Dearborn, MI – August 2, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has recalled 17,616 pickup trucks with potentially loose wheel hub extenders that may cause the wheel to fall off of the car. This defect is serious enough where Ford is telling owners NOT TO DRIVE the car, even to the dealership.
It includes the following vehicles:
- 2021 Ford F350 SD pickups
- 2021 Ford F450 SD pickups
- 2021 Ford F550 SD pickups
- 2021 Ford F600 SD pickups
Recall summary
The recall concerns the front wheel hub extender, which extends the size of the wheel hub on pickups with wide front body axles and dual rear wheels. The extenders – that are typically used for aesthetic purposes or to provide more stability while driving – may not be screwed in all the way.
Background of the recall
The Michigan factory where the trucks’ axles were assembled has an “automated torque station” that checks to make sure everything is screwed in properly. Ford believes the recalled trucks must have bypassed this checkpoint and estimates that 80% of the recalled trucks have loose hub extenders.
Risks
This defect puts the wheel hub extenders and the wheels at risk of detaching from the truck, greatly increasing the risk of a crash. Ford has received two reports of wheels falling off trucks as a result of this flaw. Neither resulted in an accident or injuries.
Detached wheels not only put the driver at risk of losing control, but the tires themselves become a dangerous, fast-moving road hazard that could cause other cars to crash.
Warning signs
According to the manufacturer, drivers might, while driving, experience vibration and noise, as the nuts loosen.
The repair
The risks posed by this defect are high enough that Ford is telling owners NOT to drive their recalled car — not even to the dealership. Dealers have been told to send someone out to fix the car, and if this is not possible, to tow the car to the dealership. The dealer will check that the hub extenders are screwed in properly. If the hub extenders are loose, the dealer will tighten them. This inspection and repair, including necessary towing services, will be offered free of charge.
Owner notifications and instructions
Ford mailed notifications to owners in mid-June. The notifications include instructions for car-savvy owners on how to perform the inspection/repair themselves.
Is your vehicle part of this recall?
Over 17,000 vehicles are included in this Ford recall. Check your truck for Ford recalls using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.
