Ford recalls F-250s and F-350s for front axle issues

Pleasanton, CA – January 28, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) has remedied issues with 6,185 super-duty trucks including the F-250 Super Duty that had failures with the front drive axle. Additionally, 118 of these vehicles have been categorized as unreachable. One group of these Super Duty models with the front axle improperly welded were remedied in 2020 and three more groups were remedied in 2021. 

Pleasanton, CA – November 23, 2020 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) has recalled 9,628 Ford 4X4 trucks. The front axles may not be properly welded to the trucks, increasing the risk of a crash. Axles are responsible for transmitting the power from the vehicle to the wheels, which is what propels the car forward. Front axles in particular also help with steering and cushioning the blow from driving on uneven roads. As such, having a malfunctioning axis greatly increases the risk of a crash.

Recall summary  

A Ford supplier used “non-conforming parts” to assemble the front axle and subsequently welded them incorrectly.

This is at least the second recall that Ford issued because of axle problems for this particular model and year. In October 2019, the manufacturer asked nearly 30,000 drivers of the 2019 F-250s and F-350s to take their cars in for repair because the rear axles were prone to fracture.

These same trucks are also subject to a 2019 California class-action lawsuit, alleging that their suspension and steering problem made the F-250s and F-350s prone to a “death wobble,”  or “violent shaking” at higher speeds when traveling on uneven surfaces. The lawsuit was partially dismissed in early November.

The recall includes 2019 Ford F-250 and F-350 super-duty trucks and concerns F250/350 Front Axle Assembly. The part number is JC34-3002-TB/DB/EB/FB.

Warning signs

Here are some signs that your car’s axle may be broken or is not welded properly:

  • An unusual noise when you turn or put the car into gear
  • Wobbling or vibration especially in the wheel area
  • Brake malfunction
  • Car fails to move

It is unsafe to continue driving the car with a broken or misaligned axle and you should take the car to the shop as soon as possible.

Risks 

If the axle is not properly welded to the vehicle, it may break, causing you to lose control of the car and get into an accident. If the axle breaks, you may feel the truck get pulled to the left or the right or find that steering becomes more difficult. The effects can be more pronounced if the axle failure occurs when you brake hard.  

Other F-350 Super Duty Trucks recalls

In March 2021, Ford Motor Company recalled several F-350 Super Duty Trucks, due to incorrect information on labels in the vehicles, which may increase the risk of a crash.

In September 2021, Ford announced a recall for several Ford Super Duty F-350 pickups due to the risk of the vehicles stalling while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. A driveshaft that disconnects can lead to a loss of power while driving.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to inspect the front axle of the truck and confirm if the welding was performed correctly. If not, the axle assembly will be replaced. The repair is free of charge and the recall was expected to begin on October 15, 2020.

Ford estimates that the repair will be completed in less than two days. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 9,500 vehicles are included in this Ford truck recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle recall lookup tool.

Ken BoydFord recalls F-250s and F-350s for front axle issues