. But beyond the gesture, the important thing is that no one ends up involved in an accident that could have been avoided with a simple inspection.