Ford Motor Company is recalling 223,472 F-150 pickup trucks after federal regulators found a defect that lets the fuel tank come loose and fall off the vehicle.
The recall covers model years 2023 through 2027. The trucks left the factory with fuel tank straps improperly attached to the frame rail, according to the New York Post, which first reported the recall Tuesday.
Ford will begin mailing notification letters to owners between Sept. 21 and Sept. 28. Affected VINs became searchable on Sept. 14. Dealerships will inspect and replace the fuel tank straps free of charge.
The danger is real and immediate. A loose or detached fuel tank can leak gasoline onto hot exhaust parts, raising the risk of fire. A loose tank can also disrupt fuel delivery and stall the engine mid-drive. If a tank fully detaches on a highway, it becomes a road hazard for the truck’s driver and everyone traveling behind it. There is no warning system built into these vehicles to alert a driver before a tank comes loose, so the failure can happen without notice.
This is not Ford’s first recall this year. In April, the company recalled more than 1 million F-150 trucks over a gearshift defect tied to crash risk, which caused at least two injuries and an accident. Ford currently lists at least 12 active recalls across its lineup on its support website, and the company has led the auto industry in recalls for five straight years.
The recall lands during a rough financial stretch for Ford. In July the company reported second-quarter revenue of $48.3 billion, down $1.9 billion from a year earlier, along with a net loss of $1.3 billion. CFO Sherry House said at the time that the company is
