Ford recalls more than 223,000 F-150s as fuel tank could come loose while driving
Ford is recalling 223,472 F-150 pickup trucks in the United States whose fuel tanks may not remain securely attached to the body. The issue affects 2023–2027 model-year vehicles and, in the worst case, could result in the tank detaching while driving.
NHTSA recorded the recall on 9 September under campaign number 26V578. Ford uses the designation 26S69 in its own system.
The problem lies with the fuel tank retaining straps
The F-150’s fuel tank is held in place by metal retaining straps. On the recalled vehicles, these may not secure the tank properly.
The consequences could be far more serious than simply a rattling noise from beneath the vehicle. A loose tank could leak, creating a fire risk. If the fuel supply is interrupted, the engine could stall while driving. A completely detached tank would also become an obstruction for other road users.
Ford will have dealers inspect the fuel tank retaining straps and replace them if necessary. The repair will be free of charge for owners. Ford is expected to begin notifying owners in the United States on 21 September.
An especially inconvenient fault for the F-150
The issue affects a model that is particularly important to Ford. The F-150 belongs to the F-Series model family, which has been one of the company’s most important sources of profit for decades.
For that reason, recalling 223,472 vehicles is unwelcome even if the repair itself is limited to inspecting and replacing the fastening components. The electronics of a modern pickup truck may contain tens of millions of lines of software code, but this time the recall has been caused by a far more prosaic detail: the fuel tank simply needs to stay attached to the vehicle.
The recall affects vehicles intended for the US market. In Europe, the F-150 is already a niche model, and a large proportion of the vehicles on the road here have been individually imported. Owners of 2023–2027 F-150s brought in from the United States should therefore check the vehicle’s VIN to see whether the specific example is covered by the campaign.
