Ford has issued a recall for select 2023 Ford F-250, F-350, and F-450 Super Duty models in the United States over an issue that could cause a complete failure of the steering system.
A recall notice issued through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that impacted models may have a missing or improperly torqued bolt used to secure the steering column upper shaft coupler. If this bolt is missing or has been improperly torqued, it could lead to a separation of adjoining steering system components, leading to a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant was made aware of a potential issue on May 1 when it received two warranty reports. In the first case, one of the two bolts used was missing and the second was loose, meaning it lost the ability to steer with fewer than 10 miles on the odometer. The second vehicle’s steering wheel was misaligned while the wheels were straight.
These are the only cases that Ford is aware of related to the issue. It does not know of any accidents or injuries caused by missing or loose bolts. The carmaker notes the bolt that secure the steering column upper shaft coupler may not have been re-installed or torqued correctly during an assembly plant rework. Owners of impacted models may hear a noise if the bolt used in the steering column upper shaft coupler becomes loose.
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A total of 19 vehicles are involved in the recall, all of which were manufactured between January 4, 2023, and January 23, 2023.
Ford started to contact affected owners on May 8 and has instructed them to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealership where the steering column will be inspected and the bolts will be torqued to the correct specification.
