- Ford is recalling a few hundred 2024 F-150 trucks due to a potentially faulty fastener used in the lower steering shaft.
- An error at the Kansas City Assembly Plant led to the wrong part being used, which could loosen and cause a complete loss of steering control.
- Despite the potential danger, Ford isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries related to this issue.
If it’s a day that ends in y, you can bet a Ford got recalled. This time it’s the 2024 F-150, which can suffer a “loss of steering control.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an incorrect fastener may have been used to attach the lower steering shaft to the steering gear. This can result in the fastener loosening over time and potentially disengaging altogether. If that happens, the steering system may separate and result in a loss of control.
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That’s a significant safety risk and the root cause appears to be simple human error. In particular, the safety recall report says a “box of fasteners intended for another use was incorrectly delivered to the station that secures the lower steering column I-shaft and mixed with the correct fasteners.” This occurred at the Kansas City Assembly Plant and wasn’t immediately noticed.
However, on April 11, an incorrect fastener was found and this sparked an investigation. This eventually lead to the discovery of a mix of fasteners with different sizes (25 mm and 37 mm) and material types (8.8 and 10.9).
An examination found that while the correct fastener engages seven threads, the incorrect one only fully engages two threads and partially engages three others. Due to the limited thread engagement, things could take a terrible turn.
Ford isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries related to the recall, which will see the lower steering shaft fastener replaced on affected models. Owners are slated to be notified later this month, but the recalled is small and only impacts 385 trucks. That’s a drop in the bucket when you’re talking about the best-selling vehicle in America.
